Dont give in at all. If yr embassy cant help you get it back then get a replacement and carry on with yr travels but make sure you send an email to that shop after saying 'F**K YOU' in massive size 40 font.
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++ Help Requested - Passport Held By Shop Owner ++Stolen / Held US Passport
Started by Packu2, 2008-10-05 13:08
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91 replies to this topic
#77
Senior Member Posted 2008-10-13 10:19:53
If true then absolutely outrageous behaviour.That crook is breaking the law and you should immediately demand your passport back.Dont let them stand over you.What can they do? Call the cops???!They cannot sell(risky) or block your passport.If it were me i would go straight to the embassy and tell them some criminals are going to try and sell my passport to trafficking gangs.See what happens next.I know what the Australian embassy would do. I presume you are a tourist .Number one leason in Asia >Never give your passport to anybody for any reason other than immigration issues even the cops have no juristiction.
#78
Advanced Member Posted 2008-10-13 12:54:39
Lesson One
Never leave your passport anywhere whilst on overseas travel. If anything leave a photocopy or the girls ID card if you have a girlfriend. Lesson Two. Always follow rule number one. #79
Senior Member Posted 2008-10-13 13:11:05
Next time, rent from a falang.  Thailand would be a paradise if falang ran the place...too bad there was never any colonization here. on an interesting note...my friend and I had a Burmese waitress as we waited for ferryout of hel_l and we both noticed a marked difference in personality and "where with all" she had when compared to almost any thai. I also found the same thing when visiting Cambodia. Thais really are lagging in terms of personality, knowledge, social skills(with foreigners) when comapared to other SE Asians. Its quite noticeable when you have lived here for a while. Thai's are lacking in knowledge and social skills???? either your a troll or F'ing retarded. Your the one who actually left your passport with a motorbike taxi guy!!! Then on top of it you don't know that all you have to do is contact the US embassy and say they are holding your passport and threatening to sell it on the black market. They will get with the police to have it returned and if it isn't done promptly, they will issue you a new one. Your just a dumb "mark" really and someone just took you for the sucker you are. Now I wouldn't have said all that if you hadn't shown how much you deserve it with your ignorant, nonsencial, false comments about Thais. But you deserve all that. I agree that his guy si a f*ckwit for handing over his PP. However, having worked extesivley throughout Asia I must agree that Thais are most agressive and lack social skills. As for lacking in knowledge well didnt thier representative at a recent global inteligence competition come 59 from 60. However, to be fair Thais are the wolrds number one readers of cartoon books! #80
Senior Member Posted 2008-10-13 14:24:04
Don't forget that a passport is not just used for travel. If it is sold on the blackmarket it may be able to be used to open bank accounts, and various other thing for which an ID is needed. Maybe even travel between less computerised countries. They may have to change the photo - or just sell it to someone who resembles the real owner.
#81
Weary traveller Posted 2008-10-13 18:28:22
Go to another province/police dept. report ur passport LOST to the police (dont ever say it was stolen) gte the police report.
Then go to the embassy and get a new opne F@#k them trying to cheat ya Next time dont be so stupid
I just returned from Koh Tao. Upon returning an ATV to the shop owner they have tried to hit me up for 24K baht for what amounts to a few superficial scratches on an old and piece of crap bike. I refused to pay that ridiculous amount. I did offer 10K baht just to get rid of the situation but that was refused. The shop owner bragged about doing this to other tourist and said she would have my passport BLOCKED and I couldn't leave Thailand. The shop also mentioned that if I dont pay that she can sell it for a lot of money (black market). We went to the police who did nothing. They made a report but no real action taken. MY wife later called (Thai) and the police told her that this shop will charge at least 4 times what is a reasonable fee. The police report just states that the owner will return my passport when I pay 24K baht. QUESTIONS: 1. Can I get a replacement at the US Embassy given this situation? 2. Can I be BLOCKED from leaving Thailand? 3. Should I raise this as a security issue (black market thing)? My options appear to be 1) report to embassy as described above 2) just report as lost passport Any suggestions or follow up questions are appreciated #82
Senior Member Posted 2008-10-13 18:40:07
why would you leave ko tao and go to BKK without your passport,i would of taken a 2 foot length of 4 by 2 and threatened the hel_l out of the shop owner until passport was returned.
all you usually have to do is walk into shop ,lock door behind you and smile 
#83
Platinum Member Posted 2008-10-13 23:16:05
OK, everyone should have all their documents scanned and available from cyber space. This is 2008 !
