Foreigner Beaten By Tuk-Tuk Drivers After Not Paying Extortionate Fee At Karaoke Bar

[OldChinaHam]

I HATE Karaoke!

The "musick" is worse than the BEATING!

[cannonball]

Good luck for the tuk-tuk driver who wants to best me. I always have weapons on me. Every foreigners should do the same for their safety. It is the far west here

You always have weapons on you? Sorry dude, but all that will do for you is get you a very long stay in the Bangkok Hilton. If you hurt one of these mafia types with one of your weapons, you will be lucky if we are not reading about you in the news as a "suicide in Thailand". WOW, just can't believe that you were ignorant enough to post on here that you always have weapons on you. If involved in any incident they can and will use that statement against you to help in any legal issues against you. Another internet tough guy!

CB

[thrilled]

If it ever happens to me they'll think twice before they try it again.I don't have a gun but definitely an equalizer.

[JO1973]

I don't know what I get sick hearing more of -- Thais assaulting foreigners or pathetic foreigners who can't beat the crap out of a bunch of Thais that collectively won't even way 100kgs.

If your a grown man and don't know how to fight, LEARN! The term 'polite society' wasn't coined in the developing world. And yes, this is still the developing world. Thais have respect for those who fight back (yes they do) -- and if you're attacked you do have the right to fight back.

[MarkCyr]

I did the tuk tuk thing once. Didn't get scammed luckily, but I learned quickly that all tuk tuk drivers are the scum of the earth. If you have to, you take them from point A to point B, and decide the price before you get in.

Or as another poster said, avoid the after-hours karaoke and Thai clubs anyway as they are rarely anything but trouble for farang.

[OldChinaHam]

Karaoke?

You gotta be either Tone Deaf or just plain Deaf to walk into one.

You can hear them from a mile away when the wind is right.

Karaoke was invented originally by gnomes in Japan.

Gnomes are tone deaf in Japan.

And anyone who walks into a karaoke around these parts must be

DAFT

DEAF and

DUMB

[OldChinaHam]

Anyone who uses Gnome must be daft.

One should always use KDE.

[Jawnie]

Well that sucks.

[shawndoc]

Steps to minimize the probability of getting into trouble with Thai people:

- Stay away from dodgy places too late at night

- Stay away from hookers too late at night

- Learn the language

- Make a positive attitude, make jokes and stuff often but be humble

- Get some Thai friends

But who gonna explain that to all those tourists who are booking their first holiday to Thailand ?

Maybe insert a flyer into the travel brochures ?

I would say most of those are common sense for any city. Running around late at night just about anywhere increases the chances of an altercation, whether its a scam or just some drunk guys looking to rough someone up, and playing around with hookers just adds to the danger.

Having said that, every guide book I've ever read, regardless of what country its for has tips to avoid trouble. If its your first time in the country, you should always do a little planning ahead of time, whether its a printed guidebook or google searching. If you don't, you're going to end up in trouble.

[NomadJoe]

Will the video surveillance camera's in the area all suddenly be "broken" or is that just a phenomenon confined to Phuket when mobs of tuk tuk drivers beat up foreigners?

[syncsync]

may be this happened because he sung so badly in karaoke?

[Whidbeyboy]

I had the <deleted> beat out of me by a drunk tuk tuk driver the first year here in CM. Scams happen and you pay them off and learn. Don't have the money????? Then maybe you get beat up. If you can not remember anything else -- remember the number on the tuk tuk. They all have one.

Second thing -- Don't go to Thai Karoke bars. Massive rip offs and primarily for Thais. If you do go, go with a group of Thai family members or real Thai friends that you trust. If fact, don't go to Karoke bars, expensive 'massage' establishments, or any other questionable night-life spots with a tuk tuk driver. These guys are on the payroll and will expect compensation by you sport.

