Service charge on beer and food

[jack00]

Whats the score on service charge? Do you have to pay it? Do they have to clearly state it on the menu?

[KhunBENQ]

I know this term only from the US.

In more than four years I never came upon a bar or restaurant with "service charge" separately specified.

(does not mean that might be such places, but should be rare)

An appropriate tip can be given / coins left in the wrapper.

What an appropriate tip is not so easy for me to tell.

Edited December 27, 2015 by KhunBENQ

[swampdonkey]

Normally 10 % but some also hit you for 7% vat as well

You will find it at the bottom of the menu or shown as ++ also on the display board outside if in a mall where there will be an advert for what you think is a bargain.

I generally avoid these places

I would much rather see a menu with the total price

[swampdonkey]

I know this term only from the US.

In more than four years I never came upon a bar or restaurant with "service charge" separately specified.

(does not mean that might be such places, but should be rare)

An appropriate tip can be given / coins left in the wrapper.

What an appropriate tip is not so easy for me to tell.

You find them in many malls in Bangkok

[Aachen]

If you think, service and meal was good: tip up2you. Depend on your country of origin.

Some foreigner from special countries never tip, especially those making special cleaning necessary

But an appropriate amount should be tipped. It is not a sin.

[dirtycash]

kiss food, 2nd road in pattaya has something like this, i dont know if its a service charge or vat but the bill is allways slightly more . i never bother to ask.

[Stradavarius37]

Better by a pack of chips and a chang and sit outside the 7 drinking - the rest of Thailand is too expensive for you

[SoiBiker]

I know this term only from the US.

In more than four years I never came upon a bar or restaurant with "service charge" separately specified.

(does not mean that might be such places, but should be rare)

An appropriate tip can be given / coins left in the wrapper.

What an appropriate tip is not so easy for me to tell.

Very common in Bangkok.

[jack00]

I dont tip if service charge is included in the bill. Its normally bewteen 7 and 10%, Pattaya 120b for a small beer plus 10% service charge.. outragous...

No one has answered my question, Can you refuse to pay it?

[SoiBiker]

Why would you refuse to pay it? The place has a right to charge what it likes. If you don't like it, take your business elsewhere.

[Familyaffairs]

All establishments of any note charge 10% service and 7% VAT. Yes, you have to pay it, no not all the service charge goes to the staff, more often than not it goes into the owner's pocket and/or is held to cover breakages, theft and a whole other raft of nonsensical excuses.

[Diplomatico]

I dont tip if service charge is included in the bill. Its normally bewteen 7 and 10%, Pattaya 120b for a small beer plus 10% service charge.. outragous...

No one has answered my question, Can you refuse to pay it?

No, it generally is not optional. If the service charge is listed on the menu - and it generally is - and/or added to the bill, it's part of total cost of your visit. (As opposed to a "tip", which is completely optional.)

The best way to avoid paying a service charge is by not frequenting places that have a service charge.

[jack00]

At last!! A sensible reply, thank you

[KhunBENQ]

I dont tip if service charge is included in the bill. Its normally bewteen 7 and 10%, Pattaya 120b for a small beer plus 10% service charge.. outragous...

No one has answered my question, Can you refuse to pay it?

Places that I frequent have a price on the menu.

Be it 60, 80, 100, 120, 150 Baht.

I pay 60, 80, 100, 120, 150 Baht.

I rarely frequent places that charge more than 80 Baht for a small local beer.

Edited December 27, 2015 by KhunBENQ

[nidieunimaitre]

It is a smart ass rip off.

Agoda does it too.

I make a point of not tipping when there is a service charge, and I will probably never go back to that place again.

I will even keep the 1 or 2 baht coins change they give me.

It happened only very few times to me, since I avoid tourist places.

[SoiBiker]

If a 10 percent service charge is too much for you, times must be hard.

[nidieunimaitre]

I dont tip if service charge is included in the bill. Its normally bewteen 7 and 10%, Pattaya 120b for a small beer plus 10% service charge.. outragous...

