Beware of passport snatching delivery guys

[DrTuner]

I had a nasty experience yesterday with a DHL delivery van. I ordered some items from UK Amazon and they got, as usual, stuck at the customs. Everything prepaid as it is with Amazon. DHL requested the usual passport copy etc via email, which I provided. Then I saw the van arrive and was thinking "ah great, here's my stuff". The delivery dude told he needs my ID, I thought ok, that's cool. What happened after I got my passport was not cool.

 

I showed the passport to the delivery man, after which he prompted me to give it to him. Now I was in an euphoric state about the possibility of actually getting something out of the clutches of the evil Thai customs, so my brain wasn't turned on 100% and I gave it to him, thinking he wants to get a closer look. He then deposited it in an envelope and tried to walk away with it, at which point DEFCON 1 kicked in and I grabbed the envelope back and took my passport before he could get away with it. There was no explanation whatsoever but just a meek "No?" from the guy.

 

DHL will get my passport over my dead body. It's a document that I'm required to have available at all times and is very hard to replace if lost. 

 

I know the reason behind this is that for some reason Thai customs has started to request the original passport, especially with DHL and Amazon. Nothing was communicated to me before this incident, I knew it from previous experience when during the lockdown another item got stuck and was refunded to me by Amazon. To send a passport snatcher to deal with Thai customs is just unacceptable and I will make a complaint to DHL.

 

You have been warned. Keep your passports glued to your hands.

[Somtamnication]

Scary stuff, second only to two Thai women standing on either side of me at an ATM!!!

[Stadtler]

1 hour ago, DrTuner said:

You have been warned. Keep your passports glued to your hands.

Stadtler only hands his passport to bank tellers and immigration.  Stadtler won't give his passport to a hotel clerk.  Stadtler makes copies of his passport and gives them the copies while showing them the passport but not putting into their grubby little hands.  Stadtler would never let anyone "hold" his passport for any reason.

[Puchaiyank]

The "requirements " to live by Thai "rules" just get more punitive and inane. I once recommended wearing boots to maneuver the bs...moving to chest high waders...good luck!

[OneeyedJohn]

Everything I look at on Amazon doesn't get delivered to Thaiiand.

 

Wot's that all about

[Stadtler]

5 minutes ago, Puchaiyank said:

The "requirements " to live by Thai "rules" just get more punitive and inane. I once recommended wearing boots to maneuver the bs...moving to chest high waders...good luck!

Of course!

 

Isn't it obvious to anyone with a brain?  The Thais make a sport of making each other miserable.

 

"MISERY LOVES COMPANY."

 

[bkk6060]

Hmmm. Never heard of this.

That is quite the accusation you are making.

Interesting, what did the OP order?  Maybe he has been flagged for some reason?

I have never been asked for my passport upon delivery.

To actually confiscate a passport sounds pretty serious.

I would think a followup with DHL should be persued.

Let is know.

Edited June 27, 2020 by bkk6060

[Kwasaki]

Thai DL is ID too, my passport only goes over a Immigration desk or a Bank counter never to anyone else, exception is passport renewal via EMS.

[DrTuner]

33 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

Interesting, what did the OP order? 

Kärcher cleaner bottles, it's a special click-and-go thingy for a high pressure washer. Thai customs must think it's liquid plutonium. The first thing that got stuck in the same way was an IR temperature meter - same things you now see everywhere. 

 

This is a new development, I've ordered many items delivered by DHL before and a scanned copy of the passport via email was enough. Now they require the actual passport.

 

If I ever order again, I'll put in in wife's name. Thai ID cards are easy to replace when lost by a hapless delivery guy.

Edited June 27, 2020 by DrTuner

[DrTuner]

13 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

Thai DL is ID too, my passport only goes over a Immigration desk or a Bank counter never to anyone else, exception is passport renewal via EMS.

DHL specifically asks for copy of passport, including the last entry stamp.

 

 

Amazon provided DHL with a very clean waybill, yet they also require it in Thai. Yes, it's getting ridicilous. They did accept it in English though.

 

This has only happened with Amazon UK. If I put my tinfoil hat on, I'd suspect Lazada or some other competitor is causing trouble.

 

BTW it looked like the passport snatcher had a few successes as there was a pile of DHL envelopes on the passenger seat he was getting the envelope from. Good luck to those that gave them.

