London (Parliament News) – London’s Gloria restaurant faces backlash for adding a £2.99 ‘checkout fee’ to payments made through its Sunday app. Diners criticize the charge, prompting discussions on social media and concerns about transparency.
An Italian restaurant in east London has met a backlash for urging customers to pay through a smartphone app that counts a £2.99 ‘checkout fee’. Gloria flashed anger from diners who saw an added fee when they paid to utilise the optional Sunday app. The app is operated by other restaurants such as Dishoom, Bocca di Lupo and Japes.
What Prompted the Backlash Against Gloria’s Payment Method?
One customer publicised a digital receipt from their March 28 visit to Gloria, indicating they were charged a 13.5 per cent service cost of £26.15 and an additional ‘checkout fee’ of £2.99. “Is Gloria in Shoreditch the only restaurant that charges you for the privilege of paying your bill?”, they noted.
The post rendered over 1,600 likes and more than 440 comments, with users venting their anger at the cheeky ‘checkout fee’. One person responded: “It borders tacky. Would put it on their Google reviews, they might not be aware that it shows up like that, or that it just ruins the whole experience.
“They might see it and reconsider. People are sick to the back teeth of booking places, bonkers service charges and still expecting tips, and now stupid things like this. “It’s for their own good they know about this!” Another added: “This needs stomping out fast before it spreads. I hope the restaurant gets boycotted until they see sense.”
Who Benefits from Gloria’s Payment App?
Christine de Wendel of Zalando and Big Mamma restaurant owners Tigrane Seydoux and Victor Lugger established the hospitality app aimed at saving diners time by permitting them to scan a QR code, split the bill and tip in as little as 10 seconds. The company argues that over 2,000 businesses have assumed the Sunday app, with more than 50 million diners operating it since its 2021 launch.
Ms de Wendel examined the app in a 2022 interview, stating: “It’s a web app, so you don’t have to download anything or sign up for anything. “When you’re ready to go, you just scan the code and it pops up on your phone, and literally 10 seconds later, you’re out of there, being able to split the bill, tip and leave a review.”
A representative for Gloria – which is owned by Big Mamma – stated: “Big Mamma does propose Sunday as a payment option for clients who wish to pay faster, and the fee is part of this software which allows customers to pay via their phone, split the bill and instantly receive their receipt. “Sunday is 100% optional. Of course, the traditional ways to pay (cash and credit card) are free of charge and are used by more than 60% of our guests.”