Takeaway adding tax to food orders

Phat Cat

The last couple of times I ordered in a local takeaway they added tax to my order. The food that I ordered was advertised on the menu with prices clearly displayed and my order total came to €28.95 but I was asked to pay €31.45 in total, so that was an additional €2.50 in 'tax'. I questioned them but they fobbed me off and told me that it was normal practice etc, etc.

This obviously isn't right, or is this just something new that I've never heard about?

whomitconcerns

Phat Cat wrote: »

The last couple of times I ordered in a local takeaway they added tax to my order. The food that I ordered was advertised on the menu with prices clearly displayed and my order total came to €28.95 but I was asked to pay €31.45 in total, so that was an additional €2.50 in 'tax'. I questioned them but they fobbed me off and told me that it was normal practice etc, etc.

This obviously isn't right, or is this just something new that I've never heard about?

Not sure what tax rate that would be, and they can’t quote you ex vat. What does your receipt say?

Phat Cat

whomitconcerns wrote: »

Not sure what tax rate that would be, and they can’t quote you ex vat. What does your receipt say?

Unfortunately they gave me the merchant copy of my visa debit receipt both times which makes this feel even more shady.

Jim_Hodge

Was it delivered?

€2.50 doesn't work for any tax rate.

JohnC.

Are they adding an extra made-up charge for Covid, like some hairdressers and the like?

Phat Cat

Jim_Hodge wrote: »

Was it delivered?

€2.50 doesn't work for any tax rate.

It wasn't delivered, it was a walk-in order

JohnC. wrote: »

Are they adding an extra made-up charge for Covid, like some hairdressers and the like?

I'm not sure, but it's definitely not a real tax, I'm not sure what they are upto

Sleeper12

That's not tax. The only tax they can charge on top of the price is VAT. The VAT rates are 13.5 and 23 percent. This charge isn't either one of those.

My guess is it is the delivery fee.

L1011

Its absolutely not tax; but even if it was they must quote tax-inclusive prices.

tayto lover

Chancers imo.

dhaughton99

€3.75 for a manky single out of burdocks today. And they have a tip jar on the counter. No scraps thrown in either.

spoonerhead

Complete chancers! That’s the definitely the delivery fee. Also did you preorder through like Just Eat? I read a while back some restaurants are considering collection charges like deliver to cover the commission fees. Only other thing I can think of.

Darc19

Did you order on an app?

tayto lover

We’re worse ourselves to be buying from these robbers.
In my golf club prior to Covid a breakfast bap was €6 (2 sausages, rasher and egg in a burger bap). Tasty alright.
After Covid it’s €8.
25% increase. Robbers.

I got caught once but now I take my own sandwich with me.

jimmycrackcorm

I seem to recall mcDonalds here using American tills that showed bothe the acutal price and the tax amount. Obviously they were based on US software which adds on US sales taxes, but in Europe its always VAT inclusive for consumers and in the McD's case, they just display what portion is included as VAT . In fact its illegal to display incorrect prices and retail outlets have been shut down for not displaying correct prices ( source: I used to write EPOS software).

There is an "invitation to treat" that covers genuine mistakes but "under the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (2005/29/EC), it is considered a misleading action to provide false or untruthful information that deceives or is likely to deceive the average consumer. It needs to be noted however that even in court, the judge would have to assess it on a case-by-case basis (taking into account all the relevant facts) in order to find a fair balance between giving relief and protecting commercial interests of the mistaken contracting party, taking into account the typical reaction of the average consumer in a given case, on the one hand, and the mistake/defect in consent on the other."

Op could basically have taken the food, dropped 28.95 on the counter and walked out without any repercussion.

L1011

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

Op could basically have taken the food, dropped 28.95 on the counter and walked out without any repercussion.

Realistically yes, legally in a direct manner no.

BrianBoru00

tayto lover wrote: »

We’re worse ourselves to be buying from these robbers.
In my golf club prior to Covid a breakfast bap was €6 (2 sausages, rasher and egg in a burger bap). Tasty alright.
After Covid it’s €8.
25% increase. Robbers.

I got caught once but now I take my own sandwich with me.

33 1/3 % increase . . .

Geuze

tayto lover wrote: »

In my golf club prior to Covid a breakfast bap was €6 (2 sausages, rasher and egg in a burger bap). Tasty alright.
After Covid it’s €8.
25% increase. Robbers.

A good example of a typical maths mistake.

Heres Johnny

tayto lover wrote: »

We’re worse ourselves to be buying from these robbers.
In my golf club prior to Covid a breakfast bap was €6 (2 sausages, rasher and egg in a burger bap). Tasty alright.
After Covid it’s €8.
25% increase. Robbers.

