Hitting a bum note
By The Nation
Published on October 22, 2009
Karaoke fans complain of extortion after being slapped with huge bills at Bangkok bar
Bangkok karaoke-bar fans who enjoy late-night crooning better make sure they go armed with at least Bt30,000. Otherwise they face extortion threats and loss of their mobile phones.
If that doesn't sound too scary, or you think that inflated bills can always be negotiated, think again. Two customers of a karaoke pub near Phong Phet intersection in north Bangkok have filed a police complaint after they were held at the premises until they agreed to cough up at least Bt15,000 of a Bt30,000 tab.
Roughed up by staff
Atthaphan Jaithiang and girlfriend Areerwan Satham told Prachachuen police they were surrounded by five staff members and prevented from leaving even though they agreed to pay half the huge bill. Atthapan reports that staff snatched his mobile phone then his girlfriend's after they tried to contact their friends for help. They described how bar staff then threatened to frisk them for the money. When Atthaphan agreed to withdraw money from his bank account, the staff refused to let him find an ATM machine on his own, and took his card off him to withdraw the money themselves.
Atthaphan said he thought the Bt7,000 he took into bar would be more than enough to pay for a few hours of karaoke.
Police are investigating a separate complaint of overcharging by two customers of the same karaoke bar, who say they were presented with a Bt16,000 bill that included a Bt200 charge for four cold towels. They paid Bt8,000 and were forced to leave to their mobile phones as a guarantee for the remainder.
Prachachuen police say they are gathering evidence to determine whether charges of robbery, extortion and restraint of freedom could be filed against the bar's staff. They have also contacted the Office of Consumer Protection and the Commerce Ministry's Department of Internal Trade, who are looking into the matter.
How much?!
Bt2,250 for 45 bottles of mixer
Bt800 for food
Bt4,400 per hour for two hostesses
Bt2,000 per hour for unrequested hostess
Bt200 for four cold towels
Bt400 for four dishes of sweets
Sing a sour note?
Sing a sour note?
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
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Wanderlust
- Legend
- Posts: 2862
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Re: Sing a sour note?
I recall something of the same sort happening to me when I was young, in Sct. Pauli, Hamburg. In those days there were no mobile phones to take, so they took my wristwatch. This is an old scam happening to tourists every night in all sleezy neighborhoods in all parts of the world. Just watch where you are going....prcscct wrote:Hitting a bum note
By The Nation
Published on October 22, 2009
Karaoke fans complain of extortion after being slapped with huge bills at Bangkok bar
Bangkok karaoke-bar fans who enjoy late-night crooning better make sure they go armed with at least Bt30,000. Otherwise they face extortion threats and loss of their mobile phones.
If that doesn't sound too scary, or you think that inflated bills can always be negotiated, think again. Two customers of a karaoke pub near Phong Phet intersection in north Bangkok have filed a police complaint after they were held at the premises until they agreed to cough up at least Bt15,000 of a Bt30,000 tab.
Roughed up by staff
Atthaphan Jaithiang and girlfriend Areerwan Satham told Prachachuen police they were surrounded by five staff members and prevented from leaving even though they agreed to pay half the huge bill. Atthapan reports that staff snatched his mobile phone then his girlfriend's after they tried to contact their friends for help. They described how bar staff then threatened to frisk them for the money. When Atthaphan agreed to withdraw money from his bank account, the staff refused to let him find an ATM machine on his own, and took his card off him to withdraw the money themselves.
Atthaphan said he thought the Bt7,000 he took into bar would be more than enough to pay for a few hours of karaoke.
Police are investigating a separate complaint of overcharging by two customers of the same karaoke bar, who say they were presented with a Bt16,000 bill that included a Bt200 charge for four cold towels. They paid Bt8,000 and were forced to leave to their mobile phones as a guarantee for the remainder.
Prachachuen police say they are gathering evidence to determine whether charges of robbery, extortion and restraint of freedom could be filed against the bar's staff. They have also contacted the Office of Consumer Protection and the Commerce Ministry's Department of Internal Trade, who are looking into the matter.
How much?!
Bt2,250 for 45 bottles of mixer
Bt800 for food
Bt4,400 per hour for two hostesses
Bt2,000 per hour for unrequested hostess
Bt200 for four cold towels
Bt400 for four dishes of sweets
A friend is only one click away
Oh yes - I had an experience there, too. Soho basement joint, sweet young thing joins the table, gets a drink, my friend and I talk to her for five minutes. When we get the check there is a £200 charge for the drink for the lady. The bully on duty kept us there until we threatened to call in the marines from the U.S. Embassy.STEVE G wrote:Yes, I don't know if it still goes on but it used to happen in Londons Soho district all the time.
One might suspect that some of the Karaoke joints on the Klong Road may run similar schemes with all that young flesh exhibited at the entrances. I've learned my lesson and can stay away.
Except, of course, if I have to come to the rescue of Herr von Schmallhausen whose swastica armband was found in a nearby ditch. Still no news of Herr von Schmallhausen's whereabouts...
A friend is only one click away
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
You were actually the first BB, but it got muddled with the MOD change. As long as I can keep posts interesting and informative I'll continue on, but I'm slowing down. BaaBaa is sure to overtake in due course.Big Boy wrote:By the way Pete, congratulations on becoming the first Addict
Pete Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
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Wanderlust
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- Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2004 12:27 pm
- Location: Hua Hin
