Recently, I had a somewhat strange interaction with a member of this group claiming to be a visa agent.
I have a DTV, and I plan to re-enter Thailand after a short tour of a neighboring country. I searched the forum's posts and on one post I found a comment of someone claiming to be an agent and willing to help out people. So I contacted this person with the intention of gaining information, in case I had overlooked anything.
However what sounded a bit weird was that this person, who claimed to be a visa agent, repeatedly insisted upon seeing my passport photocopy and my DTV, saying they will "check the prices" with their sister working at the checkpoint. When they asked my nationality and I told them I am from India, they said it will be quite expensive for me (the exact amount in the range of 7000-9000 baht) to re-enter.
Even after I told them several times that I have a DTV already, but they kept insisting that I avail their services, and I should share my passport stamp and bio, and DTV copy with them right now, because if I get stopped at the checkpoint later on it would be "considerably more expensive for India" - quote.
This left an overall somewhat shady impression, as if they were trying to gain information and attempt to stop a lawful entry in order to extort money under some pretext. Foolish of me to talk to an agent for something I could very well do on my own, but I have never had such a bad interaction with any agents before, so I thought it might be worth talking to an agent to gain more insights. I got none, though, only a warning that it will cost me money to re-enter, and a repeated request to see my passport and DTV.
Has anyone ever had interactions like this before? Is anyone being extorted by agents at land border checkpoints even if you have a DTV?