Online Review System In Pattaya? Yelp Or Otherwise? We Badly Need Some Sort Of Accountability For Customer Service Here

[KirillStorch]

Is there any kind of dependable, online review system for Pattaya? On Yelp I noticed there was no easy way to leave reviews. A lot of businesses have not claimed their Google places, so leaving reviews there is not possible either. Yet we BADLY need to hold business owners accountable for failures in customer service, just as we should reward those who go the extra mile in making a commercial experience here pleasant. I would love to be able to visit a comprehensive review site, like Yelp, geared towards business in Pattaya. My question(s) are: 1) Is there something like this already? 2) If not, how can it be created!?

[FOODLOVER]

Good idea!

[RabC]

The libel laws in Thailand will just not allow it. I am sure a mod will be along shortly to explain it all. Doesn't matter how bad the service or product is you cant print it.

[monty]

There are issues with that concept!

Firstly, defamation is a criminal offence in Thailand, unlike many other countries where it would be civil.

Libel is actually when defamatory statements are published. In Thailand the media ( newspaper, website) can and will be held responsible for those statements.

Now, the biggest problem lies in the fact that even when the defamatory statement is true, you can still be prosecuted, when the business lost income or face due to those statements.

The only way that you can win would be when those statements would have been clearly in the public interest.

So firstly if a business starts a court case against you for libel, a criminal case against you will be started, which for a foreigner means arrest, bail, big legal expenses, with a very real risk of jail and payment of damages if for example the other's side lawyers are able to show proof that whatever you wrote about was a one off hick up...and thus not in the interest of the public to be published.

Which is why not many bother....

Posted with Thaivisa App http://apps.thaivisa.com

[KirillStorch]

Sure but if it was just a website I think it would be safe.

[StefanBBK]

You can find some honest reviews on "tripadvisor".

I agree, it would be hard to go after a website based review.

Posted with Thaivisa App http://apps.thaivisa.com

[Rimmer]

Sure but if it was just a website I think it would be safe.

The website owner is responsible for all content on his site in Thailand and posting information willfully intended to injure the reputation, causing economic damage or defaming a person in Thailand is a criminal offense punishable by two to five years in prison and a steep fine. In Addition, the defamed party can initiate a civil action to recoup any loss of income caused by the false and defaming statements.

[PattayaParent]

You can find some honest reviews on "tripadvisor".

I agree, it would be hard to go after a website based review.

Posted with Thaivisa App http://apps.thaivisa.com

Not according to the British Advertising Standards.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/530385-tripadvisor-honest-reviews-misleading-british-censure/page__hl__%20tripadvisor

[brit1984]

If we are planning to try somewhere new (or choosing between various places we haven't been to), my wife just puts a question on her Facebook wall and we wait for her friends to reply with their experiences / opinions...

Her (Facebook) friends always provide useful reviews including some negative views... if Mark Zuckerberg visits Thailand, will he be arrested and sent to prison for 5 years?

If not (maybe because Facebook is based outside Thailand and content is not truly public) does that mean one could start a new social site (with content only viewable to your "friends" even if that is millions of people) with a focus on Thai businesses?

I can smell the money already!

[PattayaPhom]

If the websited isnt hosted in Thailand it would be impossible for any action to be taken against you...go for it, its a great idea.

[JSixpack]

I dunno, pattayanewsflash(dot)com runs reports of ripoffs by Pattaya businesses all the time. Got a few current reports on there now.

I'd say if a domain is hosted outside Thailand and the ownership is hidden, you can say what you like. However, be annoying enough and the gov't will surely block the site. But a large site like Yelp, maybe not. A lawsuit might not go far . . . . Suggest trying it.

Edited May 6, 2012 by JSixpack

[doggie888888]

There are issues with that concept!

Firstly, defamation is a criminal offence in Thailand, unlike many other countries where it would be civil.

Libel is actually when defamatory statements are published. In Thailand the media ( newspaper, website) can and will be held responsible for those statements.

Now, the biggest problem lies in the fact that even when the defamatory statement is true, you can still be prosecuted, when the business lost income or face due to those statements.

The only way that you can win would be when those statements would have been clearly in the public interest.

So firstly if a business starts a court case against you for libel, a criminal case against you will be started, which for a foreigner means arrest, bail, big legal expenses, with a very real risk of jail and payment of damages if for example the other's side lawyers are able to show proof that whatever you wrote about was a one off hick up...and thus not in the interest of the public to be published.

