scam

scam

touristpolice
Tourist Police Telephone 1155
Please report all your scams while on holiday in Thailand. 
b_thailandqaforums

Latest Comments

Holiday Club Scams in Phuket
One Complimentary week every year for 3 years. So total 3 Complimentary weeks
Holiday Club Scams in Phuket
I too would like an answer hahahah, to Rob's question?
Holiday Club Scams in Phuket
Hahahahahah, please remind us all how many weeks per year you get with a 3 year ...
Holiday Club Scams in Phuket
7000 dollars wouldnt last long in Europe, not even one holiday. Cant believe I h...
Holiday Club Scams in Phuket
Yeah Hahahaho, please enlighten us all?
Holiday Club Scams in Phuket
Hahaha how so, please explain?
The Golden Argosy Gem scam
hi devastated, I ve returned from BKK last fri and was able to resolve my refund...
Holiday Club Scams in Phuket
Very stupid comment Mikey the backpacker...
Holiday Club Scams in Phuket
sorry to hear jan -if they have your credit card number make sure you cancel the...
Modified Meter Taxis
Many meters are rigged to add 50%. I am seeing it more and more lately.

Disclaimer: The comments on this website do not necessarily match the views of the administrators. Slanderous and unfounded comments are not welcome. We reserve the right to delete comments and not publish content submitted by visitors. We log and keep all ip addresses and website activity for a period of 365 days.

NOTE: We reserve the right to delete all of-topic comments on this page. All ip addresses are logged for every comment. We will co-operate full with the Royal Thai police against anyone that makes racist or slanderous comments. Under Thai law, maximum prison sentence is five years. It doesn't matter if you are not in Thailand at the time you wrote the comment. You will be arrested when you come here for your next holiday.

Disclaimer: The comments on this website do not necessarily match the views of the administrators. Slanderous and unfounded comments are not welcome. We reserve the right to delete comments and not publish content submitted by visitors. We log and keep all ip addresses and website activity for a period of 365 days. Click here to report abuse.
Electricity Bill Scam
Friday, 18 May 2007

I have been scammed and are being scammed by the MEA (Metropolitan Electricity Authority). 

First of all, I have been living in Thailand for a very long time (xx-number of years) and get around pretty well. The past 5 years I have been living at a large condominium located between Platinum Mall and Panthip Plaza.

The 3 first years stayed at this condo, I had a 3 bedroom unit of about 100m2 and payed a monthly electric bill of 1950 Thai Baht (averaged over 3 years), with 2 air conditioners running approximately 10 hours a day each. 

Then I switched to a 1 bedroom apartment, just above 40 m2. At the same time, I changed work and have hardly been at home for longer periods of time. If I'm home, AC is run just 2 hours a day or so (only fan at night).

But, the electric bill the past 6 months have climbed to 3200 Baht average. 

I asked the technicians in the condo to check the meter - which they did. They found that when the main switch in the room was off, the meter was clearly still running.

I then contacted MEA and asked them to check, and replace the faulty meter.

After a month, not having heard from them, I contacted them again. They then said the meter had been checked but was found to be in order. 

Strangely, the meter now looks very new and the bills dropped 1000 Baht per month.

Though, the bills are now again slowly climbing up towards 3200 Baht.

I think this sounds unreasonably high and are convinced I have been scammed by MEA. Clearly they have changed the meter and instead of paying back bills which were over charged, they find it better to say that the meter is ok.

What would you do in order to report this? Should this be reported to the Police?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments (5)Add Comment
...
written by John, Wed 22 Aug 2007 14:16:49 CDT
I don't think this is really a scam. Many landords do this to make money from their tenents.
...
written by mark, Mon 11 Feb 2008 07:40:32 CST
Sometimes neighbours pay 100B or so to a local 'electrician' to wire their electricity into yours, so in effect you are paying for someone elses usage - this is very common.

Also most landlords charge over the Govt Electricty charge of, i am not sure on this, but I think it is 2B a unit while mnay landlords charge tenenats at 5B or up to 7B a unit.
...
written by AlaskaMatt, Wed 26 Mar 2008 23:42:24 CDT
I agree with checking the neighbors. I once paid my neighbor's electricity bill for 6 months right here in the good ol' usa. I will say that my neighbor has attained his goal of living utility free as he is now in prison (extensive previous criminal record);).
...
written by Owl, Thu 03 Jul 2008 23:01:02 CDT
Yep - flip the main switch off in your room and inspect the meter. If the dial is still going round, the chances are you're subsidising a neighbor.
...
written by Jay, Wed 04 Feb 2009 15:54:17 CST
Most private owners (ie owners of condominium units) just pass you the government bill and you pay going rate. Then again most apartments (owned by a company etc and not separate individuals) make money out of the bill charging double of more. However this is stated in the rental agreement so not really a scam if you have signed on it.

Like others said, turn off the main breaker and check if the meter is still running. If so, pay few hundred for the building maintenance guys to check and find out who is tapping into your meter.

Write comment

busy
 
< Prev   Next >