Faustian Posted October 21, 2009 Report Share Posted October 21, 2009 Wow! Check out the list at the bottom for one of the rip offs...not farangs being scammed, but Thai's scamming Thai's...can't imagine they'll get a lot of custom after all the publicity...one hopes not anyway.... http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/10/22/national/national_30114993.php Hitting a bum note By The Nation Published on October 22, 2009 Karaoke fans complain of extortion after being slapped with huge bills at Bangkok bar Bangkok karaoke-bar fans who enjoy late-night crooning better make sure they go armed with at least Bt30,000. Otherwise they face extortion threats and loss of their mobile phones. If that doesn't sound too scary, or you think that inflated bills can always be negotiated, think again. Two customers of a karaoke pub near Phong Phet intersection in north Bangkok have filed a police complaint after they were held at the premises until they agreed to cough up at least Bt15,000 of a Bt30,000 tab. Roughed up by staff Atthaphan Jaithiang and girlfriend Areerwan Satham told Prachachuen police they were surrounded by five staff members and prevented from leaving even though they agreed to pay half the huge bill. Atthapan reports that staff snatched his mobile phone then his girlfriend's after they tried to contact their friends for help. They described how bar staff then threatened to frisk them for the money. When Atthaphan agreed to withdraw money from his bank account, the staff refused to let him find an ATM machine on his own, and took his card off him to withdraw the money themselves. Atthaphan said he thought the Bt7,000 he took into bar would be more than enough to pay for a few hours of karaoke. Police are investigating a separate complaint of overcharging by two customers of the same karaoke bar, who say they were presented with a Bt16,000 bill that included a Bt200 charge for four cold towels. They paid Bt8,000 and were forced to leave to their mobile phones as a guarantee for the remainder. Prachachuen police say they are gathering evidence to determine whether charges of robbery, extortion and restraint of freedom could be filed against the bar's staff. They have also contacted the Office of Consumer Protection and the Commerce Ministry's Department of Internal Trade, who are looking into the matter. Box How much?! Bt2,250 for 45 bottles of mixer Bt800 for food Bt4,400 per hour for two hostesses Bt2,000 per hour for unrequested hostess Bt200 for four cold towels Bt400 for four dishes of sweets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bangkoktraveler Posted October 21, 2009 Report Share Posted October 21, 2009 Gee, 4 hostesses and he brought his girlfriend there. Sounds like they might have one hell of a time or were led 'on a lease'. 45 bottles of mixers? Did they really consume all of this? 50 baht for a cold towel? I thought I was dumb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colorwolf Posted October 21, 2009 Report Share Posted October 21, 2009 ...just goes to show how desperate and low the nation's getting...can they sink any further??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavanami Posted October 22, 2009 Report Share Posted October 22, 2009 >can they sink any further??? Ohhhh, yeah...just wait! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTO Posted October 22, 2009 Report Share Posted October 22, 2009 Good to see unrequested hostesses are cheaper though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted October 27, 2009 Report Share Posted October 27, 2009 Bangkok Post 27 Oct 2009 Crackdown as karaoke ends on a sour note Steps are being taken to regulate and punish karaoke bars and night entertainment places which overcharge their customers. The move comes after at least two customers accused a karaoke bar on Ngam Wong Wan Road of ripping them off and intimidating them. Prayoon Pongprayoon, 40, manager of the Mall Ngam Wong Wan, filed a complaint on Thursday with Pracha Chuen police against the operator of Melody karaoke pub on Ngam Wong Wan Road for allegedly overcharging him. He said Melody demanded he pay 47,000 baht for liquor, beverages and escort services he did not order. The man said he tried to negotiate and ended up paying 25,000 baht to avoid trouble. [color:red]He is the second customer of Melody to complain to police.[/color] It is believed there are other similar night entertainment places in Bangkok that overcharge customers. Pol Maj Gen Chaturong Phummarin, chief of the Consumer Crime Suppression Division under the Central Investigation Bureau, said three agencies will work together to tackle the problem. The three agencies will include the consumer crime suppression division, the Internal Trade Department and the Office of the Consumer Protection Board. Inspectors from the three agencies will be sent to inspect nightlife entertainment places, particularly karaoke bars. Initially, a public relations campaign will be launched to warn operators to act in line with the 1998 Consumer Protection Act. The law requires operators show the price list of goods and services or attach price tags to goods so customers are aware of the costs of what they are paying. Pol Maj Gen Chaturong said the penalty for failing to show the price list is a fine of up to 10,000 baht. He also said operators who are found to overcharge customers will face a fine of up to 400,000 baht and/or a jail term of up to seven years. "Most operators are unaware of the law which carries a heavy penalty. We have to issue warnings," Pol Maj Gen Chaturong said. He said the inspectors will check and compare the prices of goods and services among night entertainment places that are located near each other. The information on the prices will be compiled and used as evidence against those overcharging. Pol Maj Gen Chaturong said night entertainment places will be asked to show a clear price list of goods and services being sold on a receipt given to customers. In the event customers feel the prices charged are unreasonably expensive, they can use the receipt as evidence to file a police complaint, the officer said. He said customers are eligible to demand to know the prices of goods and services before they buy or use them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khunsanuk Posted October 27, 2009 Report Share Posted October 27, 2009 Hi, "It is believed there are other similar night entertainment places in Bangkok that overcharge customers." No! I am aghast to hear this. Who would have thought? Sanuk! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faustian Posted October 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2009 I know! Amazing isn't it. I'm just amused the police are going to get involved, when they are frequently the owners of such establishments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shygye Posted October 27, 2009 Report Share Posted October 27, 2009 2 menus. One for cops and one for drunk customers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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