Dream Euro trip turns sour for Thai students

[webfact]

Dream Euro trip turns sour for Thai students


Image: tnamcot

BANGKOK: -- Students on a trip to Europe say they were left having to pay for things themselves after a dream trip turned sour.

Some 31 students all from the same institute arranged for Mix Travel to take them to Germany, Switzerland and Italy for a seven day tour in April. They paid 73,000 baht each for the all inclusive tour reported tnamcot.

They were met at Suvarabhumi airport and waved off by the owner of the company Kochakorn Musikapuk and all seemed fine after the first few days in Germany.

Then they had to change hotels and restaurant at short notice in Switzerland. In Italy the claimants said they had to pay everything for themselves and their trip was ruined.

Lawyer Phisit Chutipornpongchai took a group of ten of the claimants to investigators Wednesday where they claimed losses of 400,000 baht against Kochakorn, the owner of Mix Travel.

Source: tnamcot


-- 2016-05-26

[Raymonddiaz]

Thai can not do that....The owner must be a foreigner hiding under a Thai name

[rkidlad]

in this era where we have websites that do everything for us - why do people still insist on paying a middle man? Especially young students who should be tech savvy.

Middle men are popular here in Thailand. Look at the the schools who use agencies for example. Never heard a good word about them.

[Smiley Face]

What?!?!?!? A Thai travel agency ripping people off! Who would have thought such a thing was possible? Oh yeah, most people!

[NongKhaiKid]

Can't be right, didn't the PM say every Thai has kindness in their heart ?

[aussieinthailand]

I'm sure that these students are innocent victims in this and the BIB should go after the thieving scumbags.

But there is a guilty bit of som nam nar when I hear Thai's bitch and cry fowl when they get ripped off, sorry my bad.

[lostinisaan]

Then they had to change hotels and restaurant at short notice in Switzerland. In Italy the claimants said they had to pay everything for themselves and their trip was ruined.

​ Ruined? <deleted> up would be much better...

[deckape]

The same thing happened to a group at my son's school. They went on a 4 day "field trip" to Singapore and the travel company completely abandoned them. All the parents had to wire money to their kids to put a roof over their heads.

My son did not go...I envisioned that at least it would be a colossal waste of money.

[thesetat2013]

in this era where we have websites that do everything for us - why do people still insist on paying a middle man? Especially young students who should be tech savvy.

Middle men are popular here in Thailand. Look at the the schools who use agencies for example. Never heard a good word about them.

It's called laziness and an unwillingness or inability to plan for future events. Something many Thai excellent in

[scorecard]

This has happened plenty of times before with uni trips, in fact It's a can of worms. In many cases the Travel agent is a friend or relative of someone higher ranking in the uni.

In some cases the students have to do the trip or they cannot graduate.

I've heard of cases where there are two such trips in one masters program and again students cannot graduate unless both trips are completed.

In some cases there is a visit to a partnership uni for either 'coffee with the local students / professors', or an all day lecture on an agreed aligned subject and perhaps half the students in the room are local to that uni.

I've taught these 'one day lectures' here in Thailand several times. In advance the Thai uni in question asks the program coordinator of the visiting uni to select an aligned topic for the day.

An acquaintance of my son did his masters degree twice, for no other reason than taking 'the trip' to several countries in Europe. He convinced his father that the degree with trip was far superior to a degree without a trip. In one case it all went wrong, the accompanying tour organizer disappeared and the students had to pool money to pay hotel bills etc.

Further to the comment just above, the same Thai uni moved responsibility for the arrangement of the trips to another administration section and now insists on being shown clear receipts that everything has been paid in advance in terms of travel and hotels, etc. They call airlines / hotels / tour agencies and double check that all monies have been received and there is nothing outstanding before the students leave Thailand.

In a few cases the visit agenda includes a visit / 2 visits to companies etc., which connects to the actual program and in some cases the students are expected to prepare questions in advance and then write a report.

In most cases there is no company visit or uni visit whatever.

Many Thai students just want the prestige factor - 'I went to Europe'. Korea also features.

Some think it will enhance their employment prospects.

[kmj]

in this era where we have websites that do everything for us - why do people still insist on paying a middle man? Especially young students who should be tech savvy.

Middle men are popular here in Thailand. Look at the the schools who use agencies for example. Never heard a good word about them.

It's called laziness and an unwillingness or inability to plan for future events. Something many Thai excellent in

Its called a package holiday and millions are sold around the world every year to every nationality...

[thesetat2013]

in this era where we have websites that do everything for us - why do people still insist on paying a middle man? Especially young students who should be tech savvy.

