The study found that 9 out of 10 consumers tip at least some of the time, with women and people over 35 more likely to leave a tip.
However, two in three respondents believe that tipping is becoming less spontaneous, pointing to growing anxiety over perceived pressure.
Three in four consumers say they wish businesses would make it easier to opt out of tips, while one in five reported recently paying a bill that included an unexpected surcharge.
The study also found that one in four consumers who encountered a standalone coin tipping terminal accidentally tapped the device, potentially costing consumers almost half a million euros in total.
90 Second News – Wednesday, January 28th
The findings come as the CCPC releases new guidance for businesses on how tips and service charges should be handled, particularly when digital payment technologies are used.
The guidance was published on the watchdog’s website and distributed to industry groups, it said.
The guidance states that tipping at payment terminals must be easy for customers to avoid, and businesses are encouraged to prevent accidental tipping by separating tipping terminals from payment terminals and clearly labeling them.
The CCPC also said that mandatory service charges must be clearly communicated to customers in advance, while optional service charges should not be automatically added to the bill.
The watchdog group said the guidance was aimed at helping traders adapt to new technology without compromising consumers’ right to choose whether to tip and how much to leave.
As payment methods evolve, transparency is important to maintain trust between customers and service providers, the company said.
Simon Barry, director of research, advocacy and international affairs at the CCPC, said: “New technology, such as payment screens and tipping terminals, is changing the way we tip for services.”
“It is important that companies using these technologies do so in a way that protects consumers’ rights to decide whether to tip and how much to tip.
“Transparency is critical. Mandatory service charges must be communicated well in advance; optional charges should never be automatically added to the bill; and tipping terminals should be located away from payment terminals to avoid confusion,” he said.
The CCPC is the body responsible for strengthening compliance with competition, consumer protection and product safety laws, and said it is expanding its role in digital and data regulation.