Customer slammed as 'poor' by Bangsar eatery after questioning hand-written bill error

SHAH ALAM – A Bangsar restaurant has come under intense criticism after a diner claimed she was overcharged for an extra cocktail she never ordered, only to be told she was “poor” for questioning the bill.

A diner who goes by @carmenbaeisfood on Threads alleged that a restaurant in Bangsar in Kuala Lumpur labelled her “poor” after she disputed an incorrect charge on her bill.

She described that she and her three friends had made a reservation a month in advance and paid a RM100 deposit, choosing the à la carte menu after the restaurant sent it to them for confirmation.

According to her, the group shared two cocktails, one Aqua Panna and four dishes, as they had eaten snacks beforehand.

She wrote that while the food was “slightly disappointing,” the overall experience appeared normal until the end of the meal.

“Things only took a turn after the birthday gesture. The restaurant surprised me with a small cake and even guided us to their champagne room for photos, which we appreciated. But when the bill arrived, it totalled RM517.32 after tax.

“After deducting the RM100 deposit, we paid RM410, which they ‘kindly’ rounded down. The issue was that we had only ordered two cocktails, yet the bill listed three; an extra RM58 charge,” she clarified.

Her friend later contacted the restaurant via Instagram to check if the birthday cake had been added to the bill, but the staff confirmed that it was complimentary.

When they asked about the extra cocktail, the restaurant responded that they could prepare the RM58 for collection if they wished to dispute it, adding: “there is no need to come back.”

Shortly after, the restaurant allegedly posted an Instagram story stating: “If you cannot afford RM400 between four pax, maybe do not come.”

“This was never about affordability. It was about an incorrect bill, dismissive service and the way they pushed the blame onto the customer, while expecting us to personally collect the RM58 refund,” she stressed.

She also clarified that she had permission from her friend to share the incident publicly.

“This information is based on another user’s public post. I do not claim the statements are factual, nor do I intend to harm any business or individuals. If anything is inaccurate, I am open to removing or correcting it upon request,” she added.

Many Threads users voiced support for @carmenbaeisfood and slammed the restaurant’s handling of the situation.

User @lyndaleong32 wrote: “His reply clearly shows the mindset he operates from, one that equates money with status and leaves no room for principles or values. With that outlook, it is unsurprising that he completely missed the point you were trying to raise. It is also baffling that someone would speak to a customer in such a manner.

“His behaviour comes across as if he is arguing in a marketplace rather than dealing with a paying customer, which perhaps explains why they still have not invested in a proper point-of-sale system.”

Another user, @jolene.diary, highlighted the lack of proper invoicing: “The handwritten receipt is not acceptable and it is surprising that there is no proper point-of-sale system in place. The staff’s poor attitude only makes the situation worse. Being charged for something you never ordered is completely unacceptable, and the shop should take responsibility for its mistake and provide the appropriate compensation.”

Meanwhile, @amarfrd said: “Charging nearly RM400 for steak frites yet issuing a receipt of such poor quality feels unacceptable, especially when even most food court stalls now use proper point-of-sale systems. If it were up to me, I would not allow this restaurant to operate under these standards.”

Several users also urged the diner to file a report with the authorities.