Giving service tax is voluntary

Customers who are dissatisfied can report to the National Consumer Helpline by dialling 1915, using the NCH mobile app, or going to the e-daakhil webpage.

On Monday, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) forbade hotels and restaurants from automatically or by default including a service charge in the food bill. It stated that in the event of a violation, a customer may request that a hotel or restaurant remove the service charge or may file a complaint to obtain compensation.

According to the CCPA's standards, service charges cannot be included in the food bill voluntarily or automatically by hotels or restaurants. No service charge shall be collected under any other name, according to a statement from the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution.

No hotel or restaurant may require a customer to pay a service charge, and they must expressly warn them that doing so is voluntary, elective, and up to the customer.

The ministry made it clear that there shouldn't be any limitations on access or service delivery based on the collecting of service fees. The statement read, "Service charge shall not be collected by adding it to the food bill and applying GST to the entire price."

"Any consumer may request to the concerned hotel or restaurant to withdraw service fee from the bill amount if the customer discovers that a hotel or restaurant is levying service charge in contravention to the rules," it stated.

Additionally, the National Consumer Helpline (NCH), which serves as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism at the pre-litigation stage, can be contacted by dialling 1915 or via the NCH mobile app, according to the statement. It added, "The customer may also protest to the Consumer Commission about unfair trade practises.