MUMBAI: A 34-year-old Prabhadevi woman has moved a district consumer commission against Mahim restaurant Thangabali for charging service charge of Rs 75.30 over a Rs 1393 bill when she dined there in January 2021. The commission issued a notice to the restaurant and adjourned the matter to July 25.
In her complaint submitted through advocate Prashant Nayak, Ridhina Nagwekar said that she had approached the duty manager and objected to the service charge. She said that she had explained to him that the charge is totally voluntary in nature and cannot be mandatorily charged to the consumers by adding it in the bill. She sought a compensation of Rs 20 lakh along with a refund of Rs 75.30.
On Monday, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) barred hotels and restaurants from levying service charges automatically or by default in food bills. It allowed customers to file complaints in case of violation with the consumer commissions, including through 'e-daakhil', and even district collectors.
Nagwekar in her complaint had said that she visited the restaurant on January 30, 2021. She further said that despite explaining that the charge was illegal,she was compelled to pay the service charge. The following day, she sent an email to the restaurant management through her advocate explaining the illegal act to them. However, she did not receive a response.
"Complainant states that she is entitled for the full refund of the service charge amount illegally charged to her by the opponent restaurant along with interest and compensation for mental agony and torture as well as with litigation charges incurred by her till the final decision of the complaint," Nagwekar said.
