Scalped: a US$10 haircut at Chinese hair salon escalates into row over US$7,600 in charges

A man has become embroiled in a 50,000 yuan (HK$59,000) financial dispute with a hair salon in Shanghai after he went in for a 68 yuan haircut, according to a newspaper report.

The man was persuaded to have a scalp clean-up for a further 5,000 yuan at the hairdressers, but was then charged another 6,000 yuan for a membership card entitling him to the service, the Shanghai Morning Post reported.

The man, whose full name was not given, paid the cash after the salon promised he would get a refund when they helped find another customer to take his membership card.

He returned to the salon to get his cash, but was told he had to pay 9,000 yuan more to pass his membership card on, according to the article

By March 8 he had been persuaded to spend more than 50,000 yuan, including the money for two membership cards and two scalp-cleaning cards, the report said.

The man filed complaints to the authorities in Shanghai who promised to take up the issue, the newspaper said.