Tourist Scams: Govt Gets Tough

[phaw-boon-tham]

Had to Laugh, Farangs getting looked after, I don't see it some how do you ?

http://203.150.224.53/page.news.php3?clid=...ess=1&id=121159

TOURIST SCAMS: Govt gets tough on rip-off merchants

Published on Sep 20, 2004

OCPB plans crackdown after Belgian pays Bt40,000 for fake cashmere suit

The Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) is threatening to take action against gangsters who rip off foreign tourists following the latest complaint from the Belgian embassy that a Belgian tourist was duped into paying between Bt40,000 and Bt50,000 for fake cashmere

suits.

It’s fraud, and it damages our country’s image. Offenders will face both civil and criminal action,” an OCPB official said yesterday.

The official revealed that many jewellery shops caught overcharging tourists have become tailor shops instead and continue their rip-off schemes. Some place advertisements in Kinnaree, the domestic in-flight magazine of Thai Airways, he added.

They pay a 5-per-cent commission to tuk tuk drivers who bring in tourists looking for suits. They’ll quote Bt7,000 for four suits at first, but finally charge as much as Bt50,000,” he said.

He said the tourists get their suits only when they are about to leave the country and have almost no time to inspect them.

Even if they try them on and they don’t fit, the shops won’t offer to remake them or refund the money,” the official said.

He said the OCPB normally takes immediate action upon receiving tourist complaints, knowing that the victims have a limited time in country.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Liptapanlop yesterday established a committee to crack down on individuals or gangs detrimental to Thailand’s tourism.

Pol General Noppadol Som-boonsap, former head of the Department of Special Investi-gations, was appointed committee chairman. Senior officials from relevant agencies, such as the Metropolitan Police, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Immigration Bureau and Customs and Revenue departments, also sit on the committee.

We will protect the tourists,” Noppadol said.

TAT Governor Juthamas Siriwan, who also sits on the

committee, said the move would expedite interagency coordination in a bid to help tourists more efficiently.

She said the TAT does not have a mandate to enforce the law, and when it requests assistance from other agencies, sometimes there is no response.

พ่อบุญธรรมสามารถรักลูกเลี้ยงเหมือนลูกตนเอง

[Up2U]

But this can also be the tourist mis-understanding the cost of a suit.

Sure, there are US $ 50 suits, and less, but the cloth from which these suits are made is a low-quality summer-weight mix of fibres.

If someone wanted a genuine cashmere suit (which would be bloody hot, even in Belgium) they would have to pay 7,000 baht (plus, plus) for the cloth alone. It is an expensive cloth.

So what cloth did the tourist select, what was used to make up his whistle, what was the tailoring like?

Cheap suits are just that - cheap. And look it. And wear like it.

[stroll]

The issue is related to that of sextourism.

Some people come here to take advantage of the supposed low costs as much as they can, then they complain bitterly when they are the ones being taken advantage of because the locals are no fools.

[Pudgimelon]

But this can also be the tourist mis-understanding the cost of a suit.

Possible, but unlikely. These guys are pretty saavy characters and any misunderstanding is probably INTENTIONAL.

[Ijustwannateach]

But Pudgi- isn't it the tourists' fault himself for being cheated? He bought from a place that OBVIOUSLY doesn't have sales service or returns or guarantees, and he came to THAILAND and shopped, of all places! Where's the usual Pudgi urge for personal responsibility?

"Steven"

[sleir]

pfff.. IJWT is your comment necessary ? everyone who's seen these tourist scam shops prolly shares his view about these "misunderstandings" so what's the point of the side-attack ?

don't like non-flaming threads ?

[Ijustwannateach]

Naw, but I do like pointing out when heavily opinionated, obnoxious folks [no names, of course] are being inconsistent/hypocritical, especially when they've been unfairly attacking people for being victimized. Won't belabour the point if it bothers you soooo much that you need to comment. P.S., if you check out the Teacher's Forum (among others) there are plenty of non-flaming threads I'm on.

"Steven"

[Coffee Dude]

pfff.. IJWT is your comment necessary ? everyone who's seen this tourist scam shops prolly shares his view about these "misunderstandings" so what's the point of the side-attack ?

don't like non-flaming threads ?

Lighten up sleir, IJWT was just making a little joke. Pudgi knows what IJWT means. Don't you Pudgi? The joke kind of follows the old story of if you go to Nana you deserve to be robbed and assaulted.

Coffee!!!

[DJ Pat]

What scams?

[sleir]

hrhr, ok ok, got the point but i just didn't want to drag the flaming from all the prostitution thread in here if you don't mind

[Lost gold]

But this can also be the tourist mis-understanding the cost of a suit.

Possible, but unlikely. These guys are pretty saavy characters and any misunderstanding is probably INTENTIONAL.

That's right Pudgi! They are sharp people, just like you and I! Most people should have the same intelligence as I and you do; it's their own fault if they don't. Don’t you agree Pudg?

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