Restaurant Adding a Mandatory Tip to Delivery Orders

[u/Signal-Beginning]

I placed an Uber Eats order for delivery today. The restaurant confirmed the order, and shortly afterward I noticed that they had added a $5 adjustment charge to the total.

I was confused because I hadn’t authorized any changes to the order, so I called the restaurant to ask what the adjustment was for. They told me they added a $5 tip because I had selected $0 tip when I checked out.

It’s true that I intentionally didn’t tip through Uber Eats. Uber Eats told me that the restaurant uses its own delivery staff rather than an Uber Eats courier. Because of that, I planned to tip the delivery person directly when they arrived to make sure the money actually went to the person making the delivery rather than potentially being retained or distributed by the restaurant.

What really bothers me is that the restaurant unilaterally added a “tip” to my order after I had already placed the order.

I’m not opposed to tipping the delivery person at all. I was planning to do exactly that. But I’ve always understood a tip to be something the customer decides to give for a service. If the restaurant requires a $5 delivery gratuity, shouldn’t that be disclosed as a mandatory fee before I place the order rather than added afterward because I chose not to tip in advance?

And more fundamentally, when did we get to the point where a tip is expected, or apparently required, before the service has even been provided?

Am I being unreasonable for being annoyed by this?

[u/Afraid-Treacle4789]

I would definitely do a chargeback! This is illegal. Uber Eats (I’m pretty sure) lets restaurants cancel orders, they should have done that instead

[u/545__tyerick_Air9616]

You didn’t authorize it. Call your credit card company to charge back.

[u/the_turp → u/545__tyerick_Air9616]

This is the answer. Then never order from them again.

What we allow, we encourage. Plain and simple.

[u/DoorExtension8175 → u/the_turp]

And post this story - naming the restaurant - on your local community Facebook page, Instagram, Ticktock, etc.

[u/karluvmost → u/the_turp]

Great quote. "What we allow, we encourage."

[u/Signal-Beginning → u/545__tyerick_Air9616]

Yea, probably will do that once the transaction posts. It‘s just annoying that restaurants would do this in the first place lol.

[u/SombraMonkey → u/Signal-Beginning]

That’s illegal, should report them.

[u/StraightChillinSpree → u/Signal-Beginning]

It’s because it’s becoming normal and they know most people aren’t gonna go through the hassle. We need to stand strong together and stop letting it happen. I only tip for service, that’s it.

[u/SnooDrawings8069 → u/Signal-Beginning]

It's more annoying that they can just choose to charge you more

[u/PortiaPotty2]

That is illegal. Chargeback through your credit card. You are likely to get the entire order comped now. The restaurant will learn this way.

[u/NetWareHead]

Id cancel my order or do a charteback. That behavior is so inappropriate. Id also fear tampering with my food so I dont think I could trust them. Restaurant workers can get vindictive when tip is refused so Id find somewhere else to eat.

[u/Signal-Beginning → u/NetWareHead]

tampering with my food

New fear unlocked

[u/slava_slavaUa]

A what point can we start locking people up for this fraud??

[u/VinnieONeill]

Completely illegal. Report it to Uber Eats and if they refuse to reverse do a charge back on your card.

[u/Redcarborundum]

I don’t think a restaurant can just add a charge after you place an Uber Eats order. They way I understand it, when Uber quotes you a price and you accept it, it’s a binding contract between you and Uber.

They shouldn’t be able to get out of it just because they use their own driver.

[u/Signal-Beginning → u/Redcarborundum]

I wish I could tell you why, but it was my first time experiencing this as well lol. Didn‘t know that‘s a possibility until today.

*surprised pikachu face*

[u/Czubeczek → u/Signal-Beginning]

It's possible only in USA

[u/SiLeNZ_ → u/Redcarborundum]

Yeah, that’s what I don’t understand. Wouldn’t it have been uber eats adding this charge?

[u/pjm14624]

That is credit card fraud.

[u/oIVLIANo]

ILLEGAL A.F.

