Whether it’s a romantic dinner for two or a catch-up with friends and family, it’s always nice to treat yourself to a nice meal out.

But for one Australian couple, their dinner ended in outrage after seeing a ‘ridiculous’ hidden surcharge on their bill.

A Sydney couple was bewildered after learning they had to pay an unusual surcharge for a service they didn’t even request.

TikTok user and vlogger Lisa Sun and her boyfriend Dave were out dining in Darlinghurst, Sydney, when they were informed that their bill had an extra fee for ‘large groups’. This left the pair confused, given that there were only two of them.

‘David and I went to this restaurant a couple of weeks ago…and they charged us a 10 per cent surcharge,’ she said in a video she posted on TikTok.

Lisa and Dave were charged with a 10 per cent surcharge while dining out. Credit: Fauxels/Pexels

Lisa reiterated that the extra charge was a ‘big group’ expense and said it was only the two of them dining out at the time.

‘When I went to pay, I was like, “Is it because there are two of us? Like, would you not have charged us this surcharge if I came alone? Like, how much smaller can this group realistically get? There’s two of us,” she shared.

But upon questioning staff over the ‘unreasonable’ fee, the couple was told it was a ‘live music’ charge.

‘I was charged a 10 per cent surcharge at a restaurant for an absolutely ridiculous, obscene reason,’ Lisa explained in the video.

‘They were like, “Oh, it’s because there was live music”,’ she said. Lisa also revealed that the staff insisted the surcharge was not a mistake.

‘I asked about it, and they said they meant to charge it because of the live music. Now I don’t know how I feel about that,’ Lisa stated.

While Lisa admitted she paid the bill, she did explain that she had doubts over the payment and whether it was a legitimate expense.

‘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?’ She questioned.

She continued: ‘I just paid for it, but in my head, I was a bit…I don’t know if you’re allowed to do that. Let me know if it’s just me because I don’t know.’

You can watch her video below:

​

The video attracted thousands of views, with many expressing their outrage over the ‘obscene’ surcharge.

‘Daylight robbery at its finest. They just do these extra surcharges knowing they can get away with it,’ one commented.

Another agreed and wrote: ‘They’re surcharging everything now.’

One said that the restaurant should have mentioned the surcharge before the couple ordered their meal. ‘Technically, it’s not incorporated into the contract if you didn’t know or had no way of knowing,’ they added.

A fourth replied: ‘Should be on the menu, I would have disputed it if it wasn’t.’

While one said they wouldn’t have paid the fee at all. ‘No way I would have paid – especially since it wasn’t disclosed earlier. Never heard anywhere else trying to charge for that,’ they claimed.

Others suggested that the couple report the incident to Fair Trading under ‘misleading conduct’.

According to the ACCC, some restaurants are allowed to impose surcharges on certain days, such as weekends and public holidays – as long as the fees are displayed accordingly so the customer can see them.

‘The menu must include the words “a surcharge of [percentage] applies on [the specified day or days]”, and these words must be displayed at least as prominently as the most prominent price on the menu,’ the ACCC said in their website.

They continued: ‘If the menu does not have prices listed, these words must be displayed in a way that is conspicuous and visible to a reader. These measures apply to pricing for both food and beverages.’

Additionally, there is no limit to the percentage a cafe or restaurant can impose, but the ACCC assures consumers that they can report those they believe are breaking the rules.

Here's what the ACCC says about price displays. Image credit: The Seniors Discount Club

A similar incident happened a couple of weeks back when local Perth resident Claire O’Donnell was shocked at the unexpected service fee she was charged while dining out with friends. This left her outraged by the ‘sneaky addition’ of the hidden surcharge, and she took to social media to warn others about her experience.

In response to the backlash, the restaurant clarified that the service fee had been introduced during COVID and was noted on the menu and website. You can read the rest of the story here.

Key Takeaways

• A diner detailed her frustration after being hit with a 10% surcharge at a Sydney restaurant.
• The surcharge was for 'live music,' which the couple didn't ask for and wasn't aware of.
• The video discussing the surcharge has been viewed more than 15,000 times, with many outraged over it.
• Some comments suggest the surcharge should have been disclosed on the menu or before ordering.

