Staffer pays the price for dine-and-dash at Phuket cafe

[snoop1130]

 

A staffer at the Cafe Dim Sum Phuket took to social media to warn fellow service workers about a crafty scam that left her out of pocket. The alarming incident occurred on May 23 at the bustling eatery near the iconic Clocktower Circle in Phuket Town.

 

Nong Lin, an employee at the popular restaurant, recounted her experience with a group of diners who executed a clever ruse to evade payment. The group arrived around 11am, enjoyed a swift meal for about 20 minutes, and then made a hasty exit, leaving one woman behind to settle the bill.

 

The woman, appearing flustered and preoccupied with a phone call, requested to pay the bill via a QR code. She scanned the code but, in her rush, failed to confirm the transaction before leaving the premises. By the time the staff realised the payment had not gone through, the group had already vanished.

 

Speaking to reporters on May 27, Nong Lin shared that this was her first encounter with such a scam. Shockingly, she was held responsible for the 285 baht shortfall, deducted from her day’s wages. Her online post about the incident quickly went viral, attracting significant attention and sparking heated discussions among locals.

 

The management of Cafe Dim Sum Phuket is now reviewing its payment procedures to prevent similar occurrences in the future, reported Phuket News.

 

Meanwhile, Nong Lin’s cautionary tale serves as a stark reminder to all service staff to double-check mobile payments before allowing customers to leave.

 

By Puntid Tantivangphaisal

Photo courtesy of Eakkapop Thongtub via Phuket News

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-05-29

 

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[stevenl]

I really disagree with this policy which seems to be all over Thailand. Individual employees should not be held responsible for a shortfall.

[ukrules]

5 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Shockingly, she was held responsible for the 285 baht shortfall, deducted from her day’s wages.

 

Surely this is illegal, as a business operator you can't offload all your liability onto the staff.

 

What if there was an armed robbery? Make the staff pay?

 

[JeffersLos]

5 hours ago, stevenl said:

I really disagree with this policy which seems to be all over Thailand. Individual employees should not be held responsible for a shortfall.

 

The amount of times I've heard this sob story it must happen around 100,000 times a day at every restaurant in the country. 😉

[stoner]

5 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The management of Cafe Dim Sum Phuket is now reviewing its payment procedures to prevent similar occurrences in the future, reported Phuket News.

 

i heard they were also reviewing their liability policy with employees. how gross to make staff pay.

[watchcat]

10 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The alarming incident occurred on May 23 at the bustling eatery near the iconic Clocktower Circle in Phuket Town.

 

Bustling eatery?  2 cars and a couple of bikes!

[SAFETY FIRST]

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

a group of diners who executed a clever ruse to evade payment 

 

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

285 baht

Surely the group of diners eating for only 285 is not right. 

 

I'm unable to eat alone for that little money 

 

 

 

[Roel]

This is why most service staff take a photo of your phone showing the payment confirmation. It's likely not a requirement from the owner, but it serves as evidence in case the owner claims the payment was not received.

 

Or, it might have been a requirement, which is why the waitress was held accountable. There was no picture because the guest pretended to be busy talking on the phone while walking out. A young waitress is most likely not going to physically stop a customer from leaving.

[hotchilli]

18 hours ago, stevenl said:

I really disagree with this policy which seems to be all over Thailand. Individual employees should not be held responsible for a shortfall.

She failed to verify that the QR method of payment had been confirmed as received, this is part of her job description.

I don't like bosses holding staff accountable for losses but in this instance the staffer stuffed up.

[Almer]

Yawn yawn

[Almer]

A lot of this going on, my wife was caught for 460 baht when the customer showed her a confirmation if payment, but it was a screen shot of a previous transaction if the same amount

[BusyB]

19 hours ago, stevenl said:

I really disagree with this policy which seems to be all over Thailand. Individual employees should not be held responsible for a shortfall.

 

It's really disgusting and exploitative - especially given already exploitative wage levels and conditions.

 

Jesus if you can't give your staff a 285 baht one-off break under those circumstances you are an utter scum-bag. 

[BusyB]

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

She failed to verify that the QR method of payment had been confirmed as received, this is part of her job description.

