Banged Up in Thailand

soolin

db.8609 wrote: »

I didn't have "so many" - I would have been barely over the UK legal limit.

I am here for consumer advice.

Regardless of the rest of your issues, I would strongly suggest you seek guidance on the Drink drive limit requirements wherever it is you drive in the UK. There is a real concern that if you believe 9 drinks is barely over, then you may have unwittingly been drunk driving for years which could ultimately have much more of a consequence than falling for the foreign'gambling' scam.

Morglin

Count your lucky stars that no one talked you into bringing a ladyboy home, and next year, go to Blackpool for your holiday lol

Lin

Malthusian

db.8609 wrote: »

I didn't have "so many" - I would have been barely over the UK legal limit.

I am here for consumer advice.

Fair enough. I advise you to not consume nine cocktails and shots and get so bladdered you forget about your girlfriend and get hooked into an obvious scam ever again.

stuartJo1989

db.8609 wrote: »

The gambling was introduced as a "game" and most tables had them. All on CCTV. No money changed hands for this game winning or losing. It was a case of "winning" drinks as explained to me.

That's still classed as gambling = most likely illegal in Thailand.

Farang: The receptionist knew my name, so I would like to be referred to by my name, as a paying guest in a TUI approved resort.

Is it really a derogatory term though? Just sounds akin to us Brits referring to someone as a "foreigner" or "Asian" etc when they have little to no understanding of English.

I didn't simply whip out my camera and start filming her. She disappeared for quite some time at which point I popped my phone down to show that she had my card in her possession for such a long time - despite the debit card being "no good".

A few minutes after this, my debit card bacame blocked due to multiple attempts to transfer 20,000TB (the secuirty deposit was 5,000TB. I spoke to my bank and they explained what had happened. So I'm fairly pleased I had the presence of mind to film this "non-farang" (I that ok??).

Probably should mention that sort of thing in the first post.

Security deposits are fine but all I had was a debit card and GBP (unexpected expenses on he way over. I was told to go home.

I did not film the police - a concerned individual did. I have the footage of the extortion and corruption and the fact that this bar owner obviously has the police in his pocket. I believe these may have been the tourist police but am not sure.

A strange account...

That concerned individual was your girlfriend.

You were in the custody of the police at the time, so wouldn't have been able to record anything.

Now.... my understanding is that your GF was NOT with you at the bar... If that's the case, why is SHE recording you getting arrested? She doesn't really know whether you are innocent or not does she?

Also risks getting herself arrested which is stupid. You should have told her NOT to record the police etc, in order to protect her from possible arrest.

All in all, I doubt anyone cares much - but the British embassy in Bangkok are interested and are creating a file.

Well that's all well and good but do you think that the British embassy are going to sway the Thai government/police to do anything? Unlikely. Just inviting trouble if you ask me. More so IF the Thai police do something with the bar owner and end up peeving him off. God knows what he might do if he finds out where you've moved to.....

TUI did move us to another hotel, a good 20-30 minutes away. I feel much better now because the police told the bar owner my name, hotel, and room number of the previous hotel. Now we feel a lot safer.

Thank you TUI.

Very premature post then? Should have waited for a response from TUI.

dacouch

stuartJo1989 wrote: »

Is it really a derogatory term though? Just sounds akin to us Brits referring to someone as a "foreigner" or "Asian" etc when they have little to no understanding of English.

It's a completely different language to English and a different culture.

It is very normal for a Thai speaking to another Thai in a service environment eg a hotel or shop when discussing a non Thai that they are serving to refer to them as a farang. It is not a derogatory term.

If you were in a upper 4 star or a 5 star hotel and the staff spoke English as well as Thai they are more likely to refer to you as Mr Smith etc when discussing you in front of you. But in a normal hotel they would refer to you as a farang as that is how their language / culture works.

It's no different to how the English as a nation constantly apologise even when we have not made a mistake as it's in our culture to do so.

Whenever I am with my (Thai) girlfriend in Thailand and we encounter another Thai in a social or business situation. The Thai will almost always mention "Farang" when talking to my GF and I instantly know they are asking about me.

The Thai people are very friendly and it is in the nature to avoid confrontation and to avoid upsetting people. They go out of their way to avoid arguing.

With regard the hotel deposit, I think the OP is once again adding an extra zero onto the amount as 20000 Thai Baht is circa £480 and the hotel is probably only about £40 a night.

Hotels generally want a security deposit of 2000 Thai Baht (About £47) which is to cover the cost of the mini bar.

I tend to stay in 4 or 5 star hotels there (They only cost about £70 a night) and I have not found one yet that requires the deposit to be paid by card. The normal process is you pay them in cash, they give you a receipt and instantly refund you the cash.

DCFC79

Should be on the TV Series Banged Up Abroad.