Report Indian Tourist Causes Uproar at Bangkok Hotel Over Credit Card Dispute

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

A furious Indian tourist caused chaos at the Holiday Inn Bangkok Silom after a heated row over a credit card payment, prompting a police response and leaving guests and staff shaken.

 

The drama unfolded on 18 April and gaining attention in Thai social media, when the man, barefoot and wearing a “Greatest Dad Ever” T-shirt, erupted in rage at the hotel reception over what he believed to be a double charge for his room. According to eyewitnesses, including onlooker Stanley Keh Wei Shang, the man flew into a frenzy, slamming the front desk, shouting profanities, and accusing staff of theft.

 

“He had the fury of hell in his eyes,” said Stanley. “I was impressed by how calm and respectful the staff remained under such pressure.”

 

The confusion reportedly stemmed from a miscommunication within the tourist’s own family. A female relative, dressed in a brown shirt, had arrived two days earlier and asked the hotel to place a credit hold on her card to cover multiple rooms, including the irate man’s. However, when he checked in on 17 April, hotel staff were instructed to use his card instead for the same rooms, prompting a second credit hold of 14,626 baht.

 

Hotel management explained that the man was not charged, only a credit limit was held. However, by the next day, upon learning of his relative’s prior payment, the man demanded an immediate refund and began shouting: “Why did you block my card? Bloody rogues, bloody thieves!”

 

As the row escalated, other guests attempted to calm the man, but he continued to berate staff, gesturing wildly and switching between languages. His female relatives eventually tried to mediate, with one saying, “This gentleman paid for four bookings. Just because we came on different days, you can’t charge again.”

 

 

Hotel staff maintained they were following the instructions given by the family at check-in. “We were told to use his card when he arrived,” a male receptionist explained. “We didn’t charge him, just held the deposit.”

 

The dispute culminated with the arrival of Thai police, who helped calm the situation. The hotel later confirmed that the credit hold on the man’s card was cancelled and the funds were returned upon checkout.

 

The hotel manager attributed the incident to a misunderstanding. “The woman initially authorised us to use her card, but then told us to switch to his card when he checked in. He seemed fine at the time, but later objected. We resolved it as soon as possible,” she said.

 

The hotel has not filed any formal complaint, and no legal action has been taken.

 

Adapted by ASEAN Now from Khaosod.

 

-- 2025-04-23

 

 

 

 

[JoePai]

An excitable bunch with side to side nodding heads

[Tropicalevo]

Well done hotel staff.

"If you can keep your head when all about you   

    Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,"

[chuang]

A rabid on the loose....🫣

[Jim Blue]

Perhaps he's one of these influencers we keep hearing about ?

[Dmitry2222]

Not the cheapest hotel and demanding tourists. This is the target audience of the tourism, as it turns out.

[factual monk]

Got detailed info on it... He is from Sri Lanka... and not India... all brown color are not Indians... like all whites are not Russians... 

[Crossy]

A post not meeting Aseannow Community Standards has been removed.

[bwanajohn]

Next time stay in India....if you feel ripped off there you probably were and it would have been intentional.

[thesetat]

4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

The hotel has not filed any formal complaint, and no legal action has been taken.

So bad that they could have pressed charges if wanting to.. The man had the right to be irate at the time as well as loud and angry. Any normal person would have been angry as well.

[blazes]

Whatever the misunderstandings were, this whole story has the sniff of India about it....

[cynic1]

Very abrasive man. Had no intention of listening to an explanation. "Money money money makes you funny its a rich man's world". Clearly he was not rich!