Eating out can be pretty expensive nowadays, even if you are going for the cheapest food possible. As such, discovering this hidden cover fee (餐位费) at a hotpot restaurant in Kuala Lumpur came as quite the shock.
A netizen claimed they recently had a meal with others at the hotpot restaurant and were surprised when they noticed something odd on the receipt. Apparently, they had unknowingly paid a cover charge, a fee that isn’t usually levied in eateries in Malaysia. Needless to say, they weren’t happy.
The complaint first popped up in Facebook group Malaysian Law Forum on 2nd February. Apparently, the customer hoped to seek legal advice regarding their situation. “It was the first time a hot pot restaurant in KL had charged a so-called cover fee. When we paid the bill, we discovered it was RM5 per person and RM20 for four people,” they said.
The restaurant is supposedly located under an apartment and had been deserted when they walked in. “This is my first time at (this restaurant),” the customer said. “Isn’t it normal to provide seating and tableware?” They added they were aware that some places in China often had additional charges, including cover fees, condiment fees and utensil fees, but, these were usually considered illegal.
“But we are in Malaysia, why do such hidden charges appear here?” they asked. “There was no prior notice of this fee and no second option provided either. With no way of knowing, and no choices given, does it violate consumers’ right to know and choose? If this is illegal, what should consumers do to protect their rights?” Well, they weren’t the only ones left irate by the cover fee.
Many netizens were quick to urge the customer to report the issue to the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs. “Don’t let these trends flow into Malaysia! We will not accept this!” one said angrily.
Several others pointed out that the receipt charged the customer in yuan, casting some doubt on the customer’s story. But, the customer claimed some stores used Chinese systems for their business, clarifying they had paid the sum in ringgit Malaysia. “Then there is already a problem with the store’s bill,” one netizen said. “If government officials check the bill, it will not be approved.”
Well, this story is certainly an incentive to start checking your bills carefully! Some fees can’t be avoided however, most Malaysians will not take any hidden, extra charges lying down. Hopefully, this issue will be taken care off by relevant authorities soon.
Sources: Facebook, China Press
