Cheap Charlie Farangs that expect service but do not want to pay

[cyberfarang]

One of my good Thai friends is a red taxi (songthaew) driver in Chiang Mai and owns his taxi. Yesterday I asked him about his work and whether he makes a reasonable living as a red songthaew driver in CM? He told me this:

 

Over the last two years the Farang passengers are becoming increasing difficult, they display bad attitudes, treating him like some kind of manservant, will haggle or refuse to pay the agreed fares or even make excuses not to pay at all.  An example that he explained to me; a Farang in Chiang Mai wants to go to Doi Suthep. My friend quotes a price of 1200 baht return trip, which is a 40 kilometre trip each way and involves hanging about for his passenger for many hours until the passenger is ready to return to CM again. He told me on several occasions a Farang after arriving at Doi Suthep has disappeared having not paid and on other occasions once after returning in the taxi a Farang has said; sorry; 1200 baht too expensive, I’m only paying you half, 600 baht. And at other times a Farang has said; sorry don’t have any money cannot pay. Once my friend has dropped a Farang passenger at Doi Suthep he often has to go in search if the passenger hasve taken too long or still keep watch in case the person tries to leave without paying the fare. He tried to ask for the fare up front but usually this is not how it’s done in Thailand and more often than not, the passenger refuses. Then I asked him about the Chinese. He told me that the Chinese are not the last of the big spenders as TaT claim, most times they will walk or if wanting a taxi will go as a group expecting to pay the fare of one person. My friend told me that the job is becoming increasing stressful and of course now he has UBER to compete with.

 

I have also spoken to several Thai café and restaurant owners who I know. They have told me similar stories, Farangs ordering large meals, expensive drinks like wine and spirits and when receiving their bills, complain and refuse to pay the full cost or again some try to run off without paying or claim do not have money.

An American friend of a friend we know, a guy in his late 60s, visits toilets in hotels and restaurants and actually steals toilet paper, sometimes he will go to higher grade restaurants such as the Dukes, and pocket the cutlery. Other stories I am hearing, many Farangs going to hospitals for minor treatments or emergency service such as dressing or stitching a wound and then either doing a disappearing act or refusing to pay, claiming don’t have any money.  

 

According to what many Thai business people have told me, this is happening on a much larger scale than we get to hear about, foreigners in Chiang Mai, either tourists or living here that expect everything laid on at bargain rates or for virtually free.  I believe it, hearing this straight from the horses mouths.

[steven2018]

If your friend is driving people that length of distance he needs to require 1/2 fare upfront or no ride. And when the client returns for the return, get the fare upfront. It is disrespectful for anyone to refuse to pay an agreed price for services rendered.

Posted from Android using Tapatalk

[Ruffian Dick]

Maybe he should quit the songthaew mafia and become an Uber driver.

[Shoeless Joe]

Perhaps there are tourists (Farangs AND others) who try to "negotiate" themselves out of previously quoted prices for services and who take part in low-level thefts as described by the OP. But surely if, as you (or your Thai friends) claim, these events were taking place on the scale you indicated (i.e. "this is happening on a much larger scale than we get to hear about"), why the deafening silence? If this was true would we not already have heard and been made aware of what's happening by the Thai "victims" shouting and screaming from the rooftops? After all, they're not usually slow in blaming farangs and tourists for everything else.

 

BUT really, there's no context here. How does what you say compare with, for instance, farangs who are daily subject to the iniquitous, discriminatory 2-tier pricing system which operates almost everywhere and farangs who have dealt with unscrupulous Thais providing services who frequently attempt to renegotiate previously quoted prices in the middle of a job and then blackmail their clients by threatening to leave if there's no additional money (not forgetting that they will already have had a reasonable deposit, whilst at the same time charging for top class materials and buying cheap inferior products).

 

I suggest that the above examples are at least comparable with the unreported stories your friends and business owners told you.