And considering the 'Run to a safe 5 star hotel' idea. Temporary fix and probably not a bad one, especially if you have remembered that tuk tuk number. The cops will get involved. But even if the guy gets caught, don't think it's over! It's not! My dear pasty white Farang fellow traveler, you might not be able to recognize them on sight, but I guarantee they will recognize you, and that they will eventually find you. And when they do my friend, it ain't gonna be a simple beating you get -- if you get my drift. My best friend's brother got his eye taken out by some not-so-nice people that tend to be involved in a lot of these scams. Got a good international hospital insurance policy?

Are you hurt bad my friend? I truly hope not. You learned a lesson. Wipe the blood off and consider yourself a wiser person. And never let things that should stay a minor incident escalate into something that can become life-threatening.

Enjoy the remainder of your stay.

This pasty white farlang remembers faces very well and I would not back down to this pieces of S^&*.

Until they learn thier lesson they will keep hurting people, even those that are doing the right thing. Sorry, but I am just a vengeful old man, the kind you are sorry to mess with.

[Jasminetea]

Tell them the cash is in your hotel room at any 5 star hotel. Once safely inside, the hotel will help. Happened to a thwarted jet ski scam attempt in Pattaya.

How and why hotel will help?

Call the police when in the hotel.

[rosst]

“It was all captured on a CCTV camera and I have got the option to press charges,” he says, “but retribution does not thrill me. I just want to warn others.”

I wouldn't worry about retribution, but spending several days in a police station pressing charges, knowing all the time that at best the attackers will get a 500 baht fine, would deter me too.

Since the tuk tuk mafia is running that town, and other towns, the only thing to do is stay away from them at all times. Just like one would stay away from any organised crime gang. And no, it is not just a few bad apples, virtually every tuk tuk driver in the country is a scumbag!

Oh, a very jaundiced view. I have met many tuk tuk drivers who are hard working and genuine people. Of course I do not spend most of my time in these dens of iniquity where you meet a lower class of people both staff and guests. Who taught who about this type of behaviour?

Lets face it, a large number of Farang are the less desirable of their respective countries. Far be it from me to cast aspersions on the writer, he was probably only there to get a drink??

[Locationthailand]

So will the new court of justice quickly establish prosecution?

[Joe Mamma]

To rely on any outside help here is a foolish thing. To not have a military or police-government connected family here is dangerous. To put oneself into compromising conditions is reckless! To have no backup plan or phone # of trusted people is naive!

[F4UCorsair]

In my many trips to Thailand I've never had an issue with a tuk tuk driver, other than the $1.00 all day offer to get me into a brother/s tailor/junk shop where they pick up the commission. I admit I did fall for the scam attempt once, arrived at the first tailor shop, realized I was going to be dudded if I bought, gave him his dollar, and picked up another tuk tuk.

My experience with tuk tuk drivers is that they may be a bit greedy for $$, but otherwise decent guys just doing a crappy job, but I'm never out in the early hours, with a skinful at a sleazy bar, and an easy mark for an unscrupulous one. If I intended being in those places, I think I'd want to be with another able bodied guy as some insurance.

I'm surprised that a long time resident fell for this.

Edited May 9, 2013 by F4UCorsair

[OldChinaHam]

"a large number of Farang are the less desirable of their respective countries."

A large number of Farang are the less despicable of their respective countries.

Difficult as this is to be believed.

[sonar6ca]

The man, a Chiang Mai long-term expat

I feel sorry for the guy, he must be very stupid.

[joecos]

“It was all captured on a CCTV camera and I have got the option to press charges,” he says, “but retribution does not thrill me. I just want to warn others.”

I wouldn't worry about retribution, but spending several days in a police station pressing charges, knowing all the time that at best the attackers will get a 500 baht fine, would deter me too.

Since the tuk tuk mafia is running that town, and other towns, the only thing to do is stay away from them at all times. Just like one would stay away from any organised crime gang. And no, it is not just a few bad apples, virtually every tuk tuk driver in the country is a scumbag!

Every tuk tuk driver in the country are certainly not scumbags.Here in Chiang Saen they are a great bunch

of guys i sit & talk to them whilst waiting for my wife at the market. Its only were organised crime prevails.

[MaxYakov]

This is the future, everywhere in Thailand.

Relates to the government saying, you can have everything.

