Passport As Deposit?

[JDubs]

Hi, I'll be in Thailand in March this next year and am looking into renting a sailboat. The only thing I'm concerned about is that the owner of the company says that he will hold my passport for the duration of the trip as a deposit. I will be sailing In Phuket bay and will be visiting some islands from the boat. I am worried about getting my identification checked while on these islands. Is this a common practice in Thailand? What are you suggestions? Thanks. The company is called Funsail. Search for Funsail Phuket to find their site.

Thanks

John

[Bukseeda]

I know it's common practice with hiring motorbikes and the like, but i certainly wouldn't want to leave my passport with someone else. a. you're required to carry it while a tourist in thailand (although admittedly i rarely do) and b. you're not supposed to leave your passport with anyone else anyway; at least that's the case for a UK passport.

I don't know about now but back in 1998 20,000 baht was the going rate for a passport on khao sarn road

[LaoPo]

I know it's common practice with hiring motorbikes and the like, but i certainly wouldn't want to leave my passport with someone else. a. you're required to carry it while a tourist in thailand (although admittedly i rarely do) and b. you're not supposed to leave your passport with anyone else anyway; at least that's the case for a UK passport.

I don't know about now but back in 1998 20,000 baht was the going rate for a passport on khao sarn road

I agree with your A+B points. Apart from that most Governments consider passports to remain property of the government and that it's forbidden to give passports away to whomever.

I don't like it either and would never do it; what do you tell the Embassy once the guy/companies says they were robbed or it's lost ?

Tell them you don't do it; they can have a colourcopy but NO original passport.

LaoPo

[majorpacman]

Hello NO, never leave any original passport with them. A copy might be okay but they can use the information for doing some bad stufff. example,they have photocopy of your passport:name, etc, alert their thugs at the airport when you leave thailand, blackmail your ass at the airport. If it is not life and death matters....take your business else where.

[Rinrada]

Thais often leave their ID card when hiring things which is up to them...but I would never ever leave your "Escape Document" with anybody while abroad.

I knew a guy in the old days in Saudi who had done his stint in the desert and was told to pick up his PP from the company office in Jeddah (exit stamp arranged by said company ) on the day he was going on leave....almost on the way to the airport.

NO Have ...must have been sent to other office in Riyadh....go there and pick up......needless to say also..No have...go to.............

He finally went on leave almost 6 months later...and never came back....

...Jesu...still gives me the hee-bee jeebies ..... thinking about him...

[david96]

Never.

Your passport is the property of your government and you are responsible for it.

All they require is a copy of your passport or international drivers licence with a copy of your own licence

if you are hiring a motor vehicle or motor cycle etc.

International drivers licences are valid for 1 year.

Otherwise do not do business with them.

[pdavids]

I can't find Funsail Phuket, but did find Sunsail Phuket whose website says it is the leading yacht rental company in the world, operating out of dozens of ports. So, if the company you are dealing with is Funsail, dump them and go with Sunsail. If it is Sunsail, as a big international operator, I doubt they'd be naive enough to ask for anyone's passport. And if the local "owner" has, then go above his head and report him. Good luck

[cyb]

Never ever leave your passport with anyone as deposit.

It does not belong to you!!! It is government property from whatever country you come from.

[Carmine6]

I don't leave my passport when I rent motorbikes. If I can't find a place to rent without it, I don't rent.

But I'd also be surprised if people would rent sailboats like those without holding a passport. That's a pretty expensive asset that also happens to be capable of leaving Thai waters.

[cyb]

I don't leave my passport when I rent motorbikes. If I can't find a place to rent without it, I don't rent.

But I'd also be surprised if people would rent sailboats like those without holding a passport. That's a pretty expensive asset that also happens to be capable of leaving Thai waters.

It is against the laws of your country and i think most if not all to leave your passport with someone.

No one has the right to withhold your passport without good cause, that authorisation must come from someone higher up than that of a sailboat renter.

[scorecard]

I don't leave my passport when I rent motorbikes. If I can't find a place to rent without it, I don't rent.

But I'd also be surprised if people would rent sailboats like those without holding a passport. That's a pretty expensive asset that also happens to be capable of leaving Thai waters.

