Fake VISA Agency!! Who protect us ??

[ecosouq 3]

I had an experience with a fake visa agency .. they request 5000 THB initially before starting any step .. after we got extension from government last Sep 26th , they disappear and not reply to my calls , line chats, and e-mails. 

In this case ; to whom we can complaint ?. who protect our rights?. how i can get back my money ??. where i can complaint ?.. 

 

(Deleted)

[mstevens 2,375]

These agencies are operating in the grey zone and this sort of thing isn't unheard of. I know this does not answer your question, but any problems with your passport and visa can turn in to a real nightmare and is the primary reason why many of us would never get involved with an "agency".

Edited November 26, 2020 by mstevens

[Lacessit 22,928]

Write the money off to experience. Getting it back could cost you a lot more than 5000 baht in lawyers.

[alianware 463]

How do you know this agency ? Where is the office ? You were in their office before ? 

[CharlieH 28,697]

There is a Government hotline number you can use to seek advice and guidance,

 

NCPO Thai government. 24 hour Call Center 1111 http://www.1111.go.th/

 

They deal with any and all complaints related to anything and everything.

 

Do not name names or specific locations here on the forum, Thailand has strict defamation laws.

 

 

[Jingthing 69,946]

This is only my opinion as someone that has never used a visa agency and doesn't intend to.

There are two sorts of visa agency services.

 

There is the "hand holding" type that assist people in doing fully legit applications where the applicants actually can meet their own financial requirements and can prove it. They might be a convenience to busy people, people intimidated by dealing directly with immigration offices, or people that don't speak English or Thai. In such cases the applicants would be submitting the same documents as people doing it themselves, their own actual money in their own bank account if required, actual income flows if required, etc., etc. 

 

The other type, the type we are usually discussing when the topic of visa agents come up are the legal "grey" area type. They are assisting people that don't, can't, or won't actually meet the financial requirements, etc. They use certain "methods" that we don't usually discuss here to avoid actually needing to legitimately meet the requirements as an in person or hand hold applicant would. 

 

If the O.P. was intending to use that agent for the "grey" area type, if I was him, I would forget about the 5,000 as money well spent on a lesson to never deal with that particular agency again. 

 

Complaining to authorities if the intention was to skirt actually meeting requirements seems to me as totally nuts. Calling attention to you as much as the agency, if not more. Totally not worth the risk over 5,000 in my opinion which by the way, wouldn't necessarily be returned even if you did complain to authorities.

 

In the case this was for a totally legit service (hand holding type) that would depend I suppose on their policy on refunds and whether that was told to you, any contract you might have signed, etc.

 

Edited November 26, 2020 by Jingthing

[ezzra 43,757]

Just like everything else in life and specially in Thailand, when it comes to dealing with these kind of people and services the saying "caveat emptor" must be observed every time as there're many crooks out there that will take your money and disappear...

[Ventenio 2,175]

5000 is probably slightly above my "man, i got ripped off" meter..

 

I have bought 1200 baht things that broke in a day

we have all spent 10k+ on food that might not have been the best

maybe 30k+ on massages that were average

maybe 10k+ on trips and 100k+ on gf's...

 

i mean, this is Thailand, money just evaporates.....

 

on the flip side, i bought some used stuff for a few hundred baht where in the UK it sells for about 200 pounds.  I found three items like that......

 

when i was a teacher i got about 100k for days I didn't have to teach (two months off over the course of a few years).....i'm sure other teachers have made millions only counting vacations.  

 

so yea, you lost 5000......but your living in a place for 5000 instead of 40000 back home.

 

BUT NEVER DO IT AGAIN.  

[UncleMhee 509]

9 hours ago, ecosouq said:

they request 5000 THB initially before starting any step .. after we got extension from government last Sep 26th ,

Is it the agents fault you chose to go another route. NO it's not so; why do you think they don't deserve recompense for being mucked about? Bht 5000 seems about fair to me.....

[worgeordie 44,555]

You did say you got your extension...now you want your money back, am i missing

something 

regards Worgeordie

[DrJack54 7,096]

This post is more directed to anyone planning on using an agent. 

Always deal with well know agencies. Meaning have office space etc. 

There are few bandits that rent a space in shared office space. Some people are attracted due to cheaper prices.

Deal with well know agent and you will have zero issues.

OP your money is gone. You should of sort advice before you went with "scam agent"

[2530Ubon 1,406]

5 hours ago, CharlieH said:

 

NCPO Thai government. 24 hour Call Center 1111 http://www.1111.go.th/

Your information is a little out dated @CharlieH

 

As the NCPO is no more, it has since been renamed to GCC - Government Contact Center

 

You may have difficulty explaining yourself as it's now a Thai e-government line for Thai people to complain about anything to do with the government, or to offer suggestions and get information about government projects etc. 

 

It no longer operates as a foreign tourist complaint line - mostly because people call the tourist police on 1155.

 

To the OP: Please do register a complaint with the tourist police. You might not get your money back, but your complaint and the details of the 'agent' will be registered with the police and may help other people with the same 'agent' later on.

Edited November 27, 2020 by 2530Ubon

[CharlieH 28,697]

7 minutes ago, 2530Ubon said:

Your information is a little out dated @CharlieH

 

As the NCPO is no more, it has since been renamed to GCC - Government Contact Center

 

You may have difficulty explaining yourself as it's now a Thai e-government line for Thai people to complain about anything to do with the government, or to offer suggestions and get information about government projects etc. 

 

It no longer operates as a foreign tourist complaint line - mostly because people call the tourist police on 1155.

 

To the OP: Please do register a complaint with the tourist police. You might not get your money back, but your complaint and the details of the 'agent' will be registered with the police and may help other people with the same 'agent' later on.

Appreciate the update, thank you.

[eeworldwide 1,721]

1 hour ago, worgeordie said:

You did say you got your extension...now you want your money back, am i missing

something 

regards Worgeordie

Im assuming the OP has received their extension, but judging from the date (26th) they have not received their actual visa?

 

(usually issued after a 30 day extension).

 

However = it doesn't seem likely to me that they SHOULD receive a visa because they cannot get a visa for 5000 through an agency. It would cost quite a lot more.

If indeed this is the case, then there has obviously been seriously bad communication on both parties part, and the OP is now in a very dangerous situation and could face deportation.

At the very least OP needs to seek proper legal/immigration advice (and should not mention the agency) and find out if he can be here under the current amnesty if not, he will either have to stump up the money to get his visa the normal way  - or  - leave the country and back from whence he came.

 

 

[VocalNeal 7,275]

I think there is a huge difference between a vias agent and a visa agency!