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michelle
03-12-2004, 04:52 PM
My fiance and I reserved our reception hall in January. We went back last week (in March) to tell the coordinator want kinds of food we want. The cost is $52 per person, which was fine.

But then the coordinator (who is the owner) tacked on an 18% service charge, which added another $900 to the total. My fiance and I hadn't budgeted for that. At the bottom of the menu sheets, it says (in small, pale type) "Service charges & gratuities may apply per group size." But we had never thought to ask what that meant.

So after my fiance noticed the extra $900 on the menu contract (and after we had already signed it), I asked the owner if that was for tips. She said *****ily, "No. It's not negotiable. If you don't pay it, you don't get served."

Everyone I've talked to says they have never heard of such a thing, that the price for servers should be included in the price for the meal per person. (And to base the charge on a percentage, to me, sounds like a tip.)

What would you suggest I do? Thanks for your help.

kelley97
03-27-2004, 09:23 AM
It's pretty common here in Pennsylvania. We are getting married in OCt. '04, and paying a hefty 18% gratity along with 6% sales tax. Every place we looked had that either written or a clause, however one Marjean's had a side statement saying the 18% has been included in the price.