Jordanian Tourist Gets Into Physical Dispute With Phuket Barber Over Extra Charge

A dispute over a barber shop bill turned into a physical confrontation in Patong, Phuket, on August 31 after a Jordanian tourist allegedly refused to pay an additional charge for hair services.

The incident attracted attention on social media after a Facebook post claimed that a foreign tourist had refused to pay for a haircut and then punched a barber. The man was initially described online as Israeli.

Patong Police later responded to a report of a fight near the end of Soi Bangla. When officers arrived, they found the tourist and a barber shop employee grappling with each other.

Police checks confirmed that the tourist was Jordanian, rather than Israeli as initially reported on social media.

According to the preliminary police inquiry, the tourist and the barber shop had originally agreed on a price of 700 baht for a haircut. However, the tourist subsequently received additional hair services, which resulted in an extra charge.

After the services were completed, the tourist reportedly wanted to pay only the originally agreed 700 baht and attempted to leave the shop. The employee followed him and asked him to settle the remaining amount.

The disagreement escalated into a physical confrontation, with the two men grabbing and struggling with each other. During the incident, the employee’s glasses were reportedly damaged.

Police brought both sides together to resolve the dispute. The tourist eventually agreed to compensate the employee for the damaged glasses, and neither party chose to take further legal action.