That said, why did the OP offer 10k for "a few superficial scratches on an old and piece of crap bike" ? Perhaps there is more to this story as people don't normally offer 10k for nothing. As for the passport, don't lie and tell the embassy that someone has stolen it from you, you know who they are and tell them why. You may be stupid but that is not a crime. If you get BiB involved then they will want their share. I'd get some quotes for a new bike to give you some idea of likely replacement cost and repair cost. I bet it is not over Bt2k for repairs. ONe solution is to pay for the repairs yourself somewhere that these thugs don't know. #84
Platinum Member Posted 2008-10-13 23:23:14
I agree that his guy si a f*ckwit for handing over his PP. However, having worked extesivley throughout Asia I must agree that Thais are most agressive and lack social skills. As for lacking in knowledge well didnt thier representative at a recent global inteligence competition come 59 from 60. However, to be fair Thais are the wolrds number one readers of cartoon books! What ? they read even more than the Japanese ? Mind you, their soap opera TV is the worst in the world and they actually believe it ! #85
Senior Member Posted 2008-10-14 00:03:41
why would you leave ko tao and go to BKK without your passport,i would of taken a 2 foot length of 4 by 2 and threatened the hel_l out of the shop owner until passport was returned. all you usually have to do is walk into shop ,lock door behind you and smile Are you completely serious? Have you actually tried this? I think not. What you're suggesting in this country is a quick path to death for sure. They dont even have to be criminally connected like it has been stated this lot are. Dude, you need to keep horribly dangerous advice like that to yourself. #86
Faster, faster......They're bugs, not braces... Posted 2008-10-14 04:39:37
why would you leave ko tao and go to BKK without your passport,i would of taken a 2 foot length of 4 by 2 and threatened the hel_l out of the shop owner until passport was returned. all you usually have to do is walk into shop ,lock door behind you and smile Are you completely serious? Have you actually tried this? I think not. What you're suggesting in this country is a quick path to death for sure. They dont even have to be criminally connected like it has been stated this lot are. Dude, you need to keep horribly dangerous advice like that to yourself. Agreed. Only someone who's never been to Thailand would make such a stupid post. Too many violent Welsh movies, methinks 
#87
Senior Member Posted 2008-10-20 04:24:36
why would you leave ko tao and go to BKK without your passport,i would of taken a 2 foot length of 4 by 2 and threatened the hel_l out of the shop owner until passport was returned. all you usually have to do is walk into shop ,lock door behind you and smile You'd better be fast & big & strong (& stupid) to even consider this type of crap. Even the Thais I know who don't carry knives with them (that's actually most of them) are never far from one @work or home. If other Thais see this happening through the windows, you're a dead man walking, even if you get the best of the store owner. My GF(fiance) is a cook. When she went to pickup her visa at the US embassy, she ran her purse through the metal detector with (fruit-carving) knives in it (she forgot she had them with her). Another Thai friend just keeps a knife (for eating... really!) in her purse at all times, and when she flew for the first time, didn't think to remove it... Guns may not be ubiquitous in this country, but knives are! #88
Platinum Member Posted 2008-10-20 16:47:29
why would you leave ko tao and go to BKK without your passport,i would of taken a 2 foot length of 4 by 2 and threatened the hel_l out of the shop owner until passport was returned. all you usually have to do is walk into shop ,lock door behind you and smile After you..... 
#89
Titanium Member Posted 2008-10-20 17:11:10
koh tao is one of the most dangerous places in thailand ,everyone is related to everyone ,threaten hit a local and you would end up on a milk carton 100%.......
#90
Senior Member Posted 2008-10-20 18:47:32
UPDATE: I went to the US Embassy on Tuesday:They had a report there as sent by the Koh Tao police. I explained the situation: 1) The passport belongs to the US Govt. and they want it back 2) The dispute is between myself and the shop - however the US Emb. called there and tried to reason/bargain with them on my behalf - no go. They want the whole enchalada. 3) The embassy has given me a replacement passport pending their pursuit of my original 4) The shop (Thai as far as I know - or at least run by Thais) is going to sue me and will inform Thai Immg. and thus try to keep me from traveling out of Thailand. 5) I am contacting a lawyer tomorrow or tonight to handle this fo me or give me a letter for Imm etc. 6) I go to Thai Immg tomorrow to get my visa stamps replaced. the saga continues...updates to come as they occur. just pay the 24 baht and seek revenge thai style later on #91
Senior Member Posted 2008-10-20 19:11:39
why would you leave ko tao and go to BKK without your passport,i would of taken a 2 foot length of 4 by 2 and threatened the hel_l out of the shop owner until passport was returned. all you usually have to do is walk into shop ,lock door behind you and smile i bet they try this trick much less often on russian and african guests lol #92
The Forlorn Member Posted 2008-10-21 02:13:26
I just returned from Koh Tao. Upon returning an ATV to the shop owner they have tried to hit me up for 24K baht for what amounts to a few superficial scratches on an old and piece of crap bike. I refused to pay that ridiculous amount. I did offer 10K baht just to get rid of the situation but that was refused. The shop owner bragged about doing this to other tourist and said she would have my passport BLOCKED and I couldn't leave Thailand. The shop also mentioned that if I dont pay that she can sell it for a lot of money (black market). We went to the police who did nothing. They made a report but no real action taken. MY wife later called (Thai) and the police told her that this shop will charge at least 4 times what is a reasonable fee. The police report just states that the owner will return my passport when I pay 24K baht. QUESTIONS: 1. Can I get a replacement at the US Embassy given this situation? 2. Can I be BLOCKED from leaving Thailand? 3. Should I raise this as a security issue (black market thing)? My options appear to be 1) report to embassy as described above 2) just report as lost passport Any suggestions or follow up questions are appreciated This is why I never rent a bike in Thailand, if I absolutely must rent, I hand over my Thai drivers license. Yes, its a well known fact of life in tourist islands that this happens. Some happy dutch scammer once tried blagging me with the 'just look over the bike before you rent with the owner in attendance' this is no guarantee either. Report it as a lost passport, if it shows up you can play it like bogart and deny all knowledge. The blocking passport thing is an unknown entity, I think they can threaten it, but unless you've robbed a bank or committed a massive crime I wouldn't loose too much sleep over it. Does Koh Tao even have the tourist police? Its been a few years but the last time I live on KT there were only a bunch of dodgy regular cops from Surat Thani. Believe me, they are not much cop when it comes to actual police work. The whole threatening strategy I have only seen work only ONCE, but this was a blatent case of theft of a motorbikes kickstart by the 'Fat Mechanic' (Koh Tao) against a man mountain of a farang expat, who mosseyed on down to the mechys workshop and within 5 minutes had his kickstart returned. He had Thai support with him translating. So really be careful. Edited by JimsKnight, 2008-10-21 02:28:39. |
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