LPG Charges on Restaurant Bills? Govt Cracks Down on Hidden Fees, Calls Practice Illegal

If you've recently noticed LPG charges or gas surcharge added to your food bill, you're not alone and more importantly, you may not have to pay it at all.

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued a strict advisory making it clear that such kind of charges are not allowed by default and could lead to an unfair trade practice under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

What the Government Has Said?

A lot of consumer raised complaints who found these extra fees quietly added to their bills at restaurants and hotels. In many cases, customers were either unaware or felt compelled to pay, assuming the charges were legitimate.

However, the government has now clarified that these costs whether labelled as LPG, gas, or fuel are simply part of a restaurant's operating expenses and must already be included in the menu price.

This means restaurants cannot add such charges separately just before handing over the bill. Even changing the name of the fee does not make it valid. The CCPA has specifically warned that calling it "fuel surcharge" instead of "service charge" is just a workaround to bypass earlier rules, and it will still be treated as a violation.

Any additional charge that is not voluntary and is imposed automatically can be considered misleading and unfair to consumers.

For consumers this comes as a major relief. Hidden charges have long been a point of frustration, especially at a time when eating out is already becoming more expensive.

What To Do If You See 'LPG Charges'

If you do come across such a charge on your bill, you have the right to question it. You can ask the restaurant to remove it, and if they refuse, you can report the issue through the National Consumer Helpline by calling 1915, using the NCH app, or filing a complaint on the e-Jagriti portal. Authorities have also said that complaints can be escalated to the district administration or directly to the CCPA.