 

Regards,

 

Joe

[elektrified]

"... Other stories I am hearing, many Farangs going to hospitals for minor treatments or emergency service such as dressing or stitching a wound and then either doing a disappearing act or refusing to pay, claiming don’t have any money..."

 

That is difficult to do. All hospitals in Thailand have a system in place to keep an eye on patients attempting to flee hospitals without paying their bill - particularly those with large bills. I can't say for certain about minor services such as dressing or stitching a wound, but when my friend in Bangkok wasn't able to pay the 175,000 Baht balance of his bill upon discharge, he said they must have tripped a silent alarm because within 45 seconds there were two plainclothes security guys behind him. Those two guys drove my friend home in a luxury mini-van and stayed parked out in front of his house for the next 3-4 days until he was able to pay his bill. He said they told him in a very gentle and polite manner not to worry and to to go inside and relax and recuperate (he had a heart attack and was in the CCU for about 4 days), and that when he was up to it, and had the funds lined up, that they would drive him wherever he needed to go to get the funds. My friend's wife even gave them a key so they could use the downstairs restroom at night. On about the 4th day my friend had lined up the money.

[Ruffian Dick]

I think he was talking about not paying fare, not the hospital bill.

[elektrified]

1 minute ago, Ruffian Dick said:

I think he was talking about not paying fare, not the hospital bill.

I read it a couple of times and I think he meant they were not paying the hospital bill - but you could be right. I'm not 100% sure.

[NanLaew]

Many, many years ago in Pattaya, way before motorcyccle taxis, hiring a songtaew to take one over the hill for an afternoon on Jomtien beach was all done quite honorably. The fare was agreed pre-departure and the pick-up time for the return trip agreed. No money was paid until the return trip had been completed. Nobody was bilked and nobody was left stranded on the beach.

 

I guess there was just a much better class of 'tourist' and songtaew driver back then. Even in Pattaya.

[observer90210]

Unfortunately in today's world, ripping and cheating comes from both sides...the Cheap Charlie on one side...and the Cheat Somchai on the other....

[amexpat]

"Oh, sorry.  That price was from the OLD menu".  Heard it many times. Where is the new menu?

[tonray]

I did the trip to Doi Suthep just a few weeks ago as a tourist (reside in BKK). If I remember the standard fare from downtown was far less than 1200 roundtrip. The driver did not wait but came back after a few hours to pick up his group. 

 

An additional fact, there was a couple who wanted to pay him only the trip up as they wanted to spend more time than 2 hours and he argued violently and they had  to fight him to accept the cash on the arrival.  These guys act like a price fixing Mafia and are not acting simply as taxi drivers which leads to people feeling they are shoe horned into a deal or take a hike.

 

Sorry but while I am sure there are tourists who try to stiff the fare, the main reason is the inflexibility of the drivers and their Mafia like grip on the trip.

[steven100]

There's so many cheap charlie farangs in Thailand .....   They expect 5 star service for a three star price .....  

That's why I don't drink with farang ....    they are cheap.  !!

[samsensam]

 

i have both thai and foreign friends who own restaurants, travel agencies and shops in bangkok and while it can happen the occurrence of customers failing to pay or arguing about the bill is surprisingly rare

[scubascuba3]

The Ops examples are extreme, I've not heard of them before, I've heard of Indians having massages then only wanting to pay discounted prices after. I've witnessed that myself. Unbelievable almost. It was actually quite amusing, Indian fella said "we not come back if we not get discount" massage lady said " we not want you come back, just pay" funny

 

As for tipping, what we need is employers to pay a decent wage and not shirk their responsibilities in trying to get customers to pay.

 

 

 

 

[LivinLOS]

5 hours ago, cyberfarang said:

An example that he explained to me; a Farang in Chiang Mai wants to go to Doi Suthep. My friend quotes a price of 1200 baht return trip

 

If hes charging 1200b to do a run up D.S and back no wonder he thinks people are cheap and going to haggle. 