Which is why not many bother....

Posted with Thaivisa App http://apps.thaivisa.com

Yet I have seen many negative reviews of businesses in Thailand in travel sites like Tripadvisor for example.

Another poster already mentioned facebook - there are several negative comments about all some Thai businesses there too.

Isn't thaivisa's website hosted overseas?

[brit1984]

If the websited isnt hosted in Thailand it would be impossible for any action to be taken against you...go for it, its a great idea.

Tech is not my area but if any entrepreneurial programmers would like to run with it, I think it could be commercially viable

[sunshinegirl]

Ive slated hotels in Bangkok before on trip advisor before and there never seems to be any comeback to them. You can leave opinions on anything from bars to eateries. In fact there is a pop up page comes up asking for reviews on particulars places.Ive also done review of eating places in Pattaya as well.

I realy cant see how if your domain is outside Thailand they can do anything except block it from being available in Thailand

[monty]

Some good observations made.

Firstly, the majority of halfway decent ran businesses will never initiate any lawsuit, unless maybe somebody is really out trying to ruin them!

It will be expensive to sue somebody as well.

Secondly, simply hosting outside of Thailand doesnt protect you. Nowadays it is not very hard to trace back to the real owner a website. And if that person is in Thailand, he's fair game to the authorities...

But, it only needs one company to get angry, and if they are big enough snd have enough resources, it could turn ugly.

I do know of a certain hospital which is very trigger happy with this kind of thing!

Worth the risks?

Posted with Thaivisa App http://apps.thaivisa.com

[FarangBuddha]

Sure but if it was just a website I think it would be safe.

The website owner is responsible for all content on his site in Thailand and posting information willfully intended to injure the reputation, causing economic damage or defaming a person in Thailand is a criminal offense punishable by two to five years in prison and a steep fine. In Addition, the defamed party can initiate a civil action to recoup any loss of income caused by the false and defaming statements.

I would think the answer, as some have mentioned, is posting/using the larger know review sites out there like Agoda/Trip Advisor for hotels and restos. For a Thailand/Pattaya specific site, someone with the time and technical skills presumably could set-up an offshore website, which I believe can be done more or less anonymously, and the Thai authorities would lack jurisdiction to do anything about it.. (And someone outside Thailand, who had an interest in Thailand, could do this with little fear of the Thai authorities [especially in they didn't travel to Thailand].) Of course, I suppose a business who felt libeled could petition a court, or the relevant ministry, to have the site's URL blocked in Thailand.

Edited May 6, 2012 by FarangBuddha

[gk10002000]

I dunno, pattayanewsflash(dot)com runs reports of ripoffs by Pattaya businesses all the time. Got a few current reports on there now.

I'd say if a domain is hosted outside Thailand and the ownership is hidden, you can say what you like. However, be annoying enough and the gov't will surely block the site. But a large site like Yelp, maybe not. A lawsuit might not go far . . . . Suggest trying it.

I point out that the country has blocked some "big" sites in the past. Y__ tube was blocked because it posted a person's comments about the King and other things. The site was unblocked after the poster removed and posted an apology

[Markland]

op to role playing games.You are going over your head on this one

[IAMSOBAD]

Democrazy!!! Yes the spelling fits.

Posted with Thaivisa App http://apps.thaivisa.com

[jay528]

could always list places with pre determined replies

great food

great service

great price

great atmosphere

no comment

if a establishment always gets the last, well there you have it

[IAMSOBAD]

Use of sarcasm would work perfectly here.

Ratings such as...

Over my dead body

Wouldnt screw her with your dcik

I would rather die

I had better____in prison

Tastes like chicken

ETC.

Posted with Thaivisa App http://apps.thaivisa.com

[Jingthing]

The idea of an offshore Thailand review website is interesting but because Thailand is a country that does heavily censor the net, who in their right mind would invest a lot in that knowing the IP could be blocked IN Thailand (the target market) at any time?

[toenail]

When we see a country such as Thailand with a democratic government (their version), free enterprise, a growing economy, modern facilities it is natural to think one can "complain" about poor customer service and poor municipal service. One can't. But this is what is keeping Thailand from making quick progress into the 21st Century. NO ONE is held accountable which is connected to this ruled against negative comments and saving face. Many restaurants and bars go under in Pattaya due to poor service and the ones that seem to survive are the ones with good customer service and food.

