Sars Form Scam At Had Lek

[astral]

I went into Cambodia at the Had Lek crossing, near Trat last week.

As I had to do the paperwork to take the car, my friend walked across alone.

He was asked to fill in the Yellow SARS form, that was around last year,

and stung 50 baht for the form!!

I was not asked to fill in the form at all.

Cambodia is now scanning passports on the computer and taking a digital photo as well as part of the record.

Cost for a car is 100baht per day.

No mention of funds when we crossed back into Thailand a few days later.

[Crazy Dave]

Astral, I am going there this week, do they check the car documents as the car is not in my name, previously when I have gone to Malaysia I have just lied and said it was in my name without any problems.

[350torana]

I also got stung for 50 baht with the medical piece of paper at Had Lek . From what i remember it is only 20 baht at Poopet. I know it is a scam but not really prepared to argue about it as i can imagine the Camdodian officials can make life more difficult. Just aint worth the grief for 50 baht.

[Gazza]

At Had Lek is there any charge for doing a quick turnaround? I heard that at Poipet they were charging 500baht if you were going back into Thailand the same day.

[astral]

Astral, I am going there this week, do they check the car documents as the car is not in my name, previously when I have gone to Malaysia I have just lied and said it was in my name without any problems.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You have to register the car with Immigration and then the Customs office before you take it over.

I am not sure if they checked the log book against my passport, sorry.

They did ask for the passport as the number goes on the paperwork.

In my case they do match so there was no problem

At Had Lek is there any charge for doing a quick turnaround? I heard that at Poipet they were charging 500baht if you were going back into Thailand the same day.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This time I was staying a few days, but on a prvious trip immigration were charging 300 baht for a same day return.

You can avoid this at Poipet by going on an organised visa run, where the fee is all inclusive,

and would not allow for the "extra".

They may well pay a bulk fee!!

[jbaldwin]

I did the trip last month - no SARS form but immigration staff wanted 1,100 Baht for the visa (rather than the offical price of $20). I did not argue

[nogutsnoapplepie]

Hat Lek Baht300

Poipet Baht100

[sabaijai]

Sorry to stray off topic a bit, but how far into Cambodia did you drive, Astral? I'd live to take my pickup truck into Cambodia for a couple of weeks, wondering what driving in SW Cambodia is like.

Edited December 1, 2004 by sabaijai

[udon]

I got caught with the sars scam only once, at Poipet, after that, if that creep from the Cambo health dept even looked at me, I'd say corruption or get stuffed. and walk on.....

It was a third of an A4 sheet of yellow paper, not a form. Never heard of a "form"

[astral]

Sorry to stray off topic a bit, but how far into Cambodia did you drive, Astral? I'd live to take my pickup truck into Cambodia for a couple of weeks, wondering what driving in SW Cambodia is like.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The car is limited to the province where you crossed the border, Koh Kong if you cross at Had Lek.

On that crossing you are are very limited. There is only one road out of the town,

with a red dirt surface.

Some areas have nasty pot holes, which could be difficult for a saloon car, OK with a 4x4.

The rest of the surface is good, BUT corrugated making driving a a bone shaking process.

I was worried all the nuts and bolts on the car would be shaken loose.

The road cuts though the Central Cardomon Protected Forest Conservation,

401,313Ha of virgin forest, one of the last such areas in the world.

[sabaijai]

Sorry to stray off topic a bit, but how far into Cambodia did you drive, Astral? I'd live to take my pickup truck into Cambodia for a couple of weeks, wondering what driving in SW Cambodia is like.

The car is limited to the province where you crossed the border, Koh Kong if you cross at Had Lek.

On that crossing you are are very limited. There is only one road out of the town,

with a red dirt surface.

Some areas have nasty pot holes, which could be difficult for a saloon car, OK with a 4x4.

The rest of the surface is good, BUT corrugated making driving a a bone shaking process.

I was worried all the nuts and bolts on the car would be shaken loose.

The road cuts though the Central Cardomon Protected Forest Conservation,

401,313Ha of virgin forest, one of the last such areas in the world.

Thanks for the info. Too bad about the restriction, I was hoping to do a Siem Reap - Phnom Penh - Snookyville - Battamang loop in my 4WD truck, guess that's out.

[astral]

Sorry to stray off topic a bit, but how far into Cambodia did you drive, Astral? I'd live to take my pickup truck into Cambodia for a couple of weeks, wondering what driving in SW Cambodia is like.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The car is limited to the province where you crossed the border, Koh Kong if you cross at Had Lek.

On that crossing you are are very limited. There is only one road out of the town,

with a red dirt surface.

