Spanish
Ibiza (Spain).- A Spanish consumer organization has reported to the authorities a restaurant on the touristy island of Ibiza (Balearic Islands, Mediterranean) for including in the bill a charge of 12 euros for providing a hook to hang bags on the table, known as a bag hanger.
Facua-Consumers in Action has reported to the General Directorate of Consumer Affairs of the Balearic Islands the establishment and has requested a sanction.
The consumer protection federation explained this Thursday in a statement the case of a user who was charged for the utensil after the waitress insisted that she use it "without warning her that it had a cost".
This user has reported through the social network X that the restaurant "charged" her an additional amount on the bill for a 'bag hook'.
The woman, as the note indicates, has stated that she agreed to use the support after the insistence of the person who served her table: "The waitress kindly offers to place our bags on a hook on the table. We declined her offer but, given her insistence, we accepted."
Given the numerous reactions this case has sparked, the restaurant has justified that they started charging for the hanger "after, due to carelessness, many customers took the hanger thinking it was free."
The establishment has also pointed out that it includes it in the account as a deposit since its amount "is always discounted when paying, unless the person wants to take it as a souvenir". However, the consumer organization considers that this "oversight" is penalized with "no less" than 12 euros, when this hook costs "just over a euro". For the federation, it is an "abusive" practice and contrary to the legislation that regulates consumer rights. Furthermore, Facua adds, the restaurant does not inform customers that this device "is not a service provided as a commercial attention nor is it a promotional gift", as it includes the restaurant's logo.From the venue, they have also argued that the coat check "is an optional service".
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The hook is charged along with the amount of the consumption unless the client "expressly" states otherwise. In order to legally charge for it, the restaurant should inform of the cost of said item when offering it and leave the consumer free to acquire it or not, since otherwise it can be interpreted as a gift, the entity affirms.
