‘What is that?’: Woman looks at her Chick-fil-A receipt and finds herself baffled over a charge she’s never seen before

A customer in Colorado recently found a fee on her Chick-fil-A receipt that she had never seen before. This started a big online discussion about what people are actually paying for when they buy fast food. Unexpected charges hit harder these days. Many working Americans are struggling to keep up with payments, living paycheck to paycheck, or dealing with debt. That’s why seeing something new on a receipt can be so jarring.

A lot of weird charges have shown up lately. A customer in Tampa questioned a $3 “packaging fee” at a restaurant. According to Bro Bible, a customer in Texas was confused after seeing a $5.16 “charged tips” fee on a drive-thru receipt despite never actually tipping anyone.

TikTok creator Jill (@barberb_wifey) filmed her Chick-fil-A receipt for her followers. It showed a $2 charge labeled “Public Improvement Fee.” She was genuinely confused by the mysterious item. She asked in her video, “I don’t know if I’m late to the party, but what is a public improvement fee from Chick-fil-A? What is that?” In the caption, she added that she wasn’t complaining, just genuinely curious. “Is this new, or have I just never noticed?”

This mysterious fee isn’t what most people think it is

This specific charge, known as a Public Improvement Fee (PIF), is common in certain areas of Colorado. The PIF is not a government tax. It’s a privately added charge that typically shows up at newer retail centers and large business developments.

The purpose of the PIF is to raise money for infrastructure directly tied to the property itself. The cost is passed directly to the customer. This covers upkeep and maintenance for the entire area, including sidewalks, landscaping, parking lots, and the roads leading into the business center.

The business itself usually isn’t the entity adding the fee. Instead, the land developer who owns the property requires the PIF. That developer is the one who ultimately collects the money for upkeep. One local business owner said he was required by the developer to impose a 1% PIF and post a notice explaining the charge at the register. 

He added that customers frequently question and complain about the fee, forcing workers to spend time giving long explanations. This isn’t the first time Chick-fil-A customers have experienced confusion over money-related disputes at the counter.

While Jill was simply looking for an explanation of the fee, the comments section quickly shifted the discussion away from infrastructure. Many viewers had strong reactions to the charge itself. One commenter questioned, “So why is the customer paying the business’ bills??”

Another suggested, “Well if I were you, instead on going on tick tok I would call Chick fil and complain to them.” Others took a more political angle, with one calling it a “communist/ socialist fee.” The chain has faced controversies beyond unexpected fees, including serious criminal charges against franchise owners.

Some users tried to pull the conversation back to the actual charge. They explained that the fee is required by the landlord or developer to fund necessary maintenance like lighting and pavement within the shopping center.

Jill had to step back in to clarify her intentions after the controversy flared up. She emphasized that her post was meant to raise awareness and curiosity, not to stir up controversy. She pushed back against those making assumptions about her beliefs based on where she chose to eat. She stressed that dining at a restaurant doesn’t automatically mean she supports “every belief, every decision, or every stance connected to it.”