Bangkokbuddy

We wasted 17,000 baht on a Schengen visa application after being told we were dealing with an "expert" - Tanya. She is a total fraud and the business is complete chaos. The visa application failed. We went to another agent and after a few days resubmitted and got the visa.
In short, do not use Bangkok Buddy. They are terrible and you will be scammed (like us).

If you fit the right profile... Tanya will take your passport, take your money for the "visa", do absolutely nothing, and let you end up on overstay. She did it to me. Once you're on overstay, she's free and clear, and you'll be the bad guy or girl until you're out of Thailand. This scam has been done by other travel agencies too. This needs to be stopped.

Biggest scam company in Thailand. Tanya who owns the company is a fraud and takes your money but doesn't fix anything she charges for and when you come to pick up your passport she is sick every time but still she is in the office working so she just uses it to buy more time and be able to come up with new lies. I got 80 days overtime because of Tanya and she refuses to pay back the money she stole from me. I advise everyone not to do anything with Tanya because you will never get any visa or any help she will take your money and then she will come up with lies all the time and then you are left with the problem and have to solve it yourself and she will stop answering or say she is sick. Warning for this company!

I have seen multiple families ruined and lost money through her. Seriously, There are much more honest and kind agents out there. I even had to file a police report against her. Passport returned no visa. Money gone. Friend also used her, same thing happened.

In August of 2022 I wandered into Bangkok Buddy Travel Services, in Bangkok, and met the owner, Tanya.

I paid Tanya 41,000 Baht to obtain a retirement visa (Later I learned that 25,000 Baht is the going rate). Tanya told me I would receive the visa and a Thai bank account bank card. The bank account is necessary because holders of a retirement visa are to keep $18,000., in a Thai bank account. Tanya explained she would put the money in and take the money out and I wouldn't have to pay anything.

We agreed that I would have my visa by September 21st and she would send my passport and all other documents to me on Koh Phangan Island. So, I left Bangkok and headed to the island.
Tanya, never sent anything to me. We spoke on the phone and shared text messages for nearly six months. I called the tourist police after three months of this. They went and visited The Bangkok Buddy office. But Tanya easily talked her way out of that visit. The police did not ask to see the passport or inquire as to whether or not I had over-stayed my tourist visa, which at this point I had.

Finally, after five months of Tanya's excuses I travelled to Bangkok and visited the tourist police office, located next to the National Stadium. A few police officers and I piled into a police car and went to The Bangkok Buddy office. We walked into Tanya's office where she warmly greeted up with a smile. The police officers and Tanya spoke in Thai for a few minutes. Tanya now was claiming that she could complete the process and obtain my visa by the end of the week. We finally agreed that she would have until Thursday at 12:00 pm. The mattered because I needed my visa back before I left Bangkok on Saturday.

On Thursday morning I texted Tanya asking if there was good news? She then told me that the police told her that I should deal directly with Tanya and not further involve the police. She then sent me another message instructing me to come her office alone. I went directly to the tourist police and we climbed back in the squad car and off to Bangkok Buddy we went.

The three tourist police officers began to speak with Tanya. Tanya had my passport and agreed to give my money back. But then there was a lot of back and forth between Tanya and the Thai police in Thai. At one point she came around from her desk and started talking about getting me some other type of visa. She told me I couldn't go back to the US because I will be trapped there. Then her phone rang and I heard her say: "yes, come here right now".

Finally, she took out the money she was to pay me back. We took turns counting the cash. I put the cash and the passport in my pocket and went for the door. Once outside her office, I thanked the police for there help. As we were shaking hands goodbye, two Royal Thai police officers showed up in full uniform, the one who Tanya told to come right away. As they entered her office I got outa there as fast as I could.

What were these Royal Thai police officers supposed to do? Beat-up the tourist police and maybe me too? I was grateful to get my money back. Unfortunately, all this police assistance didn't prevent me from being banned from Thailand for one year. If you are thinking about using Bangkok Buddy Travel Services brace yourself for a wild ride.

I have been using Tanya's visa services since my friend Seva from SF recommended her to me in 2021. I have had all good experiences. I just did a border run yesterday that went beautifully and have also used her services for various extensions and marriage visas. I trust Tanya at Bangkok Buddy. She has always taken care of me. I even mailed my passport to her back and forth with no problems.

She is honest and ethical.

I've met clients that have been using her service close to 12 years or more.

She is super helpful and knowledgeable. I've seen her help people that have been on overstay for 10 years or more.

I honestly think any bad reviews are from people that are her competition or just not very smart people.

I know she loves her job and takes it very seriously.

If you want an honest and ethical visa agent I would choose Tanya at Bangkok Buddy.