ANNOUNCEMENT!! EXTREME CAUTION WHEN HIRING A CAR

[dr dave soul monsta]

PLEASE TAKE NOTE
WHEN HIRING A VEHICLE OF ANY TYPE USE A REPUTABLE AGENT.
I RECENTLY HIED A VEHICLE (SAT &TH TO BE PRECISE)
FROM A PLACE 100 METERS DOWN FROM THE NEW POLICE STATION
ON DAMNERM KASEM RD INBETWEEN FAMILY MART AND THE 7/11
I MADE ARRANGREMENTS TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE AT 8 AM SATURDAY MORNING,I STREESED TO THEM I HAD A APPOINTMENT IN BANGKOK AT 11 AM THEY SAID NO PROBLEM, I STRESSED AGAIN "I WILL BE HERE AT 8 AM READY TO GO" WILL YOU? YES THEY SAID SO THE DEAL WAS DONE
SAT MORNING 7 50AM I STOOD WAITING FOR THE SAID VEHICLE TO ARRIVE 8 AM NO VEHICLE 8 10 AM NO VEHICLE A PHONE CALL TOOK PLACE ,
WHERES THE VEHICLE ? WE HAVNT GOT ONE WAS THE REPLY
WHAT THE F**K DO YOU MEAN YOU HAVNT GOT ONE !( IM NOT KNOWN FOR MY PATIENCE )
WE TRIED TO CALL YOU LAST NIGHT BUT YOU DIDNT ANSWER
NO YOU DIDNT ( THEY HADN'T)
I CALL YOU BACK IN A MOMENT WAS THE REPLY
I WAITED 10 MINS THEN MY MRS RECIEVED A CALL " WE HAVE YOUR VEHICLE IN 10 MINS
NOW ITS 9 45 AM , A VEHICLE OR SHOULD I SAY A MOBILE SKIP APPEARD FROM THE MAIN RD
IT HAD MORE DENTS IN IT THAN A DEMOLITION DERBY CAR
IS THAT HEAP LEGAL I ASKED IN DISBELIEF ,YES THEYREPLIED IT IS MY FRIENDS ,"HE'S A POLICE MAN YOU WILL NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS "
SITUATED ON THE DASH BOARD SAT A FADED BERRY WITH A HUA HIN POLICE BADGE TO BOOT AND A LOVELY STICKER ON EACH END OF THE WINDOW SAYING POLICE HUA HIN
YEAH RIGHT I THOUGHT
I WAS ALREADY LATE VERY SUSPICOUS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE BUT HAD TO BE ON MY WAY
SO OFF WE WENT LATE BUT ON THE WAY
WE WAS JUST ABOUT TO GET ON THE MAIN RD TO BKK JUST OUT OF CHA AM ALREADY SUFERING FROM WHITE FINGER FROM THE VIBRATION FROM THE STEERING WHEEL ,WHEN LOW AND BEHOLD CHA AM POLICE ARE HAVING THEIR MONTHLY ROAD BLOCK /POCKET MONEY TOP UP
STRAIGHT AWAY WE WERE PULLED IN, NO SURPRISE!
SOME GEEZA IN SHADES AND A UNIFORM 6 SIZES TOO SMALL SHOVES HIS HEAD THROUGH THE WINDOW SAYING SOMTHING WHAT RESEMBLED THE VOICE OF A DARLEK FROM DR WHO
MY MRS SAID HE WANTS YOUR LICENCE (SHE IS THAI AND SPEAKS DARLEK TOO )I GAVE HIM MY GENUINE UK ALL CLASS LICENCE , HE WASNT IMPRESSED AT ALL( I HAD TO TAKE A TEST TO GET THAT ,HE GOT HIS VIA A KINDER EGG SURPRISE )
HE WAFFLED SOME MORE DARLEK AND BECKENED ME TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE (THATS BASICLY THE SAME IN ANY LANGUAGE)AND WE WALKED ACROSS THE THE CHEIF DARLEK (DAVROSS) WHO WAS SAT AT HIS MOBILE DESK IN THE CENTRAL RESERVATION , HE PROCEEDED TO DEMAND 300 BIG ONES AND EXPLAINED TO THE MRS THAT THE CAR SHOULDNT BE DRIVEN BECAUSE IT WASNT INSURED OR TAXED AND HAD A NUMBER PLATE MISING ON THE BACK
GREAT I THOUGHT "IM GOING TO JAIL AND IM GOING TO GET RAPED BY MR BIG IN THE SHOWERS"
AFTER SOME DARLEK CHIT CHAT BETWEEN THE MRS AND DAVROSS WE WERE ALOWED TO GO
BUT DAVROSS DID SAY TO MY MRS "EVEN IF THE GUY WE RENTED THE CAR OFF IS A POLICE MAN HE IS A D**cK HEAD THINKING HE CAN GET AWAY WITH OUT PAYING HIS DUES FOR USING THE ROAD"
ANY WAY GOT TO BKK AND BACK PHONE THE WOMAN WE GOT THE CAR OFF SHE SAID SHE WOULD GIVE THE 300 BIG ONES BACK
NEXT MORNIG TOOK THE SKIP BACK <NO SIGN OF THE WOMAN JUST HER SIBLING WHO PROMPTLY DEMANDED 100 BAHT PER HOUR AND THE VEHICLE WAS 2 HOURS LATE . I EXPLAIND NO IT ISNT I LEFT HERE WITH THE SKIP THE ILEGAL SKIP AFTER 10 AM 2 HOURS LATE AND YOU OWE ME 300 BAHT FOR THE FINE "NO NO NO YOU PAY ME 200 BAHT FOR BE LATE "I REPLIED WATCH MY LIPS "
REMOVED THE POLICE PAPER FOR THE FINE FROM HER HAND S AND WENT HOME TO DISCUSS THIS WITH THE WIFE ,WHO PROMPTLY CALLED THE WOMAN WE HAD HIRED THE SKIP OFF !
BLA BLA BLA THE WOMAN SIA SHE WOULD CONTACT THA POLICE MAN WHO OWNED THE CAR AN GET THE MONEY OFF HIM
YEAH RIGHT
THE PHONE RANG LATER
T WAS DA PALICE MAN
HE WAS VERY COCK SURE OF HIMSELF AND RUDE ( DONT WORRY MATE WE WILL BE DEALING WITH YOU SOON!)
ANY WAY THERS A PHOTO OF THE HIRE STALL WITH THIS MESSAGE
DONT USE THEM FOR ANY THING

