Pizza Hut penalised for levying service charge

Tribune News Service

Mohali, March 18

A multinational food chain has been directed to pay Rs 4,000 to its customer for charging Rs 57.36 as service charge. 

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum here has ordered Pizza Hut to pay Rs 2,000 for mental agony caused to its customer and Rs 2,000 as litigation costs. Besides, it has been directed to refund the service charge, along with interest at the rate of 6 per cent per annum, to the complainant in the case.

A Patiala resident, Vishwadeep Nirman, had filed a complaint with the consumer forum, alleging that she had visited the opposite party at the North Country Mall, Mohali, on October 25 and purchased food items, for which she was charged Rs 778. The opposite party had mentioned Rs 57.36 as service charge in the bill, despite the fact that it was not claimable, alleged the complainant. Though she objected to the illegal charge and asked the respondent not to levy it, her request was not acceded to.

During the trial, the forum observed that the guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs specifically provide that service charge is payable voluntarily by the customer. But in this case, the complainant has been forced to pay the service charge. Thus, the opposite party adopted an unfair trade practice, the forum observed.

The forum directed the respondent to pay the compensation and litigation cost within 30 days from the receipt of a certified copy of the order.