Have you ever been hit with an unexpected fee on a restaurant bill? How did you respond? Tell us in the comments below.

 

[PatT]

Whether it’s a romantic dinner for two or a catch-up with friends and family, it’s always nice to treat yourself to a nice meal out.

But for one Australian couple, their dinner ended in outrage after seeing a ‘ridiculous’ hidden surcharge on their bill.

A Sydney couple was bewildered after learning they had to pay an unusual surcharge for a service they didn’t even request.

TikTok user and vlogger Lisa Sun and her boyfriend Dave were out dining in Darlinghurst, Sydney, when they were informed that their bill had an extra fee for ‘large groups’. This left the pair confused, given that there were only two of them.

‘David and I went to this restaurant a couple of weeks ago…and they charged us a 10 per cent surcharge,’ she said in a video she posted on TikTok.

View attachment 17285

Lisa and Dave were charged with a 10 per cent surcharge while dining out. Credit: Fauxels/Pexels

Lisa reiterated that the extra charge was a ‘big group’ expense and said it was only the two of them dining out at the time.

‘When I went to pay, I was like, “Is it because there are two of us? Like, would you not have charged us this surcharge if I came alone? Like, how much smaller can this group realistically get? There’s two of us,” she shared.

But upon questioning staff over the ‘unreasonable’ fee, the couple was told it was a ‘live music’ charge.

‘I was charged a 10 per cent surcharge at a restaurant for an absolutely ridiculous, obscene reason,’ Lisa explained in the video.

‘They were like, “Oh, it’s because there was live music”,’ she said. Lisa also revealed that the staff insisted the surcharge was not a mistake.

‘I asked about it, and they said they meant to charge it because of the live music. Now I don’t know how I feel about that,’ Lisa stated.

While Lisa admitted she paid the bill, she did explain that she had doubts over the payment and whether it was a legitimate expense.

‘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?’ She questioned.

She continued: ‘I just paid for it, but in my head, I was a bit…I don’t know if you’re allowed to do that. Let me know if it’s just me because I don’t know.’

You can watch her video below:

​

The video attracted thousands of views, with many expressing their outrage over the ‘obscene’ surcharge.

‘Daylight robbery at its finest. They just do these extra surcharges knowing they can get away with it,’ one commented.

Another agreed and wrote: ‘They’re surcharging everything now.’

One said that the restaurant should have mentioned the surcharge before the couple ordered their meal. ‘Technically, it’s not incorporated into the contract if you didn’t know or had no way of knowing,’ they added.

A fourth replied: ‘Should be on the menu, I would have disputed it if it wasn’t.’

While one said they wouldn’t have paid the fee at all. ‘No way I would have paid – especially since it wasn’t disclosed earlier. Never heard anywhere else trying to charge for that,’ they claimed.

Others suggested that the couple report the incident to Fair Trading under ‘misleading conduct’.

According to the ACCC, some restaurants are allowed to impose surcharges on certain days, such as weekends and public holidays – as long as the fees are displayed accordingly so the customer can see them.

‘The menu must include the words “a surcharge of [percentage] applies on [the specified day or days]”, and these words must be displayed at least as prominently as the most prominent price on the menu,’ the ACCC said in their website.

They continued: ‘If the menu does not have prices listed, these words must be displayed in a way that is conspicuous and visible to a reader. These measures apply to pricing for both food and beverages.’

Additionally, there is no limit to the percentage a cafe or restaurant can impose, but the ACCC assures consumers that they can report those they believe are breaking the rules.

View attachment 17299

Here's what the ACCC says about price displays. Image credit: The Seniors Discount Club

A similar incident happened a couple of weeks back when local Perth resident Claire O’Donnell was shocked at the unexpected service fee she was charged while dining out with friends. This left her outraged by the ‘sneaky addition’ of the hidden surcharge, and she took to social media to warn others about her experience.

In response to the backlash, the restaurant clarified that the service fee had been introduced during COVID and was noted on the menu and website. You can read the rest of the story here.