Some areas have nasty pot holes, which could be difficult for a saloon car, OK with a 4x4.

The rest of the surface is good, BUT corrugated making driving a a bone shaking process.

I was worried all the nuts and bolts on the car would be shaken loose.

The road cuts though the Central Cardomon Protected Forest Conservation,

401,313Ha of virgin forest, one of the last such areas in the world.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for the info. Too bad about the restriction, I was hoping to do a Siem Reap - Phnom Penh - Snookyville - Battamang loop in my 4WD truck, guess that's out.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Unfortunately that is not possible.

If you could do it, it would be a very long journey, as the roads are appalling.

Second you have to return where you entered, as all your paperwork it there!!

1. The record that you left Thailand with the car

2. The record that you entered Cambodia with the car.

[klongmaster]

I'm planning to drive there later this week and stay for a night or two.

Just wondered if there's some place safe to leave the car on the Thai side. (Reg is in my wife's name although same surname as me but she will not be with me)

Or is it better to take it with me into Cambodia?

[Fredro]

If you're heading to Koh Kong, you can park at the casino parking lot in Hat Lek. It's located on the left hand side almost across from the Immigration booth. It has 24 hour security. The cost is 200 baht per day, but if you use the services of the casino/coffee shop/duty free at the casino you park for free. It's a hassle to get the ticket validated, but why spend money on parking when you can buy something and get the parking for free? Validating is usually on the casino floor (2nd floor) unless you stay at the casino hotell (expensive), then you can validate at front desk (1st floor).

No problem if the car is in another person's name if you park on the thai side. If you plan to cross over, you must bring all paper work with you and it could get complicated if the vehicle isn't registered in your name. I wouldn't bring my car over due to the risk of theft, and probably the lack of insurance cover as well. Just park on the thai side and take a cheap motorbike taxi into the village (10 km, 50 baht).

Fredrik

[Khun Jean]

Amazing how many people just pay. It is pure corruption, you don't have to.

In poipet you will find the same scam. You find "officials" sitting behind a tabel outside. This is already a sign that they are not the real officials.

They will ask for 300-400-500 whatever they need at the moment. Also a sign you are talking with the wrong guys. They are sitting outside!!

No computer for registration, no papers, no stamps, nothing!

Right in front of the toilets!! Actaully the right place for them.

They look official with their nice uniform and hats, but they are the "bad" guys making 10.000 baht a day if not more from gullible foreigners. Too easy for them to give it up. It is all up to you to not contribute!

The official visa for Cambodia is 1000 baht or 20$. Anything above this is a scam. Sure it can make things a little bit quicker sometimes but if you do, you are doing wrong too.

Look for buildings! I can be wrong but i have never seen a immigration officer sitting outside with no equipment whatsoever.

When you go out of thailand get your "exit" stamp, walk to the border and to your right you see a building with a big sign "VISA". Go there fill in your form, give a passport size picture, pay the 1000 baht. Wait until you get your visa. Say "no thank you" to all the people who want to help you. Tell them you been here many times and you know what to do. The more confident you say this the quicker they go find an easier target. ( I have nothing against people who want to help you. They know how things work. Tell them you rather pay them a little extra instead of the "jerks" they will be very happy and make it more smoother for you without paying for scams.)

Go to the next building also on the right for your entry stamp for cambodia. This is a real official and he is just as corrupt. He will ask how long you will stay. Answer "Don't know yet. Maybe 1 or 2 days". If he asks for 100 baht, tell him "but that is for if i stay only one day, i already told you i want to stay longer." That sentence is already to long for him to understand so he will stop asking for the 100 baht.

At this point you are a little bit vulnerable, show confidence, geez you are right, he is the criminal! If he still insists, happened to me twice, they are acting tough too you know, do your best impression of Clint Eastwood and take no bullshit. Until now that worked. If your not an easy target they will move to the next.

He will put a small paper in your passport, this is your departure card, and gives you an entry stamp.

Now here is the little trick to signal the other site that you already paid your "contribution".

He will staple this departure card in your pasport when he did NOT get the 100 baht or whatever the price was. You will get hit with the same question when you depart.

Simple solution. Take out the staple.

So now you have your entry stamp for Cambodia. If you are hungry go to one of the casino's and grab a free lunch. Gamble a little if you are so inclined. Wait a little bit before going back.

Next go to the building to get your exit stamp for cambodia,

Then walk your way back to the Thai border and get your new entry stamp.

I was never ever asked for money by a Thai official.

Jean

Sorry about my little rant, there is one thing i will never do and that is be a victim of corruption. I have been asked for it many times, i just play tough, stupid or start talking in my own language. Whatever works.

