Now all the aggrieved consumers will have a sigh of relief and can call Consumer Guidance Society of India (CGSI) if they are forced to pay the service charges even though they do not like the services offered. A person can register his complaint to CGSI with the details by sending an email to mah.helpline@gmail.com or call Maharashtra Consumer Toll free helpline 1800 22 2262. CGSI will collate all the complaints and take up the matter with the appropriate authorities
The Department of Consumer Affairs released an advisory on January 2 2017, which said the ‘service charges’, which restaurants include in addition to taxes, are not compulsory and a dissatisfied customer can choose to waive it off. Generally, restaurants or hotels have a practice to charge 5-20% of service charge on the total bill amount in the name of tips, which a customer is forced to pay inspite of the services offered.
Dr. Kamath, Hon. Secretary, CGSI stated, “CGSI has always helped consumers in solving their problems and with this new rule by the Department of Consumer Affairs on Service Charges, we will ensure that full support shall be provided to all the consumers. We are inviting complaints by consumers if they are forced to pay Service Charges”.