ON FURTHER INSPECTION ALL THEIR MOTOR CYCLES WERNT TAXED OR HAD CURRENT INSURANCE DISCS EITHER
SO STAY WELL CLEAR BE WARNED ESPECIALY UNWARY TOURISTS

BELIEVE IT OR NOT AVIS ARE THE CHEAPEST RENTAL ANGENCY IN TOWN AND YOU GET A NEW MOTOR TO BOOT BUDGET NEVER HAVE ANYTHING IN EXCEPT SUZUKI RHINO 'S OR AS I CALL THEM MOBILE OVENS
HAVE FUN FOLKS

AND STAY AWAY FROM THE THAI HIRES ON THE STREET

[lomuamart]

Definitely watch out for the private hire vehicles.
To drive a car, or ride a motorcycle in Thailand, you need an international driving licence. A UK one will not do. A while ago, some people were being stopped and fined for not having a Thai motorcycle licence. I'm not aware this policy is being persued any more.
On the subject of vehicle maintenence, some time ago a few of us hired a car to do the visa run to Ranong. It was not our usual hire place as they had nothing available.
After helling down the dual carriagway at 140-160 kph, we all noticed a banging sound. Knowing the road on to Ranong had few garages, we pulled over to try to find out what was wrong.
It turned out that the front, nearside wheel had three nuts that were so loose, they could be tightened by hand. Needless to say, there wasn't the appropriate wheel brace or jack. We managed to borrow the right tools, did the nuts up and went on our way.
On returning to HH, we pointed out the potentially fatal consequences of this atrocious maintenence. Just got a shrug. Never did use the place again.
Definitely, use a reputable hire company. It's scary out there

[VincentD]

After helling down the dual carriagway at 140-160 kph,

You were doing that in a hired car?

