Very unlikely. There’s a statement at the bottom that explains what the fee is. There’s a QR code at the top for more information, which OP cut off.
I doubt they went through the effort of updating their POS system, providing links to info on the receipt, and chose not to post a sign or put a note on the menu. Everywhere I have been with a service fee like this posts it, which would negate any legal issue.
Possibly. Local laws vary heavily, and could limit hidden fees like these. If the franchise is in one of these places, but the parent chain is not, it could easily be implemented despite being illegal. It’s a similar case if the local operator didn’t have the required notices in the required way, since it would be done separately. Not necessarily out of malice, but a ton of places simply do not run a tight ship. The receipt is absolutely not the place these notices are required; that’s just a convenience.
It’s also possible that the POS has a bunch of options that can easily be set by management without involving lawyers. A required tip (often for large groups, but not always) is an easy use case for this. So are the various messages, including the tipping scale, or adding a promotional QR code (e.g. scan the code to fill out a survey and get $5 off your next visit)
In any event, I stand behind my advice- check if it’s illegal, and push to make it illegal.
Additional fees not disclosed until after the products/services have been provided, and thus can no longer be refused, are absolutely illegal throughout the US. Given that there are literally thousands of localities in the US, each with their own sets of laws and many of them governing food service and labeling, how can you be sure that absolutely none of them forbid this practice?
What we don’t know is where this happened, nor what other disclosures were made. Dismissing it out of hand as impossible without these details is premature at best.
No, but you also shouldn’t assume that I’m not. You should exercise reasonable caution around me (and anyone you don’t know) instead of dismissing any possibility out of hand. I might invite my friends down to my basement. Without any evidence either way, you should not automatically trust me the same way.
Ergo, the “possibly” part of my statement. There are definitely laws that cover all sorts of things about disclosure. Ever wonder why those license agreements you see when installing software include sections in all caps? Disclosure laws that have specific requirements on what qualifies.
I also think you encounter more trustworthy businesses than I do. So many are trainwrecks behind the scenes. A couple years ago, I ate at a pizza place in Detroit. They charged a credit card fee that was not disclosed, at least not somewhere that any of us noticed. We are also the type that looks for these, and makes decisions accordingly. Was the fee itself legal? Almost certainly. Was the disclosure compliant with relevant laws? I doubt it, but I have no idea what’s required there. Western Digital openly ignores federal warranty laws. Most small business owners really have no idea what they’re doing, and will copy what they saw somewhere else without understanding it. I wouldn’t assume it was disclosed as required under local laws.
First, many places have a local, state, and national government. Particularly the ones that use dollars and expect an additional tip, as shown on the receipt.
My country, which has dollars and expects tips, doesn’t. And this read like it was addressing unexpected fees at restaurants in general.
Stop pretending Americans don’t do this constantly. Everyone who’s not American is very familiar with it, and honestly it’s understandable with how big and self-contained that country is. I might not even have commented if it wasn’t for the remarkable thoroughness short of that detail.
I presume you’re in Canada. Aside from calling them provinces, and possibly having a different name for your legislative representatives, are you saying you DON’T have a local, state, and national government where my advice would be relevant?
Let’s see… dollar sign? Well that cuts out a lot of the world. Written in English, so that leaves about 3 countries. Australia doesn’t have a tipping culture the same way we do in North America so that leaves either Canada or the US, in which case you can replace state with province and cover your bases.
Good catch, I didn’t even notice the percentages. I did look at the date but of course the meal was purchased on the one day this month where that’s not helpful
Don’t forget New Zealand. They do tip down under, but it sounds like they don’t recommend tips the same way.
Yeah, sure, the jist applies everywhere. OP could have saved words just saying “representitives”. That’s the part that was interesting, and now people are big butthurt I pointed it out.
It looks exactly like a receipt that could be here, too. As has been repeatedly pointed out to me, there’s only 2 to 4 countries this could apply to, but you’ll excuse me for expecting the same thing as always was happening.
Yeah, reading this again it might have been advice for OP specifically. The wider thread had me thinking more in the context of generally if you get an extra charge. (I also happen to be in Canada)
Possibly illegal, depending on your local laws.
If it is legal, contact your congressman (local, state, national) because it sure as hell needs to be illegal.
Very unlikely. There’s a statement at the bottom that explains what the fee is. There’s a QR code at the top for more information, which OP cut off.
I doubt they went through the effort of updating their POS system, providing links to info on the receipt, and chose not to post a sign or put a note on the menu. Everywhere I have been with a service fee like this posts it, which would negate any legal issue.
Caveat emptor.
