Texas Restaurants Adding Hidden Junk Fees Despite Customer Backlash

Have you ever gone out to eat and had a nice meal soured by an unexpectedly high bill? Oftentimes, we simply fail to "do the math," and it's entirely our fault.

However, with the rise of sneaky "junk fees," you may get an unpleasant surprise when it comes time to settle up at your favorite eatery.

What Are Junk Fees at Texas Restaurants?

A restaurant won't call it a junk fee, but rather things like "service" or "convenience" fees, or refer to it as a surcharge.

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Service charges are often added for things like catering or delivery and are not the same thing as a tip. Many service staff friends of mine have taken the hit on the confusion caused by fees like this, which go to the restaurant, not them.

Convenience fees are often used to offset the cost of using a credit or debit card and tend to be fairly unnoticeable, generally under a dollar.

A surcharge can be for anything- possibly a "cork" fee for a wine setup (a modest one seems reasonable to me) or something ridiculous. Some people have discovered things like "dine-in" fees or even fees for napkins.

There is also Automatic Gratuity, which I find less controversial, as it is usually used for large parties. It protects the waitstaff from dedicating their entire time to a large party only to be stiffed by a cheap table.

Texas Laws and Regulations on Restaurant Fees

In case you are wondering, "how is this even legal?" the answer is that in Texas, it is legal, so long as the restaurant declares it up front.

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"Up Front" is up for interpretation. It could be a small sign at the front of the restaurant or fine print on the menu. So the next time you go out to eat, be sure to check for those hidden-in-not-so-plain-sight fees.

While it doesn't seem like the trend of junk fees is going anywhere, you can always try to vote it away- with your wallet.