A diner in the UK has been stung with an unexpected surcharge while enjoying a meal with friends at a restaurant with live music.
The woman’s partner posted the bill on Reddit, revealing the group had shared cocktails and several dishes at an unnamed venue earlier this month.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Couple hit with ‘obscene’ surcharge.
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The confusion came when the group realised they had been charged a live music fee of £8 ($A15) per person.
“Is this a new thing? Never come across this before,” the poster asked.
Several users queried why the group was charged a 12.5 per cent service fee as well as the live music expense.
“What if you didn’t even go there for the live music and went for the food and there happened to be live music? Yea, I wouldn’t be happy with this,” a user said.
Another added: “At least they didn’t charge you for air.”
However, others were quick to defend the restaurant, explaining the fee was likely a cover charge, which is often added to bills for entertainment or service.
“It’s called a cover for the band. Usually, they collect at the door. But I have seen it added to the check. Should have told you at the door at least,” one person said.
‘Unreasonable’
Closer to home, a Sydney diner was slugged with the same surcharge earlier this year when dining with her boyfriend in Darlinghurst earlier this year.
Lisa Sun and her partner Dave were left stumped over an “unreasonable” 10 per cent fee on their bill that had not been explained to them.
Sun says she noticed the restaurant’s fine print had suggested a surcharge applied to large groups, but they were a party of two.
It was only after the couple questioned staff about the charge, they discovered it was a “live music” fee.
“I asked about it and they said they meant to charge it because of the live music,” she said in a TikTok.
“I don’t know how I feel about that.
“How do you guys feel about being charged a surcharge for live music that you didn’t ask for and that you weren’t aware of prior to going to dinner?”
Sun claimed staff never disclosed the charge until the couple spotted it on the bill, but she ended up paying the cost as she “didn’t feel like arguing”.
“I just paid for it but in my head I was a bit like … I don’t know if you’re allowed to do that,” she said.
Several social media users were outraged over the fee, slamming it as “daylight robbery”.
“They just do these extra surcharges knowing they can get away with it,” one said.
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