Cautionary tale of left luggage at Bangkok International Airport

[Flashback]

A cautionary tale!


Almost fell victim, but luckily rectified eventually (with the help of the tourist police, but even they needed to be carefully guided/shoved to actually be of any use!). I left some bags at left luggage run by Guardforce on BKK level 2 arrivals, before heading out for the day. The real problems with these clowns started once I arrived back and tried to pickup my bags. After a bit of a wait, I handed over my ticket and the 200 THB as requested and waited.... a few people came in after, did the same and were all given their bags. Anyway, after 5 minutes I asked where my bags were and was told I hadn't paid.... obviously I had, which I pointed out but was told that no I hadn't. Ah, fun times were ahead!


I told them to check their CCTV (could see 2 cameras in plain sight from where I was) but they wouldn't. I said I'd go and get the police, they still didn't budge. So off I went (my wife stayed at the counter) and grabbed the tourist police which were conveniently next door! After a short explanation they came over with me and had a chat, but still no progress. Another 10 minutes had passed and they finally agreed to review the CCTV. No invite to me of course..... taking a risky approach, I invited myself out the back with them and watched as they played back the footage. No cash was to be seen at. That's odd I thought, play it back again please! Watched it again... same thing. Then it clicked, I asked to watch from the beginning. As I walked in..... I went straight to the counter, no wait. Ahhh! Sneaky buggers. They were playing the footage from 11am in the morning when we dropped off the bags, even though I made it clear I paid only 15 minutes earlier (as they won't accept payment when you drop off the bags). I told them they were reviewing the wrong video but was told to be quiet and keep watching. Umm, OK - can't understand why but fair enough.... Waited, saw me walk off the CCTV screen... then I said to them, again, that they were reviewing the wrong footage and needed to review just before 6pm. I was told no, I hadn't paid and I needed to pay.


So another 5 minutes later, after me being rather stubborn (foolishly perhaps? it was a matter of principle though!) they eventually agreed to play the correct footage (this was the tourist police at this stage - previously it had been the Guardforce supervisor). Roll on..... we play, but it's too late - they show me waiting at the counter after the money had been taken already. No, I said - this is too far ahead. They refused to wind it back - so again, rather riskily I took the mouse and set it to the right time. Lo and behold, 30 seconds later you see me put the cash on the counter and then the lady who swore she didn't receive the money, take it and put it into her pocket. Ahh...... yes, thanks, I'll take my bags now.


An unbelievably annoying situation and all over 200 THB, but out of principle there's no way in heck I was going to back down and pay again - plus, I didn't have any more cash on me.


Is this a one off? Perhaps. But if not, good for others to know and be wary when using it. I'd be interested to see if anyone else has had anything similar happen!

 

[JohnK]

Sorry that this happened to you.

I have used Guardforce (and Chubb before that) many times and never an issue. In fact used them again 2 weeks ago.

One thing I have learned in Thailand is let them prompt you at each step of the way and never hand everything over at once. Hand over receipt. Can we see your passport? Sure. That will be 350 baht. Yep, no problem.

 

[Mal]

Thailand has many scams, but I haven't heard of this one before. Always be careful!

 

[Flashback]

Sorry that this happened to you.

I have used Guardforce (and Chubb before that) many times and never an issue. In fact used them again 2 weeks ago.

One thing I have learned in Thailand is let them prompt you at each step of the way and never hand everything over at once. Hand over receipt. Can we see your passport? Sure. That will be 350 baht. Yep, no problem.

Yep - did all that! Oh well, hopefully it's just a one off with the staffer having a bad day and not a new scam to add to the list

Funny way to end the trip really, but Myanmar was every bit amazing as we had planned!

 

[travelislife]

A cautionary tale!


Almost fell victim, but luckily rectified eventually (with the help of the tourist police, but even they needed to be carefully guided/shoved to actually be of any use!). I left some bags at left luggage run by Guardforce on BKK level 2 arrivals, before heading out for the day. The real problems with these clowns started once I arrived back and tried to pickup my bags. After a bit of a wait, I handed over my ticket and the 200 THB as requested and waited.... a few people came in after, did the same and were all given their bags. Anyway, after 5 minutes I asked where my bags were and was told I hadn't paid.... obviously I had, which I pointed out but was told that no I hadn't. Ah, fun times were ahead!


I told them to check their CCTV (could see 2 cameras in plain sight from where I was) but they wouldn't. I said I'd go and get the police, they still didn't budge. So off I went (my wife stayed at the counter) and grabbed the tourist police which were conveniently next door! After a short explanation they came over with me and had a chat, but still no progress. Another 10 minutes had passed and they finally agreed to review the CCTV. No invite to me of course..... taking a risky approach, I invited myself out the back with them and watched as they played back the footage. No cash was to be seen at. That's odd I thought, play it back again please! Watched it again... same thing. Then it clicked, I asked to watch from the beginning. As I walked in..... I went straight to the counter, no wait. Ahhh! Sneaky buggers. They were playing the footage from 11am in the morning when we dropped off the bags, even though I made it clear I paid only 15 minutes earlier (as they won't accept payment when you drop off the bags). I told them they were reviewing the wrong video but was told to be quiet and keep watching. Umm, OK - can't understand why but fair enough.... Waited, saw me walk off the CCTV screen... then I said to them, again, that they were reviewing the wrong footage and needed to review just before 6pm. I was told no, I hadn't paid and I needed to pay.