[suzannegoh]

I think he was talking about not paying fare, not the hospital bill.

I read it a couple of times and I think he meant they were not paying the hospital bill - but you could be right. I'm not 100% sure.

I know of one case like that in Chiang Mai, but only one. A distraught farang in our neighborhood lit his hair on fire in what was either an inept suicide attempt or an attempt to scare his wife, was taken to Chiang Mai Ram hospital for treatment of minor burns, and then ran away from the hospital rather than paying.

[NancyL]

3 hours ago, elektrified said:

"... Other stories I am hearing, many Farangs going to hospitals for minor treatments or emergency service such as dressing or stitching a wound and then either doing a disappearing act or refusing to pay, claiming don’t have any money..."

 

That is difficult to do. All hospitals in Thailand have a system in place to keep an eye on patients attempting to flee hospitals without paying their bill - particularly those with large bills. I can't say for certain about minor services such as dressing or stitching a wound, but when my friend in Bangkok wasn't able to pay the 175,000 Baht balance of his bill upon discharge, he said they must have tripped a silent alarm because within 45 seconds there were two plainclothes security guys behind him. Those two guys drove my friend home in a luxury mini-van and stayed parked out in front of his house for the next 3-4 days until he was able to pay his bill. He said they told him in a very gentle and polite manner not to worry and to to go inside and relax and recuperate (he had a heart attack and was in the CCU for about 4 days), and that when he was up to it, and had the funds lined up, that they would drive him wherever he needed to go to get the funds. My friend's wife even gave them a key so they could use the downstairs restroom at night. On about the 4th day my friend had lined up the money.

The private hospitals have the staff to do this, but the government hospitals don't.  Actually, the private hospitals don't do this level of pursuit for small bills, either.  

 

The problem of unpaid bills of foreigners is indeed severe at the hospitals.  And it's not just "farangs" either.  Japanese and Chinese are part of the problem, too.  Also, migrant laborers from neighboring countries, despite their being able to enroll in the Thai national insurance system if they're legally working in Thailand.  Trouble is, many aren't working legally.

 

Incidentally, this is a prime way for someone on overstay to get "caught" -- show up at a hospital for treatment, then claim not to have money for payment.  If the person is on overstay, the hospital will call Immigration.  If the person can pay the hospital doesn't care if they're on overstay.

[Nick ZepTepi]

I've noticed many farangs having selling up and moving sales on Facebook.
Couple this with the 25% or more devaluation in the £ to THB. Not sure how the dollar is doing but it's definitely worth less now than it was a few years ago.

I can believe it is happening, perhaps the frequency is over stated.

The taxi man will remember and talk of the one that did a runner for a long time.

I have less THB in my pocket than 2 years ago but I adapt & adjust, not steal and defraud.



Sent from my mobile, please forgive the autocorrect.

[pgrahmm]

Only saw this once....At the riverside Dukes.....

Older farang (EU accent), single diner - 1100B bill...Stood at the counter and loudly complained about his food, the quality, quantity, unwrapping & checking everything in his take home bags and complaining about it.....Just haranguing & hassling the help (3) and purposely annoying everyone around.....

 

I was at the closest table and was just about to tell him to pipe down and pay his bill - - just as he paid it.....Something out of character for me but it was about a 10 minute long disturbance and it was ruining our meal....

 

I asked the head waitress after & she said they reduced the bill to 900B but he still wanted more but finally settled up.....

 

She also added that he did this every time....

 

It's a pretty safe bet he did this where ever he went.....

 

It was really a pretty ugly performance to watch and sit through.....Miserable sot....

Edited January 6, 2018 by pgrahmm

[chuang]

3 hours ago, steven100 said:

There's so many cheap charlie farangs in Thailand .....   They expect 5 star service for a three star price .....  

That's why I don't drink with farang ....    they are cheap.  !!

Not only many but too too many...

[steven100]

47 minutes ago, pgrahmm said:

Only saw this once....At the riverside Dukes.....

