Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

In an unusual confrontation at a ramen restaurant in a Bangkok petrol station, a customer refused to pay VAT on her bill, sparking a heated dispute caught on video. The incident, which occurred on 8th June at a PTT station on Sukasawat Road, involved the customer—a woman—demanding adjustments to her bill, claiming it was overpriced.

 

The conflict arose over the inclusion of a 7% VAT charge on her meal. The bill totalled 321 baht, incorporating 21 baht in VAT on a 300 baht meal. The customer insisted she should only pay the actual food cost, arguing that VAT should not apply in the same manner as it does at a 7-Eleven store, where she claimed VAT is handled differently.

 

Staff members, visibly distressed, tried to explain the billing process to her, but the customer remained adamant. When a PTT staff member attempted to mediate, they faced similar refusal. The situation escalated as the customer attempted to leave without paying, only to be stopped by other patrons, including the TikTok user who recorded the incident.

 

The video, shared by TikTok user @moveforwardlandslide, depicts the customer being blocked from exiting until she settled her bill. Though she eventually paid, the argument continued as she voiced dissatisfaction over the transaction.

 

Support for the restaurant staff poured in via comments on the TikTok post, with many expressing sympathy and suggesting the restaurant consider legal action against such customers. The poster condemned the customer’s behaviour, stressing that customers are obliged to pay the full price of their bills, including taxes.

 

This incident highlights ongoing challenges faced by service industry workers who deal with disputes over billing and the pressures of maintaining composure in difficult situations. As public reactions show, there is a strong sentiment against unfair treatment of such workers, with many calling for greater accountability and respect in customer interactions.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-06-10

 

 

That is in fact true.. Many times you see prices here and you are being always surprised with addition of service fee and tax.. Why not publish just the price included??  I had even at a sushi shop that at the end of the bill there was 7% tax while nowhere was a sigh that tax was not included.. It seems cheap, but in fact it misleading the consumer

1 hour ago, ikke1959 said:

That is in fact true.. Many times you see prices here and you are being always surprised with addition of service fee and tax.. Why not publish just the price included??  I had even at a sushi shop that at the end of the bill there was 7% tax while nowhere was a sigh that tax was not included.. It seems cheap, but in fact it misleading the consumer

 

Totally agree.

Some customers will feel cheated when a restaurant does this,  and will not go back again.

 

26 minutes ago, quake said:

 

Totally agree.

Some customers will feel cheated when a restaurant does this,  and will not go back again.

 

Rubbish. Every restaurant has to include 7% VAT. Only an idiot doesn't know that. It was 21 baht!!

This one was Ozawa Ramen at PTT Suksawat. Their menu clearly states on every single page that 7% VAT will be applied. If they hide it or don't mention it then fair enough, but it is printed there very clearly.

Also should be noted that they DO NOT charge 10% or any service charge. So they are better than most restaurants.

"arguing that VAT should not apply in the same manner as it does at a 7-Eleven store, where she claimed VAT is handled differently." The customer is an idiot and has no idea how business works.

6 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

Rubbish. Every restaurant has to include 7% VAT. Only an idiot doesn't know that. It was 21 baht!!

This one was Ozawa Ramen at PTT Suksawat. Their menu clearly states on every single page that 7% VAT will be applied. If they hide it or don't mention it then fair enough, but it is printed there very clearly.

Also should be noted that they DO NOT charge 10% or any service charge. So they are better than most restaurants.

"arguing that VAT should not apply in the same manner as it does at a 7-Eleven store, where she claimed VAT is handled differently." The customer is an idiot and has no idea how business works.

I am very sorry, but why is are the prices not Vat included if you have to pay them anyway??? In many countries I have been there is always the VAT included in the price shown, but here in Thailand it must be different, Customers don't need to know how businesses work, but they have a right to fair price included everything.... so no surprises for them.

6 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

Rubbish. Every restaurant has to include 7% VAT. Only an idiot doesn't know that. It was 21 baht!!

 

That's not what I meant.  but thanks for the insult.

Displaying the vat charge on top of a meal, is not so obvious on some menus in restaurants.

That can lead to a surprise when time to pay the bill.

as the customer may think the vat was included in the displayed price.

 

 

It would be better for the menu to say   MEAL  Bht 321 including Bht 21 VAT @ 7%.. No misunderstanding then

And then they add the service charge on top. 

 

The missus pockets all the change - Thais don't believe in tipping. 

 

She looks nothing like Adam Ant. 😶

 

 

7 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

"arguing that VAT should not apply in the same manner as it does at a 7-Eleven store, where she claimed VAT is handled differently." The customer is an idiot and has no idea how business works.

VAT is supposed to be a tax on luxury items.

I'd dispute that anything sold in a Ramen restaurant could be considered a 'luxury'.

18 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

It would be better for the menu to say   MEAL  Bht 321 including Bht 21 VAT @ 7%.. No misunderstanding then

 

Would eliminate any instances like this from happening.

 

VAT is by definition must be included in most everything.

 

As stated above the price should be 321b bc Thais can't add in the heads.

14 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

VAT is supposed to be a tax on luxury items.

I'd dispute that anything sold in a Ramen restaurant could be considered a 'luxury'.

