[49572] Istanbul: Barbershop closed after charging a tourist 7,100 Lira for a haircut

Incident in Turkey: Barbershop closed for excessive charging of a tourist

In Istanbul, an unusual incident occurred this week that received widespread coverage in the Turkish media: a barbershop was closed by local authorities after it charged a tourist 7,100 Turkish Lira for a service initially agreed upon for only 400 Lira.

According to the report in Haber Gündem, the owner justified the high price by charging for "add-ons" such as facial grooming and the use of nose strips, without clear prior consent. TGRT HABER notes that following the complaint, the business was sealed and shut down in a joint operation by the local authority and the Ministry of Trade.

The Turkish Ministry of Trade responded sharply to the event. In a statement quoted in Haber Gündem, it was stated: "Dealing with practices that harm consumer trust and the reputation of artisans will continue to be our top priority. There will be no tolerance for cases of this kind."

As of now, the Ministry of Trade continues to monitor the proceedings against the business owners, emphasizing that this action is intended to protect Istanbul's image as a tourist destination and ensure business fairness.