Key Takeaways

• A diner detailed her frustration after being hit with a 10% surcharge at a Sydney restaurant.
• The surcharge was for 'live music,' which the couple didn't ask for and wasn't aware of.
• The video discussing the surcharge has been viewed more than 15,000 times, with many outraged over it.
• Some comments suggest the surcharge should have been disclosed on the menu or before ordering.

Have you ever been hit with an unexpected fee on a restaurant bill? How did you respond? Tell us in the comments below.

I hope one day to do this if in a similar situation. If your bill was (eg) $250-00 Give them $50. When queried, tell them it was a $200 fee for sleeping with me. If they argue, and say they didn't, I would reply, 'well, I was here, and available, Not my fault if no one used my service.'

 

[POG]

Whether it’s a romantic dinner for two or a catch-up with friends and family, it’s always nice to treat yourself to a nice meal out.

But for one Australian couple, their dinner ended in outrage after seeing a ‘ridiculous’ hidden surcharge on their bill.

A Sydney couple was bewildered after learning they had to pay an unusual surcharge for a service they didn’t even request.

TikTok user and vlogger Lisa Sun and her boyfriend Dave were out dining in Darlinghurst, Sydney, when they were informed that their bill had an extra fee for ‘large groups’. This left the pair confused, given that there were only two of them.

‘David and I went to this restaurant a couple of weeks ago…and they charged us a 10 per cent surcharge,’ she said in a video she posted on TikTok.

View attachment 17285

Lisa and Dave were charged with a 10 per cent surcharge while dining out. Credit: Fauxels/Pexels

Lisa reiterated that the extra charge was a ‘big group’ expense and said it was only the two of them dining out at the time.

‘When I went to pay, I was like, “Is it because there are two of us? Like, would you not have charged us this surcharge if I came alone? Like, how much smaller can this group realistically get? There’s two of us,” she shared.

But upon questioning staff over the ‘unreasonable’ fee, the couple was told it was a ‘live music’ charge.

‘I was charged a 10 per cent surcharge at a restaurant for an absolutely ridiculous, obscene reason,’ Lisa explained in the video.

‘They were like, “Oh, it’s because there was live music”,’ she said. Lisa also revealed that the staff insisted the surcharge was not a mistake.

‘I asked about it, and they said they meant to charge it because of the live music. Now I don’t know how I feel about that,’ Lisa stated.

While Lisa admitted she paid the bill, she did explain that she had doubts over the payment and whether it was a legitimate expense.

‘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?’ She questioned.

She continued: ‘I just paid for it, but in my head, I was a bit…I don’t know if you’re allowed to do that. Let me know if it’s just me because I don’t know.’

You can watch her video below:

​

The video attracted thousands of views, with many expressing their outrage over the ‘obscene’ surcharge.

‘Daylight robbery at its finest. They just do these extra surcharges knowing they can get away with it,’ one commented.

Another agreed and wrote: ‘They’re surcharging everything now.’

One said that the restaurant should have mentioned the surcharge before the couple ordered their meal. ‘Technically, it’s not incorporated into the contract if you didn’t know or had no way of knowing,’ they added.

A fourth replied: ‘Should be on the menu, I would have disputed it if it wasn’t.’

While one said they wouldn’t have paid the fee at all. ‘No way I would have paid – especially since it wasn’t disclosed earlier. Never heard anywhere else trying to charge for that,’ they claimed.

Others suggested that the couple report the incident to Fair Trading under ‘misleading conduct’.

According to the ACCC, some restaurants are allowed to impose surcharges on certain days, such as weekends and public holidays – as long as the fees are displayed accordingly so the customer can see them.

‘The menu must include the words “a surcharge of [percentage] applies on [the specified day or days]”, and these words must be displayed at least as prominently as the most prominent price on the menu,’ the ACCC said in their website.

They continued: ‘If the menu does not have prices listed, these words must be displayed in a way that is conspicuous and visible to a reader. These measures apply to pricing for both food and beverages.’

