Being serviced by airport immigration

[Morden]

why would anyone pay a "Service Fee" if all their papers were in order?

His papers might be in order but the Immigration Officer holds the trump card.
The Permission to Stay date is at the discretion of the officer.

Precisely!

What's the fuss about? This sort of thing is the norm.

Total rubbish.

Non of this is "the norm".

The Permission to Stay is in the regulations.

The Immigration Officer has no personal, individual, discrection (choice).

If you encounter a Problem - as said said before - politely ask to speak to a superior Officer,

If papers / Visas are correct, one should not be denied entry and there is NO need to pay a "Service Fee".

Patrick

Wrong, at least to the extent that you will cause yourself a lot of inconvenience for the sake of a few Baht. Thre is the law and then there are the regulations and then there is, as in other countries, the discretion of the individual officer if he has some suspicion about you.

The 'service fee' was asked for as a favour and there was no threat to deny passage. Argue with the guy if you want but it's not worth demanding to see the boss.

[English Noodles]

Wrong, at least to the extent that you will cause yourself a lot of inconvenience for the sake of a few Baht. Thre is the law and then there are the regulations and then there is, as in other countries, the discretion of the individual officer if he has some suspicion about you. The 'service fee' was asked for as a favour and there was no threat to deny passage. Argue with the guy if you want but it's not worth demanding to see the boss.

What would you do if you were charged with trying to bribe an official?

[Morden]

Wrong, at least to the extent that you will cause yourself a lot of inconvenience for the sake of a few Baht. Thre is the law and then there are the regulations and then there is, as in other countries, the discretion of the individual officer if he has some suspicion about you. The 'service fee' was asked for as a favour and there was no threat to deny passage. Argue with the guy if you want but it's not worth demanding to see the boss.

What would you do if you were charged with trying to bribe an official?

There was no bribe in the case described. He was being allowed through and the official asked nicely for a gift.

To answer your question generally, I don't know because it's never arisen. What would you do?

[English Noodles]

What would you do?

It wouldn't happen to me, I go straight through the diplomatic passport line.

[pickel]

^

[rickschoppers]

why would anyone pay a "Service Fee" if all their papers were in order?

His papers might be in order but the Immigration Officer holds the trump card.
The Permission to Stay date is at the discretion of the officer.

Precisely!

What's the fuss about? This sort of thing is the norm.

Total rubbish.

Non of this is "the norm".

The Permission to Stay is in the regulations.

The Immigration Officer has no personal, individual, discrection (choice).

If you encounter a Problem - as said said before - politely ask to speak to a superior Officer,

If papers / Visas are correct, one should not be denied entry and there is NO need to pay a "Service Fee".

Patrick

I think you might be wrong on this count. All immigration officers reserve the right to deny entry even if all your papers are in order. Look it up in the regs for your own country.

[Morden]

What would you do?

It wouldn't happen to me, I go straight through the diplomatic passport line.

Which country do you claim to represent? There might be a few members want to offer you some suggestions.

[English Noodles]

Which country do you claim to represent?

I travel on a British passport. I don't represent anyone.

[Morden]

Which country do you claim to represent?

I travel on a British passport. I don't represent anyone.

Just as well.

[Albert Shagnasty]

Last night i went down to foodland.
I'm not proud of it but i was hungry.

BIB stop. No helmet.

Where you going?
Foodland.
No helmet - no good - you buy six can pepsi for us from foodland ok?
Sure - no biggie.

At least they only cost you a few baht rather than fuck up your evening, make you lose your job and thus render you penniless.

Thailand - great bleedin place

[superman]

Cheaper to pay the fine. 50 Baht, with receipt, for not wearing an helmet. 60 Baht for 6 cans of Pepsi, with receipt. Let the twats do their own shopping.

[Morden]

Last night i went down to foodland.
I'm not proud of it but i was hungry.

BIB stop. No helmet.

Where you going?
Foodland.
No helmet - no good - you buy six can pepsi for us from foodland ok?
Sure - no biggie.

At least they only cost you a few baht rather than fuck up your evening, make you lose your job and thus render you penniless.

Thailand - great bleedin place

In a nutshell, Albert.

[harrybarracuda]

The 'service fee' was asked for as a favour and there was no threat to deny passage. Argue with the guy if you want but it's not worth demanding to see the boss.

