hunghung

An idea hit me yesterday. I am feeling the story that Mr. Z (the lawyer who accepted my complaint back in 2009) has departed may be just another lie. I have no proof yet, but my feelings are usually right. Here is my train of thought:

1. First, why would a lawyer depart a secure job when the economy is not too robust? Was he fired or his contract over? Not likely. Miss L lied about the warning letter and so she could also lie about Mr. Z’s departure. So I think …

2. The office wants to get rid of my case regardless of its merit.

3. If Mr. Z himself tells me the office has decided to drop the case, he knows I would ask him the reason and also why it has taken him over a year to decide.

4. So Miss L enters the picture. If she tells me the case has been dropped, hopefully, I would just accept the verdict without further question.

It is easy to find out if Mr. Z still works in that office by calling or visiting the office. Should you want to assist me to find that out, please write me a private message.

So many governments are afraid of letting people know the truth. I think there should be a revolution in many countries to get rid of inept/corrupt government.

Just discovered this ombudsman page: http://www.ombudsman...eng/index1.html. If a Thai government agency doesn't do its job, one can go to the ombudsman for assistance.

And who do you go to when the ombudsman doesn't do his job?

Share the information with ppl all over the world. Maybe fewer people/businesses would want to have anything to do with Thailand when they are aware of its "lawlessness". You see ithe effect already without realizing it: How come, say Singapore, is so far more advanced than Thailand when both countries were on almost equal level of development some 50 years ago and Thailand has much, much more resources than Singapore? I believe that had Thailand had a clean government, it would now have been superior to, say Singapore.

Just discovered this ombudsman page: http://www.ombudsman.go.th/2008/eng/index1.html. If a Thai government agency doesn't do its job, one can go to the ombudsman for assistance.

You have not clarified the financial cost of this incident.

You clearly will not succeed in your current line of attack. In this particular case NO the journey is not more interesting than the destination - unless you have a lot of time on your hands..

I have a friend who is remarkably dogged when dealing with agencies in the UK and he has been successful in his persistence. With Thais, regrettably, you will not be.

The tour was uncompleted (or, put it differently, was not as described). What pissed me off is that the travel agent intentionally cut corner on my tour so that it could make more money. At least one-third of what was promised wasn't delivered. Since I paid 31,000B for the tour, the "financial cost" would be at least 10,000B. Not much, but the issue is really not the money.

I have lots of time. We shall see how the story develops.

>>And you're surprised that she doesn't give you her name????<<

Maybe you can tell me why she didn't give me her name since you are more familiar with the Thai culture. I know many Ameriicans wouldn't give their last names, probably due to fear of identity theft.

Haven't you thought about that the journey is more interesting than the destination (whatever it may be)?

Sometimes it's not about actually getting results, but enjoying stirring the pot!

I am the righteous type who enjoys giving bad guys what they deserve despite all odds.

In HK, where I live, ppl would write to "members of parliament' for addressing certain issues, suggesting ideas ... I want to write to Thailand's MPs about my issue with MOTS. Where can I get a list Thai MPs and there contact info?

lannarebirth: Would you be able to ask your ex-lawyer-girlfriend where to report unethical conduct of lawyers? Laksanara obviously told me (the public) blatant lies when carrying out official duty and I think I should be able to "get her" on this.

I think incompetence/corruption in Thai government is what keeps the country from moving up to the category of Singapore or the likes. Good things or bad things start with the government.

Finally, I am amazed by the low level of English of Thai lawyers (I don't think Lakssanara's poor English is an individual case, but I may be wrong on this).

I would visit Chiang Mai next month. Which bank or which place has a better deal for currency exchange?

Also, how much is a tuk-tuk ride from airport to downtown?

Hunghung

No shortage of places to stay in KK.

Thanks for the info Terry. Do you know one or two good accommodations in KK?

Hunghung

I stayed in the above guesthouse in 2007. I plan to visit Khon Kaen early 2010, but this place seems to be out of business (its email and website no longer work). This place is very close to Fairy Plaza.

Does anyone know what has happened to it? (Maybe the name has been changed due to new ownership.)

Hunghung

In April, 2008, I filed an online complaint against the travel agent //*deleted*// to Ministry of Tourism and Sports via the website touristassistancecenter.go.th (this site is no longer functional). A Ministry staff acknowledged my complaint by email.

However, despite repeated online inquiry about the progress of the complaint, I received no response from the Ministry.

When I was in Bangkok earlier this year in May, I went to MOTS National Stadium office to inquire about the progress of my complaint (which I filed online in April 2008). They found no record of the complaint and asked me to file a written complaint against //*deleted*// while I was in that office. I did accordingly and a staff said I would hear from the Ministry in 2-3 weeks.

