Is surcharge now being applied to everything and normalized in the same way “having a side hustle” normalized the idea of needing a second job?
Posted by IranianAlan@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 14 comments
Is surcharge now being applied to everything and normalized in the same way “having a side hustle” normalized the idea of needing a second job?
Timely_Egg_6827@reddit
Surcharges on menus have always been a thing eg £5 extra if you want steak or lobster on a set-menu or £15 for an added cheese course. It was a good way of extending the menu to allow pricier items while balancing cheapness for customers who want it and profit for the resturant.
Delivery surcharges on post tend to be on very rural areas and reflect the additional petrol/labour costs of sending somewhere up there - still a very subsisided price compared to the price of a dedicated courier.
Used in that way, I think it is pretty acceptable. Where it is exploitative is if you need to pay the surcharge to get anything decent at all. For example, if the base offer in a restuarant was £10 for bread and water and surcharges for everything else. Just have a la carte menu then. Don't try and bait and switch people with false advertising.
martinbean@reddit
Give an example of such surcharge?
No_Preference9093@reddit
Restaurants
martinbean@reddit
Well if this is in the UK, and a restaurant is applying a surcharge to pay via a particular payment method, then that’s illegal.
No_Preference9093@reddit
No but they charge gratuity, or on takeaway apps they charge service fees or convenience fees.
martinbean@reddit
They’re not surcharges. A surcharge is something like “payment by credit card will incur a 50 pence fee” etc.
No_Preference9093@reddit
Ok. You have a very fixed definition yourself and I have better things to do than argue about it.
martinbean@reddit
OK? I mean you’re the one that replied…
Expensive_Time_7367@reddit
If anything it’s going the other way as CMA is cracking down on non-transparent drip pricing. Ticketmaster is being forced to pack in its random baffling surcharges “who does it go to? Us or the venue? Who knows?” and Deliveroo, where “we put the fees on the food and as a fee” is being monitored.
Service charges are still spreading in restaurants but they’ve been a thing in London for decades.
cgknight1@reddit
No it is not - what are you thinking of where "surchages" are just added on? Please provide examples?
AnxiousTerminator@reddit
I normally see them in restaurants and online bookings.
NoFewSatan@reddit
Not in the slightest.
missuseme@reddit
I'll let you know once you've paid me the comment surcharge
IranianAlan@reddit (OP)
I'll reply when you have paid me the Reply Surcharge