Hello and some advice please

[Henrie]

Hello teakdoor

I've arrived in Thailand this week for a year of voluntary work. I've been reading this forum for a few weeks and despite some weird stuff I think it's quite good!

I need some advice. When I arrived in the small isaan town I'll be living in I was ripped off by a taxi driver taking me from the bus station to my new abode. He charged me double what I was expecting it to be.

Then I went to the only bar in walking distance and orederd a large beer (90 baht on the menu) a spy for my friend (55 baht in the menu) and ice came with it (20 baht, not ordered but never mind) then at pay time the bill was 195 baht. I looked at the receipt after I'd handed over 200 baht and everything was 10 baht more than on the menu (which they tried to take off me numerous times after I'd ordered).

Nobody brought me 5 baht change so I went up to the counter and asked why it was 195 baht not 165 baht. The only person who could speak English said that the menu prices were out of date and they looked really annoyed that I'd questioned it.

Does the taxi driver and bar not care about repeat customers? I'll use neither again during my year here. Do they think I am a dumb tourist to be exploited and fobbed off before I move on the next day?

Most importantly, how can I stop this happening?

[nidhogg]

Hello teakdoor

I've arrived in Thailand this week for a year of voluntary work. I've been reading this forum for a few weeks and despite some weird stuff I think it's quite good!

I need some advice. When I arrived in the small isaan town I'll be living in I was ripped off by a taxi driver taking me from the bus station to my new abode. He charged me double what I was expecting it to be.

Then I went to the only bar in walking distance and orederd a large beer (90 baht on the menu) a spy for my friend (55 baht in the menu) and ice came with it (20 baht, not ordered but never mind) then at pay time the bill was 195 baht. I looked at the receipt after I'd handed over 200 baht and everything was 10 baht more than on the menu (which they tried to take off me numerous times after I'd ordered).

Nobody brought me 5 baht change so I went up to the counter and asked why it was 195 baht not 165 baht. The only person who could speak English said that the menu prices were out of date and they looked really annoyed that I'd questioned it.

Does the taxi driver and bar not care about repeat customers? I'll use neither again during my year here. Do they think I am a dumb tourist to be exploited and fobbed off before I move on the next day?

Most importantly, how can I stop this happening?

Do everything in Thai.

[taxexile]

welcome to thailand.

Does the taxi driver and bar not care about repeat customers?

no they most certainly dont.

Do they think I am a dumb tourist to be exploited

yes they most certainly do.

how can I stop this happening?

by checking the price of everything when ordering.
the "out of date menu" is a common answer to customer queries about padded bills and other discrepancies.

[Henrie]

I did check the prices. It didn't help.

I would have gone to this bar 100 more times because it was enjoyable until being overcharged with a good mini band but stealing 30 baht off me cost them tens of thousands of baht of repeat custom. So frustrating.

[baldrick]

small issan town ? taxi ?

it must be a fair size to have the experience of ripping off falangs

next time let your sapy drinking interpreter suggest the venue and do the dealing and watch and learn

[taxexile]

it must be a fair size to have the experience of ripping off falangs

they are genetically programmed, it comes naturally to them.


best to stay away from those "local" bars anyway. they can get full of drunk thai teens and we know what they do when there are falangs around who may innocently cast a glance at one of their girlfriends.

[nidhogg]

I did check the prices. It didn't help.

I would have gone to this bar 100 more times because it was enjoyable until being overcharged with a good mini band but stealing 30 baht off me cost them tens of thousands of baht of repeat custom. So frustrating.

So, you have just arrived in Thailand for a year of volunteer work, and already crossing people and establishments off your list.

It is going to be a long, long, long year for you mate.

Here is a small piece of the advice you were asking for:

Chill a bit.

Find out if you were "ripped off" first of all. Menus cost money to print, and it MAY be out of date. Prices on alcohol do change, especially with new tax levies etc - and it costs money to re-print menus. A small place just may not bother. To put it into context, the difference was less than a dollar. Take it as part of the local flavour experience that you are after.

