Turkey has officially banned charging customers a "service charge" in restaurants, cafes, pastry shops, and other food service establishments.
According to Yeniavaz.com, the decision prohibits establishments from charging customers additional fees under the names "service charges," "table charges," "tablecloth charges," and so on.
It's worth noting that the abolition of service charges in Turkish restaurants has also raised questions about the service charge used in many restaurants and cafes in Azerbaijan. For example, some establishments charge customers a service charge in addition to the order total.
In most cases, this charge is not disclosed on the menu, and customers are faced with a higher bill than they expected. These situations are causing dissatisfaction.
But is it legal to charge a service charge in Azerbaijani restaurants?
In an interview with Yeniavaz.com, Eyyub Huseynov, Chairman of the Union of Free Consumers, stated that the decision adopted in Turkey is an important step in protecting consumer rights:
"In Turkey, charging additional fees not specified in the menu is prohibited. This is an extremely appropriate and positive decision from a consumer protection perspective. According to the decision, all additional services provided to the consumer - whether the use of a cabinet, multimedia, or other equipment - can only be provided under one condition: these services and their prices must be clearly and unambiguously indicated in advance on the menu."

Eyyub Huseynov

He noted that this problem is rapidly spreading in Azerbaijan:
"A certain immunity created to support the business environment in Azerbaijan is being misused. Violations of consumer rights have already become the norm. When any violation is not prevented and goes unpunished, over time it becomes a common occurrence in society."
Eyyub Huseynov also expressed hope that a similar decision in this area will be made in Azerbaijan in the near future:
"I don't believe such a decision will be made in Azerbaijan anytime soon. Consumer protection policies in the country are currently very weak. This situation seriously harms the development of tourism in Azerbaijan."

Farida Asadzade