It is against the laws of your country and i think most if not all to leave your passport with someone.

No one has the right to withhold your passport without good cause, that authorisation must come from someone higher up than that of a sailboat renter.

So Funsail or Sunsail or whatever the name is claim to be the biggest boat rental company in the world.

So that suggests that many of their customers would be the worlds: rich people, famous people, world celebrities, etc.

Now can you imagine the worlds rich, the worlds celebrities leaving their passport with a boat operator.

I would strongly encourage any person from any country to guard their passport very carefully. I'm aware of an incident whereby a farang here in Bangkok lost his passport them it suddenly reapperred 24 hours later. Here's the quick details:

- Farang moves into new apartment building.

- Within hours of moving in another farang knocks on the door and says he's just dropped in to say 'Hi' welcome to the the building'. Second farang makes himself welcome sits down and chats.

- After second farang leaves first farang needs to go somewhere and needs his passport cut can't find it.

- Next day second farang reappears and makes himself comfortable, he leaves then first farang sees his passport has suddenly reappeared.

Moving to the end of the story:

- First farang gets all sorts of mail which he doesn't understand from various companies, etc

- Reality is that the second farang used the passport to start up a health insurance policy, followed by lots of false claims and payout checks from the health insurance company.

SECOND FARANG IS NOT SERVING LONG SENTENCE IN BANGKOK HILTON FOR NUMEROUS ACTS OF FRAUD.

[cyb]

I don't leave my passport when I rent motorbikes. If I can't find a place to rent without it, I don't rent.

But I'd also be surprised if people would rent sailboats like those without holding a passport. That's a pretty expensive asset that also happens to be capable of leaving Thai waters.

It is against the laws of your country and i think most if not all to leave your passport with someone.

No one has the right to withhold your passport without good cause, that authorisation must come from someone higher up than that of a sailboat renter.

So Funsail or Sunsail or whatever the name is claim to be the biggest boat rental company in the world.

So that suggests that many of their customers would be the worlds: rich people, famous people, world celebrities, etc.

Now can you imagine the worlds rich, the worlds celebrities leaving their passport with a boat operator.

I would strongly encourage any person from any country to guard their passport very carefully. I'm aware of an incident whereby a farang here in Bangkok lost his passport them it suddenly reapperred 24 hours later. Here's the quick details:

- Farang moves into new apartment building.

- Within hours of moving in another farang knocks on the door and says he's just dropped in to say 'Hi' welcome to the the building'. Second farang makes himself welcome sits down and chats.

- After second farang leaves first farang needs to go somewhere and needs his passport cut can't find it.

- Next day second farang reappears and makes himself comfortable, he leaves then first farang sees his passport has suddenly reappeared.

Moving to the end of the story:

- First farang gets all sorts of mail which he doesn't understand from various companies, etc

- Reality is that the second farang used the passport to start up a health insurance policy, followed by lots of false claims and payout checks from the health insurance company.

SECOND FARANG IS NOT SERVING LONG SENTENCE IN BANGKOK HILTON FOR NUMEROUS ACTS OF FRAUD.

Not that i am doubting you, But have you got the evidence/links to support this?

[Carmine6]

I don't leave my passport when I rent motorbikes. If I can't find a place to rent without it, I don't rent.

But I'd also be surprised if people would rent sailboats like those without holding a passport. That's a pretty expensive asset that also happens to be capable of leaving Thai waters.

It is against the laws of your country and i think most if not all to leave your passport with someone.

No one has the right to withhold your passport without good cause, that authorisation must come from someone higher up than that of a sailboat renter.

And yet companies in Thailand still ask for them even for motorbikes. Do they know they're aiding and abetting a crime?

If there's a boat company that rents without asking, that's great. I doubt they're going to be on the lower end of the price range since they have to build in the cost of 1st world level insurance.

