Thread: Jet Ski scammers back in their old ways

Sounds like a great insurance policy they've signed up for...

Originally Posted by zubber

''Jet-ski operators don't know how to abuse the new system, so they went straight back to their old ways.''

Spelling mistake there. I've fixed it for you.

Anyone that's stupid enough to rent a jet-ski off a Phuket beach from a small time Thai guy is a twat and deserves any problems they get. Bunch of F*ck**g c*unts (jet-ski operators) that deserve sweat FA for the contempt they hold their customers and tourists in generally. They talk about an insurance scheme but you're dealing with local Thais that only have Prathom 6 education, if they are lucky, in one ear and out the other jumps to mind.

but they have a 1 baht coin in their ear so nothing jumps out

Couple of things on this one.
As most of regular TD posters probably realise I have been in the business of sorting out snotty insurance claims, interpreting policy wordings and writing endorsement clauses for unusual policies for over 20 years.
'Blowing my own trumpet' a bit I have reputation in the region for not standing for any 'shit' when it comes to getting it right!
When the Phuket Gazette announced that a committee was being set up to write the "Patong Jet Ski" policy I offered my services.
Turned down !
Reason given ?
I don't speak Thai !

Maybe the fact that I had handled claims for a couple of the organisers who wanted to do the old Eastern "Compromise and do not make anyone lose face" settlement which the re- insurers threw out after they got my recommendations based on facts had something to do with it.


Other thing is that a friend (Thai)has his own Jet Ski -fully licensed and registered etc, took it for a run around the bottom of the island and pulled into Patong to refuel.
The fuel barge refused to supply as the local jet ski operators would beat the barge crew up !!!

He got his son to bring the trailer up from Chalong to take him home !!

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Hold outs against jet-ski insurance scheme

Jet-skis insured under the Phuket scheme display the diamond-shaped sticker shown here.

PHUKET CITY: The majority of jet-ski operators on the island have applied for compulsory insurance, but five operators are holding out against the new regulation.

Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop yesterday afternoon held a meeting with 15 jet-ski operators to discuss compliance with a provincial policy requiring all jet-ski operators to apply for policies by the deadline that passed on Monday.

The rule was put in place after foreign diplomats complained that their nationals were being ripped off by jet-ski operators who insisted they pay for damages they never caused, or inflated costs for actual damages.

The scam made international headlines after one jet-ski operator allegedly threatened a group of British military personnel on shore leave in Patong.

The incident was subsequently reported in the local and international media, sparking debate about the safety of Phuket as a tourist destination.

At yesterday’s meeting the jet-ski operators told Gov Wichai that five jet-ski operators, with a total of 17 machines, have refused to take out policies.

“I will have to ask them to come and talk to me about this before we proceed with legal charges…This is a provincial policy that all jet-ski operators must follow,” Gov Wichai said.

Working in the jet-ski rental industry is also a job class foreigners cannot be involved in, he reminded the operators.

In a related development, Gov Wichai gave jet-ski operators permission to hold a public relations event at Patong Beach on November 26.

The reason is to inform the public that with the insurance scheme in place there is no longer any reason to worry about being extorted by jet-ski operators.
– Kitima Pornmongkhonwat
phuketgazette.com

The crunch comes for 'black' jet-ski operators in Patong
Photo by phuketwan.com


Phuket Scam Purge: Police Impound 'Black' Jet-Ski

By Chutima Sidasathian and Paweena Petyoi
Friday, November 20, 2009
A JET-SKI operator was arrested at Patong today and his vehicle was impounded and taken to Kathu police station. The operator was accused of hiring out his vehicle without registration or insurance.

His arrest and the confiscation of the jet-ski was the clearest indication so far that the bad old days of scamming by jet-ski operators may finally be over.

It was an unmistakable warning to 35 other ''black'' jet-ski operators that they face similar treatment if they continue to rent out their vehicles.

And it may even mark a turning-point in the way authorities view all the other scams and rip-offs that have been a part of the island's rocky ride as a 21st century tourist destination.

Some of Thailand's top government politicians have shown exceptional interest in Phuket, the country's premier tourist resort, since diplomats drew attention to the damage that extortion and corruption was doing to Thailand's international image.

