"No Starter" - new scam or bad joke?
Imagine this: You go out for a leisurely meal, order two main courses, have a glass of wine - and at the end the bill suddenly says "No Starter - 2 €". This is exactly what happened to a couple on vacation in Port de Pollença on Mallorca. They just wanted to have a nice meal - without a starter. But that's exactly what they were charged. An extra two euros because they hadn't ordered anything. Sounds absurd? It is.
When the couple discovered the strange item on the bill, they were astonished. A waiter couldn't help them and didn't even understand Spanish. The colleague who was called over was also in the dark. After several queries and a lot of helplessness, the money was refunded - and an apology was added on top. But the aftertaste remains.
What does it actually say on the card? - Nothing.
Even more curious: there was no trace of this charge on the menu. No indication, no footnote, no asterisks. Just two euros for skipping a starter. Consumer advocates sound the alarm in such cases - and rightly so. Because charges that are not clearly and openly communicated are simply unacceptable. The rule is: what is on the bill must be clear beforehand - and not be a surprise when you pay.
Some additional costs are particularly common in other European countries, such as the so-called "Coperto" in Italy (a kind of cover charge) or service surcharges in tourist regions. But here too, the following applies: only permitted if clearly indicated on the card - not as a trick line on the bill.
What are restaurateurs allowed to do - and what not?
Clearly, a restaurant may not simply invent prices for services that have not been ordered. If someone does not order an appetizer, this cannot be booked as a source of income. Even if you "book the table", the problem remains legally tricky. A charge for "not ordering" is not a service - but a creative form of fantasy billing.
And for all holidaymakers: always take a look at the bill, especially in vacation regions where the tricks of the restaurant trade are sometimes a little more imaginative. If you are unsure, you can ask the staff - or seek help from the local consumer advice center.
Transparency yes, box of tricks no!
So let's be honest - two euros for doing nothing? If this catches on, we'll soon be paying for not drinking, not ordering dinner or just sitting down. What has happened here is not a creative business model, but simply a rip-off with sunglasses. A restaurant that introduces its prices in such a hidden manner has lost the trust of its guests - and belongs on a blacklist rather than in the next vacation plan.
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