Another Karaoke scam – 47000 baht for 2 hours of entertainment

[Beetlejuice]

Recently a French tourist visited a karaoke bar near the railway station and received a final bill of 47000 baht less than a couple of hours in the establishment.

The man claims that at first he only wanted the company of 1 girl, but soon afterwards he was joined by another 7 girls, 8 in total. Being a naive tourist the Frenchman claims he did not know exactly what was going on and just assumed that the girls were only being friendly.

He finally received a bill for 47000 baht. He refused to pay and insisted on taking the matter further to a police station. So the manager accompanied the tourist to a police station and there the price was negotiated down to 20000 baht.

Lucky this guy didn’t have the crap kicked out of him as is quite common in these cases.

[Lancelot]

Oh my Buddha, that works out to around 10,000 per hour?

I'll pass

[sustento]

20000Bt? He wants spend a night out in Marseille. That would cost him real money

[PoorSucker]

Eight girls, go France.....

[Jip99]

A good (and safe) outcome in the end.

caveat emptor

[MadMac]

Gotta love the French

[Bikkii]

C'est la vie monsieur.

[ovenman]

The Chiang Mai version of the jetski scam...

[alexander69]

Did he get his moneys worth,,,,two hours???

[alexander69]

Did he get his moneys worth,,,,two hours???

I guess that was a happy ending

[Thighlander]

The gem scam has been going on for 30 years, and they're still falling for it, also.

[heybruce]

There must be some mistake. Chiang Mai's governor said he was going to crack down on this sort of thing.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/670264-chiang-mai-to-curb-on-extortive-karaoke-bars/

[Beetlejuice]

What I have been told and now passing on you is, avoid any adult entertainment venues that describe themselves as VIP, club and karaoke. Even Thai customers have been assaulted and robbed in these establishments.

And for those who enjoy just a standard massage, Thai, oil and foot, is to avoid those that call themselves spas, as this increases the price of services substantially and in many cases the staff are often the same people who work in the regular massage parlours. Also try to avoid the posh body to body massage and club establishments. There have been cases of customers being held to ransom in those places until they paid up and even physically assaulted. One such establishment calling it`s self a VIP massage was shut down by the police 7 months ago after numerous complaints from customers and one karaoke shut down when a tourist was blinded in one eye by the mama san after they tried to extort him for a lot of money.

The police attitude is, that anyone who ventures into these places do so at their own risk and discretion and I suppose the police will not take direct action until someone gets killed.

Some have been closed down, but the places that are still in business are becoming bolder in their attempts to part customers from a lot of cash, either by intimidation or physical assaults.

So there you have it, be careful out there.

.

Edited November 14, 2013 by Beetlejuice

[jackr]

They'd have to pay me 47k to set foot in one of those s'holes again.

[Thailand]

I guess THB 10K for the BIB to negotiate a deal is fair.

And for future reference which bar was it? Or is "that name and shame" and not allowed on TV?

[Berkshire]

I've always wondered if these places prey on a specific clientele. That is, these places have been around awhile and I know some guys (mostly Koreans) who frequent these places without being scammed. Yet, from time to time, we hear of massive ripoffs (like in the OP). Anyways, best bet is to simply stay away. But most tourists simply will not know.

[CMKiwi]

I agree with you Berkshire, most tourists (That being those that havent been here before) will likely not know of theses scams/rip-offs. I try and let people (Tourists) know should I happen to chat with them and the topic of where to go at night is raised. Most are actually not interested in Kareoke places but I am sure a few of the younger lads wont be thinking with their brain when they see the 'advertising' outside these places.

Forewarned is forearmed as they say and an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure....ok enough of the cliche's

Spreading the word will hopefully keep most people safe

[heybruce]

I guess THB 10K for the BIB to negotiate a deal is fair.

And for future reference which bar was it? Or is "that name and shame" and not allowed on TV?

Not allowed on TV or anywhere else in Thailand. Libel laws in Thailand protect the corrupt and hobble the press.

[maichai40]

Ok, now i have to tell you this story......believe me is all true because i know this guy since many years.

A friend of mine decided to take few days of holidays, he lives and work in Phuket, speak, read and write perfectly in thai.

He came with a friend (first time in Thailand for him), and they ask me to drive them around to show the "entertainment" activity.

I brought them in Loi Kroh...didn't like, brought them in Nimman area, girls the way they like (white, young and beautiful) but clearly not a place for a quick "fun night". Back to Loi kroh/Chang klan area....passing with car in front of some of these VIP he asked me to stop....."this is what i am looking for" he said!

I told him "if you want i leave you here, no way i am going to enter this place, you know the scams? Can pay 20.000 for an hour and no happy ending, lot of thai music and that's all"

He said he didn't care, even if they had to pay that much he was ready for it if he had a good time.....and there they went.

The day after he told me he had one of the best night since he came to Thailand even though without the happy ending.