A high-powered committee from Bangkok met with Phuket Governor Wichai Praisa-ngob today to learn about the future of the island's tourism industry . . . and Winai ''Jet-Ski JJ'' Naiman.

Khun Winai's coincidental appearance on the first episode of a reality television show in Britain led to his arrest and an as yet-unresolved charge of extortion with menace.

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Tourism, Torpong Chaisan, heard today from deputy mayor of Patong, Chairat Sukhban, that attempts were being made to solve the jet-ski problem.

The committee then travelled to Patong. About the same time Kathu police and Marine Police pounced on the ''black'' jet-ski hirer, who was operating on the beach near Loma Park.

Officers told Phuketwan that they planned to find out where the jet-ski, which carried no licence plate, had its origins.

Earlier today, 17 jet-ski operators from Bang Tao, who had been reluctant to join the majority in signing up for the governor's new registration and insurance scheme, changed their minds, leaving the 36 ''black'' jet-ski operators isolated.

The presence of the Bangkok committee on the island is a sign that the purge by local authorities may yet be extended to motorcyle hire companies and other operations that have put Patong's reputation on the nose among tourists.

Phuket Scam Purge: Police Impound 'Black' Jet-Ski - Phuket Wan

... and once the spotlight fades... well, you know how it goes.

screw phuket any way. dont go there , the bastards lol

I can see no change, except the attaching of a Diamond sticker, then you rent one and any damage and you are required to pay and argue and fuck around.
Seems to me that a small ins fee is charged at rental, then the jet shi is returned and you go home, that all there is to it.
I the states you rent a truck or car, pay the ins or use your own, no matter but when the rig is returned and no damaghe is found then you are free to go, if damage is found on inspection then it is their ins or you call yours and thats taken care by ins. you do not have to pay for anything but the ins. coverage.

''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.

The more things change............

In Insurance Law that is known as subrogation. It's when an insurance company pays a claim to its policy holder for his loss that you caused then the insurance company has a right to go after you for damages.

Most policies for rental anything, cars, airplanes etc will have an anti-subrogation clause in favor of the customer, which means the insurance company will pay the loss to the owner but agrees not to go after the customer for a loss. Usually they can still go after anyone else who causes damages. The is all standard in the West, but of course this is Thailand.

Originally Posted by zubber

''The insurance representative said that this means he had effectively entered a legal agreement anyway, even though he had not signed the official form.

Incorrect. He did not enter into a legally binding agreement

Originally Posted by zubber

Working in the jet-ski rental industry is also a job class foreigners cannot be involved in

It says nothing in the work or business regulations about this.

Originally Posted by Muadib

''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.

The more things change............

exactly.

I also found it interesting that the resort manager negotiated the setttlement while the farang was not present, and then told what he had to pay...

Originally Posted by zubber

When we intervened, we pointed out to the operators that there were numbers to call on the new sticker on the jet-skis.

WTF...didn't the moron who owned the jet ski notice that there were numbers when he applied the sticker..Tard'. Does this also mean that he probably drives his pick up truck around with no insurance??? surely he'd of noticed the similarity in the sitckers..Comapny name..incase of accident call....

Originally Posted by zubber

US$1000

Nice try buddy..

Originally Posted by zubber

1000 baht excess

There that's a bit more reasonable..and much different!!!..
Maybe that's what the poor Thai jet ski operator meant...just came out wrong..johney foreigner confused him..into trying to speak English???

Originally Posted by zubber

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.

Fair enough I suppose. However that should really be in on the insurance deal surely??? I got 5k everyday for being in hospital from my 700bht a year bike insurance..surely it should work the same way??? either that or get a better insurance company.

Originally Posted by zubber

''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.

More fool him, can't blame the operator for that one...business is scarce not doubt??

Originally Posted by zubber

''The insurance representative said that this means he had effectively entered a legal agreement anyway, even though he had not signed the official form.

Maybe not true legally. However the schmuck did rent the jet ski and CRASH it...into his wife..I bet they were fuc*ing about on them, were they playing chicken or something??

Originally Posted by zubber

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.

Oh, I'm sure he is...

Originally Posted by Spitfire

They talk about an insurance scheme but you're dealing with local Thais that only have Prathom 6 education

Hey, maybe a little generous there Spitfire...more like P3....

