You know what gets my goat? When you get the bill after a meal, and printed/written beneath the total is "optional service charge - 12.5%". How flipping presumptuous... but what really, really makes me want to tip the table over when I leave, is when AFTER they've added a service charge (whether you liked the service or not) they bring you the credit card slip to sign, and it has a space for gratuities!
If you fill in an extra 10% because you missed the small-print at the bottom of the original bill, they don't say "Excuse me, sir. Do you realise you've paid a 23.75% tip?" Oh no, they take the cash. But try and exercise your option on the "optional service charge" and see how discretionary it really is.
To me, adding that line onto the credit card slip is nothing more than deceit. They've charged you, so what are they hoping for? Devious bastards. I bet they catch at least 6 in ten unsuspecting customers. Especially when it's dark. I mean, if the meal was half as good as they presume when adding the "discretionary service charge", you're probably bladdered by time it arrives anyway... Who's going to be doing the maths then?
