Foreigner Beaten By Tuk-Tuk Drivers After Not Paying Extortionate Fee At Karaoke Bar

[Frank James 2,097]

I want to write a few words in defense of the tuk-tuk drivers in Chiang Mai. I have taken a lot of rides in tuk tuks, and nobody ever took me for "a ride", except one night when I was very drunk and handed the driver 2000 baht,instead of the already overly-generous 200. He thanked me and drove away. I heard he went back to the bar and they were all laughing about it. I was too embarrassed to ever complain.

One driver more than once picked me up on time at 7:00 AM, took me to Immigration, and waited the whole 2+ hours to take me home. Total bill: 150 baht.

In Chiang Mai, if you have no car or motorbike, it's either a tuk-tuk or a songteaw, and those make me paranoid. I've often wondered why there isn't a motorbike taxi service here. I liked getting around that way in BKK.

i have no experience of Karaoke bars, but was warned early to avoid them.

[WinnieTheKhwai 7,563]

(Never mind.. this topic went a lot faster than I thought it would; removed one comment directed at a fairly new forum member. This topic sure brought them out! )

Edited May 8, 2013 by WinnieTheKhwai

[WinnieTheKhwai 7,563]

I'm happy I'm getting my kicks in a safe place like Pattaya, relatively speaking.

(No tuk tuk drivers, and no need for desperate end-of-the-universe spots like karaoke bars.)

Edited May 8, 2013 by WinnieTheKhwai

[ppmacready 415]

I for one would help. Extortion is a bullsh*t racket, and anybody who tries it, especially with a fellow ex-pat would get the living crap beat out of them. I would have dared the tuk tuk driver to have tried that with me. I'd beat his as* in front of the BIB.

Couldn't help but notice you have only posted 4 times.

You seem pretty new in Thailand.

The Thais are not into fighting one on one.

I hope you have good medical insurance.

[sunray69 4]

If the guy had a bottle of Dom Perignon, 4000 instead of 17000 is a real good deal

I hope he enjoyed it...

[VINCENT2012 198]

A long-term expat in a karaoke ? well,well well !!

for sure, it is 100 % a prostitute bar girl for thais who goes there to get drunk like a hell ,get a tender love for a "chua khao" and have fun their ways ....they normaly dont speak english and dont like the farang too much.

this dum person knew where he was going and for sure something hapenned in the bar that we dont know.

the rest is pure story.

if you dont want ANY trouble ....all over the world FROM PARIS TO BANGKOK it is always the same .....never go alone in funny places. for you.

Edited May 8, 2013 by metisdead
Oversized font reset to normal

[puukao 2,432]

This is simple exploitation 101. Find foreigner, hopefully old, and take him to a place outside of his comfort zone. Then give him a few beers, threaten him, go to the nearest ATM, and, unfortunately, beat him up. You feel powerless in another country, and they know it. You trust strangers more in a foreign country, and you shouldn't. You thought everyone would love you and paradise would last forever. well, wake up call.

so, before you go out next time......train like Tyson.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpHNmL9hs_I

[metisdead 8,472]

Off topic baiting posts and replies have been removed. The topic is not about hotels that have 2 exits, the topic is about a foreigner beaten by tuk tuk drivers after not paying extortionate fee at a karaoke bar.

[Just1Voice 24,313]

Never mind. Mod just beat me to it as I was writing.

Edited May 8, 2013 by Just1Voice

[finnomick1 106]

.....and the government have announced a(nother) crackdown on fare cheating taxi drivers......some chance

[possum1931 11,380]

I don't know what country you come from, but I can assure you that Thailand is very safe to walk about in. I have done it for 7 years and never had a problem. I do not blame you for carrying a weapon as I carry a weapon with me when I go back to the UK, and if anyone as much as threatens me with violence I won't hesitate to use it, and I have, I also carried a hammer in my car, but never had to use it. I do not care what the law says, my safety comes first. If Thailand was as unsafe as the UK, I would not live here.

I was involved in a situation where I was minding my own business, and it was two to one so I used my weapon (not a knife) and when the first guy went down, his mate carried him away. I reported it to the police in case the guy was seriously injured and had to go to hospital. The police took my particulars and told me if the assailents reported the incident, I would be arrested and charged with assault, so If I never carried a weapon I could have been dead.

There is no need to carry a weapon here in Thailand, it is very unlikely you will be attacked if all you are doing is walking down the street and minding your own business, although there are exceptions, the Thai people are very non confrontational.

[ABCer 1,924]

Always a bad idea to go to these bars. especially by tuk tuks who are on the bars pay roll

I do not have an ideal solution to these incidents. Fact is - they do happen.

Maybe if the perpetrators knew that the retribution is likely they would think twice?

These drivers are not hard to find, er?

The 13,000 you saved on bar bill could be used wisely. Be generous...

[SOTIRIOS 3,635]

- A word of warning if you ‘want to do it your way’

...What's that all about, buddy.....???

....what are you implying....

....are you blaming the victim.....

(Are Westerners always to blame.......and Thais blameless in the countless crimes they perpetrate, especially against foreigners ...)

(We are greatly outnumbered, as it is...with virtually no rights or recourse...)

Edited May 8, 2013 by metisdead
Bold font removed.

[jbrain 2,821]

Steps to minimize the probability of getting into trouble with Thai people:

- Stay away from dodgy places too late at night

- Stay away from hookers too late at night

- Learn the language

- Make a positive attitude, make jokes and stuff often but be humble

- Get some Thai friends

But who gonna explain that to all those tourists who are booking their first holiday to Thailand ?

Maybe insert a flyer into the travel brochures ?

[terminatorchiangmai 1,428]

Never had any problems at the Karaoke bars. just check prices before you go in. Like : Vip private room , girl per hour , drinks , lady drinks , mama san fee (for some places its just only a drink). Last party i had with a friend we spend 800.-THB per person for 2 hours of fun , incl 2 ladies in a private vip room who drunk our beers ( no lady drink charge ), lots of beers and good food. Cheaper than Loi Kroh ! Just don't get in those places alone a specially not when you are already pissed. Have fun !