A customer has voiced his frustration after noticing an unexpected charge on his bill, sparking a heated debate on social media.
With the current cost of living crisis, it’s not uncommon to be shocked by the final amount on a receipt. One father found himself in this situation when his weekly grocery bill to feed his six children was exorbitantly high.
Another diner experienced a similar surprise when an additional charge appeared on his already substantial bill.
Antonio Barbeito, who was vacationing in Menorca, Spain, visited an unnamed restaurant for a meal.
During his meal, he enjoyed water, orange juice, and two Coca Cola Zeros, along with two coffees—one with milk.
For food, he ordered shrimp tartar, lobster, fried baby squid, mussels, and two scoops of ice cream for dessert.
Given the luxurious inclusion of lobster, it wasn’t surprising that the meal totaled $270.
However, Barbeito was taken aback by one particular charge on the receipt.
Despite spending a significant amount on the meal, Barbeito noticed an additional $3 charge for a glass of ice.
He was so surprised by this charge that he took to Twitter to share a photo of the receipt and express his dismay.
He commented: “[Translation] I love national tourism and I almost never leave Spain to support a community as important as the hospitality industry, but on a bill of 250 euros, being charged three euros for extra ice seems extremely out of place.”
The post quickly attracted numerous reactions.
One Twitter user remarked: “[Translation] Absolutely right. It’s a ridiculous charge. They just need to charge for electricity and rent for the cutlery.”
Conversely, another user countered: “The protocol is correct. If you buy a pair of 150 euro trainers and ask for extra laces, you will pay for them. If you fill up a 100 € tank of gas and want a pack of gum, you’re going to pay for it. Extra ice bucket…..that’s it.”
Barbeito clarified that he doesn’t ‘want to bother anyone’—likely the reason he didn’t disclose the restaurant’s name. However, he used the hashtag Menorca in hopes that the restaurant’s management would see it and recognize the receipt.