Middle men are popular here in Thailand. Look at the the schools who use agencies for example. Never heard a good word about them.

It's called laziness and an unwillingness or inability to plan for future events. Something many Thai excellent in

Its called a package holiday and millions are sold around the world every year to every nationality...

Not really! A package holiday is confirmed with support and confirmations. This is a common scam and nobody checks to confirm anything until it's too late and nobody wants to do it themselves. They rely on some third party for all and then assume everything is ready and waiting for them to go...

As another TV member pointed out. This is common for students where the schools make them take trips.

[KIWIBATCH]

...trust us...(the Thai travel agents)...we are thai....

[toybits]

Those students must go to AA seminar for tarnishing the image of the....(self-censored).

[Balance]

The money that businesses collect up front should be held in an escrow account and withdrawn only to pay invoices for the services that contracted to provide. The bank where the money is held in escrow pays the bills when invoices are presented. There is little to no protection for Thais against being defrauded.

[Winniedapu]

Same ole same ole...

This is Thailand, a 3rd-world country where business ethics are secondary to raking in a quick buck, and where that principle extends right from the bottom of society right to the top..

Why would we expect anything different? Really?

[wwest5829]

Such a shame as international travel would be a great opportunity for any student to learn about other cultures. In my former work' I directed my city's, "Sister City" program (Twinned City in European terms). Very successful with students spending a month or more in our Sister City and traveling to surrounding countries with their Professors. They meet local students, have guest culture lectures on different topics. A great way to learn! Being in the Siter City meant we had help keeping costs down.

[gandalf12]

My daughter went on a 3 week trip to Australia. She had no problems. Everything was exactly like they said and she had a great time.

[Snackbar]

Thailand, Germany, Switzerland, Italy back to Thailand in 7 days seems improbable if not impossible.

[oxo1947]

The amount of glee generated by these kids getting scammed out of their holiday trip is amazing.......Then again maybe not---after all as pointed out by many posters They are Thai children and very stupid about these sort of things.............if only someone had gone to the nearest bar & asked a sage farang.......

USA----CHICAGO—A Chicago travel agent was arrested today on a federal fraud charge for allegedly cheating at least 50 customers of approximately $525,000 by misrepresenting his ability to sell travel packages....https://www.fbi.gov/chicago/press-releases/2014/chicago-travel-agent-arrested-on-federal-fraud-charge-for-allegedly-swindling-muslim-pilgrims-of-hajj-travel-packages

UK--Bogus travel agents and holiday hackers cost tourists £2.2m a year says fraud unit

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/bogus-travel-agents-holiday-hackers-5502670

[puffy]

Maybe when they wanted to get in to see the sites and attractions, they were told that they

would be required to pay 10 times the normal price, I am only joking, no country could possibly

have in place such disgraceful and discriminatory laws.

[gandalf12]

I for one feel sorry for them. No one should get ripped off like this. Yes I know we all disagree with the over charging of foreigners in Thailand and that should also be stopped. I understand how the families feel about this but in reality as it was a Thai company it is highly unlikely anything will come of it.

[DM07]

Thailand, Germany, Switzerland, Italy back to Thailand in 7 days seems improbable if not impossible.

And why would that be?

If you stay in the southern part of Germany, it is very easy to get across the border into Switzerland and then into Italy!

Not a problem at all!

2 days for the flights leave you with 5 days to spend on spot!

[sawadeeken]

Reminds me about a group of Chinese I heard about in the past couple years, who reached Pattaya and same thing happened to them....

[Traveling Sailor]

I don't understand what the problem is.

It sounds like a typical scam, foisted on unsuspecting tourists all the time.

That it happened to Thais, using a Thai business, should come as no surprise. And, since it is a Thai company, these people better be careful or they will be sued for defamation, even if their claims are true. Just another ho hum story from the LOS (Land of Scams).

[scorecard]

This has happened plenty of times before with uni trips, in fact It's a can of worms. In many cases the Travel agent is a friend or relative of someone higher ranking in the uni.

In some cases the students have to do the trip or they cannot graduate.

I've heard of cases where there are two such trips in one masters program and again students cannot graduate unless both trips are completed.

In some cases there is a visit to a partnership uni for either 'coffee with the local students / professors', or an all day lecture on an agreed aligned subject and perhaps half the students in the room are local to that uni.

I've taught these 'one day lectures' here in Thailand several times. In advance the Thai uni in question asks the program coordinator of the visiting uni to select an aligned topic for the day.

