Your free weekly newspaper since 2008 AWOL Bazaar
issue 3 97 30th September 2016
English Corner Sudoku Classifieds Fat Of The Land
service included?
focus on extra charges in restaurants hua hin, THAILAND While it has not been reported to AWOL since we have been publishing, it appears that there is a problem in Thailand with restaurant service charges being added without customers being aware of them. The Department of Internal Trade says it will summon a meeting with the Thai Restaurant Association to discuss the issue of service charge collection in its move to mandate all restaurants to display service charge on their menus. Somsak Kiattichailak, the director-general of the Department of Internal Trade stated this week that the meeting is aimed at ordering all restaurants to put up clear signs indicating the amount of service charges that will be billed to their clientele on top of charges for foods and drinks. Mr Kiattichailak added that this is to ensure fairness for customers, and in future diners will be able to refuse to pay service charges if any restaurant fails to comply with this requirement. The issue of service charges is one that divides many people, dependent largely on the culture that they have grown up with; it also depends on whether the establishment imposing them is passing them on to their staff. Most patrons believe that any service charge or tip should go wholly to the staff, but many suspect that percentage charges added to bills end up in the owners’ pockets, and it appears that it is common practice in Thailand that these charges are not publically displayed. Tipping is not a common practice in many countries, and is often only done by customers who feel that have had service which has been exceptional; but in some other countries it is the norm, regardless of service received, so it is understandable that some places will add a set percentage service charge, and a policy to have this clearly displayed by all is a good move. An even better move would be that it was mandatory for this charge to be given to the staff.
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