Diner says waitress's 10-minute outburst kept them from contesting a bill with white-out and 18% tip

A diner was left questioning an unexpected 18% gratuity after a confrontation between two restaurant employees made them reluctant to speak up about their bill. The handwritten check, which also appeared to contain white-out corrections, arrived after the diner said their waitress yelled at a colleague beside their table for almost 10 minutes.

Here's what to know

The customer explained the situation in a post on Reddit's r/MildlyInfuriating community. According to the diner, everything was normal until their check arrived. Not only was the check handwritten, but it also appeared to have several corrections, as well as an automatic 18% gratuity charge. 

The original poster said that, while they wanted to speak up about the 18% charge, they were reluctant to do so because their server had seemingly berated another employee beside their table. Because the employees were speaking a language the diner did not understand, the reason for their argument was unclear. 

Based on the image of the check, it appears unlikely that the diner's party featured enough people to trigger a more conventional automated 18% tip that has become standard across the country for parties of six or more guests. The check shows food charges of $56.75 prior to tip and tax, with two items appearing to be entrees. 

"I don't mind tipping, but adding 18% without even mentioning it and giving us a bill like this just doesn't feel right," the OP wrote. "What would you guys have done in this situation? Would you have asked them to remove the tip or just paid and left? How would you have handled it?"

What commenters said

Users flooded the comments with their takes, as most sided with the OP and said they, too, would have been extremely frustrated by the automatic charge, particularly since it had not been disclosed in advance. 

"This is irritating," one commenter chimed in. "They would be losing 2% if they did that to me because I always tip 20%."

Another commenter, who identified themselves as a server, agreed, saying they generally received tips of at least 20% when they did not automatically add gratuity.

One eagle-eyed user noted that tax appeared to be included in the amount used to calculate the gratuity. 

"It's less than a dollar extra on your bill, and I often round calculations this way myself. But, when I do, it's my decision, not theirs, and that extra 75 cents on every check is pure grift," the commenter wrote. "Not cool. You should definitely leave a review of your experience on Google, Yelp, and any other platform they're listed on."

There is no law at the state or federal level pertaining to whether tips should be calculated on the pre- or post-tax total of the bill, but the pre-tax total is generally more conventional and aligns with the standard etiquette.

What can be done?

Some Redditors pushed the OP to take further action, with one recommending a return visit to discuss the charges with a manager. Another advised that, at the time of the meal, the OP could have requested an itemized receipt with the ability to choose their own tip amount. 

Others raised the prospect that an automatic gratuity charge without a disclosure on the menu or signage could even violate local laws. One commenter urged diners to consult state or city consumer protection and hidden fee regulations, citing a notice on the menu as one way a restaurant could disclose its policy before presenting the check, though this practice is rarely observed for parties of five or fewer guests.

Several commenters also suggested sharing the experience on Google or Yelp to give other diners advance notice of the billing practice.

For at least one commenter, though, the handwritten check (even without white-out) in hurried writing seemed to be more concerning than the tip percentage.

"I don't think I would pay a bill if I couldn't read what it said," they wrote. 

Where can I learn more?

Other customers have also pushed back on unexpected charges and requests for tips. These stories cover mandatory restaurant charges, tip calculations, self-checkout prompts, and more. 

• In Los Angeles, diners criticized a 20% mandatory tip paired with a 5% admin fee.

• At an Applebee's in Georgia, an inflated-looking 20% tip sparked debate over tax calculations.

• At an airport self-checkout, a traveler buying water encountered an 18% tip prompt.

• A Domino's customer who regularly tipped $5 questioned how an added delivery fee affected tipping.

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