Scams Abound on Thailand-to-Cambodia Land Route

http://www.pookaibooks.org/weblog/index.html

Tales of Asia in its overland travel section has update the Bangkok to
Siem Reap via Poipet/Aranyaprathet route, and has new travelers'
submissions about going overland into Cambodia from Thailand. There is
plentyt of useful information in the updates, including this entry on
scams:

Scams in abundance at the border, though nothing that could be avoided
with some persistence. My buddy and I had our visa-on-arrival forms
filled out by a man in uniform sitting at a table at the far end of
the Cambodia immigration station (right next to the 12 USD bus ticket
booth) and after encouraging us both to sit and relax, which we kindly
refused to do, electing to stand and watch our passports. When the
time came for us to sign the forms, we were told that this "service"
would cost us 1100 Baht, then after we shook our heads, they dropped
to the more reasonable price of 1000 Baht. After stating that the
price of the visa was 20 USD, then stating it again when they dropped
the price again, then just holding out our hands to collect our
passports, we were given forms, passports, and pointed toward the
actual visa-on-arrival window. Forms, passports, and two US twenties
were handed over, after which another man came over and again insisted
the price was 1000 Baht, we again said it was 20 USD and sat down. 10
minutes later, we received out passports with visas.

gee, we're talking big money here

On Mon, 28 Jun 2004 21:22:10 +0200, me wrote:

gee, we're talking big money here


No, he was talking about overcharging by corrupt officials. Do you
normally pay 25% more than the correct price for things without
question just because you're told to?

He's probably an American - accustomed to tipping eveyone who moves!!!





"Chris Blunt" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 28 Jun 2004 21:22:10 +0200, me wrote:

gee, we're talking big money here


No, he was talking about overcharging by corrupt officials. Do you
normally pay 25% more than the correct price for things without
question just because you're told to?

http://pookaibooks.org/weblog/2004/0...-but-very.html

A member of the Yahoo's Travel Cambodia group had an experience
similar to the one posted on the Tales of Asia overland section. It
seems border scammers are getting increasingly aggressive, which
threatens to ruin the fun experience of traveling by land through
Cambodia via Thailand.


Several months ago, returning to Cambodia after a long absence, took
the public bus from Mohchit (BKK North bus terminal, 164 baht). Being
used to the border shenanigans I just took it easy on the Thai side
eating something and browsing the huge border market before crossing
over.

Watching out for pickpockets I crossed the border over the bridge and
noticed the visa booth has disappeared. ... Now the visa is issued at
the first building on the right hand side after you cross the
bridge/border. IGNORING the guy standing next to the window and acting
like an official I took a visa form, filled it out, attached a
passport photo, put in a $20 bill and put it through the window and
giving it to the immigration officer. At first he ignored me than told
me to give it to the scam guy standing outside. I ignored what he said
and just smiled at him with resolve. He said:"1000 baht."

I said: "I don't have Thai baht, here's $20."

He said: "the visa costs 1000 baht" (1000baht=$25 and change...)

I answered (getting ****ed off but not showing that...): "No, the visa
costs only $20, here look at my passport, it's full of Cambodian
visas..."

He just shrugged his head and said: "No, go and change money." I just
stood there smiling at him (it is important to smile, even when you
are angry). Finally, his resolve broke and he asked: "You are not
returning to Thailand today?" (Expats who live in Thailand use the
border for visa runs...) I answered: "No, I'm going to visit my family
in Siem Reap."

He than took the passport, form & $20 bill and I got my visa 5 minutes
later. This was the hardest confrontation I have had so far at this
border and though I was smiling the whole time and didn't show it, but
it was really unpleasant !

After you get your visa walk back to the sidewalk, turn right and walk
into Cambodia ignoring people and police who ask you to come and fill
in a health report.… That's just an other scam.

After passing 2 casinos (approx 200 meters) there's a booth on the
right where they stamp your passport into Cambodia. Then you pass a
road block and a policeman inspects your passport and you walk out
straight into the mess that Poipet is.

A month later, coming to the border to renew my visa I just gave my
passport with no hassle whatsoever ...

I still think (traveling overland) is a much more interesting way of
entering Cambodia although less comfortable than flying.

The Math behind the Scam ...

$1 us = 40 Thai Baht.
20$ = 800 Thai Baht.
1000 Thai Baht= 25$ .

Consider just 100 people crossing the border daily ... 5$ X 100 = 500
$ X 30 days a month = 15,000 $ a month.

$15,000 is a lot of money anywhere in the world but in Cambodia it's a
prince's ransom!

Puu'rk Roluoi in the Khmer language means something rotten and decayed
giving of a very bad smell and in colloquial it means simply:
CORRUPTION. There is no reason to help the corruption!

Corruption is prevalent because of many reasons but one of them is
simply that the ordinary people put up with it and don't fight back!





"A Mate" wrote in message . au...
He's probably an American - accustomed to tipping eveyone who moves!!!





"Chris Blunt" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 28 Jun 2004 21:22:10 +0200, me wrote:

gee, we're talking big money here


No, he was talking about overcharging by corrupt officials. Do you
normally pay 25% more than the correct price for things without
question just because you're told to?