An acquaintance of my son did his masters degree twice, for no other reason than taking 'the trip' to several countries in Europe. He convinced his father that the degree with trip was far superior to a degree without a trip. In one case it all went wrong, the accompanying tour organizer disappeared and the students had to pool money to pay hotel bills etc.

Further to the comment just above, the same Thai uni moved responsibility for the arrangement of the trips to another administration section and now insists on being shown clear receipts that everything has been paid in advance in terms of travel and hotels, etc. They call airlines / hotels / tour agencies and double check that all monies have been received and there is nothing outstanding before the students leave Thailand.

In a few cases the visit agenda includes a visit / 2 visits to companies etc., which connects to the actual program and in some cases the students are expected to prepare questions in advance and then write a report.

In most cases there is no company visit or uni visit whatever.

Many Thai students just want the prestige factor - 'I went to Europe'. Korea also features.

Some think it will enhance their employment prospects.

I add a bit more:

I have no proof but I have little doubt that there would be kickbacks in some cases from the travel agents to folks within the university.

I for one feel sorry for them. No one should get ripped off like this. Yes I know we all disagree with the over charging of foreigners in Thailand and that should also be stopped. I understand how the families feel about this but in reality as it was a Thai company it is highly unlikely anything will come of it.

And in some cases its' probat's proable that some or many of the students borrowed the money in the first place. Double jeopardy.

[Koosdedooes]

Thailand, Germany, Switzerland, Italy back to Thailand in 7 days seems improbable if not impossible.

why not...there is that new fangled invention called an airplane you know ?....it fly's high in the sky like a bird very quickly and believe it or not they could fly from Bangkok to Berlin in only 13 hours...can believe that only 13 hours...!!!!...

[Tomtomtom69]

This has happened plenty of times before with uni trips, in fact It's a can of worms. In many cases the Travel agent is a friend or relative of someone higher ranking in the uni.

In some cases the students have to do the trip or they cannot graduate.

I've heard of cases where there are two such trips in one masters program and again students cannot graduate unless both trips are completed.

In some cases there is a visit to a partnership uni for either 'coffee with the local students / professors', or an all day lecture on an agreed aligned subject and perhaps half the students in the room are local to that uni.

I've taught these 'one day lectures' here in Thailand several times. In advance the Thai uni in question asks the program coordinator of the visiting uni to select an aligned topic for the day.

An acquaintance of my son did his masters degree twice, for no other reason than taking 'the trip' to several countries in Europe. He convinced his father that the degree with trip was far superior to a degree without a trip. In one case it all went wrong, the accompanying tour organizer disappeared and the students had to pool money to pay hotel bills etc.

Further to the comment just above, the same Thai uni moved responsibility for the arrangement of the trips to another administration section and now insists on being shown clear receipts that everything has been paid in advance in terms of travel and hotels, etc. They call airlines / hotels / tour agencies and double check that all monies have been received and there is nothing outstanding before the students leave Thailand.

In a few cases the visit agenda includes a visit / 2 visits to companies etc., which connects to the actual program and in some cases the students are expected to prepare questions in advance and then write a report.

In most cases there is no company visit or uni visit whatever.

Many Thai students just want the prestige factor - 'I went to Europe'. Korea also features.

Some think it will enhance their employment prospects.

Thai students going abroad for the first time often have unrealistic expectations. They think it's some kind of utopia and once they get there they're surprised at how different it is from their rosy expectations.

Either way, I don't get the attraction of these trips. Why don't the students go on a tour booked through a proper travel agency, or, assuming they are eligible for a visa, just book their flights and hotels separately and go that way?

All of this sounds like a very expensive holiday they could have just booked themselves.

[Tomtomtom69]

Thailand, Germany, Switzerland, Italy back to Thailand in 7 days seems improbable if not impossible.

And why would that be?

If you stay in the southern part of Germany, it is very easy to get across the border into Switzerland and then into Italy!

Not a problem at all!

2 days for the flights leave you with 5 days to spend on spot!

5 very rushed days where you only see airports, train stations and hotels.

[tuanku]

The money that businesses collect up front should be held in an escrow account and withdrawn only to pay invoices for the services that contracted to provide. The bank where the money is held in escrow pays the bills when invoices are presented. There is little to no protection for Thais against being defrauded.

Have you tried business banking in Thailand? There is not even an ATM card, withdrawal means visiting the bank and coming out with cash. Payees into the account have to confirm payment themselves as the bank will not give out any information as to who has paid what.The very idea that the bank personnel would assume some responsibility for supervising the way a business operates is scary both to the bank and to the business for different reasons!