Exchange Rip Off

[kikc69 45]

This morning I went to UOB Money Exchange on 2nd road next to the Manee Hotel(?). Changed $600.00 in travelers checks and was supposed to get 17,952 baht.(Dollar sucks) Two girls working and one sitting down counted it out and gave it to the other girl. She then passed it through the window to me. I counted and they had given me 16 (thousand baht notes) 1 (five hundred baht note) 9 (hundred baht notes) and a fifty baht note. There were people standing waiting to change money and I had to recount it again to make sure I was right. Gave the money back to the girl and told her to recount it. She then turned her back to me, spoke with the other girl and they then got it correct. I know mistakes happen but every place I have always changed money they must count it three or four times before giving it to the customer. The way they acted I really think they were expecting me to take the money without counting it and walk away. I wonder how often they pull the scam. On top of everything there was no sorry sir for mistake or anything.

[bratpack 91]

This morning I went to UOB Money Exchange on 2nd road next to the Manee Hotel(?). Changed $600.00 in travelers checks and was supposed to get 17,952 baht.(Dollar sucks) Two girls working and one sitting down counted it out and gave it to the other girl. She then passed it through the window to me. I counted and they had given me 16 (thousand baht notes) 1 (five hundred baht note) 9 (hundred baht notes) and a fifty baht note. There were people standing waiting to change money and I had to recount it again to make sure I was right. Gave the money back to the girl and told her to recount it. She then turned her back to me, spoke with the other girl and they then got it correct. I know mistakes happen but every place I have always changed money they must count it three or four times before giving it to the customer. The way they acted I really think they were expecting me to take the money without counting it and walk away. I wonder how often they pull the scam. On top of everything there was no sorry sir for mistake or anything.

 

 

Cant honestly say i have been ripped off ever in Thailand but got done at barclays stoke on trent 3 weeks ago.I was there on holiday and went to the bank top draw out 15,000 quid,bought the money back to my house in Pattaya,and counted it for the first time,as my mates wife is manager at theat branch.There was 1 x 5 quid note instead of a 20,how the fuck does that happen with 75 x 20 quid notes???

[ThaiLearner 18]

Always count your cash before excepting it and agreeing it is correct.

 

That is what the banks would do.

[FatherMojo 2]

Always double check your money while at the exchange booth window. I read before about sticky fingered staff trying to enhance their income by pulling out the occasional 1k baht note. Even if the line is long, take those extra 10-20 seconds to double check your funds. If anyone behind you gives you any lip, just tell them that on a previous occasion they tried to short change you.

 

 

 

FatherMojo

[turboman 0]

I'd say you were well done as 75X20 = 1500

[jacko 8,813]

The people in the kiosks will try it on sometimes, don't be misled into thinking Thais are any more honest than other people, they are not.

 

People handling money all try it on one time or another.

The girl issuing the tickets for the bus from Bangkok to Pattaya will charge you the motorway price and give you a regular ticket.

The change from the bar might be a 100 baht note short... (oo solly sir)

The currency exchange kiosks will give less than you should get... ( these arrogant pricks don't apologise when caught out as if it is your fault!)

 

The Thais count it infront of them, falangs have less sense and try to play Mr Cool Big man and swagger off without counting it...

 

I always think back to a bar owner who employed a succession of very cute and apparently honest cashiers over a period of many years... he said every single one of them attempted to cheat him.

 

Cheating a falang isn't the same you see....

Edited March 6, 2011 by jacko

[gaijin 146]

Yes I've had the money exchangers try to cheat me several times. And no, they won't even apologize when you catch them. They know they got caught stealing.

I think they will usually try to pull this stunt when you're changing a lot of money and expect back a fistful of 1000baht notes. Shortchanging you one of those notes happens often. I always, always always always count the money right there in front of them, and I'll do it slowly too to make sure I get it right. I could give a flying fuck if anyone is behind me, haven't had anyone tell me to hurry up before, but if they did I'd tell them to fuck off. I imagine they get more than a few farangs who act all cool and shit and take the money, fold it in half and walk off. They're the real idiots and do everyone a disservice, because it makes these money exchangers think it's ok to steal. My last trip I exclusively went to the exchange shop across from Champagne gogo in LK Metro, they had the best rates in town that I found, and they knew if I exchanged with them I was going to count the money every time, so never had them short change me.

[moon71 1]

Beside the point but i had it the other way. I was overchanged.

 

I changed up £200 on the way to walking street on a kiosk on beach road. I like this kiosk as i seem to get a little extra, then we walk the final 200 meters to walking street checking out the coconut girls.

 

At the kiosk i knew £200 would get me something just less than 10,000TBH, maybe 9600 as the pound was at 47-48. I walked away with 12 x 1000TBH notes and told my teelak who seemed happy with the situation. I ended up 2000+ up, i couldn't be exact because i only pay attention to the 1000's and 500's. I was expecting 9 x 1000 but ended up with 12 so i knew immediatly i'd hit the jackpot.

 

Whilst on Walking Street the guilt set in. I reminded my teelak of the times she was short working in the big C where she had to make up the difference (somedays working for free) , so the next night we went back, my girl checked to see if the cashier was on, and they got a printout of her shortfall.

 

The lady was short 2227 short that night, and yes, i payed the shortfall. I walked off feeling rather stupid, but somehow hoped that i would recieve good karma.