I don't like bosses holding staff accountable for losses but in this instance the staffer stuffed up.

 

This lot were experts and knew exactly how to fool the staff. Mistakes get made.  It's part of doing business ... just like breakages and shrinkage.

 

Obviously if a staffer is regularly screwing up then that raises other issues - especially if it's costing money.

 

But for a one-off like that, taking 285 baht off a presumably minimum wage day's earnings is deplorable. Either that or the business is so badly run it can't afford 285 baht.

 

Miserable feudal society practices. 

[SAFETY FIRST]

2 minutes ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

i eat one meal and less than 100 bt a day....watermelon+4 pack yogurt+2 boiled eggs

Oh dear, not enough nutrition, you'll be dead in a couple of years.

[Jaxxper]

Our daughter worked in the US on a travel and work programme visa during university summer break. She indicated there, any breakages, dropped meals etc had to be paid for by the employee. I was stunned that happened in the US. I'm assuming it would be the same for dine and dash incidents.

[ujayujay]

17 hours ago, ukrules said:

 

Surely this is illegal, as a business operator you can't offload all your liability onto the staff.

 

What if there was an armed robbery? Make the staff pay?

 

No, its not illegal in Thailand. Often It is Part of the Contract with the Emploje.

[OneMoreFarang]

18 hours ago, ukrules said:

Surely this is illegal, as a business operator you can't offload all your liability onto the staff.

I am pretty sure that the person who collects the payment is responsible for doing it right.

If she counted incorrectly, it's her fault.

And if she didn't check if the electronic payment was completed, it's her fault.

I think that makes sense. 

[OneMoreFarang]

How does this work in other countries?

I remember long time ago in my home country I asked a waitress about this, and she told me if she does not collect the correct amount of money that is her fault, and she has to pay the difference.

 

[stevenl]

4 hours ago, hotchilli said:

She failed to verify that the QR method of payment had been confirmed as received, this is part of her job description.

I don't like bosses holding staff accountable for losses but in this instance the staffer stuffed up.

Maybe. Still no reason to let the staff pay for it 

[J Branche]

In a Popular Mostly Thai Pattaya Bar/Resturant I can confirm 

The Employee is made to pay an unpaid bill the customer does not pay.

 

Girlfriends son was working for only 10 days and went to get some food for another table

he said it took only about 3 minutes.  Only about 400 baht but that is what he earned for working in one night.

 

This Same Popular Bar/Resturant All the employees were scheduled to work this week.

Manager notified All employees Monday when scheduled to Work, they will be Renovating the place and they are Closed for 5 days.

Unfortunately it seems some Thai Businesses should improve on How they view and treat their employees.

The employees are a key part of the success of your business and there is little benefit in treating them poorly.

[ChipButty]

I have heard 7/11 have similar policies, "We Lose, You Lose" 

[BritManToo]

On 5/29/2024 at 11:58 PM, ukrules said:

 

Surely this is illegal, as a business operator you can't offload all your liability onto the staff.

 

What if there was an armed robbery? Make the staff pay?

 

It was the waitress fault as she didn't watch the payment complete.

Up in CM if you pay with QR, the waitress takes a photo of the payment screen as confirmation.

This event was negligence on the waitress part.

[BritManToo]

16 hours ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

and those too lazy to pay cash or say they dont want cash stolen or lost then i;; just pickpocket your phone--+your banking app..thanks in advance

Can they also pickpocket your fingerprint and PIN?

[ravip]

16 hours ago, BusyB said:

 

It's really disgusting and exploitative - especially given already exploitative wage levels and conditions.

 

Jesus if you can't give your staff a 285 baht one-off break under those circumstances you are an utter scum-bag. 

This is reality. It happens everywhere, in one way or another.

Yes, it's really disgusting and exploitative.

[JayClay]

21 hours ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

and those too lazy to pay cash or say they dont want cash stolen or lost then i;; just pickpocket your phone--+your banking app..thanks in advance

 

You'd also need to either,

 

 * Know the person's pin code/unlock pattern

 * Look identical to the person 

 * Cut their finger off and take it with you 

 

, depending on which security system the victim has on their phone.

 

So, yea, still seems more secure than cash.

[john donson]

good for her, that it is not  10x more ...