 

No, VAT is on everything. Luxury, Stamp and Excise are different taxes.

7 minutes ago, Nicco said:

No, VAT is on everything. Luxury, Stamp and Excise are different taxes.

Value Added Tax ........ the clue is in the name.

51 minutes ago, quake said:

 

That's not what I meant.  but thanks for the insult.

Displaying the vat charge on top of a meal, is not so obvious on some menus in restaurants.

That can lead to a surprise when time to pay the bill.

as the customer may think the vat was included in the displayed price.

 

 

 

Agreed, but at least it's legit for Thailand. In US everyone knows X% will be applied to the bin. It's a given

23 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

VAT is supposed to be a tax on luxury items.

That is absolutely not true. It is a sales tax. 

24 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

VAT is supposed to be a tax on luxury items.

I'd dispute that anything sold in a Ramen restaurant could be considered a 'luxury'.

Is 7-Eleven a luxury shop?

Luxury taxes are another thing. VAT is a general consumption tax.

40 minutes ago, Gsxrnz said:

And then they add the service charge on top. 

 

The missus pockets all the change - Thais don't believe in tipping. 

This restaurant is rare in that they don't charge service charge which makes the complaint all the more ludicrous.

1 hour ago, quake said:

 

That's not what I meant.  but thanks for the insult.

Displaying the vat charge on top of a meal, is not so obvious on some menus in restaurants.

That can lead to a surprise when time to pay the bill.

as the customer may think the vat was included in the displayed price.

 

 

I was insulting the customer, but feel free to take it.

7 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Value Added Tax ........ the clue is in the name.

LOL. You have no idea.

 

Where you have a supply chain, a company on the supply chain has to hand over to the tax authority the value they added. It is nothing to do with luxury. 

 

e.g. Company x buys a box of widgets for 10,000 Baht. They do some work on the widgets and sell them for 30,000 Baht. They have added 20,000 Baht of value to the goods. They will hand over the VAT on sales of 30,000 - 10,000 = 20,000. 

21 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Value Added Tax ........ the clue is in the name.

You are just being 'difficult'..........

You know it is on almost everything in the UK - I think children's clothes and books used to be excepted. 

20 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

This restaurant is rare in that they don't charge service charge which makes the complaint all the more ludicrous.

Does the VAT go on AFTER the service charge?

 

Sorry, a silly question, the answer is YES.

19 minutes ago, topt said:

You are just being 'difficult'..........

You know it is on almost everything in the UK - I think children's clothes and books used to be excepted. 

Old enough to remember when it was introduced in the UK, and it was originally only on luxury items, I remember the big newspaper disputes on whether children's shoes were luxury items or necessities.

 

Invented by the French in 1954, originally introduced into the UK in 1973 as part of joining the EU, now we're out surely it should be cancelled?

I owned a restaurant for one day and then retired.

 

steak, 1 cent.

pizza, 1 cent

everything, 1 cent.   

only credit cards.

 

sold out.   

 

small print on every bill.  VAT, plus the mandatory $1000 tip and once signed, you agree to buy 10 more of the same every day until perpetuity.   

 

hidden fees for the win.

 

 

While a street vendor may ask for a cash sum a shop/restaurant will add VAT... 

this should be advertised on the menu or somewhere prominent where food prices are displayed.

10 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

That is in fact true.. Many times you see prices here and you are being always surprised with addition of service fee and tax.. Why not publish just the price included??  I had even at a sushi shop that at the end of the bill there was 7% tax while nowhere was a sigh that tax was not included.. It seems cheap, but in fact it misleading the consumer

 Absolutely right. The consumers attracted by advertised cost of what they see, but exit from the restaurant is costly when you are more than 1 person. MISLEADING customers

2 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

I am very sorry, but why is are the prices not Vat included if you have to pay them anyway??? In many countries I have been there is always the VAT included in the price shown, but here in Thailand it must be different, Customers don't need to know how businesses work, but they have a right to fair price included everything.... so no surprises for them.

Actually incorrect... in most countries and in Thailand, businesses will list prices not inclusive of VAT but will separately informed customers, in the menu that VAT is chargeable.

3 minutes ago, Nomadic1460 said:

 Absolutely right. The consumers attracted by advertised cost of what they see, but exit from the restaurant is costly when you are more than 1 person. MISLEADING customers

Especially when they add SERVICE CHARGE on top. Ridiculous 

5 minutes ago, NemoH said:

Actually incorrect... in most countries and in Thailand, businesses will list prices not inclusive of VAT but will separately informed customers, in the menu that VAT is chargeable.

Well Nemo in other countries when you look at the price it tells you tax included or not. If not included and most times customers  will walk away and show no interest.

So customers treated justly. 

12 minutes ago, NemoH said:

Actually incorrect... in most countries and in Thailand, businesses will list prices not inclusive of VAT but will separately informed customers, in the menu that VAT is chargeable.

 

This is both accurate and idiotic. 

 

If the tax is definitely being charged then not including it in the price is an idiotic approach/system. I do however agree that this is quite common and it’s unhelpful that the US does it, as others tend to follow suit. The approach in countries such as Australia where the price quoted is the actual price payable is by any measure the vastly superior one.