It does help when you are not alone, try to avoid that situation.

[bkkmadness]

Last timne I done the Had Lek border crossing they tried to charge me 600 baht to let me out of the country the same day. I told the official I would need his name so I could call the British Embassy and tell them who was holding me hostage in Cambodia in this blatant kidnapping case. He lowered the price to 100 baht, I told him I would need his name again, and he stamped my passport and I left.

Never paid the medical card one though I did get charged 1100 for the visa so they got some extra out of me, and I think it's not worth the argument there as they could just refuse you entry and then your stuffed.

On the subject, I also went the Mae sot crossing recently because visiting my gf's family in Tak, the Burmese were so chilled, first coming out of the office to guide me the right way, sitting me down, sorting it all out (just 500 baht there) and no extra charges or scams, before wishing me well and sending me on my way.

I have to say in Cambodia the Khmers always seem ok, but on the border the immigration are real a.ssholes, but in Burma a country just as poor, maybe even poorer not a hint of a scam at the border.

[udon]

I'm surprised that they are still running the sars card scam

[klongmaster]

thanks guys...most helpful, especially Fredo.

won't bother taking the car across then if they have secure parking on the Thai side.

Any idea how much the casino is per night..might stay a night or two..or any other accommodation options there?

Sorry for all the Q's but I've never been there b4.

Cheers.

KM

[astral]

This site will gove you some idea about hotels on the Cambodian side.

[samran]

Crossed once at Poipet using my Thai Passport on the way to Angkor. The Cambo immigration was trying to get me to admit that I wasn't really Thai. We had a long conversation about this....in Thai of course. It took it a while to get it though his head that I wasn't going to slip him 100 baht to prove my nationaity one more time.

[COBBER]

Amazing how many people just pay. It is pure corruption, you don't have to.

When you go out of thailand get your "exit" stamp, walk to the border and to your right you see a building with a big sign "VISA". Go there fill in your form, give a passport size picture, pay the 1000 baht. Wait until you get your visa. Say "no thank you" to all the people who want to help you. Tell them you been here many times and you know what to do. The more confident you say this the quicker they go find an easier target. ( I have nothing against people who want to help you. They know how things work. Tell them you rather pay them a little extra instead of the "jerks" they will be very happy and make it more smoother for you without paying for scams.)

Go to the next building also on the right for your entry stamp for cambodia. This is a real official and he is just as corrupt. He will ask how long you will stay. Answer "Don't know yet. Maybe 1 or 2 days". If he asks for 100 baht, tell him "but that is for if i stay only one day, i already told you i want to stay longer." That sentence is already to long for him to understand so he will stop asking for the 100 baht.

At this point you are a little bit vulnerable, show confidence, geez you are right, he is the criminal! If he still insists, happened to me twice, they are acting tough too you know, do your best impression of Clint Eastwood and take no bullshit. Until now that worked. If your not an easy target they will move to the next.

He will put a small paper in your passport, this is your departure card, and gives you an entry stamp.

Now here is the little trick to signal the other site that you already paid your "contribution".

He will staple this departure card in your pasport when he did NOT get the 100 baht or whatever the price was. You will get hit with the same question when you depart.

Simple solution. Take out the staple.

So now you have your entry stamp for Cambodia. If you are hungry go to one of the casino's and grab a free lunch. Gamble a little if you are so inclined. Wait a little bit before going back.

Next go to the building to get your exit stamp for cambodia,

Then walk your way back to the Thai border and get your new entry stamp.

I was never ever asked for money by a Thai official.

Jean

Jean, thanks for the tip mate. Did a visa run yesterday and taking the staple out worked a treat. Ive allways put on the arrival form for Cambodia that im going to Siam Reap for 3 days and have never been asked for graft money at entry. So if you do this and then take out the staple before you go to the exit Cambodia section you should not be asked for anything. Interestingly a guy 2 or 3 ahead of me in the lineup point blank refused to pay them anything and they just let him go through.

[meowchawpnom]

Please guys, don't pay these bribes!

I went to Poipet once. Did a quick turnaround, and was told I had to pay 100 baht fee to return to Thailand the same day. I just confidently said, "I don't think so," with a no-nonsense look on my face. The guard just shrugged and let me go.

The more you give in to the corruption, the more it will become accepted, and the harder it will be to stop it.

[udon]

Cobber, love yer avatar, I just nicked it for another forum.

Long live Sir Les.

[COBBER]

Cobber, love yer avatar, I just nicked it for another forum. 

Long live Sir Les.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks Udon and good luck in your battles with medicare mate.