Abused By Immigration Official. Intimidated By Taxi Touts

[Serpico]

Last night I arrived in Bangkok and made my way to the airport passport control.

I had made a small mistake on my arrival card and was abused and mistreated by the Immigration official. Unbelievable.

I have never in my life been mistreated by anyone like this!

What a bitter jerk. This is the welcome I get?

I then decided to catch my taxi at the departures area and was then harangued by a dozen or more tourist mafia touts. They would not let up....No security was to be seen anywhere.

I finally told them to F off and was suddenly surrounded by these punks.

Is this any way to run an airport?

[CosmicSurfer]

TIT... Welcome to Thailand!

CS

[Beacher]

Thailand is sliding further down the list of preferred tourist destinations everyday. These people are working very hard at trying to stop all tourism (unless you're filthy rich).

[phetaroi]

Last night I arrived in Bangkok and made my way to the airport passport control.

I had made a small mistake on my arrival card and was abused and mistreated by the Immigration official. Unbelievable.

I have never in my life been mistreated by anyone like this!

What a bitter jerk. This is the welcome I get?

I then decided to catch my taxi at the departures area and was then harangued by a dozen or more tourist mafia touts. They would not let up....No security was to be seen anywhere.

I finally told them to F off and was suddenly surrounded by these punks.

Is this any way to run an airport?

Exactly how were you "absused" and "mistreated"? Please be specific.

Maybe you should moderate your language.

[ChangMaiSausage]

phetaroi I agree about the language but in the same breath I can understand why someone would tell them to F off. They can be very annoying especially when you have told them no and they continue to follow you through the airport.

[samuibeachcomber]

you can tell the taxi touts to f...ck off if you want but in my experience(particularly when it comes to immigration here in thailand) it pays to be calm and agreeable,behaving any other way will just cause you angst.

[scorecard]

1. Why don't you share what happened at immigration, maybe there's something we could all learn to be careful of?

2. You might be pretty angry but it's definitely not a good idea to stir these goons up.

This industry attracts people who would have little hesitation to get violent, and whether it's right or wrong they have powerful people on their side who can trample on you very quickly ans strongly.

You might claim they started it, they will say you started it and you were violent. You can't win, don't even try, you could well end up in deeper trouble.

[samtam]

Serpico didn't tell Immigration to eff off, he told the touts to do so. He has made no comment as to how he reacted to the way he was treated by Immigration, only what he thought of it.

[Serpico]

I definitely kept my mouth shut when dealing with customs/immigration.

The guy behind the counter was hateful and looking for trouble. His behavior was off the charts. I wonder how many people he abuses each day?

As far as the aggressive touts, I agree, it wasn't too smart to tell them to F off, but they were harassing me and would not let up. They are untouchable and know it.

Not a single security guard in sight.

Like I said. Is this any way to run an international airport?

These same punks are all over town doing this kind of crap to visitors. Parked outside every hotel, loitering outside every tourist spot.

They are everywhere these days and wrecking what is left of the tourism industry.

[babuhavas]

I definitely kept my mouth shut when dealing with customs/immigration.

The guy behind the counter was hateful and looking for trouble. His behavior was off the charts. I wonder how many people he abuses each day?

As far as the aggressive touts, I agree, it wasn't too smart to tell them to F off, but they were harassing me and would not let up. They are untouchable and know it.

Not a single security guard in sight.

Like I said. Is this any way to run an international airport?

These same punks are all over town doing this kind of crap to visitors. Parked outside every hotel, loitering outside every tourist spot.

They are everywhere these days and wrecking what is left of the tourism industry.

but again what exactly the immigration officer told you?,or are you trolling?

Edited September 10, 2009 by babuhavas

[topben]

yes, be specific. i have been coming in and out of thailand for yonk years and met all kinds in thailand, or almost all kinds at the airport.

be specific. it will help many other travellers to learn from your experience, especially so with this forum.

[tb86]

not to be a#$hole but it couldnt have been that bad, you did get into the country.. And the taxi guys, just ignore em or a simple no always works with little stress. I fly once a week from swampy, was stuck there waiting for my ride home for a hour on monday night got plenty of offers, but nothing a no thank you didnt work for..... sometimes negative attitudes just make a situation worse.

Edited September 10, 2009 by tb86

[sabaijai]

not to be a#$hole but it couldnt have been that bad, you did get into the country.. And the taxi guys, just ignore em or a simple no always works with little stress. I fly once a week from swampy, was stuck there waiting for my ride home for a hour on monday night got plenty of offers, but nothing a no thank you didnt work for..... sometimes negative attitudes just make a situation worse.

[frankthetank]

And, so, what did the immigration officer say to you, mate?

[Fatfrank]

And, so, what did the immigration officer say to you, mate?

