A foreign man was captured on CCTV allegedly running out of a phone repair shop in Patong, Phuket, with his repaired device after failing to pay the bill.

Footage posted by TikTok user @tonmai_pkt shows the episode on August 21. The shop employee gave chase but was unable to catch the man, according to the video.

The clip was published on August 25 and has prompted online debate over how repair shops should handle customers who cannot pay once work has been completed.

CCTV shows dispute over repaired phone

According to @tonmai_pkt, the man had brought his phone to the shop for repairs but did not have enough money to settle the bill after the work was done.

The CCTV footage shows him speaking to an employee while holding the repaired phone. He appears to look through his belongings before producing a 20-baht banknote.

Picture courtesy of TikTok @tonmai_pkt

The employee indicated that this amount was insufficient and attempted to take the handset back. The man refused to return it, then suddenly ran from the shop with the device.

The TikTok user made light of the speed of the escape in the caption, saying the foreign customer had his phone repaired without enough money, took the handset and fled.

Online reaction focuses on Phuket response

The video drew a substantial number of comments, including calls for action in Phuket. One commenter wrote: "How much longer will things like this keep happening? What should be done? Why do people in Phuket keep allowing this to happen? Phuket MPs, please help Thai people."

Another commenter said tourists without enough money should not come to Thailand, accusing them of creating problems for others. A separate commenter called for the man's visa to be revoked and for his embassy to be informed, though these were online opinions and not any reported official measures.

Video courtesy of Phuketinsta

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26 August 2026

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Just another 20-baht of worth foreigner in Thailand. It´s shameful!

From that day on....if i was going somewhere....I was running.

Phuket really is getting expensive. These days you need a phone repair shop to offer Afterpay.

You don't even have read the bad news or be a socialogist to see how this place is being overrun with lowlife. Just look around Pattaya: its similar profiles, sh*t shirts, sh*t pants, sh*t shoes and smoking cigarettes. Here is common example: There is the guy that threw acid at a female guest house employee. Note I've noticed alot of 20,s & 30,s white male foreigners smoking cigarettes these days. That by construction is a bad sign.

Its understandable..

Who would have imagined a phone repair would cost more than 20 baht? lol

28 minutes ago, Point Arguello said:

Note I've noticed alot of 20,s & 30,s white male foreigners smoking cigarettes these days. That by construction is a bad sign.

Seriously? There is so much wrong with that statement I don't know where to start. Not least is has eff all to do with the story.

Only adds more fuel to the growing fire of resentment nitizens in Thailand have for foreigners.

"Another commenter said tourists without enough money should not come to Thailand"

Maybe this is why immigration is asking foreigners to show cash, before letting them in?☹️

Off topic image and post, that has not relevance to the topic removed @Point Arguello rule 10. You will not post troll messages. Trolling is the act of purposefully antagonizing forum members by posting controversial, inflammatory, irrelevant or off-topic messages with the primary intent of provoking other members into an emotional response or to generally disrupt normal on-topic discussion.

58 minutes ago, Point Arguello said:

That by construction is a bad sign.

curious asks...what does that mean?

4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

ailing to pay the bill

Start requiring a 50% deposit or credit card for estimated repair cost.

Scumbag!

Throw the book at this skint POS!

Hers a tip, take the money before handing him the phone!

Edited August 26Aug 26 by Brettoj

38 minutes ago, Joe Boy Walton said:

Seriously? There is so much wrong with that statement I don't know where to start. Not least is has eff all to do with the story.

It is a valid observation. The vast majority of young people no longer smoke tobacco. Those who do, typically come from a lower socio economic demographic: Less educated, less intelligent, and poorer than non smokers. Multiple studies from a cross section of countries have demonstrated this. This demographic characteristic coincidentally lines up with the foreigners most likely to be involved in anti-social activity. It's self evident, isn't?

1 hour ago, redwood1 said:

Its understandable..

Who would have imagined a phone repair would cost more than 20 baht? lol

On a more serious note his actions were premeditated, he had no intentions of paying her. Looking at his body physique I doubt if he has ever missed a meal in his life. He had the money. Fine, jail and deport this scumbag long time.

Looks like he didn't know the rules. Got to be east European?

Scum. These actions have a much wider implication than just petty theft.. I find myself being overly nice now in tourist areas to try and counter the justifiable feelings that Thais must have towards us.

1 hour ago, Patong2021 said:

It is a valid observation. The vast majority of young people no longer smoke tobacco. Those who do, typically come from a lower socio economic demographic: Less educated, less intelligent, and poorer than non smokers. Multiple studies from a cross section of countries have demonstrated this. This demographic characteristic coincidentally lines up with the foreigners most likely to be involved in anti-social activity. It's self evident, isn't?

That's an extremely loose bow you've drawn there.

He looks very Israeli.

Calm down, calm down, only joking.

Hope that get him real soon for that.

The shop worker should have asked for the payment owed before handing over the 'phone. That being said, there appears to be a significant number of foreigners in Thailand who don't have enough money to live on.

...Was It An Astronomically High Charge... (?)

...Like They Apparently Do In The Bars... (?)

2 hours ago, Brettoj said:

Hers a tip, take the money before handing him the phone!

Yeah, but most people want to examine and test the phone to make sure that it’s been repaired properly. I know I do.

So I don’t think that’s a practical suggestion.

Off topic post discussing a YouTube channel removed @Patong2021

4 hours ago, wombat said:

curious asks...what does that mean?

Strikes me as an EFL issue 555

8 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

How much longer will things like this keep happening?

Break his legs. That'll stop him from running away again.

5 hours ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

"Another commenter said tourists without enough money should not come to Thailand"

Maybe this is why immigration is asking foreigners to show cash, before letting them in?☹️

Are they? Or did you mean that sarcastically?

The rule about having sufficient cash has been in existence for decades, but I don't know of anyone who has actually been asked to show it.

7 hours ago, Brettoj said:

Hers a tip, take the money before handing him the phone!

Exactly what they do in Hong Kong. Had a phone screen repaired these recently.

Shown the bill (had been told prior what likely cost of repairs would be)

AFTER paying in full, got my phone back with 3 months free guarantee!

Not that 99% of Hong Kongers would cheat on such a small thing and risk gaol......but there are over 30 mill "visitors" per annum.

If you are that cheap what are you doing travelling to the far side of the world ? How are you affording to live and eat?

Secondly, how could he not catch him ?

13 hours ago, Srikcir said:

Start requiring a 50% deposit or credit card for estimated repair cost.

Don't give phone back until bill is paid in full.