News Forum - Thai cops go above and beyond to help Chinese tourist return home

[Thaiger]

Good eggs from the Royal Thai Police force in Chiang Mai Province, northern Thailand, helped a Chinese tourist get her passport back in the nick of time before her flight back to China last night. At 10pm, officers at Chang Phuak Police Station received a call from a distressed Chinese tourist. The tourist rented a …

The story Thai cops go above and beyond to help Chinese tourist return home as seen on Thaiger News.

Read the full story

[Soidog]

Assuming that’s the girl in the picture, I’d have Crawled 10km over broken glass with my hands tied behind my back to help her

Well done guys. I’m proud of you! 

[KaptainRob]

Thanks Leah, nice to see a +ve story about the RTP for a change.  One has to wonder if the BiB might have been so helpful toward a male tourist, or even whether the tourist was in fact a 'lady'.

A good point to note IMO, is there should be no reason for a hire company to hold one's passport, a copy + deposit, that's all.  

[Soidog]

5 minutes ago, KaptainRob said:

A good point to note IMO, is there should be no reason for a hire company to hold one's passport, a copy + deposit, that's all. 

I agree KR. I had a major problem with this in Patong trying to hire a motorbike. I went to three places and all insisted on keeping my passport. I remembered I had my second passport with me so decided to take that. As that wasn’t the one I used for entry to Thailand I figured if it got loads I could still get out. Even then it wasn’t enough as it didn’t have the entry stamp. I found a place in the end, but no way will I give my passport over. 

[KaptainRob]

3 minutes ago, Soidog said:

I found a place in the end, but no way will I give my passport over. 

Cheap as Chips perhaps? - best bike hire in Patong.

One should never part with ones passport as it's a valuable document without which you can be stranded and incur financial penalty or even identity theft.

[TheDirtyDurian]

57 minutes ago, Soidog said:

Assuming that’s the girl in the picture, I’d have Crawled 10km over broken glass with my hands tied behind my back to help her

Well done guys. I’m proud of you! 

Take a closer look. You might change your mind 

[Soidog]

1 hour ago, KaptainRob said:

Cheap as Chips perhaps? - best bike hire in Patong.

One should never part with ones passport as it's a valuable document without which you can be stranded and incur financial penalty or even identity theft.

No, it was a small place down Soi Sansabi, but I’ll  member your recommendation. I’ve seen where it is now

[Soidog]

42 minutes ago, TheDirtyDurian said:

Take a closer look. You might change your mind 

Well it crossed my mind……  

[Saunk]

3 hours ago, Soidog said:

Assuming that’s the girl in the picture, I’d have Crawled 10km over broken glass with my hands tied behind my back to help her

Well done guys. I’m proud of you! 

I bet you would.

[Saunk]

2 hours ago, TheDirtyDurian said:

Take a closer look. You might change your mind 

Looks like a Chinese LB.

[Soidog]

53 minutes ago, Saunk said:

Looks like a Chinese LB.

You’re just being picky now

[Marc26]

1 hour ago, Saunk said:

Looks like a Chinese LB.

Damn good looking LB then!!

[Marc26]

4 hours ago, Soidog said:

I agree KR. I had a major problem with this in Patong trying to hire a motorbike. I went to three places and all insisted on keeping my passport. I remembered I had my second passport with me so decided to take that. As that wasn’t the one I used for entry to Thailand I figured if it got loads I could still get out. Even then it wasn’t enough as it didn’t have the entry stamp. I found a place in the end, but no way will I give my passport over. 

I gave my passport to a place in Karon right on the beach rd and then the tsunami hit

 

Had no idea if I had a passport anymore...........but luckily the shop didn't get much damage

[Marc26]

4 hours ago, KaptainRob said:

 

One should never part with ones passport as it's a valuable document without which you can be stranded and incur financial penalty or even identity theft.

I have found that almost no places insist on keeping your passport anymore.......just a deposit and photpcopy

[Bluesofa]

13 hours ago, Thaiger said:

The tourist rented a car from a car rental company in the city. The company took her passport and ID card and said she would get them back once she returned the car.

I'm sure most tourists are unaware of providing a copy, and the rental shop probably won't mention it if it doesn't come up.

13 hours ago, Thaiger said:

However, when she tried to return the car last night, the shop was closed. There were just hours until her flight back home to China.

Hmm, 'just hours'. that could be two or twelve.
If I intended to return a vehicle just hours before leaving for a flight, then I'd ask in advance what time the shop closed, and turn up an hour or more beforehand, just to make sure. But that's just me.

[Pinga]

It's literally illegal for tourists to be without their passport. Zero reason to ever leave it with anyone else, and rental shops should stop asking for that.

Reminds me of a few foreigners I met who were working in the Japan nightlife industry illegally - their "bosses" confiscated their passport so even if they wanted to they couldn't quit. Also a technique always used by human traffickers.

[Soidog]

8 hours ago, Bluesofa said:

If I intended to return a vehicle just hours before leaving for a flight, then I'd ask in advance what time the shop closed, and turn up an hour or more beforehand, just to make sure. But that's just me.

I agree that it sounds like Piss Poor Planing.
 

That said, some years back, I rented a scooter in Phuket. I needed to leave for the airport at 11am. At 9am I  went to the shop to return the scooter and recover my 1,000 baht deposit. Shop closed. Called and called the guy and no answer. Shop next door then told me they heard the shop owner was taken sick and in hospital. I left the bike and pushed keys through the door. Picture of bike parked outside with next door shop keeper stood next to it and left. One year almost to the day I returned and the guy was back and seemed fine. He’d had chest pains so went to hospital but seems it was just too much spicy Som Tam and all ok. I rented another bike, without a 1,000 deposit and 4 days later returned and got my 1,000. Sometimes life is amazing! 

[AdvocatusDiaboli]

3 hours ago, Soidog said:

I agree that it sounds like Piss Poor Planing.

Just imagine how those Chinese feel that have paid for their Thai Police escorts, will they be jumping up and down for their money back and free Chinese escort!