Pattaya Jet Ski Scams - Have They Ended?

[Chivas]

Can I just say that in 24 years I've never ever had one single problem with a Jet Ski !!  Never not one......Luck I dont think so. Perhaps a knowing look and a smile from me has put me off their radar !!

[impulse]

37 minutes ago, catman20 said:

it was not advice only a alternative, however it seem hard for there jet ski operators to accuse you of doing damage to something when you clearly have pictures of any damage that was there prior to renting it. i have done this when i have ever needed to rent a motor bike as the same scams are pulled with renting bikes.

 

My apologies for coming down on your post.  Taking photos is a good idea.  It could help if you end up in the subset of the jet ski or scooter rental market that won't scam you.  I suspect that's the majority of the vendors.  Obviously, I don't have any numbers to back up that suspicion.

 

But if you end up in the segment of the market that will scam you, photos aren't going to do you any good.

 

Over the years, I've seen dozens of suggestions for outsmarting the scammers, based on ideas from back home where legal protections are in place.  Things like taking photos, making sure the rental agency has insurance, getting the scooter signed over to you if your rental gets stolen and you have to pay for it, and on and on.  They all sound good if you're back home.  But you aren't going to outsmart an extortionist in a Thai tourist trap.  Once they've decided the money in your ATM card is theirs, no amount of evidence is going to save you.

 

The only idea that appeals to me is claiming you need to go back to your room for the money and walking into a 5 star hotel and hiding there.  In fact, I'd just check in.  I can't tell you if that will work.  I've never tried it.  But I know most 5 star hotels have pretty good security and I figure they're my best hope of shaking off the extortionists.  That's not advice, BTW.  Just pondering.

 

My personal plan?  I don't rent scooters or jet skis.  Scooters because they're dangerous for non-riders like me, and jet skis because the scams are so prevalent and there's other things to do at the beach.

 

And I go overboard on my descriptions and characterizations hoping that just one tourist remembers it and doesn't get scammed as a result.  What a way to ruin a great holiday.  My apologies for going over the top on your post.

[catman20]

15 hours ago, impulse said:

 

My apologies for coming down on your post.  Taking photos is a good idea.  It could help if you end up in the subset of the jet ski or scooter rental market that won't scam you.  I suspect that's the majority of the vendors.  Obviously, I don't have any numbers to back up that suspicion.

 

But if you end up in the segment of the market that will scam you, photos aren't going to do you any good.

 

Over the years, I've seen dozens of suggestions for outsmarting the scammers, based on ideas from back home where legal protections are in place.  Things like taking photos, making sure the rental agency has insurance, getting the scooter signed over to you if your rental gets stolen and you have to pay for it, and on and on.  They all sound good if you're back home.  But you aren't going to outsmart an extortionist in a Thai tourist trap.  Once they've decided the money in your ATM card is theirs, no amount of evidence is going to save you.

 

The only idea that appeals to me is claiming you need to go back to your room for the money and walking into a 5 star hotel and hiding there.  In fact, I'd just check in.  I can't tell you if that will work.  I've never tried it.  But I know most 5 star hotels have pretty good security and I figure they're my best hope of shaking off the extortionists.  That's not advice, BTW.  Just pondering.

 

My personal plan?  I don't rent scooters or jet skis.  Scooters because they're dangerous for non-riders like me, and jet skis because the scams are so prevalent and there's other things to do at the beach.

 

And I go overboard on my descriptions and characterizations hoping that just one tourist remembers it and doesn't get scammed as a result.  What a way to ruin a great holiday.  My apologies for going over the top on your post.

thanks for taking the time to rewrite your thoughts