Low Season/Scam Season in bars?

[Big Boy]

Just for a change, we have a few people visiting from England and Scotland. Over the last few days they have been scammed 4 times - once on Soi 94, once on Soi 80 and twice in Binthabat. I won't name bars because it's all one person's word against another.

• Scam 1 - bill was 700฿. 1,000฿ presented, and girl told that'll be 300฿ change (in Thai). 270฿ change given. Queried but girl insisted it was correct. Then disappointed when no tip was given.

• Scam 2 - bill paid with 1,000฿, but change given for 500฿. Friend knows it was 1,000฿ because his wallet was empty, and filled 1,000฿ bills from ATM. He only had 1,000฿ denominations.

• Scam 3 - friend had been buying drinks at 110฿ in a bar. He paid his bill, and went elsewhere. He came back 1 hour later, ordered the same drink, and the price had increased to 150฿.

• Scam 4 - 2 friends had been drinking in a bar for a couple of hours. Asked for their bill, and were presented with a 4,500฿ bill. They queried it, but the bar insisted the bill was right. They had been drinking beer, so even if they had been small bottles, would have had to have drank 22.5 bottle each. Total poppycock.

Of course, each bar has lost any future custom from both the scammed persons and anybody else who was in that group. A few of the group were residents of Hua Hin, so that is potential long term business lost for the sake of a few Baht.

What message are they going to take back to the UK about the bars of Hua Hin. Yes, there were only 3 bars where these scams were played, but by the time the news gets back to the UK, the message will be generic - don't trust Hua Hin bars.

Please be careful out there guys. Consider paying as you go, at least any scam amount will be minimalised.

[buksida]

We tend to frequent the same bars where we know the owners so this doesn't happen. I would imagine it to be quite common though.

[Big Boy]

Yes, we get quite a few visitors pass through, and this is the first time I remember anything like this. The group were well known in 2 of the bars, which tells me it was staff, not owners making a fast Baht. There's only one loser in the end for such small amounts.

[Martinoo]

Which bars are know for 'honesty; or which for absolute cheaters or does that depend on the punter?

[buksida]

Due to Thailand's slander laws, the forum cannot publicly name bars where scams may have occurred.

The best practice if you're not sure or concerned, is to pay as you go and don't let big bills rack up.

[Martinoo]

Understood, thanks