Tipping: What to know before you pay the bill
Wondering whether you should leave a tip after receiving disappointing service? Have you felt duped after leaving an excessive tip? Have you been asked for a tip for services where you feel it was unjustified? You're not alone. Here's some information to enlighten you about the techniques used to get you to give more, and about what the law says.
A tip is an amount given as a gratuity, in addition to normal remuneration for a service. Although completely discretionary, this practice retains a certain ambiguity, as it lies midway between different types of payment: gift, salary, bonus or charity.
The advent of payment terminals and online platforms has provided fertile ground for the emergence of techniques designed to encourage consumers to leave more tips. Here are the main techniques used:
Persuasive messages
Some companies use visual language (such as hearts or emojis) and wording designed to encourage consumers to leave a tip.
After-tax tip
At many merchants, the tip percentage applies not only to the price of the product purchased, but also to the applicable taxes.
Pre-selected tip
Many apps pre-select a default tip amount or rate when the transaction is completed.
Obstruction to refuse a tip
Many platforms make it difficult for the consumer to refuse to tip. This can make completing the transaction more complicated.
Asking for a second tip
Some platforms, which allow you to pay the tip before or during the provision of service, sometimes ask for a second tip or offer to increase the initial amount after the service.
Smart tipping
The form of the tip varies according to the price of the bill: for low-priced products, tip options are displayed in dollar amounts, while for expensive products the tip is displayed as a percentage. Depending on how the information is presented, a consumer is more inclined to tip.
Mandatory tipping
Common at group dinners, the total bill includes a pre-set gratuity percentage for all table guests, e.g. 18%.
Tipping fees
Some online platforms add a service charge to the tip, sometimes without explicitly informing the customer, who ends up spending more when trying to leave a tip.
What the law says
These techniques can limit consumers' autonomy of choice and call into question the discretionary nature of tipping.
Tipping is not specifically regulated by consumer protection laws in Canada, with the notable exception of Quebec.
In Quebec's Consumer Protection Act, certain regulations governing tip solicitation techniques with predetermined options will come into force in May 2025:
Say goodbye to adjectives and emojis
Option to choose amount
No pre-selected tips
Tip calculation BEFORE taxes
Some advice
Take your time
You don't have to feel uncomfortable every time the payment terminal asks you for a tip. Before choosing a tip, take your time: read your bill carefully and check that no service charge or tip is already included.
Make sure it's the employees who get the tip
Make sure it's the employees who receive the tip. If in doubt, ask who it's for before leaving a tip.
Be aware of the techniques used to solicit tips
Be aware of the techniques used to solicit tips, to avoid giving larger amounts than desired.
Refuse to tip
Don't hesitate to refuse to tip in shops where tipping is not common practice.
Resources
If you have any questions or would like to report a practice that you feel is not compliant, please contact :