Cancellation fees in Restaurants.

[Marcos the black]

I hear from Newstalk that the Restaurant Association of Ireland is planning to take credit card details when taking bookings and then charging €10 PER COVER if the booking party fails to show.

No Shows in Restaurants: Join The Campaign to highlight the issue this Christmas - News - Restaurants Association of Ireland

Their argument being that they have to take in staff that night, buy in food and turn away potential bookings that come in after these books are made. I actually agree with all of the above and think that people are too casual when booking restaurants, and then don't give a damn if they end up not going.
I would only make 2 small points on it 1) is a per cover charge required? And if a no show booking is covered (i.e. The restaurant sells the table to different customers, and therefore incurring no financial hit) will the €10 charge per cover be waived.
What about you, what do you think?

[Phil Maker]

I feel they are entitled to make a booking charge and penalise no-shows

however if they take a charge they had best not keep you waiting upon arrival.

[bluefirelog]

It's annoying!

However, some people don't give a damn. Will reserve a large table for people from work for example, then on the night the people from work can't be bothered going. Meanwhile the restaurant has turned down other bookings, might have turned people away... So the issue is understandable. As long as it's only used for large bookings (e.g. over 10 people) and it's a reasonable deposit of say €5.

If they start doing it for smaller bookings, people will get fed up and will not book, which would probably make it harder for restaurants to manage their businesses...

[Iarmhi Gael]

Own my own business and operate this.

We have a cancellation for tomorrow night in last 2 hours - whole venue. We'll be left with no business on what should be one of our busiest nights. Guy who booked said people had other plans - I'll be taking full amount off his card tomorrow. 3 months its been in diary and no chance of getting it filled.

[hammer]

Great idea. Will help keep people in employment hopefully.

Make it €20

[nonpartyboy]

And does the person who booked(possibly for a party of 3 couples) have to cover everybody who doesn't show up, hardly fair.....our local eaterie often ring you up in the evening to make sure your still ok for the night if your booking was made previously, but then again i would always have the manners to phone a restaurant to tell them i couldn't make it.

[hammer]

Own my own business and operate this.

We have a cancellation for tomorrow night in last 2 hours - whole venue. We'll be left with no business on what should be one of our busiest nights. Guy who booked said people had other plans - I'll be taking full amount off his card tomorrow. 3 months its been in diary and no chance of getting it filled.

Sorry to hear that. What about ringing local business tomorrow and offering a cut price deal ?

[hammer]

And does the person who booked(possibly for a party of 3 couples) have to cover everybody who doesn't show up, hardly fair.....our local eaterie often ring you up in the evening to make sure your still ok for the night if your booking was made previously, but then again i would always have the manners to phone a restaurant to tell them i couldn't make it.

If you book for 8 and 6 show up do you pay an extra €20 or is it voided ?

[commonman]

i think people who book a table should make a down payment of a least 50euro then give them a deal on the price of the meal when they turn up

[nonpartyboy]

Own my own business and operate this.

We have a cancellation for tomorrow night in last 2 hours - whole venue. We'll be left with no business on what should be one of our busiest nights. Guy who booked said people had other plans - I'll be taking full amount off his card tomorrow. 3 months its been in diary and no chance of getting it filled.

That now is taking the piss.....but did you not contact him previously to make arrangements ?