They stayed more than 2 hours, drunk a lot (my friend drinks only black label cocktails) and had two stunner with them all the time, very friendly (he is still in contact with them, i saw the pics....real stunners!), the mamasan also very good with them.....yes but how much i asked....6.000 baht!!

They were so happy that they came back there the night after and did the same for about the same price.

I don't say the name of this notorious place because i don't want people say i am involved in some way with this establishment, which will never see me for sure because i hate thai music and specially when "karaoked", plus no happy ending......not for me.

The price was low because he can speak thai? I don't know, i know thai people here bing scammed in the same way of foreigners....make your own conclusions.

[arunsakda]

Does not sound like fun anymore. Definitely won't be going to any new places, certainly not alone. I have heard horror stories about Chiang Mai Land road only for years, but it does seem clip scams are increasing. 47000 Baht? Why not 54000? No way to run a business anyway, bars need repeat custom to succeed.

My experience however mostly limited to the "Japanese" themed establishments on Sridonchai road. Other than hill tribers who learned English from the missionaries the women are mostly older and below average looking, benefit for me they can speak at least broken Japanese, makes the conversation slightly more interesting. Very friendly and not even expensive.

As for Changklan I have been going to one place occasionally for years. No problems at all, just pricey drinks and I always buy one for Mama. Some professional colleagues, in CM for the first time, who were with me in Chiang Mai 3 years ago wanted to go out after hours and they dragged me to another spot on Changklan. Reluctantly I went with. Ended up having a fine time myself. The blokes wanted to leave because of the beer prices (still less what they would be in Tokyo), despite their fat wallets. I sent them off in the direction of Spicy and went home. The cheapskates found the cheap thrills they were seeking.

Edited November 15, 2013 by arunsakda

[circusman]

Does not sound like fun anymore. Definitely won't be going to any new places, certainly not alone. I have heard horror stories about Chiang Mai Land road only for years, but it does seem clip scams are increasing. 47000 Baht? Why not 54000? No way to run a business anyway, bars need repeat custom to succeed.

My experience however mostly limited to the "Japanese" themed establishments on Sridonchai road. Other than hill tribers who learned English from the missionaries the women are mostly older and below average looking, benefit for me they can speak at least broken Japanese, makes the conversation slightly more interesting. Very friendly and not even expensive.

As for Changklan I have been going to one place occasionally for years. No problems at all, just pricey drinks and I always buy one for Mama. Some professional colleagues, in CM for the first time, who were with me in Chiang Mai 3 years ago wanted to go out after hours and they dragged me to another spot on Changklan. Reluctantly I went with. Ended up having a fine time myself. The blokes wanted to leave because of the beer prices (still less what they would be in Tokyo), despite their fat wallets. I sent them off in the direction of Spicy and went home. The cheapskates found the cheap thrills they were seeking.

This type of business, unlike many other, don't need repeat business. Always new tourists coming down the pike.

[SantiSuk]

Plenty of nightclubs in Europe (eg Brussels and Berlin) and in Tokyo where smart (otherwise smart) business types regularly lose a few thousand dollars in similar scams ... I am reliably informed

Edited November 15, 2013 by SantiSuk

[arunsakda]

Plenty of nightclubs in Europe (eg Brussels and Berlin) and in Tokyo where smart (otherwise smart) business types regularly lose a few thousand dollars in similar scams ... I am reliably informed

Absolutely. Foreigners at Roppongi crossing are targeted by African men who tout clubs well known for overcharging and credit card scams. Do not go there. I myself have an experience when I got started with my current mob about 8 years ago. In Mexico City with a colleague who was intent on visiting a "Gentlemen's Club". As a new hire on probation pay, I was totally skint. I just wanted to get some street tacos and maybe a cheap beer. (You've never had a taco until you've had a Mexican street taco! ) I reluctantly went along as he agreed to pay all.

Upon entry heavy doors were LOCKED behind, guarded by large hombres in suits. The club was gorgeous, so were the girls. My capitán quickly disappears for a "Shower Dance", to be performed in some private room. I sit there nursing a single beer and practicing my Spanish, soon surrounded by at least 4 or 5 señoritas. Then large plates of food start coming out…None of it requested. When they guy comes back from his "shower", I can't remember what they demanded, $700 or 800USD, something like that, certainly more than this muchacho had on him. He was escorted to an ATM, while I was to wait behind. I literally felt as if held to ransome, a prisoner in a red-velvet upholstered cage! Fortunately for me he was more than happy to pay. One of those typical guys with a fat wife in Dayton or wherever, can't wait to fly on a trip down south and have some fun.

We didn't order most of it, but there was a clearly marked "bill of fare". It likely would have added up if calculated, unlike the Chiang Mai Karaoke scam, where ridiculous sums for two hours entertainment such as 47K Baht are pulled out of thin air.

Edited November 16, 2013 by arunsakda