C005🛒 Consumer & Shopping
Restaurant charging mandatory service charge
What you need to know
Per CCPA Guidelines 2022, service charge in restaurants is purely voluntary and cannot be added automatically to the bill. You have the right to refuse and restaurant cannot deny service for refusing.
Your rights
1
Refuse payment of service charge
2
Have service charge removed from bill on request
3
File complaint with Consumer Helpline if forced
4
CCPA complaint against coercive service charge
What you should do now
Action first1
Ask to remove it at the table
- Politely ask restaurant to remove service charge before paying
- Mention CCPA Guidelines 2022 if they resist — it is purely voluntary
- You cannot be denied food for refusing service charge
- If they refuse and it is a significant amount — file on consumerhelpline.gov.in
Acts applicable
Consumer Protection Act 2019
centralUnfair trade practice
Central Consumer Protection Authority Guidelines 2022
centralService charge in hotels and restaurants is voluntary
Where to complain
Consumer complaint portal: e-jagriti.gov.in (replaced edaakhil.nic.in as of Jan 2025). Labour complaints: col.gujarat.gov.in. All links verified June 2026 via web search against official government sources.