Pattaya Mayor orders Bali Hai Pier officials to crackdown on alleged problems, speedboat price gouging, etc.

[webfact]

 

By Goong Nang(GN)

 

Pattaya – The Pattaya Mayor has ordered relevant officers and agencies to closely manage the Bali Hai Pier after many alleged problems have gone viral on social media.

 

Today, (November 18th), the Pattaya City Mayor Sonthaya Khunplome ordered a significant increase in law enforcement and municipality officers to patrol around the Bali Hai Pier.

 

The team was led by the Pattaya City Deputy Mayor Wuttisak Ruemkitkarn, Pattaya City Law Enforcement Officers, and officers from the marine office.

 

Mayor Sonthaya told TPN media, “We have received many complaints about boat (primarily speedboat) operators who have no legal license, some are annoying tourists and not following service rules, unfair boat service fees, and even some boats abandoning passengers after disputes over pricing or other issues. 

 

Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2021/11/18/pattaya-mayor-orders-bali-hai-pier-officials-to-crackdown-on-alleged-problems-speedboat-price-gouging-etc/

 

-- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2021-11-19

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[volsfan]

I recently experienced a situation where a speedboat tout masqueraded as an employee of the parking area. She asked us where we were going, and then proceeded to lie to us about the ferry schedule. Told us that the noon ferry was no longer running. Conveniently, another speedboat tout happened along and had a boat available that we could take now. 

 

I knew it was a scam, but the wife and daughter were convinced the honorable Thai would not be lying. Once on the pier, we went and confirmed the noon ferry. 

 

Typical ripoff. Nothing will change. 

[RichardColeman]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

many alleged problems have gone viral on social media.

And that's before the tourists arrive by their 1,000  10's

[smedly]

been going on for as long as I can remember

[jacko45k]

1 hour ago, smedly said:

been going on for as long as I can remember

Exactly...... gullible and new tourists are taken advantage of as standard here..... the jet-ski scam will rear it's head again as soon as there are tourists to be scammed, and the police will be facilitating it as usual and taking their cut. No serious effort is ever made, just lip flapping. I bet the scammers come back with a vengeance having been deprived of victims for so long. 

[Nicholas Paul KNIGHT]

Nothing will ever change, now that CULTURE is more important. This is Thai Culture or Thainess so beloved by the PM. 

[johng]

ironic that the ex mayor of Pattaya now says that "Culture is more important than freedom"

Edited November 19, 2021 by johng

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

“We have received many complaints about boat (primarily speedboat) operators who have no legal license, some are annoying tourists and not following service rules, unfair boat service fees, and even some boats abandoning passengers after disputes over pricing or other issues. 

Nice to see some of the "old normal" continuing in Thai style.

[Almer]

Now it’s getting back to normality, but why dosnt the ferry company give the tout a good kicking for telling porkies about there sailing times?

[Harveyboy]

great to see good old pattaya getting back to normal.. let's see what new scams have been developed during the lay offs ...

Edited November 19, 2021 by Harveyboy

[overherebc]

If they want to do it seriously just have a real ticket office selling tickets with the destination and price on them.

Buy a ticket and hand it to the boat as you get on.

Works for the Koh Chang ferry.

[Leaver]

12 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Exactly...... gullible and new tourists are taken advantage of as standard here..... the jet-ski scam will rear it's head again as soon as there are tourists to be scammed, and the police will be facilitating it as usual and taking their cut. No serious effort is ever made, just lip flapping. I bet the scammers come back with a vengeance having been deprived of victims for so long. 

 

Just one of the many reasons why Thailand was falling out of favour with western tourists, pre covid.  

 

The same old scams, ruining people's holidays. 

 

Many would rather scam a baht here, than offer a decent product or service and earn a baht.  

[HashBrownHarry]

12 hours ago, Leaver said:

 

Just one of the many reasons why Thailand was falling out of favour with western tourists, pre covid.  

 

The same old scams, ruining people's holidays. 

 

Many would rather scam a baht here, than offer a decent product or service and earn a baht.  

Scams happen in all high volum tourist spots, nothing new there...

[Leaver]

7 hours ago, HashBrownHarry said:

Scams happen in all high volum tourist spots, nothing new there...

 

Not so for what amounts to state sponsored scams.  Eg. all taxis not using their meters, jet-ski extortion etc. 

