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Riled Phuket Tourist Pays Extra Jet-Ski Charge
By Phuketwan Reporters Sunday, November 14, 2010
TOURIST Oleg Zuercu eventually paid the extra 9000 baht demanded after a jet-ski stopped working in the water off Patong, Phuketwan has learned.
PHUKET JET-SKI operator Winai ''JJ'' Naiman was involved in a mediation session this afternoon with a Russian tourist who objected to being asked for extra money because a jet-ski broke down off Patong beach.
Russian Oleg Zuercu said that he hired a jet-ski yesterday for one hour for 3000 baht and had such a good time he came back today to hire the same jet-ski again.
But today the hour did not go as smoothly, he told police and Phuketwan at Kathu Police Station in lodging a complaint this afternoon.
Mr Zuercu said the jet-ski broke down after five minutes as he zipped around Patong Bay with his daughter as a passenger.
He was helped to return to shore with the crippled jet-ski that, according to Mr Zeurcu, ceased to be able to turn then sank back in the water without warning.
As the manager of 12 jet-skis, including the once that ceased to work, Khun JJ told Mr Zuercu that insurance did not cover the problem and that he would have to pay 9000 baht.
He said this broke down to 3000 baht for cleaning the engine, plus 6000 baht for the lost time while the jet-ski was being repaired.
Mr Zuercu said he was happy to pay the 3000 baht for the hour's hire, even though the jet-ski had broken down after five minutes, but he was not prepared to pay an additional 9000 baht.
The two men took their dispute and the broken jet-ski to Kathu Police Station, where the case was still being mediated late this afternoon after two hours of discussion.
The initial debate began in the car park at the front of the police station. Khun JJ said Mr Zuercu had signed the hire contract in English, but Mr Zuercu responded by saying that his English was not very good.
Khun JJ said that on Phuket there were signs and information in English, and it was essential for tourists who arrived on Phuket to understand English.
Police Lieutenant Threerasak Boonsang, listening to the debate, told Khun JJ at this point that people who spoke all languages were welcome on Phuket.
''You can't say it like that,'' he told Khun JJ. The mediation session was continuing late today.
Khun JJ was involved in a dispute with Malaysian tourists from Singapore earlier this year, and featured in the controversial cable television series 'Big Trouble in Tourist Thailand' demanding money for jet-ski damage from British Marines last year.
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Comments
Comments have been disabled for this article.
So if a jet ski breaks down, the hirer has to pay? How ridiculous.
Keep on scamming, JJ.
Posted by
Mike Boyd
on
November 14, 2010 21:58
mediation! what a joke! the operator should should pay compensation for hiring faulty equipment. That's never going to happen though is it? get rid of them.
Posted by
john
on
November 14, 2010 22:18
Whatever JJ Naiman wrote in the "contract" and in what language soever. Fact is that the Jetski had a technical problem and this was n o t the fault from the customer Mr. Zuerco.
He made no turnover, so he didn't crashed the Jetski on rocks.
The only failure he did, he drived the Jetski. Just for example, if you will rent a car, start it and around the corner it will stop because technical problems.
The customer have to pay for this??? Really not.
So it makes really not much sense to discuss who's fault it is.
I think we all need a fair solution because the Jetski thing seems is a never-ending story and it's really damages the reputation of this nice place named Phuket.
My name is chris and i runned a Jet-ski shop in Germany for more than 20 years. So i can really say that i am an specialist and expert in this kind of toys.
Posted by
happychris
on
November 14, 2010 22:20
Wow. The jet ski was faulty and the customer has to pay? Like, when a light in the hotel room stop working is my fault, and I have to pay for "repair" and time out for the room?
Jet Ski + Patong = Scamsters
Posted by
Lena
on
November 14, 2010 23:35
So what do these contracts actually say about a renters liability in the case of damage due to poor maintenance by the vendor? For that matter what do they say about the renters liability for any damage, if these things are insured? Remember, of course, that everyone is supposed to be using the same, officially approved contract.
Posted by
CaptainJack
on
November 14, 2010 23:42
using the same logic (greed logic) the passengers on the recent airliner that had to return due to mechanical problems should share in the repair cost?
Posted by
Mikey
on
November 14, 2010 23:44
It happens in Pattaya too. One of these days they are going to scam the wrong person and it will be lights out.
Posted by
Dave
on
November 15, 2010 03:11
I cannot believe this is still happening, in any other country these people would be removed and prosecuted.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
November 15, 2010 06:11
The question is: can one man (JJ) lose a country a million tourists in bad publicity?
Posted by
Philip
on
November 15, 2010 08:53
And one more Jet ski scandal and involving the not less famous JJ Naiman, and this guy still has credibility? Tourists should be aware about such practices on arrival in the airport.
Posted by
laurentbkk
on
November 15, 2010 10:36
This report puts paid to theories I had heard about the jet ski mob not scamming the Russians because they were intimidated by them.
Posted by
Treelover
on
November 15, 2010 10:36
Take it to court !
If any have problems, just ask to get it solved in court !
Then will we see that the contracts do not follow the law, it is ilegal to rent out jetskis at all, etc.
By Thai law is it illegal to sail a boat without a captains certificate, and a jetski is a boat ! Then get a fine for sailing of a few hundred baht and let the jetski scamsters take care of them self !
Posted by
Peter
on
November 15, 2010 18:41
LOL...Phuket/Patong all talk no action and to think I was thinking of relocating there from BKK. No chance.