[Darrel]

...who in their right mind would invest a lot in that knowing the IP could be blocked IN Thailand (the target market) at any time?

I think you will find that this consideration is very much in the minds of ThaiVisa admin when they create the rules.

[FarangBuddha]

...who in their right mind would invest a lot in that knowing the IP could be blocked IN Thailand (the target market) at any time?

I think you will find that this consideration is very much in the minds of ThaiVisa admin when they create the rules.

For someone who had the interest and the IT skills, it could be done for less than a hundred bucks...and then twenty or thirty bucks a year thereafter for the domain name and server rental space. Now, if it was going to be a larger more commercial site, then the costs and efforts would be much more and therefore not worth the expense/risks.

Edited May 6, 2012 by FarangBuddha

[PattayaParent]

Sure but if it was just a website I think it would be safe.

The website owner is responsible for all content on his site in Thailand and posting information willfully intended to injure the reputation, causing economic damage or defaming a person in Thailand is a criminal offense punishable by two to five years in prison and a steep fine. In Addition, the defamed party can initiate a civil action to recoup any loss of income caused by the false and defaming statements.

Could they also have the website owner reveal the identity of the poster and so go after individuals also?

[Rimmer]

Sure but if it was just a website I think it would be safe.

The website owner is responsible for all content on his site in Thailand and posting information willfully intended to injure the reputation, causing economic damage or defaming a person in Thailand is a criminal offense punishable by two to five years in prison and a steep fine. In Addition, the defamed party can initiate a civil action to recoup any loss of income caused by the false and defaming statements.

Could they also have the website owner reveal the identity of the poster and so go after individuals also?

Yes the law goes further than just affecting the webmaster. If an aggrieved party presses the matter, you as a member will be the one taken to court for defamation. And you will be the one needing legal representation and will be the one having to face the consequences of your posts. The webmaster will be required by court order to provide your account information, including IP addresses, to enable the aggrieved party's lawyers to serve court papers on you.

I would also at this time draw your attention to the following rule:

16) Not to post about gambling, betting, pornography, illegal drugs, fake goods/clothing etc and other activities that are officially illegal in Thailand.

[PoodMaiDai]

The libel laws in Thailand will just not allow it. I am sure a mod will be along shortly to explain it all. Doesn't matter how bad the service or product is you cant print it.

Host the site in the USA (or another somewhat free country) where they don't give two squirts about Thailand's libel laws, or any Thai law for that matter. Thailand has no reach outside of it's own borders. The best they can do is block it from within Thailand.

You have to be out to lunch to host a foreign based site in Thailand anyway.

[PoodMaiDai]

Sure but if it was just a website I think it would be safe.

The website owner is responsible for all content on his site in Thailand and posting information willfully intended to injure the reputation, causing economic damage or defaming a person in Thailand is a criminal offense punishable by two to five years in prison and a steep fine. In Addition, the defamed party can initiate a civil action to recoup any loss of income caused by the false and defaming statements.

Could they also have the website owner reveal the identity of the poster and so go after individuals also?

Yes the law goes further than just affecting the webmaster. If an aggrieved party presses the matter, you as a member will be the one taken to court for defamation. And you will be the one needing legal representation and will be the one having to face the consequences of your posts. The webmaster will be required by court order to provide your account information, including IP addresses, to enable the aggrieved party's lawyers to serve court papers on you.

It's called the WORLD WIDE WEB for a reason. Thankfully, Thailand does not control anything outside of its own borders, including the internet.

If you're an idiot who opens such a site an puts the whois domain info in his real name, hosts the site in Thailand, and lives in Thailand, then you deserve whatever comes your way.

However, anyone with any real sense would register the domain under a non-Thai company name, host the site in another country, and be done with it. End of story.

Like I said before, the best Thailand can do is block the site. They can not get IP addresses or send court orders abroad. No one will be served.

No one should be hosting a site in Thailand anyway if they are targeting foreigners. They are unreliable and slow at best.

[Darrel]

The best they can do is block it from within Thailand.

I think I pointed this out earlier.

Where do you think the bulk of people viewing sites like ThaiVisa are situated?

Where do you think most of the ad revenue is generated from?

Bearing the answers to those questions in mind, do you think that it might be detrimental to cash-flow if access to such a site was blocked in Thailand?