Establishments should indicate whether valued added tax is included and clearly display their price lists both inside and outside the premises
It’s not unusual for diners to get a shock when they are presented with the bill in a bar or restaurant. Despite regulations to protect consumers, confusion often arises because the menu does not clearly state whether value added tax (IVA) is included in the prices shown.
The Junta de Andalucía’s Provincial Consumer Service carried out a total of 124 inspections in bars, restaurants and cafeterias in the province of Malaga in 2007. Of these 49 were in the city of Malaga and 75 on the Costa del Sol, 23 of them in Marbella. More than half of the establishments were found to have some kind of irregularity in the way their prices were displayed on their menus.
According to the service the most common fault was failing to show the expression “IVA incluido” or “IVA no incluido” on their price list. This omission might clearly lead to confusion among customers, who by law, have the right to know exactly how much they are going to have to pay before they order.
Nevertheless in general inspectors are finding that more establishments are complying with the legislation. “Perhaps it was sparked by to the arrival of the euro or the fact that people have started to spend less, but places are tending to be more careful with their prices”, said the Consumers Department.
The Junta has reminded bars and restaurants that as well as being obliged to indicate whether tax is included in the prices, they must also display the menu and price list both inside and outside the establishment, a point that 20 per cent failed on.
While the displaying of prices was the main problem inspectors found in Marbella, they also discovered problems with the bills. Some failed to show the address of the establishment and others did not reflect the products consumed and their prices.
The authority has also warned consumers about products whose price is marked as variable according to their weight. “A lot of restaurants price fish and shellfish in this way”, they explained, encouraging customers to make sure their waiter informs them of the exact price of the food ordered to avoid an unpleasant surprise when the bill arrives.
When it comes to complaining
The Junta de Andalucía has reiterated that all establishments are obliged to give a customer a complaints form if they ask for one. Once an official complaint has been made the firm must reply within ten days. If the customer is not in agreement with the reply received or if this fails to arrive, they can lodge a complaint with the Junta de Andalucía, with the consumers’ associations or their local municipal consumers’ office.
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