Sadao Immigration Scam?

[khounteen]

Has anyone been asked for 10 baht overtime fees for entering or leaving Thailand at the Sadao immigration border?

I know Malaysian passport holders were asked to pay for this overtime fees by the immigration officers and this has been happening for years.

I wonder if it happens to other passport holders as well or only to malaysian passport holders.

[recom273]

Yeah, when entering after 6.00 PM from Malaysia, it has been running for years. Im never sure who benefits, is the money skimmed or split by the minivan / coach drivers / immigration staff.

I dont use Sadao very often, just 3 times to Penang. The first time i was a good customer whilst observing the procedure. The next time i just refused to pay the 20Bx2 for someone to fill in my arrival card, the guy said he would drive off if he had to wait, after a while he relented and took the passport and got it filled out for free.

Same as the 10B OT tax, there seems to be some kind of verbal receipt between the office / van driver / booth staff. The second trip, I refused to pay him the 10B, i said i would pay it myself, I wasnt asked for it but i have seen people sent away to go pay and return with a receipt for 10B before their passport was stamped.

Im a UK passport holder both times accompanied by my Thai wife, if it helps you any.

Also, i do know for a fact, whilst waiting for a WP, filipinos could get unlimited in/out 30 or 15 day stamps, but they would need to put 100B in the passport to ensure a problem free entry. This all happens without discussion or acknowledgment when the passport is taken and stamped out of view of the window. Sneaky huh ?

Despite all this immigration clean-up BS, it appears Sadao isnt 100% transparent .. I have come through other Malay borders after 6.00 PM and never paid this tax.

[Briggsy]

I refused to pay this 18 years ago. The minivan driver got very angry and fumed all the way to Hat Yai. The old scams are the best scams.

[khounteen]

This scam surfaces now and again...

I just pay the 10 baht and forget abt it.

Why make enemies for such a ridiculous amount.

10 baht is a small amount but the scale of it( the amount of visitors crossing the border) and the audacity of the immigration officers to demand for it is something else.