89 percent consumers want service charge at restaurants to be removed: Survey

According to a recent survey conducted by citizen engagement platform, LocalCircles, 89 percent consumers have said that restaurants should get rid of service charge.

The survey received over 8000 responses from consumers in over 100 districts of India with 66 percent male and 34 percent female participation.

In a related survey done a month back where the question was about the model of levying service charge, 68 percent consumers had said that they wanted payment of service charge to be optional. Out of the 5000 odd responses received in that poll, only 27 percent consumers had said that they were fine with paying whatever service charge was charged to them by the restaurants.

Consumers said that the implementation of a system monitoring the 'optional service charge' provision should be thoroughly done. Consumers believe that an advisory should be issued by the Department of Consumer Affairs to all restaurants and restaurant associations followed by strict implementation by the food commissioners and food inspectors, under the leadership of the District Magistrate.

The food inspectors should play a role in ensuring all restaurants receive the advisory and in future the Food Inspectors should do random checks at restaurants to ensure compliance. They also suggested that various media campaigns should be done to make the consumers aware about service charge being optional.

All inputs gathered will be submitted to the Department of Consumers Affairs on February 6, 2017, in order to ensure that necessary actions are taken to protect the interest of consumers.