The threat is implied, isn't it?

Basically, you are giving in to blackmail.

[donald36]

With the BIB every time i go through a speed trap and then a toll booth,they see my face and stop me --they havent got got me listed on their clipboards because the trap showed 80 -the limit --i smile and laugh and tell them 80 --they know you mean it and off u go --my wife got stopped for a fake red plate the other day --she just told them to go and see the car dealer wed asked for a genuine one and they hadnt got any--if you are not guilty dont pay but politely --they havent got time for a 30 minute argument

[superman]

my wife got stopped for a fake red plate the other day --she just told them to go and see the car dealer wed asked for a genuine one and they hadnt got any

The car dealer is wrong not to have given you a 'red plate'. But your missus is guilty of driving without one. And the book that goes with it. A genuine offence in Thailand with a fine of 200 Baht. Could be 400, can't remember. No 'red plate', no drive. I'm anti bribe.

[English Noodles]

The car dealer is wrong not to have given you a 'red plate'. But your missus is guilty of driving without one. And the book that goes with it. A genuine offence in Thailand with a fine of 200 Baht. Could be 400, can't remember. No 'red plate', no drive. I'm anti bribe.

Actually, the police have the authority to confiscate the vehicle on the spot if it has no registration plate, or an incorrect registration plate. It happens quite a lot with motorcycles.

[crocodilexp]

Phuket. No surprises there.

Resisting the bribe is a great idea in theory, but I really doubt any sensible person living in Thailand would be willing to put their long-term stay in the country on the line for a few hundred baht.

Of course, if you politely refuse to pay it's likely they would just let you go without making a fuss. However, if they do want to make trouble, they have a range of means at their disposal.

Immigration officials have the discretion to refuse you entry for any reason, even if you hold a valid visa. This is true in every country, not just Thailand. Weak moral character? Too many entry stamps? You name it.

Of course, as long as you're polite, you could take it up with a superior officer and eventually clear it up, but it might cost you few times the original amount. The way corruption works here, it's usually systematic (money making its way up the chain), rarely just the bent low-level worker pocketing the proceeds. If the superior officer wasn't on the take, the first one would have probably just stamped you in anyway.

Of course, if they don't want much fuss but still need to make the point, they can just ask the Somchai in customs to give you a thorough back-orifice drugs check. Perfectly within their rights.

[Marmite the Dog]

, because he merely made a jibe at Patrick for not comprehending the OP.

Or comprehending anything else by the looks of things.

[Marmite the Dog]

Actually, the police have the authority to confiscate the vehicle on the spot if it has no registration plate, or an incorrect registration plate.

Actually, that's complete bollocks as usual.

[Thormaturge]

The reference to terms "not exceeding" seems to confuse a lot of people. The Immigration Officer has ultimate discretion. He can grant a period of one day if he chooses, since that is a period "not exceeding" ninety days. It may be objectionable to have to hand over money but if you don't and he just gives you a one day stamp then even if you can find a choir of angels to protest your case nobody will alter that stamp.

The best you can do is to complain after the fact and see if he is still there the following day when you return for your next stamp, and if so then you know the corruption goes further up. You also know you are buggered since his "discretion" will cost a lot more and you know there is no point complaining.

There are lots of high-minded people wandering around the UK moaning about how Thais are so corrupt and how they stood up to the system. They will also tell you that they choose not to live here anymore because of the awful corruption... not because they were shafted by the officials they stood up to. Where is Smeg when you need him?

[English Noodles]

Actually, that's complete bollocks as usual.

Actually it's fact.

[harrybarracuda]

Actually, that's complete bollocks as usual.

Actually it's fact.

It would strike me as being in the filth's remit.

[KAPPA]

Hello. Welcome to the Kingdom. Please leave your balls at the door.

[KAPPA]

Wrong, at least to the extent that you will cause yourself a lot of inconvenience for the sake of a few Baht. Thre is the law and then there are the regulations and then there is, as in other countries, the discretion of the individual officer if he has some suspicion about you. The 'service fee' was asked for as a favour and there was no threat to deny passage. Argue with the guy if you want but it's not worth demanding to see the boss.

What would you do if you were charged with trying to bribe an official?

Suck his dick, and good !

[crippen]

No thai baht. Give him/her 50p and walk in!