Older farang (EU accent), single diner - 1100B bill...Stood at the counter and loudly complained about his food, the quality, quantity, unwrapping & checking everything in his take home bags and complaining about it.....Just haranguing & hassling the help (3) and purposely annoying everyone around.....

 

I was at the closest table and was just about to tell him to pipe down and pay his bill - - just as he paid it.....Something out of character for me but it was about a 10 minute long disturbance and it was ruining our meal....

 

I asked the head waitress after & she said they reduced the bill to 900B but he still wanted more but finally settled up.....

 

She also added that he did this every time....

 

It's a pretty safe bet he did this where ever he went.....

 

It was really a pretty ugly performance to watch and sit through.....Miserable sot....

he's going to try that on one too many times one day and pay for it dearly.

at a guess he will go to the toilet and ....   ---- police report --- suicide .

[transam]

11 hours ago, steven100 said:

There's so many cheap charlie farangs in Thailand .....   They expect 5 star service for a three star price .....  

That's why I don't drink with farang ....    they are cheap.  !!

Noooo, some farangs don't even know what 5 star entails and how to deal with it...

 

Trans is a 2 star guy and you would enjoy my chat and.....

Edited January 6, 2018 by metisdead
Oversize and intrusive emoji removed.

[steven100]

6 hours ago, transam said:

Noooo, some farangs don't even know what 5 star entails and how to deal with it...

 

Trans is a 2 star guy and you would enjoy my chat and.....

i reckon i would ....

[elektrified]

5 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

The Ops examples are extreme, I've not heard of them before, I've heard of Indians having massages then only wanting to pay discounted prices after. I've witnessed that myself. Unbelievable almost. It was actually quite amusing, Indian fella said "we not come back if we not get discount" massage lady said " we not want you come back, just pay" funny

 

As for tipping, what we need is employers to pay a decent wage and not shirk their responsibilities in trying to get customers to pay.

 

 

 

 

Indian guests in Thailand at 4 and 5 Star hotel spas are notorious for trying to get the price down after the spa treatments.

[Andrew65]

A bar I used to frequent in Bangkok had an American customer who would, without fail, always steal the soap from the washbasin in the toilets.

[sharktooth]

A farang couple in Penang refused to pay their bill in quite a posh restaurant I was in with my gf. Owner kinda looked at me pleadingly as I was the only other farang in there. I simply said in a loud voice “phone the police mate, they are just druggy scum.” They eventually paid and we got a free drink... hooray!

[transam]

8 minutes ago, Andrew65 said:

A bar I used to frequent in Bangkok had an American customer who would, without fail, always steal the soap from the washbasin in the toilets.

You were together....?

[Finlaco]

It's often funny to read articles like this and the experts advising ....

 

The cost of a songthaew ride is B40 per person each way to/from Doi Suthep. They depart from Huay Kaew Road near the Zoo.  

 

The ride back into town is B20 per person.  

 

 

Edited January 6, 2018 by Finlaco

[suzannegoh]

It's often funny to read articles like this and the experts advising ....  

The cost of a songthaew ride is B40 per person each way to/from Doi Suthep. They depart from Huay Kaew Road near the Zoo.  

 

The ride back into town is B20 per person.  

 

 

 

 

That's a good point, 1200 baht seems a bit extortionate. The drivers that ask for 800 to 1200 baht to go up Doi Suthep are usually the lazy SOBs who park all day by the side of the road on the east side of the moat waiting for hapless tourists to come by.

 

 

 

[sanemax]

22 minutes ago, Finlaco said:

It's often funny to read articles like this and the experts advising ....

 

The cost of a songthaew ride is B40 per person each way to/from Doi Suthep. They depart from Huay Kaew Road near the Zoo.  

 

The ride back into town is B20 per person.  

 

I do think that your prices are a bit out of date , its 80 Baht from the Zoo to Doi Suthep one way and its a minimum of 30 Baht, back into town (from the zoo)