Edited June 27, 2020 by DrTuner

[rvaviator]

1 hour ago, Stadtler said:

Stadtler only hands his passport to bank tellers and immigration.  Stadtler won't give his passport to a hotel clerk.  Stadtler makes copies of his passport and gives them the copies while showing them the passport but not putting into their grubby little hands.  Stadtler would never let anyone "hold" his passport for any reason.

Stadtler sounds like a very sensible bloke in this respect ... ????

[Kwasaki]

11 minutes ago, DrTuner said:

DHL specifically asks for copy of passport, including the last entry stamp.

 

 

Amazon provided DHL with a very clean waybill, yet they also require it in Thai. Yes, it's getting ridicilous. They did accept it in English though.

 

This has only happened with Amazon UK. If I put my tinfoil hat on, I'd suspect Lazada or some other competitor is causing trouble.

If that's the case quite frankly I wouldn't use DHL.

[DrTuner]

1 minute ago, Kwasaki said:

If that's the case quite frankly I wouldn't use DHL.

Didn't have a choice. That's an Amazon Prime delivery and they selected the carrier. Yes, I will be complaining to Amazon as well.

 

BTW the delivery costs were more than the goods. But since it's a special item I can't find here I ordered it.

Edited June 27, 2020 by DrTuner

[pixelaoffy]

Steer clear of DHL and Fedex like it's a virus! had experience with them and it's not worth the hassle 

[NanLaew]

2 hours ago, Somtamnication said:

Scary stuff, second only to two Thai women standing on either side of me at an ATM!!!

...and you know them both.

[DrTuner]

4 hours ago, Somtamnication said:

Scary stuff, second only to two Thai women standing on either side of me at an ATM!!!

I know. I'll probably end up on Pattaya One frontpage with a headline screaming "MAN WANTS TO CLEAN DRIVEWAY - GETS HIS IDENTITY STOLEN".

 

13 years. That's how long I've dealed with this BS. Kasikorn clerks asking for ATM pin. True clerk wanting me to open my phone screen lock for her. People running who knows where with my passport at Changwattana. My cup runneth over. Open the bloody border so I can get out.

[Stadtler]

3 hours ago, rvaviator said:

Stadtler sounds like a very sensible bloke in this respect ... ????

Stadtler is quite a mensch.

[facer]

24 minutes ago, Stadtler said:

Stadtler is quite a mensch.

Ubermensch ;)

[kralledr]

Not be paranoid dude, i have send them my passport a few times by now, and always got it Back in under 3 days.

[DrTuner]

6 hours ago, kralledr said:

Not be paranoid dude, i have send them my passport a few times by now, and always got it Back in under 3 days.

I had my passport stolen once. That was in the Schengen area and the effort to get a new one was still formidable (police reports, a report from Interpol because it was stolen in a third country, a written statement at the consulate and of course money). It would be a nightmare here with the elite visa attached. 

 

Not to mention it's a legal obligation to be able to present the passport in Thailand when asked by f.ex. immigration police. And yes they have popped by out of the blue at the house and asked before.

 

Over my dead body. But hey up to you.

[DrTuner]

Reported issue to Amazon and they refunded immediately. Can't fault their services. They also mentioned they'll take it up with DHL.

 

Also complained to DHL directly. It is unacceptable to try to get somebody's passport without asking for consent. 

 

For those that get a passport snatcher at the door, just say no. Otherwise they'll get the bright idea of it being ok to do so.

Edited June 29, 2020 by DrTuner

[A1Str8]

It's actually easy to get another one. You simply go to the embassy. 

On the other side, if you just asked him nicely to give it back, he would. 

[DrTuner]

DHL answered to the complaint, apologized and mentioned they will take it up with their people to make sure recipients are informed of the need to present the original passport.

 

It's a small improvement but also means I will not be ordering anything under my name anymore, as the closest customs office is 30km away. This is a new requirement from Thai customs that makes life here yet more unpleasant.

 

Amazon already refunded, so the damage was high blood pressure and confirmation of a country going down the toilet.

Edited June 30, 2020 by DrTuner

[Oldie]

On 6/30/2020 at 3:32 AM, A1Str8 said:

It's actually easy to get another one. You simply go to the embassy. 

On the other side, if you just asked him nicely to give it back, he would. 

It is not easy to get a new passport - you have to go to the police and to the embassy and it is a lot of hassle. You also need all things from the Thai immigration again. You will be busy for a while. 

[DrTuner]

Just now, Oldie said:

It is not easy to get a new passport - you have to go to the police and to the embassy and it is a lot of hassle. You also need all things from the Thai immigration again. You will be busy for a while. 

And updating all banks and other places where you have KYC'd. Days of work.