It’s illegal if the fact that a service fee would be added wasn’t shared before ordering (on the menu / by the waiter /…)
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Possibly. Local laws vary heavily, and could limit hidden fees like these. If the franchise is in one of these places, but the parent chain is not, it could easily be implemented despite being illegal. It’s a similar case if the local operator didn’t have the required notices in the required way, since it would be done separately. Not necessarily out of malice, but a ton of places simply do not run a tight ship. The receipt is absolutely not the place these notices are required; that’s just a convenience.
It’s also possible that the POS has a bunch of options that can easily be set by management without involving lawyers. A required tip (often for large groups, but not always) is an easy use case for this. So are the various messages, including the tipping scale, or adding a promotional QR code (e.g. scan the code to fill out a survey and get $5 off your next visit)
In any event, I stand behind my advice- check if it’s illegal, and push to make it illegal.
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Additional fees not disclosed until after the products/services have been provided, and thus can no longer be refused, are absolutely illegal throughout the US. Given that there are literally thousands of localities in the US, each with their own sets of laws and many of them governing food service and labeling, how can you be sure that absolutely none of them forbid this practice?
What we don’t know is where this happened, nor what other disclosures were made. Dismissing it out of hand as impossible without these details is premature at best.
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We also have literally no evidence of the opposite. Why should we assume that?
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No, but you also shouldn’t assume that I’m not. You should exercise reasonable caution around me (and anyone you don’t know) instead of dismissing any possibility out of hand. I might invite my friends down to my basement. Without any evidence either way, you should not automatically trust me the same way.
Ergo, the “possibly” part of my statement. There are definitely laws that cover all sorts of things about disclosure. Ever wonder why those license agreements you see when installing software include sections in all caps? Disclosure laws that have specific requirements on what qualifies.
I also think you encounter more trustworthy businesses than I do. So many are trainwrecks behind the scenes. A couple years ago, I ate at a pizza place in Detroit. They charged a credit card fee that was not disclosed, at least not somewhere that any of us noticed. We are also the type that looks for these, and makes decisions accordingly. Was the fee itself legal? Almost certainly. Was the disclosure compliant with relevant laws? I doubt it, but I have no idea what’s required there. Western Digital openly ignores federal warranty laws. Most small business owners really have no idea what they’re doing, and will copy what they saw somewhere else without understanding it. I wouldn’t assume it was disclosed as required under local laws.
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So you carefully included every possible level of US government, but still forgot about the entire rest of the world.
First, many places have a local, state, and national government. Particularly the ones that use dollars and expect an additional tip, as shown on the receipt.
Stop trying to be offended at everything.
My country, which has dollars and expects tips, doesn’t. And this read like it was addressing unexpected fees at restaurants in general.
Stop pretending Americans don’t do this constantly. Everyone who’s not American is very familiar with it, and honestly it’s understandable with how big and self-contained that country is. I might not even have commented if it wasn’t for the remarkable thoroughness short of that detail.
I presume you’re in Canada. Aside from calling them provinces, and possibly having a different name for your legislative representatives, are you saying you DON’T have a local, state, and national government where my advice would be relevant?
No, you’re advice was great. I just found the phrasing weird enough to point out. Sorry if it came across as angry.
The rest of the world doesn’t exist, it’s just a scam made up by the passport cartel to fleece you of your money every few years.
Can confirm, I’m just standing in a blank white space. It’s weird I get wifi.
Do a search for the Tianamen Square massacre. You’ll at least know if you’re Chinese white space or non Chinese white space
Oh no, it’s turning black. Chairman forgive me!
Let’s see… dollar sign? Well that cuts out a lot of the world. Written in English, so that leaves about 3 countries. Australia doesn’t have a tipping culture the same way we do in North America so that leaves either Canada or the US, in which case you can replace state with province and cover your bases.
Percentages on the tip are lower than US tip amounts. So I would guess not US, though this would obviously happen in the states.
Do other countries itemize tax separately? I thought the US was alone on that.
Also, 9.5% is in line with sales tax in a few US states, as is calling it tax instead of VAT (or similar)
Idunno. don’t remember what they do in Canada.
Good catch, I didn’t even notice the percentages. I did look at the date but of course the meal was purchased on the one day this month where that’s not helpful
Don’t forget New Zealand. They do tip down under, but it sounds like they don’t recommend tips the same way.
Yeah, sure, the jist applies everywhere. OP could have saved words just saying “representitives”. That’s the part that was interesting, and now people are big butthurt I pointed it out.
I mentioned all 3 because people (at least around me) tend to forget the first 2, despite those being much easier to make these types of changes.
Looks at a picture of a receipt that is almost certainly from the US:
What about the rest of the world?!
It looks exactly like a receipt that could be here, too. As has been repeatedly pointed out to me, there’s only 2 to 4 countries this could apply to, but you’ll excuse me for expecting the same thing as always was happening.
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Yeah, reading this again it might have been advice for OP specifically. The wider thread had me thinking more in the context of generally if you get an extra charge. (I also happen to be in Canada)
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