The extortionists, CM, PTY, BKK have also noticed, no customers. Steal while we can.

Reference, Soii 6, 7, 8, Pattaya, and Bkk's empty tourist areas.

B4 Thailand was fun. Now they all think they can be rich, courtesy farang.

Goodnite and byebye to yer spending tourists.

Enjoy the Indians and Chinese.

.

You omitted Sukumvit Sois 3, 3/1, 4, 5 and Soi Cowboy. I know, too many to mention, but I certainly agree with your prognosis and, in fact, have become a participant in it (or should I have said 'non-participant in the Land of Scams?).

Edited May 9, 2013 by MaxYakov

[joecos]

To rely on any outside help here is a foolish thing. To not have a military or police-government connected family here is dangerous. To put oneself into compromising conditions is reckless! To have no backup plan or phone # of trusted people is naive!

`Joe` The back-up plan is the best idea,ie whilst i was in Chiang Mai a couple of years ago, i was introduced

to a guy who, for b2000 per year you could phone him if you had any trouble , traffic , police . Unfortunately

i lost his contact details. If anyone in Chiang Mai knows someone who does this i would appreciate if they could let me have their contact details.

[aechzen]

hahahahahahahaha he lucky ,he is in thailand , in europa the would shoot him

Edited May 9, 2013 by aechzen

[hml367]

Does anyone remember a couple years ago the touch guy riding a motorcycle on the Mae Jo road and was going to beat the whatever out of a Thai man at an intersection? The foreigner brought his helmet and his toughness to a gun fight or something?

MSPain

[bobl]

Anyone who uses Gnome must be daft.

One should always use KDE.

Did you just make a pun that was not only awful, but was based on your own previous post?

Speaking to yourself is the first sign of madness, you know. Getting a reply is the second.

[JhonD]

Sadly folks thats the way it is in Thailand my daughter went there for a holiday but was so tormented my these Tuk Tuk drivers and others she headed to Cambodia and spent all her holiday there. Now she said she hates Thailand. Its about time the tourism board woke up did something to protect tourists as the bloody police only help these scumbags to rip you off

I was in Cambo 2 days on visa runs only and used motosai maybe 4 times. I had some weird negotiations on prices Last time I took motosai for 3 minute ride up to mountain. I said before sitting 20 bath? Couse never paid less in Thai and thought he will try to make it more. Cambo guy said OK. When we arrived I gave him 100 bath and he went to take change. When he returned he gave me 90 bath change not 80! I asked its 20 bath for you right? He smiled and replied No 10 bath enough. Never happened something like this in 1 year in Thailand

[Monkeyrobot]

Don't get Tuk Tuks they are bottom feeders, 1/ There hot. 2/ There noisy 3/ There dirty. 4/ There dangerous. 5/ The drivers rip you off. Have I forgotten anything? If he went to a karoke bar I hope he can sing better then he can negotiate, must of been drunk at the time or just stupid.

[newermonkey]

The story goes onto say “It was all captured on a CCTV camera and I have got the option to press charges,” he says, “but retribution does not thrill me. I just want to warn others.”

I say what a pussy, I would want to have them all hanged! Its not about being thrilled its about being a normal human male. The human race dint get to where it is now by being soft.

I am interested to hear what you would do TV readers?

[Monkeyrobot]

The story goes onto say “It was all captured on a CCTV camera and I have got the option to press charges,” he says, “but retribution does not thrill me. I just want to warn others.”

I say what a pussy, I would want to have them all hanged! Its not about being thrilled its about being a normal human male. The human race dint get to where it is now by being soft.

I am interested to hear what you would do TV readers?

Hang em high and give them some of there own even if it cost me.

[mikemac]

As soon as I read the ridiculous comment that all tuk-tuk drivers are scumbags I had the guy sussed. I could just imagine the type of person who would say something like that. You meet good and bad in all walks of life and tuk-tuk drivers are no exception. If I had to make an exception to the rule it would be the people who run bars that specialise in ripping customes off with blown out bar bills. I have been lucky as far as being ripped off goes, but I am very wary about drinking in bars that I do not know.