There’s no shame in trying to avoid a mandatory tip for poor service. Luckily, there are ways to do it.
Tipping used to be a way to reward and encourage great service. But now, with tipping pools, mandatory gratuities, and general tip inflation, that’s not always the case. I usually stick to an 18% tip for average service, though I believe it should be 15%.
One of my biggest annoyances is the 18% “mandatory gratuity” that many places add to bills for large groups, regardless of the service quality.
I’m not alone in this. In Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, two diners were arrested for refusing to pay an 18% mandatory gratuity after enduring poor service from a waitress who spent more time smoking than serving. It took over an hour to get a simple order of salad and wings. It’s hard to believe they faced criminal charges for not leaving a tip, but they did.
As a customer, you have a lot of power, especially in the competitive restaurant industry. Here are some tips to avoid paying a mandatory gratuity for bad service:
1. **Ask to waive the mandatory gratuity.** Before you even sit down, ask if the restaurant will waive the mandatory gratuity. They might agree to keep your business, especially if you have a large party. You can also suggest that your group will tip more than 18% for excellent service.
2. **Split your group into smaller tables.** Breaking your party into smaller tables can lead to better service. Large tables often wait longer because more meals need to be prepared. Plus, it’s easier to talk to everyone in smaller groups.
3. **Talk to your server.** If your server is off to a bad start, let them know politely. This can often resolve issues before they become bigger problems.
4. **Request a different server.** If talking to your server doesn’t help, speak to the manager and ask for a different server. While the manager might not grant your request, they will likely ensure the rest of your meal goes smoothly. You might even get a free appetizer, dessert, or entree for your trouble, which can offset the mandatory gratuity.
5. **Dispute the tip with your credit card company.** If the manager is unsympathetic and the service remains poor, pay the bill, including the mandatory gratuity, with your credit card. Once home, send a polite letter to the restaurant about the poor service and request your tip back. Then, dispute the charge with your credit card company.
This isn’t the first time diners have faced this issue. A similar incident happened in Lake George, New York, where charges were dropped because the man couldn’t be forced to pay a mandatory gratuity. The charges in the Bethlehem case were also eventually dropped.
So, next time you’re faced with an 18% gratuity for bad service, don’t just accept it. Use these tips to avoid rewarding poor service.