While at immigration today, I noticed a tip box.

 

According to Thai law, no police officers are allowed to accept gratuities.

 

What would be the best course of action to take here?

 

 

Which immigration office?

They are not breaking the law. It's against the law the accept gratuities. They don't accept it, it's just put in a box and if the need arises, they use some of the money. 

I always take some with me, when I am leaving. Sharing is caring. 

Some are optimistically of several litre capacity :)

Profanity post removed.  

Would be good if I could donate, instead of having to deal with visa hassles.

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They couldn't spell 'suggestion'? 

The box is like a Wishing Well.

You wish for fair treatment but results aren't guaranteed.

Don't put anything in it is the best action to take.

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Udon Thani staff openly and strongly ask for a tip when doing 90 days reporting...

Tipping Government employees really TIT

Please, give them a break

 

You can quietly ignore it, a box is very different from demanding money

 

Those of us with any brains who have been here any time at all know how it all works here

 

And yes I do oil the hinges on my front gates, they work better that way, and also do not squeak, the cost is not lifestyle threatening

 

Khon Kaen also has a tip box, and thats very ok by me

 

Personally I would send the moaners and groaners home, it would be a better place without them, and the overall quality of Thai Visa would also improve

 

 

I think tipping for good service is appropriate. "Tipping" by demand in order to get good service definitely isn't appropriate.

But knowing how they screw up the english language at times, maybe they mean tips as in suggestions, that I could give them easily, maybe we could try that approach.

13 minutes ago, Fairynuff said:

I think tipping for good service is appropriate.

 

I think that doing your job conscientiously and honestly in return for your salary is appropriate.

I watched my cashed up acquaintance force a 300 baht tip on the IO as we checked in with his boat in Phuket. The officer politely declined it more than once. Unlike AL007, I would send home those who defend and encourage corruption and TV would be better for it.

20 minutes ago, al007 said:

Please, give them a break

 

Why? They are paid to do their job. On top of that many of them benefit from a lot of under the counter payments for "services rendered". I would be ashamed to expect tips on top of that.

It's just greed.

5 hours ago, Daryle said:

Would be good if I could donate, instead of having to deal with visa hassles.

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That is far too sensible for the Thai mindset, what would be more sensible than paying your local immigration office a set fee every 90 days or whatever depending what visas or extensions you are on, instead of risking your life traveling to some border for an in/out stamp.

2 hours ago, roo860 said:

Don't put anything in it is the best action to take.

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I bet there are some Farangs who are that stupid they do put money in it.

1 hour ago, UTH001 said:

Udon Thani staff openly and strongly ask for a tip when doing 90 days reporting...

This is one instance when it would not be stupid to put something in, for very obvious reasons. If it was me, I would donate a couple of bits of blank paper, they are not going to know who made that contribution.

Udon Thani staff openly and strongly ask for a tip when doing 90 days reporting...

And if you don't contribute what is the result?

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Take a picture of the tip box and get a Thai friend to post it on he Pantip forum and let Thais do that the rest, bet you the tip box will be headline news and removed within a couple of days. Unless immigration comes up with some lame excuse.

1 hour ago, al007 said:

Please, give them a break

 

You can quietly ignore it, a box is very different from demanding money

 

Those of us with any brains who have been here any time at all know how it all works here

 

And yes I do oil the hinges on my front gates, they work better that way, and also do not squeak, the cost is not lifestyle threatening

 

Khon Kaen also has a tip box, and thats very ok by me

 

Personally I would send the moaners and groaners home, it would be a better place without them, and the overall quality of Thai Visa would also improve

 

 

 "and the overall quality of Thai Visa  would also improve",  

Do you really believe that? All Thai immigration ever do is make it harder as the years go by.

Halve your contributions from the instant you discovered it is illegal.

4 minutes ago, roo860 said:

 

 

And if you don't contribute what is the result?

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"excuse me sir, would you mind putting some money in the tip box"?  "I am not putting any money in your tip box".

Do you really not know what the result would be? They would sure remember you in the future, wouldn't they?

An Immigration Official opended up early one

Day, helped me out tremendously, on the way

out I gave Him B200....He deserved to be

thanked.

I tried to tip one before the services and he said " no that is illegal ". Then when finished he said ok now you tip if you like. I gave him 200 baht and he held it up and announced that I gave a tip, then they all turned to me and smiled. I tip people here for nearly everything as I know they don't get paid much. I don't fault anybody else for not tipping, it should be your choice.

I don't care if it against the law or not, but anyone soliciting a gratuity from me having first treated me like a piece of $hit - the way immigration frequently do - seriously needs a psychiatric evaluation..

57 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

 "and the overall quality of Thai Visa  would also improve",  

Do you really believe that? All Thai immigration ever do is make it harder as the years go by.

 

I can only speak from my own experience

 

I am an inpatient man, I do not suffer fools gladly

 

I keep up to date on immigration requirements, I do my best to give them what they ask for

 

I do not challenge them about what they say they require

 

(I do not agree with what they ask for but this is their country not mine)

 

I dress very smartly as does my wife when we go to immigration

 

WE ofter run into immigration officials at restaurants, I always smile and buy them a drink

 

I try to treat them as equals  

 

I travelled the world on my own 60ft trawler yacht, for 12 yrs,and met immigration officials the world over, and generally they were all far far worse than here in Thailand, in the USA they had some of the rudest and most unfriendly I have ever met

 

My opinions are my property and I know how immigration upsets many TV people, but I vote very strongly in FAVOR OF THAI IMMIGRATION

 

I also believe we make some of our luck, yes we need it, but we can influence it

 

Next time when I am mad at immigration ! I will reread my own post and look carefully in the mirror

 

Incidentally I do not tip immigration officials, but if they did something beyond their normal duty yes I would