20 Baht Per Hour To Park On "beach Road"?

[kudroz]

I'm visiting Phuket for a few days and something funny happened today when I came back to my car which was parked on "beach road". There was this guy in uniform who approaches me when I get back to my car and asks me for 20 baht for each hour that I was parked there. So I go and ask him: "huh? Isn't public parking here? I don't see no sign or anything". And he goes on showing me his badge and uniform saying he works for the Tambon or something and he says that every car needs to pay this fee.

Even though this guy has a uniform, I'm thinking to myself that this has to be some kind of scam or the mafia owns part of the street and try to rip-off people who park their car here. It wouldn't make sense that the "Tambon" would be collecting 20 baht per hour with a guy who randomly walks beach road to collect people. If the city would be behind this or anyone for that matter, wouldn't it be appropriate to put signs or something to let everyone know that the parking isn't free?

So I tell the guy that I'm gonna call the tourist police hotline because I feel uneasy about this and would like them to confirm that this isn't a scam. Then he gets somewhat violent and makes some gesture and go on telling me "free for you sir". Then I ask him if I can take a picture of him with his uniform so I can get more details about this thing - he goes mega violent and walk to my face and tells me that I cannot take a picture of him and he looks like he wants to hit me and tell me to "pai pai pai".

So I leave with my car without paying and I go the nearest police box and ask them about this parking fee with no signs, etc. The police says that "yes yes we know this guy from government need to pay money parking".

Needless to say that I was surprised, or not... TiT. Maybe I'm being over cautious with all these scams going on in touristic places - or not? Is this guy really from the government collecting money randomly like this or is this some kind of a scam/mafia operation going on?

Any thoughts?

[slackula]

Whenever I have parked on the beach road the guy appears as I am parking. He asks how long I'm planning to park, I say 'couple of hours' pay my 20 bht and go on my way. Never had him ask for more money even when I've parked for the whole day or night.

I think going to the police over 20 baht is a bit of an over reaction to be quite honest.

[Somtamnication]

The guy was right. Pai pai pai out of Thailand. A fuss over 20 baht. Are you kidding me?

Those people have been there for ages. It is their job and their surly attitude towards the rest of us is due to people like you.

[ThaidleHands]

Well, the KJDs got here quickly...

kudroz, you did good. It wouldn't be the first time a scam had run right under the noses (or even the auspices) of the police. Frankly it's a rare tourist who could even tell what a real police uniform and badge look like; who's a duly authorized official and who is not. Hopefully you found the guy and coughed up the 20 and a polite explanation as well.

The fact that he got squirrelly is just another illustration of how unready for prime-time tourism most of Thailand still is. How much foresight would it have taken to equip him with a laminated card in 4 or 6 languages politely explaining his purposes?

[kudroz]

The guy was right. Pai pai pai out of Thailand. A fuss over 20 baht. Are you kidding me?

Those people have been there for ages. It is their job and their surly attitude towards the rest of us is due to people like you.

It's a matter of principle, I could care less about THB20. Scams go on and on around here, corruption is rampant. I just wanted to confirm with the Tourist Police that this was a legitimate person asking for a legitimate fee. Takes 1 minute to do (hotline dial 1115) and I could have reported a scam-artist should he be one. Would me reporting a scam-artist actually change anything? Maybe not, but sure will make me feel good.

After posting this I actually had my Thai wife contact the Tourist Police on my behalf and explain the situation. It was explained to us that there are no signs because it is not the "city" that is collecting a fee but actually independent people who are renting/buying places along the road and can actually do anything they want with their space and they somewhat "own" a part of the road and can charge parking fees if they feel like it. Whatever that means (corruption, mafia? w/e), It is accepted by the authorities and I will gladly abide by it.

Believe it or not, but we went back there and actually found the same guy and gave him his money with a small bonus for the inconvenience and explained him our reserves and why we felt uncomfortable paying him. He "wai" to me and thank me for making things right.

Sanook jung leui

[JimmyCA]

The guy was right. Pai pai pai out of Thailand. A fuss over 20 baht. Are you kidding me?

Those people have been there for ages. It is their job and their surly attitude towards the rest of us is due to people like you.

It is obviously not about 20 baht.

It is the scams and corruption farangs are sick of.

[Dupont]

The guy was right. Pai pai pai out of Thailand. A fuss over 20 baht. Are you kidding me?

Those people have been there for ages. It is their job and their surly attitude towards the rest of us is due to people like you.

It is obviously not about 20 baht.

It is the scams and corruption farangs are sick of.

Quite

And the fact that if you drive down beach road, the right lane is a 3km liine of tuk tuks, the (supposed) parking on the beach side is a car and bike rental lot and the traffic moves at the speed of a kerb crawling tuk tuk who keeps stopping to ask some poor tourist if they want a 1km lift to their hotel for 2,000 baht.

[smartecosse]

the roads a joke

hardly any parking as its taken up by "rental" companies and tuk tuks blocking it

its easier to park at junceylon and walk down to the beach

[Ping]

That part of Thanon Thaweewong (Beach Road) has been pay-parking for many years, but the price rise to B20/hour is either due to a recent increase or (more likely) high season. As another poster has said, it is all a bit random and the 'time limit' is a bit of a non-event. I have sometimes parked there without ever seeing the guy (or lady) and other times they have appeared from nowhere either when I have parked or when I have returned. Note that if you park at Jung Ceylon, you will either need to make a B100 or more purchase within the complex and produce the receipt (parking up to 3 hours free) or pay.

[smartecosse]

if you park in the car park undermeath. If you park outside then no charge (as yet)

[Ping]

if you park in the car park undermeath. If you park outside then no charge (as yet)

True. Usually no problems finding a spot on the new road at the back somewhere between Soi Sansabai and Jung Ceylon, but it depends on where one wants to shop - it is a fair walk from there to Thaweewong if one has to carry anything heavy or awkward. Quite often a spot can be scored in Ratuthit 200 Pee, but for the sake of a miserable B20 I don't understand the problem with the original location (if the shopping is to be done in that area).

[Totster]

Believe it or not, but we went back there and actually found the same guy and gave him his money with a small bonus for the inconvenience and explained him our reserves and why we felt uncomfortable paying him. He "wai" to me and thank me for making things right.

Well done, fairs fair and all that. That you went back and paid makes all the difference IMO.

totster

[Lancelot]

The guy was right. Pai pai pai out of Thailand. A fuss over 20 baht. Are you kidding me?

Those people have been there for ages. It is their job and their surly attitude towards the rest of us is due to people like you.

The guy was wrong and so are you Pay him B1,000 per hour if you like but don't impose your ideals on the rest of us.

[Ulysses G.]

The guy was right. Pai pai pai out of Thailand. A fuss over 20 baht. Are you kidding me?

Those people have been there for ages. It is their job and their surly attitude towards the rest of us is due to people like you.

The guy was wrong and so are you Pay him B1,000 per hour if you like but don't impose your ideals on the rest of us.

Right!