A confrontation erupted at a ramen restaurant inside a Bangkok petrol station on June 8 when a female customer refused to pay the full bill, objecting to the inclusion of value-added tax (VAT). The dispute, which took place at a PTT station on Suk Sawat Road, was captured on video by a fellow diner and later shared on TikTok by user @moveforwardlandslide.
According to the post, the customer became irate when presented with a 321 baht bill. The price included a 21 baht VAT on a 300 baht meal. The woman allegedly argued that the charge was excessive and demanded a revised bill, claiming the VAT should not apply in the same way it would at convenience stores like 7-Eleven.
The restaurant staff, consisting of two female employees, attempted to explain the breakdown of the bill, but the customer refused to acknowledge the tax. The situation escalated when the woman tried to leave the premises without paying. A PTT staff member stepped in, but the customer reportedly remained confrontational.
The situation was defused when the TikTok user and another customer intervened to prevent the woman from exiting the restaurant without settling the bill. Eventually, she agreed to pay, though she continued to argue throughout the process.
The incident sparked considerable reaction online, with many commenters voicing support for the restaurant employees and criticizing the customer’s behavior. Some users called for legal action against customers who harass service workers.
While VAT is a standard 7% charge on goods and services in Thailand, confusion and disputes over tax inclusion occasionally occur, especially in small businesses and restaurants. The video drew attention to the pressures faced by service staff in such situations.
No police involvement has been reported in connection with the incident.
