Tonson 99's Shady Business Tactics
Deceptive badminton event, marathon scam orchestrator repeats wrongdoings
It seems like the event-organizing company, Tonson 99, has found itself in a hot mess once again. After promising a thrilling badminton tournament, they've left participants high and dry, filing police complaints en masse. This debacle follows closely on the heels of their infamous 'phantom marathon' at Suan Luang Rama IX Park that left everyone questioning their sanity.
Tonson 99 appeared to have lured 86 badminton enthusiasts to a Rangsit venue, scarfing up cash and shuttlecocks alike. Entries rang from 1,600 to 1,800 baht per individual, with additional costs for those feathered friends. The company sweetened the deal by dangling prizes such as backpacks, smartwatches, badminton rackets, T-shirts, and lunch. But guess what? The event was cancelled, and so was the chance of winning any of those goodies[1][2].
The cancellation sent shockwaves through the badminton community, with many filing complaints at the Pravet police station in Bangkok. Tankhun Jitissara, the president of the Santiprachatham Club, showed solidarity with the players, adding heft to their complaints. Tonson 99 had assured participants that refunds were on the way by June 1, but as of now, they remain no-shows[1][2].
Players have shelled out over 100,000 baht, and despite the company requesting proof of payment for their refunds, most are yet to see a penny. Some even claim that, after providing proof, their requests were met with silence, with the organizers suddenly vanishing from group chats[1][2].
While Tonson 99 claims frozen company accounts as the culprit for the delayed refunds, they assert they have alternate funds at their disposal. However, complainants insist that no payments have materialized[1][2].
The police investigation, examining both the badminton and marathon cases, is diving deep into Tonson 99's practices. They're scrutinizing the organizers' use of online channels to promote and collect payments, looking for potential violations of Thailand's Computer Crimes Act[1][2].
The ordeal has sparked calls for increased vigilance when registering for sports events, demanding stricter supervision of organizers to shield players from losing hard-earned cash[2]. So here's a friendly reminder: Always do your homework before forking over your cash to any event organizer. No one wants to end up in a toxic situation like this!
[1] Thai PBS World[2] Shotgun Start
In the wake of the canceled badminton tournament organized by Tonson 99, complaints have been filed at the Pravet police station in Bangkok, highlighting the issue within the crime-and-justice sector. This incident follows a previous controversy involving Tonson 99 and a 'phantom marathon', which has raised questions about their general-news worthiness.