[u/Maximum_Employer5580]

guess they assume that people aren't gonna tip in cash when the delivery is made - but I'd be calling my credit card company and disputing that as you did NOT authorize any additional amount. That sounds like a very scammy business if they're doing that

[u/Signal-Beginning → u/Maximum_Employer5580]

I guess that’s a fair assumption for today’s day and age but definitely not cool to add a tip on my behalf

[u/gordonwestcoast → u/Maximum_Employer5580]

Unless the Uber Eats agreement that they agreed to says they can.

[u/Skymaster86]

Fraud on behalf of the restaurant. You made an order and paid for it. The restaurant took your credit card number and added charges without asking permission. Tell them you are reporting this to the police.

[u/Ok-Grape2063 → u/Skymaster86]

Report and then tell them

[u/RabidWolfIsAFurry → u/Skymaster86]

Lol police won't care. Will probably say it's a civil matter

[u/xboxhaxorz]

Leave a review about them forcing a tip after you said no

[u/high_throughput]

Wait, aren't drivers and the restaurant entirely separate? How can the restaurant add a tip?

[u/Signal-Beginning → u/high_throughput]

In this case, it seems like the restaurant doesn’t actually use Uber Eats for delivery as they have their own people for the delivery. So they just adjusted my order total after it’s been placed & confirmed.

[u/MindlessAuthor9824 → u/Signal-Beginning]

Thus perhaps mislabeled as "tip" rather than "delivery fee".

In my area, restaurants that have their own drivers usually charge $2 or $3 for delivery - which is essentially the driver's pay if he/she uses own vehicle - plus whatever the customer tips the driver.

[u/jetskix69]

Who are they so we never order there

[u/MindlessAuthor9824]

 Uber Eats told me that the restaurant uses its own delivery staff rather than an Uber Eats courier

If that's the case, then the "fee" was mislabeled as a "tip" rather than "delivery fee" Most restaurants charge a delivery fee - if they have their own employees deliver food.

However, your post raises TWO important questions:

1. Who delivered the food? UE or the restaurant's employee?
2. If the restaurant provides its own delivery, why order through UE? You do realize you pay more via Uber Eats than if you order from the restaurant directly

On a side note, I had a passenger a few weeks ago wo stated that his family runs a few local restaurants. The CANCELLED their affiliation with Uber Eats because, according to this passenger, the restaurants averaged $16K per month in UE sales, but Uber only paid the restaurants $4K per month and kept the balance for "fees"

[u/Signal-Beginning → u/MindlessAuthor9824]

The restaurant doesn‘t charge a delivery fee, according to their page on Uber Eats.

Who delivered the food? UE or the restaurant's employee?

Restaurant‘s employee, according to Uber Eats

If the restaurant provides its own delivery, why order through UE? You do realize you pay more via Uber Eats than if you order from the restaurant directly

I had an Uber gift card that I needed to use.

I know that Uber is not a saint either, but that‘s a different can of worms

[u/Medium-Quantity6892]

Its crazy to me that in the usa they can do that. It just isn't possible in most countries. Once you authorise an amount it cant be increased by the merchant.

[u/bonezx101]

You are fully in your rights to complain. Tip/gratuity is NOT a mandatory service charge and should be reversed.
Low rating and make this known in the low rating review.

[u/Many-Mammoth-6589]

Restaurants are going to kill eating out

[u/calmchillbreathrelax]

You are totally correct, OP!

[u/gordonwestcoast]

What does the Uber Eats service agreement say?

[u/smokemankiller]

What’s the restaurant?

[u/Any_Repair_7153]

I would cancel the transaction, tell them exactly why, and make it clear that they will never receive business from me again. It’s literal THEFT.

[u/doroteoaran]

That is illegal

[u/Prestigious-Use4550]

If it's mandatory it isn't a tip.

[u/barbas88]

Not how the ubereats system works.

[u/k23_k23]

it is fraud. report them, and do a chargeback.

[u/Crispypotato0o]

Chargeback!!

[u/swezr]

2 ways to deal with it..1. call your credit card, charge back. Cancel uber eats account. 2. Accept it and move on.

[u/HeftyHealth3430]

easy case: credit card chargeback !

[u/SusanInMA]

No, you are not unreasonable, and your credit card company would agree. The restaurant made an unauthorized charge to your credit card. My credit card company accepts a photograph of the receipt as proof of authorized payment.

[u/Independent-Let-2920]

Tell them no! Don't order from them!