 

The scammers are allowed to operate, unimpeded, because police and politicians are in on the scam, thus, state sponsored.  

[HashBrownHarry]

8 minutes ago, Leaver said:

 

Not so for what amounts to state sponsored scams.  Eg. all taxis not using their meters, jet-ski extortion etc. 

 

The scammers are allowed to operate, unimpeded, because police and politicians are in on the scam, thus, state sponsored.  

Are you suggesting thailand is the only place with taxi scams / jetski scams?

 

Very naive.

[Leaver]

8 hours ago, HashBrownHarry said:

Are you suggesting thailand is the only place with taxi scams / jetski scams?

 

 Allowed by the police and government, for decades, yes, Thailand is the only place I know of where there is state sponsored scams of tourists.  

 

It's a disgrace.  

[Chad3000]

9 hours ago, Leaver said:

state sponsored scams. 

I think this is what's going on.

 

Taxi's, speedboats, jewelry scams, mafia beer bars,  prostitution....

 

Thailand government is ok with it because it's a safety valve that injects income into a lower level of society many of which being uneducated and prone to a criminal darker side would be involved in other far more serious criminality.

 

Con men, thugs...

 

These people must be run or at least pay off someone above them. Even lowly street vendors have to pay cops for sidewalk space.

Edited November 20, 2021 by Chad3000

[thaitom]

16 hours ago, HashBrownHarry said:

Are you suggesting thailand is the only place with taxi scams / jetski scams?

 

Very naive.

Most likely because we are in a Thailand forum ? that should have been obvious.  

[HashBrownHarry]

14 minutes ago, thaitom said:

Most likely because we are in a Thailand forum ? that should have been obvious.  

Oh no, another rocket scientist seems to have engaged....

 

My point ( which you appeared to have missed ) is that tourist scams go on all over the world, they are by no means unique to Thailand.

[Henryford]

Reminds me of my first trip to Thailand. I went to visit the Grand Palace in Bangkok but a helpful thai told me it was "closed" but hey there is a taxi driver here who can help you get around.

[Rimmer]

Off topic bickering posts from the usual two suspects have been removed. Suspension is on the way!!

[thaitom]

2 hours ago, HashBrownHarry said:

Oh no, another rocket scientist seems to have engaged....

 

My point ( which you appeared to have missed ) is that tourist scams go on all over the world, they are by no means unique to Thailand.

you just don't get it. no one cares  if it happens all over the world, I am sure they do already know. people are talking about issues in Thailand ,because...... this is a Thailand specific forum not an international forum.  therefore comments are ........   unless your one of the foreigners who are living in a foreigner bubble, there is living in Thailand and then there are the ones who make the appearance of living in Thailand. ( the bubble effect ). 

[Leaver]

13 hours ago, Chad3000 said:

I think this is what's going on.

 

Taxi's, speedboats, jewelry scams, mafia beer bars,  prostitution....

 

Thailand government is ok with it because it's a safety valve that injects income into a lower level of society many of which being uneducated and prone to a criminal darker side would be involved in other far more serious criminality.

 

Con men, thugs...

 

These people must be run or at least pay off someone above them. Even lowly street vendors have to pay cops for sidewalk space.

 

Exactly.  It's been going on for decades. 

 

Police and other authorities have full knowledge of it, yet, the same old scammers in the same old locations are allowed to continue, and in the case of the jet-ski scam, it's not small money, so has the potential to ruin a tourist's holiday.  

 

What's a tourist to think when every single taxi driver in a tourist location refuses to use the meter?  

[Golden Triangle]

7 hours ago, HashBrownHarry said:

Oh no, another rocket scientist seems to have engaged....

 

My point ( which you appeared to have missed ) is that tourist scams go on all over the world, they are by no means unique to Thailand.

We're not talking about the rest  of the world are we, this is a Pattaya forum/thread or did you fail reading and comprehension at school ?

[Leaver]

8 hours ago, Henryford said:

Reminds me of my first trip to Thailand. I went to visit the Grand Palace in Bangkok but a helpful thai told me it was "closed" but hey there is a taxi driver here who can help you get around.

 

Surprised the helpful Thai didn't tell you he could arrange for The Grand Palace to be opened, for 500 baht.  ????