Agent stole me and wife passport! We need help!

[Time Traveller]

16 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

The police will not know about that or care when the police report is done.

There is no way to avoid doing a police report sine that is required to get a replacement passport at their embassy.

ubonjoe's advice is really bad. 

While the Police and the Immigration are different departments, they are effectively the same.  If any police officer suspects you are on overstay, they will check that and arrest and imprison you if that is the case.  There is no exceptions. They have heard all the stories and excuses before and they have zero tolerance for overstayers. 

 

so if this story is true, this is what I would do 

(1).  Engage with the "agent" and explain the situation you are in now  without getting mad or accusing them of anything (this is very important).   They may have simply lost the passports and if so you will require their help to locate them.  On the other hand, if this is an extortion attempt then you may still be able to get the passports back with minimal costs. But either way you need to find out the reasons and having them shut down lines of communication or immediately going to police will not make that happen.

(2).  If you are getting no answer on (1) then contact your embassy and explain the situation you are in. Because if you have no passport, and you're on overstay, then you are at real risk of being imprisoned.   The embassy may be able to contact immigration on your behalf to work out a deal to either allow time to get a replacement passport, or provide leniency so you don't get arrested. But you would still be fined.

(3).  If your embassy is not  able to advise you, then you may want to speak with a reputable lawyer.   

(4)  Only then, after you've tried all 3 above points would I go to the Police and report the matter. 

Because, the agent could simply state that they never saw you before and you're trying to accuse them of something that didn't happen. In that case, not only are you up against immigration laws, you're now in Defamation territory.  

 

[chicowoodduck]

Well, you should not feel all that bad, the Los Angeles Thai Consultant lost my passport a few years back…????????. I had to file an FBI report with the US State Department…was a <deleted> show from top to bottom and they had issued me a retirement extension with multiple entry….sorry, no refund…????????????

[OJAS]

46 minutes ago, Time Traveller said:

ubonjoe's advice is really bad. 

While the Police and the Immigration are different departments, they are effectively the same.  If any police officer suspects you are on overstay, they will check that and arrest and imprison you if that is the case.  There is no exceptions. They have heard all the stories and excuses before and they have zero tolerance for overstayers. 

 

so if this story is true, this is what I would do 

(1).  Engage with the "agent" and explain the situation you are in now  without getting mad or accusing them of anything (this is very important).   They may have simply lost the passports and if so you will require their help to locate them.  On the other hand, if this is an extortion attempt then you may still be able to get the passports back with minimal costs. But either way you need to find out the reasons and having them shut down lines of communication or immediately going to police will not make that happen.

(2).  If you are getting no answer on (1) then contact your embassy and explain the situation you are in. Because if you have no passport, and you're on overstay, then you are at real risk of being imprisoned.   The embassy may be able to contact immigration on your behalf to work out a deal to either allow time to get a replacement passport, or provide leniency so you don't get arrested. But you would still be fined.

(3).  If your embassy is not  able to advise you, then you may want to speak with a reputable lawyer.   

(4)  Only then, after you've tried all 3 above points would I go to the Police and report the matter. 

Because, the agent could simply state that they never saw you before and you're trying to accuse them of something that didn't happen. In that case, not only are you up against immigration laws, you're now in Defamation territory.  

 

And your advice is even worse, particularly from (2) onwards!

 

If they are Brits, for instance, fat chance of the Embassy being prepared "to contact immigration on your behalf to work out a deal to either allow time to get a replacement passport, or provide leniency so you don't get arrested"! They will be told to first go and obtain official reports confirming that their passports have been lost or stolen in order for emergency travel documents or replacement passports to be issued. And guess whom they'll need to approach for these official reports - that's right, it's the Police!!

 

No doubt it's pretty much the same for other nationalities.

 

[Canadian Snowbird]

Contact your embassy and get your advise from them before you go to the police. 

[impulse]

27 minutes ago, Canadian Snowbird said:

Contact your embassy and get your advise from them before you go to the police. 

Bingo.  100% risk free, unlike going first to the popo.  You may end up at the cop shop for a report, and probably will.  But there's no downside in asking for their advice.

 

Edit:  I'd add that the sooner they start tracking your passports, the less likely they'll be used by others, possibly for nefarious purposes.

 

Edited March 28, 2022 by impulse

[Canadian Snowbird]

Also, you should have a receipt for any payment you made to the agent to use in your defence.

[chuang]

12 hours ago, orchis said:

In the title the passports are "stolen"but in the post they are "lost".

Which is it?, one or the other.

People always change story to suit them

[ubonjoe]

1 hour ago, Time Traveller said:

While the Police and the Immigration are different departments, they are effectively the same.  If any police officer suspects you are on overstay, they will check that and arrest and imprison you if that is the case.  There is no exceptions. They have heard all the stories and excuses before and they have zero tolerance for overstayers. 

Reporting a passport lost or stolen is mandatory and I have never heard of anybody having a problem when doing the report due to an overstay. Doing the report can be the first step of sorting out a possible overstay.

[RichardColeman]

18 hours ago, Lite Beer said:

A bit late now but stay away from agents and do it yourself.

95% of people I know here are here in Thailand via an 'agent'. It's not the 'well-known' agents that are an issue, it's ones you think you can save money on and that nobody has ever heard of that are 'risky'

[swm59nj]

     If you feel your passports have been stolen by the agency.  Or any wrong doing.   Contact your embassy first.  If they are not opened yet, they should have an emergency contact.  They will give you instructions.  If they feel you should contact police they will tell you.  

[rott]

14 hours ago, Thailand said:

He and his are probably at the police station reporting the loss of their passports so not available to reply to the thread.

Perhaps they've camped out there overnight. 

