If you’re the type of person who seethes when a service charge is automatically slapped onto your restaurant bill, you probably won’t like this.
On Reddit’s London thread, tauhou_ posted a picture of their receipt from The Pig and Butcher in Islington, highlighting a discretionary ‘Carbon Free’ fee that had been added to their total meal price.
Commenters didn’t hold back on sharing their thoughts, describing the charge as ‘stupid and sneaky,’ ‘a load of b******s,’ and a ‘total scam’.
‘More rinsing of customers with climate change as the excuse,’ wrote Both-Ad-7037, while Fritti_T added: ‘Yet another way to nickel and dime us.’
According to Noble Inns, The Pig and Butcher’s parent company, all tables (regardless of guest numbers or total spend) are asked to donate a flat £1.23 to either of its two charity partners; GiftTrees and Street Smart.
A representative for the firm told Metro: ‘This is optional and we explain this to customers. They can just ask to remove it. So far this calendar year our customers have donated £31,000 to GiftTrees and £9,211.75 to Street Smart.’
Street Smart supports homeless charities, meaning the charge tauhou_ spotted on their check likely refers to GiftTrees’s Carbon Friendly Dining (CFD) Initiative, created alongside payment system provider Lightspeed.
Each donation allows a diner to ‘offset the environmental impact of their meal’ by planting a tree in the developing world, with a GiftTrees spokesperson telling Metro that more than 12 million diners from hundreds of restaurants have ‘happily contributed’ to the planting of over 4.5 million trees.
However, there’s more to it than just saving the planet. Although signing up comes at no cost to companies, the CFD website lists perks ranging from free marketing and enhanced sustainability to ‘more, happier customers, better online reviews and happier staff.’
Additionally, certified UK restaurants receive one ‘sustainable credit’ for every five trees planted by their diners’ contributions, which they can put towards Lightspeed products.
This seemed to be the crux of some Redditors’ criticism, but others were angriest at the fact they’d have to opt out of the payment.
‘It’s ridiculous that some restaurants are now charging diners for carbon offsetting schemes,’ consumer champion and customer service consultant Jane Hawkes (also known as Lady Janey) tells Metro.
‘These kinds of extra charges are becoming increasingly common and can be incredibly confusing for customers. Whether it’s a ‘carbon free’ dining fee, an automatic service charge or a sustainability levy, the result is the same; the final bill is higher than expected.’
When a fee is discretionary, a customer is ‘under no obligation to pay it’. But Jane advises restaurants to focus on ‘clarity and choice’, and avoid quietly tacking extra costs on at the end of a meal.
She adds: ‘If a business wants to operate more sustainably, that’s a decision they should build into their pricing, not pass the cost directly to unsuspecting customers. During ongoing turbulent times for the hospitality industry, establishments that prioritise transparency, honesty, and trust are far more likely to retain customer loyalty.’
The rules around discretionary charges
Jane explains: ‘Any additional charge must be clearly communicated, verbally or in writing, before you place your order.
‘Even if a service charge is described as mandatory, you have the right to request removal if the service was poor or the charge wasn’t made clear in advance.
‘Equally if you were unaware of a “carbon free” dining fee, you can request for it to be removed from your bill.’
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