Originally Posted by Happyman

Other thing is that a friend (Thai)has his own Jet Ski -fully licensed and registered etc, took it for a run around the bottom of the island and pulled into Patong to refuel. The fuel barge refused to supply as the local jet ski operators would beat the barge crew up !!! He got his son to bring the trailer up from Chalong to take him home !!

Good to know that we are dealing with an intelligent peoples here...what is this kindergarten (nursery)???????

'Jet-ski jamboree' to restore Phuket’s image

Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee members (from left) Vice President Thitima Chaisaeng, Vice President Polapee Suwanchawee and President Torpong Chaiyasarn, with Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop.

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. – Gazette reporters Print this story | Send it to a friend Phuket, ThailandSend Letter to Gazette Editor 12:00 local time

if the insurance contract was more complex with more coverage, it would be expensive and no insurance company would take the deal or the operators wouldn't want to go along.

So what else did you expect, of course it's going to be a shitty insurance policy.

Anyway that won't stop the scam because that's where the real money is. A few low seasons and all you need is a few of the scams to pay for the entire season.

Originally Posted by shaggersback

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,

how about Ladyboys carry 3rd party insurance for all those tourists they beat up and rob ..? there is still some unfinished business to repair Phukets heavilly stained image

Governor Wichai Praisa-ngob gets set to jet at Patong today
Photo by phuketwan.com







Click a thumbnail to view more photographs

Phuket Governor Jets a Ski and Says: It's Safe

By Paweena Petyoi
Thursday, November 26, 2009
GOVERNOR Wichai Praisa-ngob launched ''world's first jet-ski insurance scheme'' at Patong today with a throttle-revving ride and a bright high season sky above.

About 80 jet-skis were beached on the sand for the day's festivities, which began with a brass band and rousing speeches about the change in attitude that insurance should bring.

The governor even presented bad-boy Winai ''JJ'' Naiman with a prize By chance, JJ stepped in to collect it on the part of the absent winner, and the governor gave him a pat on the back.

So the man who helped spark the concern about jet-ski scams met the man who hopes his intervention has resolved the problem for good.

According to Ayudhya Insurance officials today, the jet-skis are all signed up for damage, third-party and personal accident, a much more comprehensive insurance scheme than the first damage incident, reported on Phuketwan, seemed to indicate.

The governor told local Patong officials, insurance executives and the media that tourists no longer needed to worry about being scammed or facing unreasonable medical expenses.

Then after taking off his holiday shirt and donning a life jacket, he went for a ride, with a jet-ski operator trailing in his wake.

Insurance costs for jet-skis vary depending on the amount involved, with some opting for a 9400 baht per year scheme with a maximum payout of 50,000 baht, and others signing for 13,500 baht with a maximum of 100,000 baht.

Discounts have dropped the cost a little.

Among the jet-skis parked on the beach today were some with the word INSURANCE emblazoned on their bodies, a sensible sign of change.

The governor also said that tourists should no longer be concerned about being caught up in petty disputes while on holidays because, as Phuketwan has reported, a new scheme means they can fly home regardless.

phuketwan.com

*******************

oh yeah

what a joke, that governor is obviously part of the problem, not of the solution

what happened to JJ police charges ?

Originally Posted by Butterfly

what a joke, that governor is obviously part of the problem, not of the solution

what happened to JJ police charges ?

Agree with you about the JJ police charges. Re the Governor though, I was sceptical when he was first installed, based on the performances of previous incumbents, however he does seem to have a genuine interest in the development of Phuket, and hasn't shunned controversy or been adverse at publicly criticising his officials.

One thing that I thought quite telling was during a meeting that he had with the local Honorary German Consul, he was invited to attend a tourism fair in Germany. He thanked the Consul, but said he didn't want to attend such events until he could feel proud of Phuket, and had resolved problems such as transportation.

Remains to be seen whether or not he'll achieve his goal of course, though an incredible amount of road widening and resurfacing is taking place around the island at the moment.

Originally Posted by Butterfly

what happened to JJ police charges

JJ is now Colonel Somchais bitch, and only has to pay a nominal fee to allow the use of his passage as a police right of way.