KOCHI: Hoteliers in Kerala said only 5-10 per cent of them add service charges in the bills, indicating that the statement of the Department of Consumer Affairs that service charges cannot be mandatorily applied by restaurants would not have a major impact in the state.
As per the government statement, customers can refuse service fee if they are not happy with the service even if the hoteliers have added the service charges in the bill. “In Kerala, only 5-10 per cent of hotels may be adding service charges in the bill. We also feel that customers should not be forced to pay the service charges,” said G Sudhiesh Kumar, patron of Kerala Hotel & Restaurant Association.
Hotels add 5-20 per cent as service charges, which can be rejected by customers, following the government clarification on Monday. C J Harley, vice-president of the Association and owner of Chariot Food Court in Kochi, said his hotels never bill service charges from customers.
“Maybe some five-star hotels are charging it in the bills. My view is that those hotels which add service charges in the bills should put up a board to inform this additional charge to customers,” he said. The Hotel & Restaurant Association also said that is not charging service tax after a judgment by the High Court against such charges.