Road trip nightmare: Ibis Budget Hotel charges guest $1800 after steamy shower in Canberra

A budget hotel has drained an interstate traveller’s bank account of more than $1800 over a shower in his Canberra hotel room.

Simon He, 36, was on a road trip from Sydney to Adelaide , hoping to make a fresh start in the southern city after he was attacked on the streets of Newcastle last year.

“I was violently bashed ... this trip was supposed to be a part of my healing process,” He told 7NEWS.com.au.

He was exhausted when he stopped for the night in Canberra, and checked into a $75 per night room at the Ibis Budget Canberra where he promptly fell asleep on Monday night.

The next morning, He took a five-minute shower in the prefabricated bathroom pod in his room.

“Before I took a shower, I noticed that there was a sign on the bathroom which says, ‘keep the door shut while showering’. I did exactly that,” he said.

“I finished the shower and walked out and, when I was putting my clothes on, the fire alarm was triggered.”

Staff members were knocking on his door within seconds. In less than an hour, his bank was drained to foot the expected fire service call-out fee to the hotel.

“They charged me $1825, without my permission, without my knowledge,” He said.

Back-and-forth emails disputed the fairness of the charge — the hotel claims it explained the risk and fees in regard to shower steam during the check-in process, while He said the small sign on the bathroom door was the only time he was made aware of the issue.

“I asked multiple times for a copy of this policy, the relevant booking term, or any signed document showing that I agreed to such a charge. So far, they have not provided any copy of the policy or written basis for charging me,” He said.

“I followed that instruction. It did not say the door must remain closed after showering, that it must be opened slowly, or that shower steam could result in a $1825 charge.”

He also raised concerns he was charged a fee before the relevant fire authority had invoiced the hotel with the exact cost of the call-out.

However emails from the hotel explained: “This amount is based on the costs we have previously been charged in similar fire alarm call-out incidents ... we have had similar incidents in the past where the fire alarm was activated due to steam from a shower.