I got caught once but now I take my own sandwich with me.

33.33%. Even worse

Darc19

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

I seem to recall mcDonalds here using American tills that showed bothe the acutal price and the tax amount. Obviously they were based on US software which adds on US sales taxes, but in Europe its always VAT inclusive for consumers and in the McD's case, they just display what portion is included as VAT . In fact its illegal to display incorrect prices and retail outlets have been shut down for not displaying correct prices ( source: I used to write EPOS software).

There is an "invitation to treat" that covers genuine mistakes but "under the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (2005/29/EC), it is considered a misleading action to provide false or untruthful information that deceives or is likely to deceive the average consumer. It needs to be noted however that even in court, the judge would have to assess it on a case-by-case basis (taking into account all the relevant facts) in order to find a fair balance between giving relief and protecting commercial interests of the mistaken contracting party, taking into account the typical reaction of the average consumer in a given case, on the one hand, and the mistake/defect in consent on the other."

Op could basically have taken the food, dropped 28.95 on the counter and walked out without any repercussion.

McDonald's never had "American tills". They, like several others show the vat amount that is included in the gross price displayed.

As food and drinks have different rates, it's broken down at the bottom of the receipt.

And no you can't just leave xx on the counter and leave.

But you can say, sorry, but I expected to pay the price displayed and refuse to complete the transaction and purchase elsewhere. This I find is the best way to get things corrected.

GerardKeating

whomitconcerns wrote: »

Not sure what tax rate that would be, and they can’t quote you ex vat. What does your receipt say?

Long long time ago, EAT-in and Take-out had different VAT rates, and some fast food resturants had different (lower) prices for take out, for the older resturants, some might not have updated till software since then.

Phat Cat

spoonerhead wrote: »

Complete chancers! That’s the definitely the delivery fee. Also did you preorder through like Just Eat? I read a while back some restaurants are considering collection charges like deliver to cover the commission fees. Only other thing I can think of.

Darc19 wrote: »

Did you order on an app?

I didn't order online or through an app, I ordered in store, so there shouldn't have been any delivery fee or handling charges applied. I personally think that they are just chancing their arm.

El Tarangu

dhaughton99 wrote: »

€3.75 for a manky single out of burdocks today. And they have a tip jar on the counter.

Kind of OT, but I genuinely cannot understand the notion of looking for tips in places where the customer has to stand in a queue and get their order themselves...

Truckermal

tayto lover wrote: »

We’re worse ourselves to be buying from these robbers.
In my golf club prior to Covid a breakfast bap was €6 (2 sausages, rasher and egg in a burger bap). Tasty alright.
After Covid it’s €8.
25% increase. Robbers.

I got caught once but now I take my own sandwich with me.

Tayto sandwiches? :pac:

Speak Now

BrianBoru00 wrote: »

33 1/3 % increase . . .

And if they dropped it again by 25% they'd be back to original price

Cerco

Phat Cat wrote: »

I didn't order online or through an app, I ordered in store, so there shouldn't have been any delivery fee or handling charges applied. I personally think that they are just chancing their arm.

Was he wearing a mask 😲

sidcon

GerardKeating wrote: »

Long long time ago, EAT-in and Take-out had different VAT rates, and some fast food resturants had different (lower) prices for take out, for the older resturants, some might not have updated till software since then.

That is still the situation today, cold food is 0% and hot food is 13.5%, the sit in rate is 13.5% so it's easy to distinguish what's at 13.5% now in terms of takeaway or fast food. Deli's on the other hand are not so easy if you have both options

Allinall

dhaughton99 wrote: »

€3.75 for a manky single out of burdocks today. And they have a tip jar on the counter. No scraps thrown in either.

Surely adding scraps would have made it mankier?

Muahahaha

El Tarangu wrote: »

Kind of OT, but I genuinely cannot understand the notion of looking for tips in places where the customer has to stand in a queue and get their order themselves...

+1 on this. Coffee shops especially guilty of it.They often have an empty coffee cup with a post it note attached saying tips with a smiley face :rolleyes:


Probably more to do with the owners paying staff minimum wage and then looking for a way to get the customer to top it up with tips. I hate this American sh1t of paying staff low wages and then trying to get the customer to make up for the boss being a tight arse.

Cerco

I think they just leave it there to collect the small change, 10/20cents, from the sale. If you don’t like it just ignore.
As you say, they are probably on minimum wage and the few accumulated cent are appreciated.
Hate to think the owner would benefit from it.