Not having heard anything, I sent a letter to the National Stadium office in August and another one in September, 2009 inquiring about the progress of the complaint, but again I heard nothing. About a month ago, I sent a letter about the matter to Mr.Weerasak Kowsurat (Minister of Tourism and Sports) at the Ratchadamneon Rd. address, but heard nothing.

I think it is conclusive that MOTS is not going to do anything about my complaint (I wonder why; corruption/incompetence?) and I have to look for alternative ways to get my complaint addressed.

Can you please tell me who and/or which organizations (e.g. cabinet members, legislators) I can write to about this matter?

Hunghung

Now I think I understand why I "lost" my stuff when I flew out of Bangkok in May this year.

I remembered I had 3-4 DVDs in the net compartment and a few new toothbrushes inside the baggage. When I returned home and opened the baggage, I couldn't find those items. Since the baggage was locked (though with a regular small lock), I thought I must have left them in the hotel room even though I was quite careful when packing.

Now it dawns on me that they could have been stolen at the airport!!!

Hunghung

Whatever the circumstances this is nothing but an unmitigated deeply sad tragedy. Blame and calls of incompetence add nothing so why bother to make them. The only thing to express here is profound regret that one so young was taken, regardless of how.

Deepest sympathy to the family who will face weeks and months of soul searching and loss.

Because blames and calls of incompetence may save another childs life.I would want someone held responsible,as i am sure would you,if it was someone you loved.

I went to Pattaya Park 2-3 years ago, tough not the water part of the complex. The place was badly run. The advertisement I saw was deceptive (actually I wrote to a couple of Pattaya publications asking them not to publish the ad, but they contine putting ads of the Park). The buffet was a total rip-off. Staffs who operated the cable ride from the top of the tower were unfriendly (probably because they were poorly paid or treated). I was so pissed off that I will never visit the place again. I guess this death case has a lot to do with the Park itself.

I will be visiting Bangkok later this month staying in the Sukumvit area. Does someone know if there are oxygen bars in that area? Exact addresses and telephone numbers are appreciate.

Are there good oxygen bars in Bangkok that you know of?

Hunghung

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So this other complaint would "get" Maneerat.

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555! Get a life!

Do you work for Maneerat or are you its friend?

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No. The letter was written in broken English and so it is unlikely to be a standard letter.

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That says it all ..... maybe you should reconsider your stance in life ....

Maybe you should start up a anti visit campaign against Cambodia .....

I have another complaint to Ministry of Tourism & Sports on Maneerat regarding tour not as described in the tour program (many things went wrong with the tour, including failure of providing me tour guides and return trip to Pattaya). I have a copy of the tour description and I don't think Maneerat can provide excuses. So this other complaint would "get" Maneerat.

Yeah, well done ... probably a standard answer in which they change the name ......

No. The letter was written in broken English and so it is unlikely to be a standard letter.

Do you really think they will handle your 'complaint'?

Got to tell this story to Nan and Fon .... they will probably laugh their asses off.

Of course, it will. It emailed the following message to me a few days ago (that was for the first complaint regarding visa cost and exchange scams; I have another complaint concerning tour quality and non-fullfillment of obligations):

"Thank you so much for your complaint. I will contract to Organizer who response for this case to arrangement for this problem and I will contract to Maneerat Transport & Travel ,So I will try to solve your problem. If I have more information I will contract you immidiately.

Regards,

Wilawan Mingmuang

Tourist Assistance Center

Ministry of Tourism and Sports"

Of course, what realy hurts Maneerat are the warnings I post on 100 plus travel forums (including Thaivisa).

You didn't just get ripped of on the visa but also on the forced changing of currency into Riel. The Dollar is widely accepted throughout Cambo and you can use Thai baht in many places as well. Offcourse life will be better when paying in Riel, but you could have waited untill you found a moneychanger of your choice.

Waerth

I wasn't forced to exchange at that ripoff place. The guide just touted the group to do exchange there. Some did exchange there, unfortunately.

Is Ban Laem still "in business" and has anyone been there on their own without the "protection" of a visa run company ?

Ban Laem is the border post that all Pattaya visa run companies use. I have no experience doing it alone, but it costs me 1,700 with the "protection" of a visa run company, so how much do you expect to save doing it alone? Just remember you'll need either a bogus transportation ticket, or some proof of onward travel out of Thailand if you don't have a visa.

On my return to Thailand, I used the Koh Kong (Cambodia) border, which is about 90 minutes from Trat by road. That border is much, much less crowded and I would guess people are more honest there. If you want to use that border, I think you can take a minivan or bus from Pattaya to Trat and then take a minivan from Trat to that border (Trat is a nice, cheap place to stay for one or two days).

I finally found out that Ministry of Tourism and Sports (http://www.touristassistancecenter.go.th/web/default.html) is the right agent to file complaints. I filed two complaints: one regarding Maneerat's visa cost and currency exchange scams (which affect tourists in general) and the other regarding actual tour far from what was presented to me by Maneerat (which affects only me).

