Londoners enjoying a meal out have been left in disbelief after discovering some restaurants are beginning to double up on service charges.

Across London restaurants, it's a common act for restaurants to add an optional 12.5% service to cover the staff tips which typically most customers happily pay.

But, on October 1 2024, the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 was brought in which meant all businesses must now give 100% of all service charges and tips to their employees.

Now, some Londoners have discovered that since the new Act was passed, some restaurants are charging the 12.5% service twice, leaving many customers upset.

@whatgabthinks I think for groups a service charge is understandable but for 2 people it feels unfair!👏 #relatable #cote #comeeatwithme #british #review #servicecharge ♬ original sound - What Gab Thinks 💭

Londoners in disbelief as restaurant double service charge

Taking to the Reddit group r/London, one user shared their experience of the apparent new service charge.

Keeping the restaurant anonymous, the Reddit users said: "The bill was a QR code thingy that links to a page on the Sunday system for payment online.

"There was a 12.5% discretionary charge added, which is fairly standard in London and I paid it happily.

"After that, the app asked me if I would like to leave a tip because the service charge was for the restaurant, not for the server.

"That would be another 5-10% on top of the 12.5%.

"Never seen that before. Is this a thing now?"

Another Reddit user shared their own similar experience of facing doubled-up service charges: "I had that happen the other day. Was with my family, and the bill came with the 12.5% tip included.

"My dad paid it, then the waiter added another 12.5% on top of that.

"We pointed out that we’ve already tipped 12.5% and he just smiled and said sorry and adjusted the price on the card reader."

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Some Reddit users suggest that the extra charge could be down the app the restaurants use to pay for bills, as one described as "deceptive ".

Others added that the double service could become a common practice in London: "Suggested tipping on top of the service charge is definitely creeping in slowly, all the new payment terminals seem to have it added as an option."

One Reddit user who commented on the post and is a waitress said they don't "believe in service charge" explaining that "employers should pay us fairly rather than relying on guests."