Quebec restaurants can officially charge you for ditching a reservation starting this month

Flaking on your restaurant reservation in Quebec could soon cost you.

Starting July 17, restaurants across the province will be allowed to charge a $10 no-show fee when customers fail to show up for a reservation — but only if a few conditions are met.

Back in March, MTL Blog covered the province's plan to introduce this penalty, which is now set to take effect in just a few weeks.

The new rule, announced Thursday by Quebec's Minister of Justice Simon Jolin-Barrette and Minister for the Economy Christopher Skeete, aims to help restaurant owners deal with the growing problem of "ghost reservations" while protecting customers from unfair charges.

"This new framework is an opportunity to remind everyone that if you are unable to honour your reservation, the least you can do is cancel it," Jolin-Barrette said in a news release.

Here's how the $10 fee works:

• It only applies to reservations for two or more people
• The restaurant must inform you ahead of time that a fee may apply
• They have to confirm your reservation between 6 and 48 hours before the meal (unless you booked within that window)
• You must be able to cancel easily at any time, like by text or online
• The fee can't be charged if you cancel at least three hours in advance
• And it only kicks in if no one in the group shows up

Restaurant owners have long complained about the cost of last-minute no-shows. According to the Association Restauration Québec, the average restaurant loses $49,000 a year to ghost reservations, and some lose nearly double that. In total, Quebec eateries could be missing out on over $400 million annually.

A recent Léger poll found that 70% of Quebecers support the idea of a no-show fee, suggesting that most diners agree — if you book a table and can't make it, the least you can do is cancel.

For more information, visit the Office de la protection du consommateur.

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