Jet Ski scammers back in their old ways
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2009/11/629.jpg Phuket jet-ski insurance may leave some work still to be done
Photo by phuketwan.com
Phuket Jet-Ski Collision: Back to the Bad Old Ways
By Alan Morison
Monday, November 23, 2009
DOUBT has been cast on the new jet-ski insurance scheme after a weekend collision between vehicles led to an old-fashioned row about who should pay.
A senior manager at a resort, who became involved as the dispute became more heated, said: ''Jet-ski operators don't know how to use the new system, so they went straight back to their old ways.''
However, in this case, a tourist also turned out to be in the wrong when he at first refused to pay what was eventually agreed by all parties to be adequate compensation.
Sunday's collision, the first reported jet-ski insurance claim since the new system was agreed by more than 200 jet-ski operators late last week, took place off a popular resort.
For understandable reasons, the manager who reported what happened in detail to Phuketwan prefers not to disclose the identity of the resort.
''Two jet-skis collided, with the husband on one and the wife on the other,'' the manager said. ''Fortunately nobody was hurt, but the jet-skis were damaged.
''I had been down earlier on Sunday morning to check and all the jet-skis carried the new diamond insurance sticker.
''But after the crash, nobody knew what to do, so the jet-ski operators immediately demanded US$1000 in compensation.
''It was a case of going straight back to the system they knew. When we intervened, we pointed out to the operators that there were numbers to call on the new sticker on the jet-skis.
''The general numbers only work on weekdays, but fortunately there was a mobile number and we were able to contact somebody, although it was an hour before they actually came on the scene.
''It turns out that the new insurance system contains provision for a 1000 baht excess, which has to be paid with each claim.
''Another problem emerged in that there is nothing in the new insurance scheme dealing with the period a jet-ski is out of action.
''So in the event of an indicent, it is still necessary to negotiate a settlement. We discussed what would be a reasonable figure, and agreed on 3000 baht a day for the three days that the badly damaged jet-ski would be out of action.
''However, by this time, the guests had retreated to their room. When the guest, a non-English speaker, heard that he had a bill for 10,000 baht, he refused to pay.
''It was explained that if he did not pay, the jet-ski operator would be forced to call in the police, and dealing with the effects of the incident would probably consume a large part of the rest of his holiday.
''At that point, he decided to pay up.
''It's worth noting, too, that the insurance does not cover injuries to the riders, only damage to the jet-sksis.
''This particular guest had been asked to sign a permission form when he hired the jet-skis, but waved it away and the operator simply took the cash.
''The insurance representative said that this means he had effectively entered a legal agreement anyway, even though he had not signed the official form.
''Our conclcusion is that a lot more work needs to be done on educating operators and guests, and that standard forms are required to help solve this and other cases that are bound to happen.
''Provision also needs to be made for the many jet-ski hirers who do not speak either Thai or English. I have no doubt that until the changes are fully implemented, the old system of claims and counter-claims will continue.''
Governor Wichai Praisa-ngob is due to join the jet-ski operators in a ''regatta'' and celebratory fair on Patong beach from 9am on Thursday.
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Free Jetski Rides all day Thursday....
'Jet-ski jamboree' to restore Phuket’s image
PATONG, PHUKET: Phuket’s jet-ski operators are going all out to mend their industry’s grubby image on Thursday, when a ride on any of the island’s 200-plus jet-skis will be entirely free of charge.
The message they hope to send out: Phuket’s jet-skis are no longer a rip-off.
The Phuket jet-ski industry made headlines earlier in the year when foreign diplomats complained to the Thai government that Phuket jet-ski operators were extorting money out of tourists.
Then the TV show Big Trouble In Tourist Thailand hit British TV screens and YouTube.com, showing a jet-ski operator, Winai ‘JJ’ Naiman, extracting money out of a group of Royal Navy Marines.
A solution to the scam – in which operators demand large amounts of money from tourists for spurious ‘damage’, or grossly inflate repair fees – appears to be in place.
Nearly all of the island’s jet-skis are now insured under a compulsory insurance scheme and bear diamond-shaped stickers to prove it.
“I guarantee jet-ski rides won’t land any more tourists in trouble.”
That is what Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop told members of the Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee at a meeting to discuss the issue at Provincial Hall on Friday.
In attendance were committee president Torpong Chaiyasarn and vice presidents Polapee Suwanchawee and Thitima Chaisaeng.
Also present were Phuket MP Rewat Areerob, Tourist Police officers, tour operators and representatives from local government.
Mr Torpong said the committee was in Phuket to examine tourism problems that have damaged Thailand’s international image – especially the footage of JJ and its appearance on YouTube.com – and to find ways of mending that image.
Gov Wichai told the committee the jet-ski problem had been solved by the compulsory insurance scheme.
The scheme would be officially launched on Thursday, when all of the island’s jet-skis will be brought to Loma Park on Patong Beach, he said.
Starting from 9am and throughout the day, all jet-ski rides will be free.
For obvious reasons, those seeking a safe and peaceful swim on the day are advised to go elsewhere.
Mr Torpong said he was glad to hear the problem had been solved, but that the insurance scheme alone was not enough to repair Phuket’s reputation.
Local authorities needed to take legal action against the producers of Big Trouble In Tourist Thailand, and to report the case to YouTube.com, he said.
This, he hoped, would lead to the removal from the site of the damaging clips, which he said had now been viewed by more than one million people.
Patong Deputy Mayor Chairat Sukhabaan questioned whether the jet-ski scam really frightened tourists away from Thailand, however.
“They’re much more concerned about political conflicts that could lead to airport closures,” he said.
Also discussed at the meeting was the variable price of boat tours.
Phuket Tour Boat Association President Kissada Pichetpongsanon said standard prices should be set for all tour boats operated off Phuket in order to end overcharging for trips – as well as over-discounting.
Phuket MP Rewat Areerob agreed to have further discussions with Mr Kissada on the subject. https://teakdoor.com/images/smilies1/You_Rock_Emoticon.gif– Gazette reporters https://teakdoor.com/images/smilies1/You_Rock_Emoticon.gifPrint this story | Send it to a friend Phuket, ThailandSend Letter to Gazette Editor https://teakdoor.com/images/smilies1/You_Rock_Emoticon.gif12:00 local time
