Tourist refuses to pay after being charged S$122 for 3 Subway sandwiches at Phuket airport, police called in

A tourist took to TikTok on Jan. 8 to complain about how she was charged around £72 (S$122) for three Subway sandwiches at Phuket International Airport.

When she refused to pay for the sandwiches, a Subway staff called the police on her, resulting in a confrontation.

Eventually, she boarded her flight after she reached an agreement with the store to pay for the three sandwiches at £37 (S$62).

How did the tourist get charged S$122?

According to TikTok user @naynaysully, she had bought three footlong sandwiches, one of which had extra meat, along with three drinks and three cookies.

Her first TikTok video of the incident showed a Subway sandwich listed at the prices of either 341 baht (S$13.50) or 533 baht (S$21).

However, she was then told at the cashier that she would be charged 3,000 baht (S$120).

In exclaiming her disbelief at being charged the equivalent of £72 for three sandwiches, @naynaysully further alleged that the shop's staff then called the police on her in response to her refusal to pay.

@naynaysully♬ original sound - 💫💋NayNay💋💫

She also said in her second TikTok video on the incident that she had told the shop's staff to keep the food instead and that she had acceded to the staff calling the police on her.

"They didn't come, for a good 10, 15 minutes and my flight was boarding," she claimed.

The woman said she decided to leave the shop and the food behind, and head to the gate.

Police supposedly did not understand English

However, the staff then ran after her together with the police and she returned to the shop, only to find that the police apparently could not understand her.

"He stared at me like I was an alien," she said, when she asked the policeman if he understood English.

The situation appeared to reach an impasse until an airport staff at the boarding gate came over to tell the police and the Subway staff that the tourist had to leave.

The Subway staff then agreed to charged the tourist £37 (S$62), which was the amount she said was purportedly left in her card.

However, the staff only wanted to give her two sandwiches at first.

After some additional negotiation, the staff agreed to give her all three sandwiches without the cookies and drinks.

The TikTok user said the incident left her extremely angry but she did not want to be arrested in Thailand while she was with her two children.

She then concluded her second TikTok video by saying that she would never go to Subway in Phuket "ever again" and added that apart from this incident, her experience in Thailand has been amazing.

@naynaysully♬ original sound - 💫💋NayNay💋💫

What did the store say?

Thai media Khaosod English reported that the Subway store defended its pricing and said they did not overcharge a foreign passenger who complained on social media.

The store added that the price of all items had been clearly stated and said she had ordered extra beef and cheese.

A photo of the receipt supposedly showed a breakdown of her order, which came up 3,152 baht (S$124.73).

In response to the incident, Phuket International Airport said on Facebook that they were aware of discussions on social media about the prices at Subway and confirmed that the store displays its pricing "clearly" and operates in compliance with the terms outlined in its concession contract.