[brianthainess]

1 hour ago, Time Traveller said:

Because, the agent could simply state that they never saw you before and you're trying to accuse them of something that didn't happen. In that case, not only are you up against immigration laws, you're now in Defamation territory.  

You could phone the agent again and record the conversation 

[Lite Beer]

7 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

95% of people I know here are here in Thailand via an 'agent'. It's not the 'well-known' agents that are an issue, it's ones you think you can save money on and that nobody has ever heard of that are 'risky'

I prefer to sleep at night rather than having an illegal stamp in my passport.

[rott]

9 minutes ago, Lite Beer said:

I prefer to sleep at night rather than having an illegal stamp in my passport.

Who told you the stamp is illegal.? The stamp will come from immigration and be perfectly legal.

I have spoken to a number of know nothings who are convinced that each agent in Pattaya has a drawer full of rubber stamps, perhaps you have been listening to one of them. 

Edited March 28, 2022 by rott

[RichardColeman]

8 minutes ago, Lite Beer said:

I prefer to sleep at night rather than having an illegal stamp in my passport.

Stamps issues by the immigration department are not 'illegal' 

[DrJack54]

6 hours ago, Maestro said:

POS = point of sale, but you probably meant permission to stay.

Try read the entire thread.

Previously I have stated twice this..

 

"Lot depends on your permission of stay status." 

 

Also my reply using POS was to poster that stated..

"permission of stay is irrelevant"..... and I had quoted him. 

 

 

Edited March 28, 2022 by DrJack54

[piston broke]

18 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Can you post a receipt from the agent? they issue that as standard, obviously hide the name

LOL .......

[CM Dad]

18 hours ago, Lite Beer said:

Go to the police and report the theft.

You will need a police report to get another passport.

 

A bit late now but stay away from agents and do it yourself.

It is pretty simple to do.

Most agents are very competent and reliable.  After doing everything myself for twenty-five years, I switched to using an agent more that five years ago and have been more than happy with the convenient, reasonable and professional service.  Definitely go to the police and file a report - I would suggest using the Tourist Police.  These incompetent crooks pretending to be agents need to be jailed.

[CH1961]

19 hours ago, RetiredJohn said:

I will go to the police and then the husband talked to me and said they know people and can arrest me if I go to the police because I do not have a passport and it is lying even if is is real. 

Where are you from/what is your native language? 

[Expat68]

That is terrible, I feel really sorry for you, retirement should be enjoyable  not stressed out by these agents

[CM Dad]

This is beginning to sound like a hoax, and "Retiredjohn" is actually named Jack - surname might begin with the letter "A".

[Olmate]

4 minutes ago, Expat68 said:

That is terrible, I feel really sorry for you, retirement should be enjoyable  not stressed out by these agents

It is. I don,t know one stressed agent user! 

[Thaiwrath]

7 minutes ago, CM Dad said:

This is beginning to sound like a hoax, and "Retiredjohn" is actually named Jack - surname might begin with the letter "A".

Jack is a given name which was originally a diminutive of John or Jacob. 

[Iamfalang]

waiting for the book:
 

How our wonderful retirement started in LOS

 

all those YouTubers making it all seem just swell, until you get punched in the face.

 

luckily this is an easy fix.   but not a good start to the "best years of your life"

[tonray]

3 hours ago, Time Traveller said:

ubonjoe's advice is really bad. 

While the Police and the Immigration are different departments, they are effectively the same.  If any police officer suspects you are on overstay, they will check that and arrest and imprison you if that is the case. 

The local RTP office couldn't care less...in fact they won't even investigate a traffic accident unless there are deaths. Walk in reports are filed because they are great with paperwork...other than that....you shouldn't worry about them leaving their seats.

[bobandyson]

16 hours ago, WEBBYB808 said:

but why wouldn't  you report the theft or lost passport  to your Embassy  beig that every passport............ 

What embassies are open weekends?

 

As for where the OP is, maybe he's busy with the process of reporting his PP lost/stolen. It's Monday morning and not the best of days to be dealing with embassies, immigration etc.

[StayinThailand2much]

3 hours ago, Canadian Snowbird said:

Contact your embassy and get your advise from them before you go to the police. 

I know exactly what staff at my embassy would tell me...

 

1. "And what are we supposed to do? It's your fault..."

 

2. 'Go to the police and report it lost.'

 

3. 'Apply at Embassy for emergency temporary passport.'

 

4. 'Sort out visa at Immigration (by yourself).'

 

5. 'Travel to home country, as the temporary passport is good for only this.'

 

(Again, this is not my advice for the OP, but what my embassy would say to me in a similar situation.)

Edited March 28, 2022 by StayinThailand2much

[jimn]

10 minutes ago, bobandyson said:

What embassies are open weekends?

 

As for where the OP is, maybe he's busy with the process of reporting his PP lost/stolen. It's Monday morning and not the best of days to be dealing with embassies, immigration etc.

The OP is already working on his next Troll post. This topic is so obviously fake.

[bobandyson]

2 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

95% of people I know here are here in Thailand via an 'agent'. It's not the 'well-known' agents that are an issue, it's ones you think you can save money on and that nobody has ever heard of that are 'risky'

I could have used a cheap agent and saved myself some money but having to go to Pattaya from BKK to use an agent who keeps my PP for 2 weeks and then needing to send them my PP every 90 days for reporting to some far-flung province didn't appeal to me.

 

I paid out extra to an agent recommended to me by 2 guys who were using them. Not once was I out of sight of my agent or PP when opening a bank account and applying for a retirement visa at CW. And I recently did a 90 day report in person at MTT without any hitches.

[Bangkok Barry]

21 hours ago, RetiredJohn said:

then the husband talked to me and said they know people and can arrest me if I go to the police

Every Thai and their dog will claim they 'know someone'. It makes nobodies feel important. Just go to the police and report the loss/theft.