Restaurants Penalized for Forced Service Charges: Know Your Rights, How to Complain

• CCPA penalizes 27 restaurants for forcibly imposing service charges, violating government guidelines.
• Service charges are voluntary and cannot be automatically added to bills or presented as mandatory.
• Consumers can complain via National Consumer Helpline (1915), WhatsApp [phone]), or the consumer helpline portal.
• Keep bills as proof when filing a complaint.
• Restaurants cannot deny service or harass customers for refusing to pay service charges; it's an unfair trade practice.