What is an incidental charge?

This is the only thing I really found.

I don't think it would be for a tip, but I would absolutely ask your vendor what it's for. 20% is a pretty big charge for misc. fees (and I don't know why there would be bartender fees after the fact).

The whole tip thing is so muddy; first of all, I don't understand why any contract should have a tip included; that should be completely discretionary, and personally? I wouldn't go with a company that dictated it for me; it's not that I don't tip, I love to tip; I just don't want to be told to and how much.

In most catering agreements there will be a 'service charge'; they may even CALL it a gratuity, but you need to know if it's actually a tip or if it's the charge that pays the salaries of the staff. They are two very different things.

Alright. I was planning on giving them a call anyway but the office isn't open today so I thought I'd ask you guys. Thanks!

I've usually seen "incidental" charges for things like hotel rooms, where they charge a certain amount to a credit card, etc, then use that to cover any damages. If you don't damage anything, then they just refund the charges. I'd ask your vendor, but my guess from reading that is that they charge you 20% extra, use that to cover extra guests that may show up, and then refund you for whatever you don't use at the end. It seems a little weird for a caterer vs say a venue, though... Unless they're concerned about people breaking their plates or stealing their silverware or something?

I work in a resort, and here an incidental charge is anything that isn't included in the original room quote. So like, phone calls, movie purchases, Internet, etc.

Maybe that helps figure out some context?

Yeah incidental is usually like "damages" and other things that are our of the norm.

Incidentals are things you don't plan for, but would cost extra money.

I think of "incidentals" like "accidentals", not necessarily things that you planned for but happened/could happen and you need to prepare to keep a little cushion in your budget for.

Celia Milton- I was wondering if the whole 20% thing was a lot- seems like a lot to me too.

Thanks for clearing a lot of that service charge business up a bit - I've got a friend who's in the middle of planning a big party and she was wondering about that too-

thanks!

I agree with Anna, it's a probably a refundable retainer In case something happens. Like my venue is holding a credit card in case of major damage.