You were charged "double" for a taxi ride based on what you expected - what is your background for having an "expected price" - been here before? Was it a meter taxi? If not did you ask the price before getting in?

Nobody is saying you should lie back and take it in the ass - but find out if you are being screwed before crying rape.

[Horatio Hornblower]

How can you stop this happening ask before you buy,or get Taxi.

[taxexile]

Menus cost money to print, and it MAY be out of date.

in the kind of bar referred to most menu alterations are done with a pencil and a piece of sticky paper.

locals rarely use menus anyway, they know the owner, the prices and the score.

if the menu said 50b and he was charged 60b, then he was intentionally ripped off. full stop.

[nidhogg]

Menus cost money to print, and it MAY be out of date.

in the kind of bar referred to most menu alterations are done with a pencil and a piece of sticky paper.

True that. But you are forgetting the "can't be arsed to do it" principle.

[DrB0b]

Three golden rules for the newly-arrived expat

1. Always fix the price of a taxi before you get in

2. Always pay for each beer when you order it

3. Don't sweat being occasionally ripped off for what, when all is said and done, is no more than a couple of bucks.

[Henrie]

The price was fixed at 100 baht for three kilometres in a crappy tuk tuk motorbike thing. Steep but I was too tired from the journey to haggle. Then it became 100 baht each when we arrived. Ridiculous for a 4 minute journey.

So its OK to ask for the bill when you order drinks?

I'm not sweating but I expect common fairness and decency from human beings. The menu prices were pencil written hence can be updated easily.

[Cujo]

You were ripped off big time. They're just taking advantage, don't take it. Next time shout and point in their face and bang your fist on the counter. Demand to see the manager and complain loudly. That'll intimidate and shame them into charging you the right price.
Don't allow yourself to be walked over like that. They won't respect you unless you stand up to it.

[lom]

Would never happened in Bournemouth

[jamescollister]

Small village with menus printed in English, new one on me, where is this magical place.

[Henrie]

You were ripped off big time. They're just taking advantage, don't take it. Next time shout and point in their face and bang your fist on the counter. Demand to see the manager and complain loudly. That'll intimidate and shame them into charging you the right price.
Don't allow yourself to be walked over like that. They won't respect you unless you stand up to it.

Is that an attempt at facetious humour?

[MeMock]

Sorry to hear you had a rough welcome Henrie. Like James said though - where is this place you mention?

[Pragmatic]

What is the name of town? May be someone on here lives there, or near?

[Henrie]

I haven't mentioned the menu being in English.

The town is near Sakon Nakorn.

[terry57]

^

Lovely flush of Reds there Henrie.

[taxexile]

Don't sweat being occasionally ripped off for what, when all is said and done, is no more than a couple of bucks.

would you accept so willingly, with a wave of your hand and a cheery "oh never mind, it is only a few quid" being blatantly overcharged by a few pounds in a bar/ restaurant/ shop/hotel in the uk after the prices were clearly displayed on a menu.

[Horatio Hornblower]

They kept them from the Vietnam era.


QUOTE=jamescollister;3172211]Small village with menus printed in English, new one on me, where is this magical place.[/QUOTE]

[Cujo]

You were ripped off big time. They're just taking advantage, don't take it. Next time shout and point in their face and bang your fist on the counter. Demand to see the manager and complain loudly. That'll intimidate and shame them into charging you the right price.
Don't allow yourself to be walked over like that. They won't respect you unless you stand up to it.

Is that an attempt at facetious humour?

No it's a serious suggestion to you as a newbie to Thailand on dealing with these issues.
Just trying to help.

[aging one]

Nah Sebastian is not new at all.

[Henrie]

^

Lovely flush of Reds there Henrie.

That you have nothing better to do today than add to.

I ummed and ahhed about joining this forum for a few weeks because I'm not the sort of person to pussyfoot around and I can see that there are quite a few wasters lurking here day in day out year in year out with nothing better to do than fire off their sad little reds.