Additionally, there is no limit to the percentage a cafe or restaurant can impose, but the ACCC assures consumers that they can report those they believe are breaking the rules.

View attachment 17299

Here's what the ACCC says about price displays. Image credit: The Seniors Discount Club

A similar incident happened a couple of weeks back when local Perth resident Claire O’Donnell was shocked at the unexpected service fee she was charged while dining out with friends. This left her outraged by the ‘sneaky addition’ of the hidden surcharge, and she took to social media to warn others about her experience.

In response to the backlash, the restaurant clarified that the service fee had been introduced during COVID and was noted on the menu and website. You can read the rest of the story here.

Key Takeaways

• A diner detailed her frustration after being hit with a 10% surcharge at a Sydney restaurant.
• The surcharge was for 'live music,' which the couple didn't ask for and wasn't aware of.
• The video discussing the surcharge has been viewed more than 15,000 times, with many outraged over it.
• Some comments suggest the surcharge should have been disclosed on the menu or before ordering.

Have you ever been hit with an unexpected fee on a restaurant bill? How did you respond? Tell us in the comments below.

When we get hit with a surcharge, I tell them that is your tip. Perhaps that is why they have introduced a surcharge in the first place, people don't want to tip.

 

[Trudi]

What's next? It's hospitality, surcharges are a crap idea. Just build into the bill. What's next, paying for the coat of paint on the wall or clean utensils?

Already happening. We stayed at a motel in Brisbane a few weeks ago and I spotted a sign above the fridge that unless guest washed up dishes and cutlery, there would be a surcharge.

I had already used a cups and teaspoons before I saw the notice, otherwise I would have washed them BEFORE using them!

What's next? Making up the beds and washing the linen?

 

[Trudi]

When we get hit with a surcharge, I tell them that is your tip. Perhaps that is why they have introduced a surcharge in the first place, people don't want to tip.

We're NOT the USA and I most certainly do not tip!

If I was hit with a surcharge that I was not made aware of before using their services, I would refuse to pay it and send a complaint to Fair Trading!

 

[Aussie all the Way]

We went to a Pub and were told we were going to be charged a Corkage Fee for a bottle of Wine, AT A PUB, I said you have got to be joking, NO said the guy it's for washing the glasses, so I said well you just lost a customer will never come here and I will tell all my friends how bad you are as well. A PUB CHARGING A CORKAGE FEE unheard of.

 

[mylittletibbies]

Already happening. We stayed at a motel in Brisbane a few weeks ago and I spotted a sign above the fridge that unless guest washed up dishes and cutlery, there would be a surcharge.

I had already used a cups and teaspoons before I saw the notice, otherwise I would have washed them BEFORE using them!

What's next? Making up the beds and washing the linen?

I always wash up cutlery and crockery in a motel, such a small thing, I wouldn't have thought you would need a notice to tell you.
Try going to an air bnb, you have to take your own linen, towels and in some of them even pillows and doonas. Then they even charge an astronomical cleaning fee, not to mention leave you a long list of do's and don'ts.
Nope, not for me, rather wash a couple of dishes.
You have a problem with that, really??? You're not staying in a five star hotel you know.

 

[Catherines]

I hope one day to do this if in a similar situation. If your bill was (eg) $250-00 Give them $50. When queried, tell them it was a $200 fee for sleeping with me. If they argue, and say they didn't, I would reply, 'well, I was here, and available, Not my fault if no one used my service.'

Fantastic response but are YOU really worth that fee? Only joking, but I love your response to these surcharges that are cropping up frequently in Australia. As someone else says - we are not the US.

 

[mylittletibbies]

Fantastic response but are YOU really worth that fee? Only joking, but I love your response to these surcharges that are cropping up frequently in Australia. As someone else says - we are not the US.

Heard that joke before.

 

[AlanQ]

As long as the additional fees are CLEARLY listed there would or shouldn't be an issue. The 'gratuity' is another charge that is automatically applied. Not unusual for someone to just pay the bill and leave tip unaware of the tip being applied by the restaurant(s). Do question why they just don't have a menu for the weekend and a menu for the week day so dinners are then unaware of dubious surcharges.