Posted by
philip
on
November 15, 2010 20:20
same thing is going on in Pattaya. A new video has just been posted on youtube
Posted by
Anonymous
on
November 15, 2010 21:39
Why does the article continually refer to him as 'Khun' JJ? His behavior here and on the Big Trouble in Tourist Thailand videos on Youtube clearly shows he is not deserving of such a term of respect.
Posted by
droog
on
November 16, 2010 05:37
Editor Comment:
Because, droog, we are journalists, not judges.
Seems quite clear from past events that this chancer is not going to change! I suppose from his point of view why should he ? Don't know about his being called "khun jj " khun teflon might be more apt ?
Posted by
seamus
on
November 16, 2010 09:26
Jetski rentals must be the most expensive item on Phuket. 3000 baht would get me a jeep rental for 3 days or a motorbike for 3 weeks. Phuket's most expensive hotel wouldn't even be 3000 baht for 1 hour! The volunteer police should patrol the beach and warn would-be renters of the potential hazards.
Posted by
Antz Pantz
on
November 16, 2010 09:47
WOW after fighting the scam, even meeting with police he was still scammed out of his money. I really would love to have a video of the meeting with the police.
This will never change, why would JJ and the other scammers ever stop, if they can take the scam to the police station and have it still work?
Posted by
Chris
on
November 16, 2010 10:31
The said jetski was obviously not fit for the purpose of renting and the tourist has to pay. Crazy.
Was it not part of/covered by the insurance scheme set up last year for all legal jet skis? If so, why was this defect/problem not covered under insurance?
Why did no one at the scene of the extortion of monies not advise the tourist to seek the assistance of his consulate or even better the Mayor of Patong?
Why were the police who were clearly in attendance not prepared to stand up to the scam artist?
Posted by
philip
on
November 16, 2010 22:52
I have found another scam. I left Phuket International Airport, weighed my plastic wrapped case and it came in at 31.2 KGS. When I got to my destination, out of curiosity, I had it weighed again. The same case now weighed 19.2KGS. Who calibrates the scales at PIA? See if you print this comment Alan?
No one else will print it? Scam or no scam. Big shame for Phuket again.
Posted by
Robin
on
November 17, 2010 15:02
Editor Comment:
Robin, one of the sets of scales could be wrong, or both could be wrong. A difference of 12 kilos is quite remarkable. That plastic wrapping must be really heavy.
Wonder what would happen if the tourist walked away, why are the police even holding mediating sessions for these people?
Posted by
Benjy
on
November 17, 2010 18:48
If he truly damaged it, 9000 baht is a fair price to pay. But, come on, whats next, is one of us going to sit on a 30 year old chair at a restaurant and get charged 5000 baht when it breaks in half. LOL It makes me wonder, when are they going to start trying to run us down with there cars and charging us for the damage.
Fighting this Jetski scam would take days back and forth to the police station, weeks or months making trips to the halls, and money for lawyers. No tourist is going to go that route.
Posted by
Kevin
on
November 19, 2010 12:27
Go after the owners of the jet ski's that JJ manages. You don't honestly think that this guy has enough money to purchase 12 jet skis?
Posted by
Interested in Patong
on
November 25, 2010 12:59
Editor Comment:
What, a vigilante strike against jet-ski owners who have done nothing wrong? We know JJ's a jet-ski group manager. Talk to him, and he'll tell you that.
Calling for illegal, unjustifiable action is hardly a solution. We've removed the part of your comment that could get you sued.
It is high time that the jet-ski and parasailing operators in Phuket get strictly regulated. This kind of incident only helps to damage the reputation of an otherwise wonderful resort town. Before I left Canada to travel to Thailand last month, I was warned not to rent a jet-ski, as they were a major scam. This warning came from someone who had never even been to Thailand, that is how far the bad news has spread.
Posted by
Vanguy
on
November 28, 2010 21:07
Ah JJ or Mr 20 percent as he's lovingly known among the Thai beach people of that lovely idyllic spot that is patong beach.This lad is well on his way to getting a gold merit badge for his Stirling efforts in killing the tourist trade in patong along with his little tattooed band of Thia and Burmese entrepreneurs, what next a fine for getting your jet-ski wet or breathing to much oxygen whilst riding your jet-ski or just for thinking about using a jet-ski. What is this cop thinking you couldn't make this stuff up if you tried GET A GRIP PATONG and do buck up Officer.Oh Peter good luck with the Captains certificate idea HA HA HA how long have you lived in Thailand . I Await Your scolding Mr ED
Posted by
Scunner
on
February 25, 2011 02:36
Editor Comment:
Sorry, Scunner. I just delivered it to Steve on another thread.
To solve this scamming from the Jet Ski m**** we best take away the rental licences and only allow people with boat licence to operate them. Phuket, go Green before it is to late. And stop all business activities which harm tourism and or Phuket's reputation.
Posted by
PhuketExpat
on
March 21, 2011 11:27
I watched the scammers on youtube, read the articles about jetdkis and tuktuks, and decided that Phuket, all of Thailand will be OFF my travel list.I do 4 trips a year, at least one of them to Bali and never have had these problems. I say tourists should boycott the place until they clean up their act...both scammers and the cops.
Posted by
Izzy
on
April 27, 2011 02:00
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So if a jet ski breaks down, the hirer has to pay? How ridiculous.
Keep on scamming, JJ.
Posted by Mike Boyd on November 14, 2010 21:58