Top Cop Orders End To Phuket Jet-ski Scams

[george]

Top cop orders end to Phuket jet-ski scams

Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pigad Thantipong at the

press conference at Phuket Provincial Police Station on Tuesday.

PHUKET CITY: -- Phuket police are under strict orders to crackdown on jet-ski operators who scam tourists and to actively assist those who become victims of the scammers at Phuket's popular beaches.

The orders came from Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pigad Thantipong after he made a frank admission during a press conference that some police officers were knowingly allowing jet-ski operators to get away with massively overcharging tourists for repairs to the vehicles.

This was going to have to stop, he said.

Maj Gen Pigad said he had received a constant stream of complaints about the infamous Phuket jet-ski scam.

“When tourists damage the jet-skis, some operators are asking them for 50-60,000 baht for the repairs,” he said.

“The real cost is often just a couple of thousand baht, but the operators threaten the tourists if they don’t pay up.”

Maj Gen Pigad said Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban had told both himself and Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop that they had to end the practice.

There were around 200 jet-skis on the island, with 167 of them licensed, he said.

Maj Gen Pigad said he had set three new policies to end the problem.

First, police would prosecute any jet-ski operators who threatened tourists.

Second, police officers would not ignore or collude in the scam.

Third, six unbiased “trusted” people in the community would be appointed to adjudicate in arguments between jet-ski operators and tourists.

These independent adjudicators would determine the real cost of any repairs to jet-skis when arguments broke out.

“Their decisions will have to be accepted by both the tourists and the jet-ski operators. If they don’t accept, they can go to court,” Maj Gen Pigad said.

Maj Gen Pigad said he would be meeting with Governor Wichai to discuss the new measures again this week.

-- Phuket Gazette 2009-09-04

[britmaveric]

:D

[krading]

"“Their decisions will have to be accepted by both the tourists and the jet-ski operators. If they don’t accept, they can go to court,” Maj Gen Pigad said"

This could be a job for 'Tony'

"You pay now or wait six months to go to court"

[Insight]

:D

:D

[petercallen]

Good news if its followed through, a few dishonest business owners by scamming/stealing from tourists are effecting all the honest Thais who make there living from tourism in phuket by giving the island a bad reputation as a tourist destination.

[Beacher]

Nothing but gum flapping. Don't expect any changes.

[steelepulse]

An easy solution would be as an earlier poster in another thread stated, the operators must have mandatory insurance one way or another.

Also if it was mandatory to have the renter take photos of the ski before renting,as well as them having a sheet where the renter makes a mark on a paper showing prior damage before renting, this would put an end to 90% of the incidents as the dings and scratches are primarily on the skis before they are even rented. That is of course if the jet ski boys didn't lose the photos and paper due to " a big wind" or some other lame excuse.

If this new proposed policy is still being enforced in one year, I'll buy a round of refreshments for all of you that will be around to collect, provided this thread gets brought up at that time .

[JetsetBkk]

<snip>

If this new proposed policy is still being enforced in one year, I'll buy a round of refreshments for all of you that will be around to collect, provided this thread gets brought up at that time .

You're on, matey!

[madmitch]

An easy solution would be as an earlier poster in another thread stated, the operators must have mandatory insurance one way or another.

Easier said than done. Property and liability insurance would be practically impossible to obtain.

[bellachg]

An easy solution would be as an earlier poster in another thread stated, the operators must have mandatory insurance one way or another.

Easier said than done. Property and liability insurance would be practically impossible to obtain.

Why not? There are marine insurance companies around Phuket who insure boats. Make it mandatory and if the operator could not get it, he would either have to go out of business or cover himself. The only way to solve this situation is a no-fault type insurance.

The proposals of the Police chief will not work. So if the renter does not abide by the independent arbiter, the tourist has to stay and wait a year for a court date???

[madmitch]

Why not? There are marine insurance companies around Phuket who insure boats. Make it mandatory and if the operator could not get it, he would either have to go out of business or cover himself. The only way to solve this situation is a no-fault type insurance.

Maybe, but in all honesty, would you insure these people? It's like writing fire insurance for a serial arsonist.

[bellachg]

Maybe, but in all honesty, would you insure these people? It's like writing fire insurance for a serial arsonist.

I would, but at a hefty premium, which would probably drive them out of business, and that is what we all want, is it not? If the renters cannot obtain insurance they must come up for any damages themselves, in other words take their own risk, and make the rental rates reflect this risk.

Rental cars are insured, rental sail boats are, wo why not water scooters, and include rental motor bikes too while you are at it. It is just proper business procedures, and as I see it the only way to protect the innocent tourist. The rental rates, of course would have to be higher, to cover the insurance.

The fact is that, I think, that all the scooter operators are irresponsible persons, who do not have enough business sense to operate a business in a proper manner. People like this should not be allowed to operate. Do they make tax returns on their income, and do they pay tax on their income?

The over-riding concern is that tourists must not be held for ransom. Most of them have pre-booked flights to return home and any delay will hurt them financially, and they will not return to Phuket another time and also tell their friends about their unhappy experiences.

The other alternative would be to post prominent signs all over the water scooter rental areas warning tourists about this practice, AND make sure that the signs are not removed.