I disagree that we shouldn't confront the visa cost issue with the relevant Thai organizations. From the discussions on this thread, it is clear that there is great confusion about Cambodia visa cost. There should be one standard to follow so that tourists can travel at peace and with confidence. If some of you were pissed off in the past, you shouldn't let this trap perpetuate and see others falling into it.

B1200 is about DOUBLE.

moron alert.

If I was going on a package tour to Cambodia I would discuss this with the tour operator before I paid. Let them know you know the visa costs $20 and that is what you'll pay...perhaps with a small "express fee" added on.

I did my research on Cambodia visa cost before I went and found the cost was $20. I thought I would just pay directly to Cambodia immigration counter rather than through a middleman and so I didn't ask Maneerat (the tour operator) on visa issue. And that is where the tourist trap is.

BTW, I emailed twice to TAT (http://www.tourismthailand.org/contact-us/) about how to make a complaint, but I haven't heard from it. Is this because of Thai inefficiency or lack of motivation to handle complaints???

Strange story ..... Maneerat is one the most popular visa run operators in Pattaya. Went with them a dozen times ... They charge THB 1,800 for the whole trip (incl. transport). Never heard they charged seperately for the visa fee. I've never heard that they operate to Poi Pet. All their tours goto Ban Laem.

Advise you to complain to Khun Nan at Maneerat ....

Nan (I hope we are talking about the same person) is useless. She assured me in 3 emails that her staff (I think she meant someone she works with in Cambodia) would pick me up at my hotel in Silhanoukville (Cambodia) for transport to Pattaya on March 13, 08 at noon. No one came!!!! No one left me a message even I had given her the hotel contact info !!!

I can show you her emails if you want.

Rather than confronting Maneerat on my own, I am looking for a lawyer who can help. I appreciate if someone has a lawyer to recommend.

Hunghung

Strange story ..... Maneerat is one the most popular visa run operators in Pattaya. Went with them a dozen times ... They charge THB 1,800 for the whole trip (incl. transport). Never heard they charged seperately for the visa fee. I've never heard that they operate to Poi Pet. All their tours goto Ban Laem.

Advise you to complain to Khun Nan at Maneerat ....

I was on a Cambodia package tour, not a visa run. I was first picked up in Pattaya by a minivan. The minivan dropped me, but not others in the minivan, at a restaurant (near Poi Pet border), where I paid the described 1300B to the man working for or with Maneerat. There were other travellers in the restaurant and we later went on a big bus to go to the border. While I was queueing at Cambodian immigration, I met the guy who sat behind me in the minivan. He told me he also paid 1200B visa cost to the operator a short while before (he said he was going to Siem Reap; I don't know if Maneerat was his agency). He further said a German guy in the minivan refused to pay the 1200B and walked off on his own.

So it appears there is a systemic plot to rip travellers off on Cambodia visa cost. Who can tell me which government agency I should complain to? Is TAT the right agency for this? I think it is on the behalf of all travellers to get this matter straight and prevent further travellers' agony over visa cost.

(About my horrible experience with Maneerat: I took a 7 days/6 nights package tour to Cambodia , but the tour was not what was described in the tour program. Among many unsatisfactory things, I was left stranded in Sihanoukville when no one picked me up to return to Pattaya. The tour made my holidays miserable. Please don't use Maneerat in the future!!!)

Hunghung

Earlier this month (March, 08), I took a Cambodia package tour (by road) when I was in Pattaya.

I read that the visa cost was US$20 and that was what I had prepared for.

When I arrived at a restaurant near the border at Poi Pet, an agent working for my tour agent (Maneerat Transport & Travel Cp., on Soi Post Office in Pattaya) asked me for 1200B visa cost plus his 100B handling fee (this fee was never mentioned by my tour agent). I asked him if I could pay US$20 or US dollars, but he said no. I unwillingly paid him 1300B.

There is a big difference between 1200B and US$20. At the exchange rate of US$1 to 31B, 1200B is almost twice of US$20. Was I ripped of? If yes, where should I make a complain? TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand)?

Your comments are most appreciated.

(Also, after I had passed Cambodian immigration, the driver took the group on the bus to a currency exchange place nearby. He told us exchange places were closed in the weekend (that day was Friday) in Siem Reap and we had better get our exchange there. This was just a lie as I found out later that there were plenty of exchange shops in Siem Reap that open 7 days a week. I did my homework and knew US$1 can get about 3,900 Cambodian Riels. That place quoted me the rate of US$1 to 3,200 Riels, which was a total ripoff. Of course, I did no exchange in the shop. Unfortunately, other people on the bus did some exchanges for their Bhat and US$.)

Hunghung