rene123 Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 This is probably old news for the long timers here, but it's a first for me. I don't know if it's legal here to name companies, but I'll leave it by just giving a general location. It happened at a station near the south west corner of the moat this evening. Because of the King's birthday today the banks were closed and I couldn't change my 1000 baht notes into smaller bills. So, when it came time to pay for 160 baht worth of gas the attendent handed my six 100 baht bills and two 20 baht bills in exchange for my 1000 baht note. I learned how to count a long time ago and 640 baht is 200 baht short. When I pointed it out to him he was only going to give me another 100 baht and seemed reluctant to do so. It's just a warning to check your change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anon210 Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 I pay by credit card and that solves any issue of change there might be. Sent from my GT-N7000 using Thaivisa Connect App Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAJIC Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Not only check your change,but also check that the pump is set to Zero,I've been done twice. And only realised my petrol guage was well down for 600 bahts worth.Once I went back and they gave me 150 bahts back,which was probably not enough,but better than nothing. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dancealot Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Very good warning. I always let my TGF handle these currency exchanges at he pump for instance but also in more situations. As a pre caution... Because i do not want to get involved into that scam system... Waste of time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beetlejuice Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 The gas station that you mention is renowned for short changing people. It happened to me in there about 4 years ago and never been back since. Again it was a 1000 baht note for 180 bahts worth of petrol. The guy plonked a bundle of 100 baht notes in my hand with an odd 20 baht in the hope that I would just place the change in my pocket and drive off. But I counted the notes in front of him and it was 100 baht short. The little man was about to walk off, then I grabbed his arm and without a word I stared him in the eye with my hand out. He knew. Suddenly he opened his hand and a miracle, there was my additional 100 baht change. I always count my change and also try to avoid handing over 1000 baht notes for small purchases whenever possible, although I do understand there are times when we only have large value notes on us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheVicar Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 I've paid for gas thousands of times in Thailand and have never once been shortchanged. Can it happen? Sure, usually by legit mistake. For it to be intentional, you have to be very, very unlucky. It is far more likely to happen in the West. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uptheos Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 I always let my TGF handle these currency exchanges at he pump for instance but also in more situations. Doesn't that make you feel helpless? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FolkGuitar Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 After the third time this happened to me at that same gas station, I never went back. Different attendants each time, and very surly when I pointed out the mistake. It was the only gas station I was ever short-changed in the Chiang Mai area. One other station managed to put in 8 more liters than my gas tank could hold... I never went back there either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naboo Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 South west corner? South east near a bookshop I've had this happen. Use one on the south west regularly with no problem, and I always count change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uptheos Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 For it to be intentional, you have to be very, very unlucky. It is far more likely to happen in the West. What in the UK, where you have to pump your own? Actually, I've never been short changed at a gas station here. As for the pump already running, I always get out, undo the petrol cap myself and look at the pump clock before saying how much I want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sticklee Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 The only time i have been given incorrect change it was 100B too much!! The girl who pumped the gas tried to argue with me thinking i was accusing her of shortchanging. A nice smile and wai when she understood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
just_Elaine Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 We will never go to that gas station again either. We didn't have a change experience. We asked for 91 and the guy put in 95. I got out of the car and said that we wanted 91. The guy said it was 91 and really acted like he didn't give a sh*t. We paid the 95 price per liter so we were pretty sure we were right. Never again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barefoot1988 Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 what gas station you guys refering too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uptheos Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 "Because of the King's birthday today the banks were closed and I couldn't change my 1000 baht notes into smaller bills" Do what the Thai's do, buy a 5 baht choc bar in 7/11 and get change. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FolkGuitar Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 what gas station you guys refering too? A station on the south-west side outside the moat, not far from the Chinese Consulate was where I was repeatedly short-changed. And it was a station near DK Books that managed to put more gas into my tank than it could actually hold. It's my habit to always fill up, rather than to purchase 200 baht or 500baht. I cruised into the station on fumes, and received more than the tank's rated size, and more than I'd ever been able to get in before. I didn't argue that one with them. I just never went back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