I arrived off a flight last night at approximately 1730, the middle aged female Immigration official asked me politely to look into the camera and smiled at me; nice service.

[jrbkk64]

Serpico,

Get a life. I use Suv. a couple of times per month for 9 years already and have never had an issue with either Immigration or the touts. Stay calm and just say no and the touts will leave you alone.

[Crossy]

I've never had an 'abusive' immigration officer (even when being led away by the immigration supervisor), had a fair few miserable ones but never anything worse. I wonder what our OP did to attract the wrath.

[MJo]

They propably asked him to take his hat and shades off and stop talking to the phone.

All these news on crackdowns.... I flew in to swampy in the morning and was surprised to notice few things.

- aircons seemed to be working better, it was actually cool but that might be down to the fact that around 9am the whole place is empty

- immigration staffed so that there was only 2 to 3 people in each desk waiting

- luggage was on time, first bag arrived same time as people cleared immigration

- no taxi touts except polite question if i would want a taxi in both "yellow" cab desks

- generally lot less guys waiting in arrival hall shouting taxis and hotels or whatever. Again might have something to do with timing

Also they seem to enforce other rules more strictly as well. Already in check-in at Changi they asked to see my visa as i did not have return ticket out from Thailand. This was maybe 3rd time i have been asked in past 10 years and first 2 were in europe.

Then in plane (TG) they annouced before landing that all need to have return tickets ready and show them to immigration as they are going to ask you.

And finally there was new big yellow sign in smoking room stating that you can bring in only 200 ciggies and 1 ltr alcohol and that anything above the limit you have to drop it to "excess" box. Propably so that they can destroy them later

Oh yeah and sign before immigration saying that taking fake goods to some european countries might be illegal thus not recommended...

[CosmicSurfer]

Just flew in from KL on Tuesday night around 11PM via AirAsia... My suitcase was Opened and my toiletry bag was ransacked looking for valueables...

But the weird thing was the bag was locked with an add-on key lock...

I didn't notice until I got home that the lock on the zipper was at the bottom of the case, instead of the top where I ALWAYS leave it... and when I opened it and grabbed my toiletry bag, it all dumped out as it was totally unzipped... as was a small leather change bag that I use to carry personal nicknacks and momentoes... with the contets dumped all into the bag... This is something I would never do when packing...

But the Bag was locked... Obviously the AirAsia bag handlers have a set of duplicates or master keys... and as it was locked when I picked it up from the luggage carrousel, I didn't notice anything wrong until I got home.... Pisses me off, but now too late to complain or do anything...

Joke was on them... as KL trip was an in-out Visa run, and suitcase was full of snackfoods and chocolate that I was stocking up for the next year... Lucky they didn't open my other smaller bag... Full of All Beef hotdogs in freezer packs. (KL being Muslim is the place to buy beef... 3 Kg of Beef hotdogs for around 300 baht.) But then again.. this being Thailand, they probably don't eat beef anyway!!!!

Lucky Me!... I carry all valuables onto the plane with me anyway!

CS

[jasreeve17]

Serpico,

Get a life. I use Suv. a couple of times per month for 9 years already and have never had an issue with either Immigration or the touts. Stay calm and just say no and the touts will leave you alone.

Interesting...

[hhgz]

"I had made a small mistake on my arrival card and was abused and mistreated by the Immigration official. Unbelievable.

I have never in my life been mistreated by anyone like this! What a bitter jerk."

Oh, you poor child, it's a real shame. Since you have chosen not to tell us what exactly happened, we can assume that you're a professional victim, just looking for something to complain about.

[Serpico]

A lot of jerks on the forum these days.

[britmaveric]

^well if u told us how the immigration officer abused you then maybe the tone would change?

[doggie888888]

How does one get "abused and mistreated" by Immigration? Were you detained? Were you manhandled? I am starting to imagine handcuffs, body search, gloved finger in orifice.....

Sure those annoying taxi touts are there most of the time (and they should not be there of course) ...but a polite and firm "no thanks" has always worked for me. Never intimidated nor harangued.

I am sure it is never a good idea, in whatever country you are visiting to tell locals to Fxxx Off, no matter how tempting it may be to do so or how correct you are underthe circumstances.

[spongeman]

How does one get "abused and mistreated" by Immigration? Were you detained? Were you manhandled? I am starting to imagine handcuffs, body search, gloved finger in orifice.....

Would you have any videos of the above cavity search? (Just for research purposes)

[bartender100]

Just flew in from KL on Tuesday night around 11PM via AirAsia... My suitcase was Opened and my toiletry bag was ransacked looking for valueables...

But the weird thing was the bag was locked with an add-on key lock...

