As has been mentioned in another thread this border point is definitely one to avoid if you want a quick out-in.
I hadn't seen the other thread mentioning the problems before going today and was expecting an easy hassle free border hop and it was completely the opposite.
My history. 13 years or so in Thailand on mostly non o visas or marriage extensions.
Last 6 months before coming to Thailand this year I was in UK and came here in october on visa exempt which I extended for 30 days.
Yes I know I should have had a visa but with reports of an easy hop nong khai seemed a good option rather than the hassle of getting a visa and I plan to go back to UK again at the end of this 3 month stint.
Anyway the IO (one of the worst I have faced and I've had some bad ones) asked why I was coming back in after just leaving. I explained it was just to stay an extra 2 month to stay with my wife and son. ' cannot' was the answer.
Told to wait in a separate area where the same guy came and asked loads of questions saying i had to back to Laos, he said he would let me back in after 2-3 days.
Anyway after much pleading and begging he relentled and said if I could show a ticket back to UK he would let me in. So after booking onwardtravel tricket he accepted it and I got in.
Horrible experience but suppose I was still one of the lucky ones.
As a side note, while I was in the queue they were giving anothrt guy a bit of hassle and I kept hearing him saying ' I have a visa '.