[bkkc1976]

Its normal to leave a passport as a security.i just got my self a second passport and keep the passport i entered thailand!!just tell your immigration or whereever you get your passport from you are going to travel to israel and then you want to go to palastina!worked in my case!

regards

[siam2007]

Hello NO, never leave any original passport with them. A copy might be okay but they can use the information for doing some bad stufff. example,they have photocopy of your passport:name, etc, alert their thugs at the airport when you leave thailand, blackmail your ass at the airport. If it is not life and death matters....take your business else where.

couldn't agree more...... unfortunately, as the saying goes, "there's a sucker born every minute"....

most embassies can tell you a thing or two about it......

[TerryLH]

"It is against the laws of your country and i think most if not all to leave your passport with someone."

Which "your country" are you talking about, and what exactly does the law say?

I think the USA says not to use it for a deposit, but I could only find it breaks a law if someone else uses the PP.

[budmak]

I still keep my old passport and use that never had a problem still has pic and details etc but new passport has diffrent number

[nisha0901]

Empire Towers Sathorn asks for passports as deposits for entry if u dont have a a thai drivers pass FYI

[JDubs]

Empire Towers Sathorn asks for passports as deposits for entry if u dont have a a thai drivers pass FYI

The website is www.fun-sail.com

From the owner.

"The value of one boat is about 1.500.000,- THB.

So we can't give a boat without any guarantee.

The copy of the passport or a driving license is not a guarantee.

Without any guarantee it could be easy for a customer to rent a boat

and go away with the boat or leave it with some damage somewhere.

So as is usual in Thailand, the hirer’s passport will be deposited with

FunSail as a guarantee for the duration of any unaccompanied rental

(without a skipper).

This is also a term of our insurance Company.

The other option is a cash deposit of 50.000,- THB (the amount

of the excess).

Sorry we don't work with credit cards for security reason.

Usually our customers give passports as guarantee.

If you are concerned that you will need your passport you can deposit

your wife's passport."

I just realized that my wife has to get a new passport because her name has changed so we will just use her old one. Thanks for the help.

-John

[loganberry]

Interesting dilemma everybody. I was about to agree with everybody about how the passport should never be left behidn as it is the property of your government. But then again, isn't every traveling or driving document the property of the government anyways? They are allowed to revoke and physically remove them from you upon breaking certain laws... so why would leaving a driver's license behind make any difference?

I am pretty annoyed that they hid behind their "insurance policy" on this one. It is a cheap shot at fooling just another person. Just to have some laughs and also play along with their game, I would take the little safe out of my closet, put my passport in it... and then give him the safe to hold on to. Then just tell him that I will give him the passcode if I need to. lol.

Or even just say that your passport is diplomatic! Nobody can ask you to leave that thing behind!

[JDubs]

I still keep my old passport and use that never had a problem still has pic and details etc but new passport has diffrent number

Our old US passport gets a hole stamped through it. Do you think the sailboat company will not except it?

[david96]

There is no legal requirement that you must leave your passport as a security deposit.

A photocopy of your passport for their records is all they require.

The item you hire should be fully insured and you should carry full insurance and public

liability insurance from your travel insurance company.

Think before you hire, what are the requirements in your own country?

Remember you are responsible for any damage, loss, and injury or death of any third party.

They may require a security deposit in cash, or by credit card, the amount is deducted when

you initially hire.

In Thailand it is "buyer beware" at all times.

And some hire companies do make false claims against the person who hires the item when they return. This has happened with jet ski hire.

[Serpico]

Very common in the Thai rental business to overcharge for "damages". Extortion is often the real goal in some rental shops.

Even the Police will back up their extortionist practices.

Never leave the passport with anyone! Never.

Search for 'jet ski scam thailand' to see what these people are up too.

http://www.google.com/search?client=safari...-8&oe=UTF-8

[dr_Pat_Pong]

"It is against the laws of your country and i think most if not all to leave your passport with someone."

Which "your country" are you talking about, and what exactly does the law say?

I think the USA says not to use it for a deposit, but I could only find it breaks a law if someone else uses the PP.

That is the case with ALL countries.

[cyb]

Very common in the Thai rental business to overcharge for "damages". Extortion is often the real goal in some rental shops.

Even the Police will back up their extortionist practices.

Never leave the passport with anyone! Never.

Search for 'jet ski scam thailand' to see what these people are up too.

http://www.google.com/search?client=safari...-8&oe=UTF-8

There was an incident in chawenge Koh Samui, i think it was around the end of 2005

I witnessed it.