I didn't notice until I got home that the lock on the zipper was at the bottom of the case, instead of the top where I ALWAYS leave it... and when I opened it and grabbed my toiletry bag, it all dumped out as it was totally unzipped... as was a small leather change bag that I use to carry personal nicknacks and momentoes... with the contets dumped all into the bag... This is something I would never do when packing...

But the Bag was locked... Obviously the AirAsia bag handlers have a set of duplicates or master keys... and as it was locked when I picked it up from the luggage carrousel, I didn't notice anything wrong until I got home.... Pisses me off, but now too late to complain or do anything...

Joke was on them... as KL trip was an in-out Visa run, and suitcase was full of snackfoods and chocolate that I was stocking up for the next year... Lucky they didn't open my other smaller bag... Full of All Beef hotdogs in freezer packs. (KL being Muslim is the place to buy beef... 3 Kg of Beef hotdogs for around 300 baht.) But then again.. this being Thailand, they probably don't eat beef anyway!!!!

Lucky Me!... I carry all valuables onto the plane with me anyway!

CS

I always have assumed that when the checked in luggage is scanned, that they must open the bag to check it if they see something suspicion , never heard of anyone being called after checkin to go and open a bag

[moe666]

In and out of Thailand since 1998 never a problem with immagration even when I forgot to fill in something on form. Always efficient, maybe not gushing with love but could you imagine setting there all day and having to deal with the jetlagged hordes.

Serpico, maybe you arrived after a plane load of Chinese tourist who didn't speak or write English or Thai.

[robertsonmartin]

Just flew in from KL on Tuesday night around 11PM via AirAsia... My suitcase was Opened and my toiletry bag was ransacked looking for valueables...

But the weird thing was the bag was locked with an add-on key lock...

I didn't notice until I got home that the lock on the zipper was at the bottom of the case, instead of the top where I ALWAYS leave it... and when I opened it and grabbed my toiletry bag, it all dumped out as it was totally unzipped... as was a small leather change bag that I use to carry personal nicknacks and momentoes... with the contets dumped all into the bag... This is something I would never do when packing...

But the Bag was locked... Obviously the AirAsia bag handlers have a set of duplicates or master keys... and as it was locked when I picked it up from the luggage carrousel, I didn't notice anything wrong until I got home.... Pisses me off, but now too late to complain or do anything...

Joke was on them... as KL trip was an in-out Visa run, and suitcase was full of snackfoods and chocolate that I was stocking up for the next year... Lucky they didn't open my other smaller bag... Full of All Beef hotdogs in freezer packs. (KL being Muslim is the place to buy beef... 3 Kg of Beef hotdogs for around 300 baht.) But then again.. this being Thailand, they probably don't eat beef anyway!!!!

Lucky Me!... I carry all valuables onto the plane with me anyway!

CS

I always have assumed that when the checked in luggage is scanned, that they must open the bag to check it if they see something suspicion , never heard of anyone being called after checkin to go and open a bag

Off Topic a little.

The majority of baggage thefts happen at the source airport (or transit airport) over the destination airport, in the above post it will have happened at the KL airport. There is very little time to raid a bag at the destination airport before they are unloaded onto the carousel feed conveyors. KLIA has a bit of a reputation for baggage theft as does the KL LCCT.

In a previous life I was the commissioning engineer for the new baggage system at Heathrow Terminal 2. The only time I know of that a passenger gets called to open a bag after checkin is if the bag fails the auto scan, the manual rapid scan (operator has 4-5 secs to zoom in and decide to either accept / reject), and the manual slow scan (operator can spend as long as he wants to zoom in) and generally only if there is something illegal like a gun.

Had one guy while I was working there wrap up a hand-gun in tin-foil thinking it would beat the x-ray machines . He was called on the PA system to contact the information desk where police escorted him through to his waiting bag where he was asked to open it up in front of the cops.

Having worked at Thief-row, i will now never put anything remotely valuable in checked luggage. Security camera's don't really work either as the CCTV operators are generally in on the deal.

The best thing to lock a bag up with is cable ties, not cheap locks (as mentioned in previous threads) most keys of cheap locks will open shed loads of similar locks.

Edited September 11, 2009 by robertsonmartin

[phetaroi]

A lot of jerks on the forum these days.

No, people want you to tell us just how you were abused (your word) by an immigration official. Although you have been on the forum several times since several people have asked, you refuse to answer the question. And so, there is a natural assumption you are either fabricating the situation completely or, at the very least, greatly exaggerating it. You've painted yourself into a bit of a corner. It's to the point now where I doubt many would believe an explanation, no matter what it was.

[hkt83100]

I had made a small mistake on my arrival card [...]

Within several posts you are unable to describe the small mistake and the reaction of the officer.

I made a mistake too, some years ago. The officer explained to me what was wrong and corrected the mistake. I just said thank you and that was the incident. Sometimes normal behavior can be quite helpful and it never hurts to be polite.