S'pore man complains after S$180 supper for 10 pax at Katong eatery had no itemised receipt

After supper one night, a man requested a receipt for his meal with nine other people.

However, the man claimed the store refused to give an itemised receipt and gave him a receipt for a total of S$180.

Taking to Instagram, Martin Ng shared on Oct. 28 that he visited Heng Long Teochew Porridge at Tanjong Katong with nine others for supper.

When he went to pay, he was told that the total would be S$180.

Ng then asked for a receipt, but the store refused to provide a receipt with a breakdown of each dish. They provided only a "lump sum receipt" for S$180.

Nine dishes

Speaking to Shin Min Daily News, Ng said that they ordered a total of nine dishes and 12 bowls of porridge.

This included two steamed fish, minced meat, braised pork, fish cakes, and sweet and sour pork.

"When we ordered, we only knew that one of the fish cost S$20 and the other was S$23," Ng told the Chinese media.

When Ng went to pay, he was apparently told the meal cost more than S$180, but the store would charge him a flat S$180.

This surprised him, so he asked for a receipt with a cost breakdown of the items.

"I just want to understand how the price is calculated," Ng said.

At first, the staff refused, explaining that they were unable to provide a detailed receipt.

When Ng asked again, the staff just printed a receipt for S$180.

At first, Ng wanted to call the police on the spot, but his friends talked him out of it, Shin Min Daily News reported.

In the end, Ng shared his experience on Instagram.

In the comments, when some users pointed out that the total cost did not seem that expensive, Ng said it wasn't about the cost but asked if it was "really too much to ask for a breakdown of the receipt?"

Prices clearly marked

In response to Shin Min Daily News, the store manager, Gao (transliteration), said all prices were clearly marked.

He explained that the receipt system, which they have used for about 10 years, was outdated, so employees could not provide detailed receipts.

If customers asked, employees could explain each item and state the food price.

However, based on feedback, Gao said they will gradually upgrade their system so they can show a breakdown of each item.

When Mothership visited the store on Nov. 1, a meal consisting of steamed egg, one serving of vegetables and one serving of meat cost S$5.

The receipt showed a total of S$5, with no breakdown of each item's cost.