 

Then 4 weeks later in England, i won the Euromillions picking up over £20million. As if...............

[jacko 8,813]

Beside the point but i had it the other way. I was overchanged.

 

I changed up £200 on the way to walking street on a kiosk on beach road. I like this kiosk as i seem to get a little extra, then we walk the final 200 meters to walking street checking out the coconut girls.

 

At the kiosk i knew £200 would get me something just less than 10,000TBH, maybe 9600 as the pound was at 47-48. I walked away with 12 x 1000TBH notes and told my teelak who seemed happy with the situation. I ended up 2000+ up, i couldn't be exact because i only pay attention to the 1000's and 500's. I was expecting 9 x 1000 but ended up with 12 so i knew immediatly i'd hit the jackpot.

 

Whilst on Walking Street the guilt set in. I reminded my teelak of the times she was short working in the big C where she had to make up the difference (somedays working for free) , so the next night we went back, my girl checked to see if the cashier was on, and they got a printout of her shortfall.

 

The lady was short 2227 short that night, and yes, i payed the shortfall. I walked off feeling rather stupid, but somehow hoped that i would recieve good karma.

 

Then 4 weeks later in England, i won the Euromillions picking up over £20million. As if...............

Good Karma will beset you....

[bigstuy 8]

i have changed money in numerous places and the changer always counted it at least twice in front of me and nobody so far anyway has tried to do me

[Parkwahn 61]

Never in Thailand, in Bali 90% of the places try it I was there in 97 the Asian crisis for a £100 you got a pile of notes 3 inches thick, they would count then tap the notes on the edge of the counter letting some drop back in the tray, people were done time after time......

[jacko 8,813]

Never in Thailand, in Bali 90% of the places try it I was there in 97 the Asian crisis for a £100 you got a pile of notes 3 inches thick, they would count then tap the notes on the edge of the counter letting some drop back in the tray, people were done time after time......

Yeah I got done in Bali, same same changing £200 and getting a doorstep. (They have bigger notes now)...

Strangely the guy who did it came back, I had staked him out, and I went in to talk to him with his motorcycle key in my pocket.

[mmaaarrrkkk 41]

Beside the point but i had it the other way. I was overchanged.

 

I changed up £200 on the way to walking street on a kiosk on beach road. I like this kiosk as i seem to get a little extra, then we walk the final 200 meters to walking street checking out the coconut girls.

 

At the kiosk i knew £200 would get me something just less than 10,000TBH, maybe 9600 as the pound was at 47-48. I walked away with 12 x 1000TBH notes and told my teelak who seemed happy with the situation. I ended up 2000+ up, i couldn't be exact because i only pay attention to the 1000's and 500's. I was expecting 9 x 1000 but ended up with 12 so i knew immediatly i'd hit the jackpot.

 

Whilst on Walking Street the guilt set in. I reminded my teelak of the times she was short working in the big C where she had to make up the difference (somedays working for free) , so the next night we went back, my girl checked to see if the cashier was on, and they got a printout of her shortfall.

 

The lady was short 2227 short that night, and yes, i payed the shortfall. I walked off feeling rather stupid, but somehow hoped that i would recieve good karma.

 

Then 4 weeks later in England, i won the Euromillions picking up over £20million. As if...............

 

 

Well done man....................... If there was more people like you , the world would be a better place. I found a blackberry storm once and answered the owner's call to return it to him. My friends thought i was crazy! 55555555555555555

 

Just being a better person is karma enough

[mmaaarrrkkk 41]

It usually better to change anything above 10k at the shopping malls with security and personal space around you. I never change more than that and count while the girls count and recount when i recieve it in full sight of her.

[streeteats 30]

I know one thing. The very first exchange booth on WS to the rt is the most expensive one. The one rt next to it is cheaper along with the rest. Besides when I changed money there they kept my immigration paper I need to get out of LOS, the one they stick in your passport. I went back the next day and luckily they had it. No apology, no nothing.

the rude bitch acted like it was my fault and they charge higher than anyoine on wk just cause there the first one.

[streeteats 30]

this is what I do to keep from getting ripped off and so far its worked. First remember that if they're gone to rip you off, they'l size you up first to see if they think your a good marc. So I always take a calculator . When Im in ft of the window I;m looking at the exchange rate and punching into the calc. this works for two reasons. First the obvious knowing what your suppose to get back. but secondly and I think more importantly, is that when they see you punching numbers into a calculator they know your on it and your not gone to be an easy mark. good luck and lets keep them honest

[stevoman 2]

Cant honestly say i have been ripped off ever in Thailand but got done at barclays stoke on trent 3 weeks ago.I was there on holiday and went to the bank top draw out 15,000 quid,bought the money back to my house in Pattaya,and counted it for the first time,as my mates wife is manager at theat branch.There was 1 x 5 quid note instead of a 20,how the fuck does that happen with 75 x 20 quid notes???

 

YOU were on HOLIDAY at STOKE-on-Trent! The mind boggles! Where next TYNSIDE maybe? :sosad

[jacko 8,813]

YOU were on HOLIDAY at STOKE-on-Trent! The mind boggles! Where next TYNSIDE maybe? :sosad

Tyneside.....? Lovely beach at South Shields....