NOW SERVICE CHARGE AT RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS ARE AT YOUR DISCRETION-PAY ACCORDING TO YOUR SATISFACTION LEVEL OR LET IT WAIVEOFF
In a statement issued on Monday, the consumer affairs department asked the state governments to advise the hotels/restaurants to prominently display that “the service charges are discretionary / voluntary and a consumer dissatisfied with the services can have it waived off.”
This follows several complaints from consumers that hotels and restaurants are seeking ‘service charge’ in the range of 5-20 per cent, in lieu of tips, which a consumer is forced to pay irrespective of the kind of service provided to him, the department said.
It said the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 provides that a trade practice which, for the purpose of promoting the sale, use or the supply of any goods or for the provision of any service, adopts any unfair method or deceptive practice, is to be treated as an unfair trade practice. Referring to the Act, the department added that a consumer can make a complaint to the appropriate consumer forum established under the Act against such unfair trade practices.
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