Restaurants duping customers with upcharges

People are unknowingly being duped by many area restaurants that are employing a devious practice. When the bill arrives, the prices charged are not the ones displayed on the menu. The amounts are inflated by some percentage — typically between 3% and 5%. This surprise upcharge is not displayed as a separate line item on the bill. That would make it too easy to discover. Instead, the amount charged for each item on the bill is simply a little greater than its menu price. Since the percentage is relatively small, the difference goes unnoticed.

To provide legal cover for their deceit, the offending establishments add a short note at the very bottom of the bill, where it is unlikely to be read. The notice says something to the effect that a surcharge has been added to offset operating costs. It offers to remove the charge at the request of the customer, but, since only the most discerning customers even see the obscure notice, such a request is rarely made.

Even well-known, big-name restaurants are using this tactic. The sham practice borders on outright fraud and demonstrates a total lack of respect for patrons. If menu prices do not adequately cover operating costs, then the restaurant should raise the menu prices. Nobody likes higher prices, but if a business is going to charge more, it at least be honest and forthright about it.

Bob Dohn

Hoffman Estates