[easy for me]

They want you to crash, that's where the good money is for them.
I've had a front brake nicked of a rental motorbike before and was charged 20 times what the whole front brake unit would cost.
I left the bike parked outside overnight and it was next door to where i rented the bike. It seems obvious that the rental shop nicked it themselves for the extra cash but no proof. "you sign contract, pay now. "
I feel a bit sorry for the scum having to make a bit of money like that.

[Jimsknight]

I Don't!!
There utter the scum of thieves trying to extract as much cash as possible! THese are the type of thais that consider every falang to arrive at Don Meuang Airport to be a walking atm machine! Fck that idea and fck them too!
A similar system goes on on Koh Tao were they point out a problem that was already present when you took the bike! You pay me XXXX baht for new part!
Do they pay for new part? Do they fck!
Best thing to do is buy a bloody bike/car, less hassle from the rental gimps

Okay rant over boys!

[boydiethescot]

Hi,

I also used these guys for a car and driver to take me and my stuff to Koh Samui, and after asking the guy three times, "You take me all the way, on ferry" and the reply alway "yes, Sure, Yes", guy turned up on time and off we went, then when we got to the ferry terminal he said he was scared, off a F**king Huge Ferry. So he asked a taxi driver to take us and our stuff over, and wanted me to pay an extra 1000 baht, F**k that, I wasn't paying another dime, I got there in the end and got some money back off him, this must be the first case of someone actually getting money back, abit of Scottish Rating and Raving done the trick.

[Jimsknight]

Nice One Boydie!

If everyone fought their corner like that then there would less scams and rip-off merchants eh?

[captsensible]

Nice One Boydie!

If everyone fought their corner like that then there would less scams and rip-off merchants eh?

Unfortunately we farang do not really follow up on the complaint.

As for the original postee, I have used the(edited)people and have absolutely zero complaints. I hired for 2 days and checked out the price of other companie's Avis, Budget and yes the illegal dodgy ones alongside Burger King and the Sofitel Hotel and they were cheaper. Nice new car also, ended up with the car for 10 days as my parents liked it so much, free for me he he.

[tuktukmike]

I always use Budget and have never had any complaints, as an Emirates gold card holder i always get an upgrade and also if you apply for a corporate card you get a very good discount.

And the air miles of course.

Always new cars and delivered to your home with a smile, and to date no suzukis.

[khaosai]

Hopefully no complaints about EK either Mike. Rgds.

[tuktukmike]

No complaints about EK ever,

Tried many other airlines but Emirates are the best for me.

I get free upgrade 99% of the time, also have access to first class lounges although Bangkok lounge really needs sorting.

Cheap cigs in Dubai each way,

Although i must admit that wife travelled with them for the first time on her own and when i met her at Bkk airport all she had was a big ski jacket as they lost her luggage in Dubai.

Mike

[suej]

Hua Hin novice here. Coming out in August for a second visit thinking of hiring a car - how do we go about getting international driving licence in uk? also someone mentioned emirates upgrades how do you do that? + in process of buying house and setting up limited company can we get dicounts through being in a co. As i said i am a total novice

[larry70dj]

log onto www.theaa.com and search for International Driving Permit. It gives you a list of all the post offices where you can buy one. It costs £5.

[tuktukmike]

If you have a silver or gold card with Emirates log onto www.budget.co.th and you enter your Skywards membership number, They will be waiting for you at arrivals with your name on a board, they will then take you to your car in the car park and away you go.

To get corperate rates you will need to apply for a card in the UK or better to pick up a form at budget office over here.

You can see details of upgrades on the Emirates site.

Mike.

www.tuk-tuk.co.uk