So another 5 minutes later, after me being rather stubborn (foolishly perhaps? it was a matter of principle though!) they eventually agreed to play the correct footage (this was the tourist police at this stage - previously it had been the Guardforce supervisor). Roll on..... we play, but it's too late - they show me waiting at the counter after the money had been taken already. No, I said - this is too far ahead. They refused to wind it back - so again, rather riskily I took the mouse and set it to the right time. Lo and behold, 30 seconds later you see me put the cash on the counter and then the lady who swore she didn't receive the money, take it and put it into her pocket. Ahh...... yes, thanks, I'll take my bags now.


An unbelievably annoying situation and all over 200 THB, but out of principle there's no way in heck I was going to back down and pay again - plus, I didn't have any more cash on me.


Is this a one off? Perhaps. But if not, good for others to know and be wary when using it. I'd be interested to see if anyone else has had anything similar happen!

Wow! The most interesting bit is the whole run around with the CCTV and not showing the correct bit! What was their reaction after they saw the correct footage?

 

[Flashback]

Wow! The most interesting bit is the whole run around with the CCTV and not showing the correct bit! What was their reaction after they saw the correct footage?

Pretty much nothing. There was a lot of pointing from me and "See! I told you so!"... probably not the classiest reaction, but I was well annoyed and just wanted my bags. As a result of the missed time ended up missing out on checking the CX lounge but c'est la vie.

 

[iamwazza]

I have used left luggage at BKK (both floors)
They are always ++ busy and poorly organised in traffic flow
But I have never had a problem - my approach is to make sure that you visibly see the receipt being printed and check the details before leaving

 

[JohnK]

Pretty much nothing. There was a lot of pointing from me and "See! I told you so!"... probably not the classiest reaction, but I was well annoyed and just wanted my bags. As a result of the missed time ended up missing out on checking the CX lounge but c'est la vie.

Losing face is not to be taken lightly in Asia which is why they would have been trying to avoid showing the relevant footage.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Thanks for the warning.

I'm in Bangkok around 5 times a year and had seen this service and was thinking of using it.

 

[theblank]

Losing face is not to be taken lightly in Asia which is why they would have been trying to avoid showing the relevant footage.

That would be it. I am surprised they didn't go with the line "you are a good customer so we will give it to you bthis time" which I have heard many times after the inevitable checkbin fiddling. I am guessing from their reactions its an honest mistake the woman concerned.

 

[moa999]

Losing face is not to be taken lightly in Asia which is why they would have been trying to avoid showing the relevant footage.

Albeit also why (assuming they were trying on a scam) I am surprised they didn't back down almost immediately.

Better to lose a little bit of face than a lot

 

[Denali]

That would be it. I am surprised they didn't go with the line "you are a good customer so we will give it to you bthis time" which I have heard many times after the inevitable checkbin fiddling. I am guessing from their reactions its an honest mistake the woman concerned.

Whereas Im thinking guessing by their reaction, it was theft by opportunity that went wrong for the entire office because they pull this off a couple of times per month and get away with it.

 

[RooFlyer]

Losing face is not to be taken lightly in Asia which is why they would have been trying to avoid showing the relevant footage.

I guess that's one way to portray what looks to be a blatant scam.

 

[love_the_life]

T...... I am guessing from their reactions its an honest mistake the woman concerned.

How can it be an honest mistake if the woman on the desk took the money and put it in her pocket?
More that opportunistic theft.

 

[JohnK]

Albeit also why (assuming they were trying on a scam) I am surprised they didn't back down almost immediately.

Better to lose a little bit of face than a lot

I have been in similar situations myself. Sometimes I go too far trying to prove a point. My wife is much more logical telling me to drop it.

In a nutshell some don't want to be seen as losing any face. Even a little. You would be surprised at the lengths they would go to cover up a lie/scam.

 

[moa999]

You would be surprised at the lengths they would go to cover up a lie/scam.

Lie and lie so the farang who is actually correct loses face.
It is a bizarre part of Thai culture.

 

[theblank]

How can it be an honest mistake if the woman on the desk took the money and put it in her pocket?
More that opportunistic theft.

I missed that bit of the story.

That alone makes it interesting because it defies logic that someone would be sticking the cash in their pocket, in front of security cameras, in a regulated environment and before customer gets the goods. That's destined to fail everytime.

 

[drross]

I have used left luggage at BKK (both floors)
They are always ++ busy and poorly organised in traffic flow
But I have never had a problem - my approach is to make sure that you visibly see the receipt being printed and check the details before leaving

Welcome to AFF iamwazza. Interesting thread for your first post

 

[dajop]

I missed that bit of the story.

That alone makes it interesting because it defies logic that someone would be sticking the cash in their pocket, in front of security cameras, in a regulated environment and before customer gets the goods. That's destined to fail everytime.

It is Thailand not Australia where the incident took place, therefore I would argue it does not defy logic (even though it defies conventional western logic- logic, IMHO in Thailand logic tends to be circular rather than linear). And it is far from destined to fail every time.

I'd suggest it is a well thought through scam that relies on the fact that it is only about $6USD, in a situation where the targets of the scam are in (or at least feel like they are in) a time poor situation. Most would not have the time or the drive to insist on viewing several different snippets of security footage to get to the right one because of the small sum involved.

 

[rogerkambah]

Pretty much nothing. There was a lot of pointing from me and "See! I told you so!"... probably not the classiest reaction, but I was well annoyed and just wanted my bags. As a result of the missed time ended up missing out on checking the CX lounge but c'est la vie.

IMO you haven't missed much by not visiting the BKK CX lounge. Seating is Ok, bar is unremarkable. There is a noodle bar that woks up noodles to order if that's what you want and a very small selection of uninteresting western food under glass covers.

I think that in BKK the Emirates lounge is where you want to be.