A Tourist Called the Cops After Getting Charged Nearly $1,000 for Crab

There's disputing the bill, and then there's calling the cops. That's just what Junko Shinba, a tourist visiting Singapore, did when her check came to a whopping $1,000 for a little bit of crab.

While dining at the local restaurant Seafood Paradise, Asia One reported, Shinba allegedly took her waiter's advice and ordered the Chili Crab, a specialty in Singapore and Malaysia, and the restaurant's signature meal. According to Shinba, she was under the impression that the dish would cost $20. What she didn't (again, allegedly) realize was that the $20 was per 100 grams, and the meal was to be made with Alaskan King Crab, a much, much pricier crustacean than the restaurant's usual mud crabs, which was on offer as part of the restaurant's seasonal menu.

Shinba claimed that the high cost wasn't adequately explained to her when ordering, despite the menu detailing the per-gram pricing. Paradise Group, the company that owns Seafood Paradise, has commented on the matter, sharing with Asia One that the restaurant staff had brought the entire King Crab to their table before it was cooked to ensure the sightseeing group understood the true cost. In a statement, Paradise Group shared that it is "deeply upset by the inaccurate claims made by this group of customers." It added, "At Seafood Paradise and all other Paradise Group restaurants, we consistently uphold a commitment to transparent pricing with a focus on customer service and food quality. Our staff will do their best to communicate clearly to the customers and welcome any queries."

However, Shinba says her party assumed the crab was just being shown off and they would be getting only a part of it in their meal since it was not specifically explained that the entire thing would be cooked for her table and her table only.

Almost 8 pounds of crab were delivered in three heaping plates to their table in addition to the other items they had ordered. The group of four said they couldn’t finish the massive amount of food before being slapped with a bill to match. The check totaled almost $1,000 in Singapore dollars. Shinba refused to pay the bill and requested the police, resulting in a police report and a discussion with the managers. The restaurant manager offered a small discount, and the bill was reluctantly paid by the travelers.

Lesson learned: check the fine print and ask for clarity if you're ever confused on a menu's pricing.