No one has answered my question, Can you refuse to pay it?

Places that I frequent have a price on the menu.

Be it 60, 80, 100, 120, 150 Baht.

I pay 60, 80, 100, 120, 150 Baht.

I rarely frequent places that charge more than 80 Baht for a small local beer.

I rarely frequent places that charge more than 80 baht for a large local beer.

But I live in Chanthaburi.

Not really a place for European food, but if you like thai (sea) food & thai smiles, it is the place to be.

[nidieunimaitre]

If a 10 percent service charge is too much for you, times must be hard.

120 baht for a small "beer" + 10% service charge + 7% VAT is more than what I pay for a trapist in Belgium.

And for me - and others - times are not hard.

I spend half the year travelling in Europe, and pay the high price for that: high price, high quality.

The other half year I spend in Thailand, and pay the low price for that: low price, low quality.

It is not about being a cheapo, it is about value for money.

And about having choices.

[KhunBENQ]

I rarely frequent places that charge more than 80 baht for a large local beer.

The places with 80 Baht for a small beer have some extra attractions

[FritsSikkink]

I know this term only from the US.

In more than four years I never came upon a bar or restaurant with "service charge" separately specified.

(does not mean that might be such places, but should be rare)

An appropriate tip can be given / coins left in the wrapper.

What an appropriate tip is not so easy for me to tell.

there are loads of restaurants doing this albeit the more expensive ones

[swampdonkey]

At last!! A sensible reply, thank you

If you want sensible answers

Then ask sensible questions

[KhunBENQ]

there are loads of restaurants doing this albeit the more expensive ones

No I see why I don't know

[nidieunimaitre]

I rarely frequent places that charge more than 80 baht for a large local beer.

The places with 80 Baht for a small beer have some extra attractions

I know places like that back home.

They serve meze or tapas with the beer?

[jack00]

If a 10 percent service charge is too much for you, times must be hard.

my meals are 3000b so yes 10% is too much...

[Stradavarius37]

If a 10 percent service charge is too much for you, times must be hard.

my meals are 3000b so yes 10% is too much...

#CheapCharlie

[Pacificperson]

I went to a place the other day where they had a 10% service fee that was explicitly not a tip added onto the bill. Then at the bottom of the bill, they had printed out how much a 10, 15 and 20% tip would be for the bill presented. I will definitely not be going back.

Edited December 27, 2015 by Pacificperson

[Don Mega]

If you think, service and meal was good: tip up2you. Depend on your country of origin.

Some foreigner from special countries never tip, especially those making special cleaning necessary

But an appropriate amount should be tipped. It is not a sin.

What are you waffling on about.

Did you not understand the OP ?

[fey]

I know this term only from the US.

In more than four years I never came upon a bar or restaurant with "service charge" separately specified.

(does not mean that might be such places, but should be rare)

An appropriate tip can be given / coins left in the wrapper.

What an appropriate tip is not so easy for me to tell.

It's almost universal at the pubs around sukhumvit. Usually around 18 baht per pint of beer ontop of the beer price.

Seems like you have to pay it. Nobody tips for lousy service so they now add it on. It is indicated on the menu.

Soon everyplace will be doing it, thanks to people coming over and wanting to tip the poor locals for everything. Will be more like mexico where it's expected and every cart has a small tip jar in your face. Too bad really.

Edited December 27, 2015 by fey

[chefseph]

Look out for the ++ or net after the price indicated. ++ means plus 10% s.c. And 7% vat. Net is what u see is what u pay.

Working in the industry I just add 17% to the selling price and display the final price on our menus. Gets most people's back up if you add it to the bill in the end and rightly so in my opinion

[BWPattaya]

I went to a place the other day where they had a 10% service fee that was explicitly not a tip added onto the bill. Then at the bottom of the bill, they had printed out how much a 10, 15 and 20% tip would be for the bill presented. I will definitely not be going back.

Definitely a place to avoid. It would be nice to know where it is.