Patanawet may well be correct. Thai good manners. For bar-workers, it's difficult for a guy who works under (sic) a formidable mamasan to say "no". After all, the bar would lose money.
And sometimes, an underpaid guy may demand a better reward for a second assignation.
On the whole, I'm a little sceptical ....perhaps a miss-translation on the part of homeseeker's friends?