A guy had hired a motorbike from a travel agent, Gave his passport to the agent.

After traverling about 300 metres one of the tyres was flat, He took it back and complained. The travel agents would not give his passport back until he paid bh4000 for repair.

That was for a simple puncture, Now do you understand why you should not leave your passport?

[JDubs]

Very common in the Thai rental business to overcharge for "damages". Extortion is often the real goal in some rental shops.

Even the Police will back up their extortionist practices.

Never leave the passport with anyone! Never.

Search for 'jet ski scam thailand' to see what these people are up too.

http://www.google.com/search?client=safari...-8&oe=UTF-8

There was an incident in chawenge Koh Samui, i think it was around the end of 2005

I witnessed it.

A guy had hired a motorbike from a travel agent, Gave his passport to the agent.

After traverling about 300 metres one of the tyres was flat, He took it back and complained. The travel agents would not give his passport back until he paid bh4000 for repair.

That was for a simple puncture, Now do you understand why you should not leave your passport?

Visit the website www.funsail.com and you will see that this isn't a typical backstreet motorbike rental. The guy is french and it is a legitimate company with a well established site and previous customers reviews. Thanks for all the help

[cyb]

Very common in the Thai rental business to overcharge for "damages". Extortion is often the real goal in some rental shops.

Even the Police will back up their extortionist practices.

Never leave the passport with anyone! Never.

Search for 'jet ski scam thailand' to see what these people are up too.

http://www.google.com/search?client=safari...-8&oe=UTF-8

There was an incident in chawenge Koh Samui, i think it was around the end of 2005

I witnessed it.

A guy had hired a motorbike from a travel agent, Gave his passport to the agent.

After traverling about 300 metres one of the tyres was flat, He took it back and complained. The travel agents would not give his passport back until he paid bh4000 for repair.

That was for a simple puncture, Now do you understand why you should not leave your passport?

Visit the website www.funsail.com and you will see that this isn't a typical backstreet motorbike rental. The guy is french and it is a legitimate company with a well established site and previous customers reviews. Thanks for all the help

jdubs

The travel agent also was well established and does to this day boost so many allegedly good customer reviews.

Be careful.

edited typo

[raro]

Empire Towers Sathorn asks for passports as deposits for entry if u dont have a a thai drivers pass FYI

Empire Tower is a real pain. Usually I just walked through the security check with a straight face but yesterday got caught and no way, must produce my passport - which I keep in the office in the safe box. Namecard was not accepted. Driver license in my wallet in the car. Before I could offer to go back and get it they called my customer to send someone downstairs to pick me up at the counter. Quite embarassing!

Chatted up the girl at the security check and she said that they had countless complaints from visitors about the over the top security check in that building.

[gpdjohn]

Very common in the Thai rental business to overcharge for "damages". Extortion is often the real goal in some rental shops.

Even the Police will back up their extortionist practices.

Never leave the passport with anyone! Never.

Search for 'jet ski scam thailand' to see what these people are up too.

http://www.google.com/search?client=safari...-8&oe=UTF-8

There was an incident in chawenge Koh Samui, i think it was around the end of 2005

I witnessed it.

A guy had hired a motorbike from a travel agent, Gave his passport to the agent.

After traverling about 300 metres one of the tyres was flat, He took it back and complained. The travel agents would not give his passport back until he paid bh4000 for repair.

That was for a simple puncture, Now do you understand why you should not leave your passport?

Visit the website www.funsail.com and you will see that this isn't a typical backstreet motorbike rental. The guy is french and it is a legitimate company with a well established site and previous customers reviews. Thanks for all the help

yeah, yeah and all the lovelies on TTL are upstanding women and would never tell a lie.

And I still would not leave it with him.

[NanLaew]

Your passport, or your wife's passport for that matter, is not your property to hand over as a guarantee, secure a bond, stop you stealing a yacht, or whatever.

Furthermore, any business that does not take a credit card 'for security reason' means it is too cheap to invest in anything that safeguards their customers safety and security. That probably includes dodging the bullet on insurance. Buyer beware indeed!

But, as they say in Thailand, up to you.