worgeordie Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 You need to check your change EVERYWHERE not just gas stations, My local hardware shop has tried to diddle me 3 times,buy something for say 267bht as example ,give 1000Bht note, she gives change for 500BHT. So now I hold the 500bht,1000bht in the air and show it to the whole shop before handing it over,AND still count the change carefully,3 times cannot be a mistake,must be a nice little earner for her. regards Worgeordie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackr Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 I've paid for gas thousands of times in Thailand and have never once been shortchanged. Can it happen? Sure, usually by legit mistake. For it to be intentional, you have to be very, very unlucky. It is far more likely to happen in the West. 'Legit mistake'? Yeah, right. It may not be apparent to those wearing rose-tinted glasses, but they know exactly what they're doing and it's been happening more and more regularly, including 7-11s and hardware stores (outer ring road, north of city). Occasionally, though very rarely, I've had too much (always point it out), but it is overwhelmingly in their favour. Even the banks do it, albeit at the satang level. Try this op: go back there and try getting away with paying less and see the reaction. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
circusman Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 7-11's and the tesco express have ceiling cameras that record every transaction at the counter. The clerks must keep all money in view of that camera. Watch how some actually hold a big bill up so it can be recorded. Its company policy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcgriffith Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 I've had much the same happen, but at a different location. Only had a 1000 note, was filling my motorsai with maybe 120 B total to fill the tank. Pump attendant made a big show of counting the bills, nung loi, song loi.....etc. Counted them 3 times (which I thought quite odd). Handed me the wad of notes and walked off. I immediately counted- 100 short. I yelled at him "Hey" and motioned him back. As he approached I just stuck out my hand, palm up. 100 B note was in my palm in the blink of an eye..... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricardo Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 A friend recently encountered the scam at a well-known petrol-station extremely-close to Ma-Jo University, paid for 500B-worth of diesel, but got much less. And a 7-11 gave me change from 500B, when I'd given them a thousand-Baht note, it happens and you always need to be aware. Caveat Emptor ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rakchaingmai Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 The one in mae jo i got done there also i was not to sure but it definitely was not 1000 bahts worth so they shirt filled it but i had no proof . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weary Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 (edited) I've learned to roughly estimate the relation between the fuel meter in my car and the number of liters, so instead of 'fill her up' I just tell them an amount of money. Requires a bit of noting in the beginning but eliminates the problem nicely. Short-changing happens at many places. The entrance fee booth at Wat Pathat Doi Suthep is one - they must make boatloads of money given the number of visitors. Edited December 6, 2012 by weary 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Briggsy Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 I've paid for gas thousands of times in Thailand and have never once been shortchanged. Can it happen? Sure, usually by legit mistake. For it to be intentional, you have to be very, very unlucky. It is far more likely to happen in the West. I've paid for petrol thousands of times too and been shortchanged once. It was on Samui. I don't think it was any coincidence that my shortchanging and the OP's shortchanging both occurred in fully-blown tourist areas. Tourists are far more likely to fail to notice and far less likely to come back and complain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjhbigv Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 We will never go to that gas station again either. We didn't have a change experience. We asked for 91 and the guy put in 95. I got out of the car and said that we wanted 91. The guy said it was 91 and really acted like he didn't give a sh*t. We paid the 95 price per liter so we were pretty sure we were right. Never again. Snap....same thing happened to me there a few years ago, the GF was rightly p**sed off and we just sat there for about 5 mins....didn't do any good. What could we do? Never been there since! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
just_Elaine Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 what gas station you guys refering too? Oops. Sorry, our incident happened at outside the northwest corner of the moat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommoPhysicist Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 Always get out of your car and stand by the pump to watch the numbers. They only do the 'fail to reset' trick with people who sit in their cars. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
true blue Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 i must be lucky,in eight years in,ive never had a proplem at petrol stations when buying petrol,i usually only get 500bhts worth nearly every time,there is a self service petrol station on the moat if it is handy for you,though even that i suppose u could be short changed,but not get incorrect fuel, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PoodMaiDai Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 Not only check your change,but also check that the pump is set to Zero,I've been done twice. And only realised my petrol guage was well down for 600 bahts worth.Once I went back and they gave me 150 bahts back,which was probably not enough,but better than nothing. The last time they tried that on me, I pointed it out to the boy and he said, "Oh, sorry. I think you pay for man in front you." If I knew I could get away with it, I would have hit him in the throat and drove off. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAJIC Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 Not only check your change,but also check that the pump is set to Zero,I've been done twice. And only realised my petrol guage was well down for 600 bahts worth.Once I went back and they gave me 150 bahts back,which was probably not enough,but better than nothing. The last time they tried that on me, I pointed it out to the boy and he said, "Oh, sorry. I think you pay for man in front you." If I knew I could get away with it, I would have hit him in the throat and drove off. Worst part is they never see that they make a small gain today by cheating,and lost my business forever! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbrain Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 "Because of the King's birthday today the banks were closed and I couldn't change my 1000 baht notes into smaller bills" Do what the Thai's do, buy a 5 baht choc bar in 7/11 and get change. That indeed is a solution to get smaller notes, however I've been short changed in 7/11's 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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