Barbeque Nation, one of India’s largest casual dining chains, has been directed by the Consumer Protection Authority to stop collecting mandatory service charges from diners. The ruling comes after complaints that the automatic service fee was unfair, non-transparent and not optional, prompting authorities to step in and protect consumers from hidden charges. Under the new directive, Barbeque Nation can no longer add a compulsory service charge to customer bills. The restaurant group must immediately comply with the order and ensure all billing is transparent and optional in nature. Why the CCPA Took Action Against Service Charges The Consumer Protection Authority reviewed multiple complaints from customers who objected to the automatic service charge imposed on bills at Barbeque Nation outlets. Patrons argued that they were being forced to pay extra fees with no clear explanation of how the money was used, what benefit customers received in return, or whether it actually went to service staff. The authority found that compulsory service charges violated consumer rights because: They were often not clearly disclosed upfront Customers had no option to refuse the charge The benefit to consumers was unclear As a result, a decisive ruling was issued to end mandatory service charges at… Read MoreBusiness Archives – Trak.in – Indian Business of Tech, Mobile & Startups
