Shub Law Firm is investigating claims that various hotels in Florida are charging mandatory hidden gratuity fees on meal and drink purchases. These fees may appear on the receipt or hidden in the menu.

HOW HOTELS HIDE GRATUITY FEES

At the end of a nice meal, the last thing a consumer wants to see is an unexpected mandatory fee, but this may be a regular practice in some hotels in Florida. These hotels hide their fee in small print on the menu, while others simply add the mandatory gratuity fee at the end of the meal without notice. In some cases, hotels will add a mandatory gratuity fee and then provide a space to add optional gratuity on the receipt. If a consumer is unaware of the mandatory gratuity fee, they may add their own tip thus paying gratuity twice.

Some hotels may even claim that gratuity is “suggested,” but then proceed to charge customers a “mandatory service fee.” If you have double-tipped at a hotel restaurant, you are not alone. Consumers all over Florida are falling prey to these tactics. For example, a consumer in Florida asked on Trip Advisor after being charged twice for gratuity, “Should I really have to tip again if there’s a service charge on the check?” That same consumer asserted that they paid 35% in service/tip fees, in part due to the hidden gratuity fee attached to this bill.

FLORIDA LAW PROHIBITS BUSINESSES FROM HIDING GRATUITY FEES

Specifically, Florida law states that businesses “shall provide notice of (A) whether the business includes an automatic tip in its bill,” and that “this notice shall be posted conspicuously, either on a sign or in a statement on the business’s menu.” They go even further by stating that this gratuity price must be “in the same form and manner as the other items on the menu.” Essentially, consumers should know ahead of time that they’re going to be charged a mandatory gratuity fee. 

LET’S FIGHT BACK AGAINST HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS USING HIDDEN GRATUITY FEES

Shub Law is a national leader in representing individuals against consumer fraud, and we believe that hotels and restaurants are not immune from being challenged on their deceptive practices. If you or anyone you know has been charged a hidden gratuity fee in Florida hotels, please contact us today at leads@shublawyers.com or call us today at 856-772-7200. All consultations are free of charge.