37% consumers paid service charge at air-conditioned restaurants in April, finds survey

Conducted by LocalCircles across 271 districts, the survey also found that only 23% consumers were not levied service charge by eateries.

Representational image | People eating at a restaurant | ANI Photo

New Delhi: An online survey has revealed that 37 per cent consumers who went to air-conditioned restaurants in April paid service charges.

Conducted by community platform LocalCircles, the survey also found that only 23 per cent consumers were not levied service charges by eateries.

The Department of Consumer Affairs had Monday warned restaurants against collection of service charges by default. The release issued by the government noted that restaurants and eateries were collecting service charges even though it was voluntary and at consumers’ discretion.

Out of the 7,000 respondents in the LocalCircles survey, 62 per cent were men while 38 per cent women. The survey also found that fewer customers stood up against ‘forced service charge’ today than in 2017 and 2018.

While 27 per cent consumers did not pay a service charge in 2017, 39 per cent refused to pay in 2018. In comparison, 30 per cent respondents in 2022 said they refused to pay service charges.

The poll also sought to understand if customers paid service charges or got the restaurant to remove it. It was found that only seven per cent respondents got service charges removed from their bills while 33 per cent said they did not pay attention to the bill.

The Department of Consumer Affairs had issued several advisories to restaurants between 2017 and 2019 too, to stop this unfair practice. However, as indicated by the survey, it continues till date.