Russians Trapped In Pattaya Following Collapse Of Tour Company

[Nisa]

Nisa >> We can all see that you fail to understand contract-law. Congratulations.

The contract that exists in your mind dealing with how thing work in an different reality?

[Nisa]

That is terrible for them and even worse the Hotel refused them access to their own safe-boxes, can they do that?

If you were the hotel owner and someone didn't pay his bill, what would you do?

+1

But they did pay their bills, to the hotel official appointed agent

No the customers paid their agent (the one they chose to use) who in turn not only didn't pay the hotel but made clear they wouldn't be paying the hotel (or airlines) for the services of their customers ... even though they took the money to pay from their customers.

This is really not a difficult concept to understand. If you contract through a 3rd party to pay your bills and they don't, you are responsible. Be it buying a car, booking tickets, paying rent and so on ... the service provider is not obligated to give you free services because you got screwed by your agent. Yes, the hotel was screwed too and they have EVERY right to refuse service and demand payment from both the tour company (except in bankruptcy) and the customer. These are not the only hotels to refuse service and ask for payment from guests in this situation across the globe. The airlines acted the same way as hotels and airlines do in such situations all across the world. I did read one airline, who like all the rest refused to honor these customer's tickets, did say they would fly people home if and when they had empty seats on a plane. This kind of thing should be applauded but strangely many people think companies in a capitalist society should be giving services for free when there is no legal obligation too, nobody's life is in danger and/or just because people got screwed by some 3rd party.

There is simply no standard contract in these situations that lets those being given services off the hook and entitled to free services by the service provider in the event the billing party fails to pay. And no company in their right mind would enter into such a contract as should nobody in their right mind travel to a foreign country without adequate funds to take care of basic necessities should a problem arise.

Hotels are not the Red Cross or other charity. They exist to make a profit.

Edited February 12, 2012 by Nisa

[hawker9000]

Russian rudeness in legendary and exemplary, and that perception has enormous effect on people dealing with Russians, in 1941, French Prisoner of War in Poland rioted and large number were shot by German guards, they refused to eat on the same table with Russians, which were mainly high ranking officers, the French complained that is like eating with pigs, the destruction of upper classes during revolution left the country with only peasants, the etiquette and conventional code of conducts, table manners etc went extinct, if any one has had a chance coming across Russian communities that had left Russian during Revolution, in Canada , France etc will find the difference, recently the Russian ministry of education has decided to teach etiquette in schools, as well in Russian itself the Government is referred to as KLEPTOCRACY , collapses of this sort are common occurrence. Peter the Great, was well know for stealing anything that wasn’t bolted to the floor while staying in Europe (Holland) , On the other side Thai hoteliers are not know for generosity, or charity, once they have lousy customer like Russians, this type of reaction is not unusual. Unless the Thai tourist authority and police implement same policy as for Angolans, and designate specific hotels and condition for them, this type of disaster will occur incessantly.

Well I'll have to go check my history but I seem to remember that the French Revolution took place a century or more before Russia's and that all those tumbrils took the aristocracy (including the king) to meet Madame La Guillotine.

Is your point that in some way European table manners are a sign of breeding? Or are you suggesting that societies with different dining customs are essentially inferior to the European-American one? They, in themselves vary too - Americans frequently eat only with their fork and that in the wrong hand, Italians dip bread in their soups and sauces.....

Since the Russian revolution was early last century, when and where did you meet these groups of refugees with personal memories of pre-revolution times?

A purely personal story; as a student I had a flatmate who was African. He used to pare his fingernails very short with a razor blade and when I asked him why he explained that at home he ate with his hands so it was for hygiene. There is no right or wrong etiquette; if you are European your mediaeval ancestors (assuming that they were privileged enough not to live as peasants in daub and wattle huts) did not shrink from eating in a way which would make someone as sensitive as you appalled.

I suggest that you look at the etymology of "trencherman" which has evolved to mean someone with a healthy appetite

I could care less if someone's eating with the fork in their left hand or dipping their bread in the gravy or uses a razor blade on their nails. Sheesh! You know, this isn't REALLY about Russian "table manners" (unless you define "table manners" to include stealing the table, or shoving your way into line to grab one ahead of others who've been waiting their turn....)