Uk Seeks Action Against Jetski Thugs

[Boater]

The British Embassy in Bangkok has asked the Royal Thai Police to look into abuses allegedly being perpetrated by jet-ski operators on Koh Samui.The embassy’s action was in response to complaints from British tourists of alleged assaults, harassments and abuses from jet-ski workers on Chaweng Beach.

In a letter, the embassy cited a particular case of a tourist from England who visited the island last month. According to the embassy, the tourist was attacked in the presence of other tourists by jet-ski after he refused to pay the “exorbitant” amount being demanded for a scratch on the jet-ski he had rented.

The operators allegedly asked for several thousand pounds sterling for the scratch, which was said to have happened at sea. The embassy said this was just one of a number of complaints they had received about abusive jet-ski operators on Samui.

Acting on the embassy’s request, Pol. Col. Saharat Saksinlapachai, superintendent of the Bophut police station on the island, ordered his deputy, Pol. Lt. Col. Boonma Kaewlaoet, to hold an urgent dialogue with jet-ski operators from Chaweng, Lamai and Maret beaches to address issues raised by the UK Embassy.

In that meeting, held July 27, the jet-ski owners were told they had no right to seize the passport of tourists they hold responsible for any damage to their jet-skis. Operators also agreed that damage-claim disputes should be settled between operators and tourists in the presence of the police to ensure fairness and equity.

On Christmas Day in 2007, three jet-ski workers assaulted two foreign tourists for refusing to pay for the supposed damage to the jet-ski they had rented. The attack, done in broad daylight, was caught on camera by other tourists and sequence photos of the incident were posted in the Internet and published by local newspapers, including Samui Express.

Two of the three attackers were later arrested and fined Bt1,000 each for the attack.

http://news.samuiexpress.net/headline/522-...tski-thugs.html

[ParadiseLost]

Good for tourism when you allow morons like this to create an international incident

Ban jetskis from these islands please please please

[Wellington]

The British Embassy in Bangkok has asked the Royal Thai Police to look into abuses allegedly being perpetrated by jet-ski operators on Koh Samui.The embassy’s action was in response to complaints from British tourists of alleged assaults, harassments and abuses from jet-ski workers on Chaweng Beach.

In a letter, the embassy cited a particular case of a tourist from England who visited the island last month. According to the embassy, the tourist was attacked in the presence of other tourists by jet-ski after he refused to pay the “exorbitant” amount being demanded for a scratch on the jet-ski he had rented.

The operators allegedly asked for several thousand pounds sterling for the scratch, which was said to have happened at sea. The embassy said this was just one of a number of complaints they had received about abusive jet-ski operators on Samui.

Acting on the embassy’s request, Pol. Col. Saharat Saksinlapachai, superintendent of the Bophut police station on the island, ordered his deputy, Pol. Lt. Col. Boonma Kaewlaoet, to hold an urgent dialogue with jet-ski operators from Chaweng, Lamai and Maret beaches to address issues raised by the UK Embassy.

In that meeting, held July 27, the jet-ski owners were told they had no right to seize the passport of tourists they hold responsible for any damage to their jet-skis. Operators also agreed that damage-claim disputes should be settled between operators and tourists in the presence of the police to ensure fairness and equity.

On Christmas Day in 2007, three jet-ski workers assaulted two foreign tourists for refusing to pay for the supposed damage to the jet-ski they had rented. The attack, done in broad daylight, was caught on camera by other tourists and sequence photos of the incident were posted in the Internet and published by local newspapers, including Samui Express.

Two of the three attackers were later arrested and fined Bt1,000 each for the attack.

http://news.samuiexpress.net/headline/522-...tski-thugs.html

Not just Koh Samui where these scams are happening........Kata,Karon,Patong all suffer the same problem.

If the police are asked to mediate; forget it; they will invariably support their brother,uncle or whatever.

[angiud]

Operators also agreed that damage-claim disputes should be settled between operators and tourists in the presence of the police to ensure fairness and equity.

Two of the three attackers were later arrested and fined Bt1,000 each for the attack.

[Mark Wolfe]

jet-ski owners were told they had no right to seize the passport of tourists they hold responsible for any damage to their jet-skis.

That's the most interesting thing in the article. If true, then any rental should not require a passport as leverage or bond for safe return of the vehicle rented.

That would change the landscape of extortion being used against those who need their passports to carry on with their trips.

[smallprawn]

jet-ski owners were told they had no right to seize the passport of tourists they hold responsible for any damage to their jet-skis.

That's the most interesting thing in the article. If true, then any rental should not require a passport as leverage or bond for safe return of the vehicle rented.

That would change the landscape of extortion being used against those who need their passports to carry on with their trips.

True, but what altenative security might be offered? (Cash deposits would be unthinkable)

To be honest I cant stand the whole Jet Ski operation and if they want to ask customers pay expensive rates to rent a Jet ski and it comes back damaged then tough luck. (Im sure most can affored the rapairs)

[Farma]

It looks like the embassies have had enough. Australia complaining about Phuket, The Brits about Samui. I wonder who will tackle Pattaya.

From http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Phuket-Tough...-R-t287475.html

"PHUKET: -- Australian diplomats regard the problem of jet-ski rip-offs in Phuket so seriously they have complained to the prime minister, Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop said yesterday."

[tommysamui]

Not just Koh Samui where these scams are happening........Kata,Karon,Patong all suffer the same problem.

If the police are asked to mediate; forget it; they will invariably support their brother,uncle or whatever.

Agree...These scams will continue as long as there are jet skis here. When I worked for the Tourist Police we took pictures of the jetski sides and noted the registration numbers, because every hour of the day some poor tourist was dragged in to the police trailer to pay for a scratch. We always advised the tourist that it was a scam and told the thug to leave. Now, I see they use the regular police who just tells the customer to pay. Yesterday, I saw two more scams as I was jogging, so the recent media attention has not had any effect. Tell anyone who is thinking of renting these scam skis to do the following:

1. Take pictures of the sides of the jetski before renting it.

2. If scammed call 1155 (Tourist Police) and ask for a farang to come out.

[Lost in LOS]

so the operators rip off the farang for 10,000 [guessing] and then get fined 1,000. good deal for them

[smokie36]

so the operators rip off the farang for 10,000 [guessing] and then get fined 1,000. good deal for them

I take it you mean 10000 dollars and 1000 baht?

Great deal more like!

[Briggsy]

so the operators rip off the farang for 10,000 [guessing] and then get fined 1,000. good deal for them

I take it you mean 10000 dollars and 1000 baht?

Great deal more like!

Plus the tourist gets a good kicking chucked in for free.

[britmaveric]

Just going through the motions.... be forgotten in a week.