khunPer

A bee or hornet, not something to play around with.

On 9/13/2021 at 6:43 AM, problemfarang said:

Let's say i involved into a car accident a) not my fault b) my fault what's the regulation? Am i going to be in trouble because i am driving someone else's car (my wife, friend, etc.) Because you cannot drive other's car in my country, is it same in Thailand? Let's say a) have a thai driving license b) don't have

i know from my friends that the person you hit and the police comes to the scene will do their best to blame you and make it as if its your fault. Dash Cam is the best thing here but what if i dont have it? 

If you don't have a valid driver's license the insurance might not cover you; staying in Thailand for more than three month you need a Thai driver's license, driving in Thailand as foreigner you in principle need an international driver's permit; the latter might not be asked for.

I had two friends involved in car accidents to share experience from.

One had an accident in a fully insured rented car, not his fault, police was involved, and there was some minor person damage from collision with a motorbike. He called the car renter and within short time an insurance agent showed up and took care of everything. Shortly after another rental car arrived for him to continue in. There were no Dash Cam in the car.

Another friend had an accident in a borrowed car with only mandatory insurance, he made an u-turn and a motorbike collided with his car, the bike-driver suffers some scratches, and very immediately driven to a clinic by a friend that came by. The side of the car, a small Suzuki jeep, was heavily damaged. Police was involved. My friend stated that it was not his fault and the bike came fast round a corner and without headlight. However headlight was still working on the motorbike, and the corner was more than 100 meters away, so not much doubt about fault, even if the motorbike might have been coming fast. It ended up in a meeting next day on the police station - the bike driver came with 10-15 friends as witnesses, even that none of them had been present, but all had an opinion of what happened, and talked a lot - and the districts big chief of police were in lead of the "hearing". It was all down to agreeing a compensation for damage, which were a few hundred baht in expenses to repair the motorbike-driver plus one day's lost minimum wage, so 1,000 baht in compensation said the big boss, and the motorbike itself was moved to a bike repair-shop next to the policestation for a quote for repairing the damage. 3,500 baht was the price quote, which the big boss said was too much, so 3,000 baht was agreed, nobody argued against that. All together a 4,000 baht compensation to be paid in cash, the incident written in a big black book, sigened by both parties and the big boss - case closed...

I was there from immediately after the accident, and also bailed my friend out in the police station with the 4,000 baht cash - I don't know what would had happened, if he couldn't come up with the cash, which he didn't have, that's why you always need a "rainy day account" with instant cash accessable when staying in Thailand - the jeep costed 15,000 baht to repair, no insurance cover; unfortunately my friend had borrowed the jeep from me...????

Many minor traffic accidents in Thailand is a question of compensation, anything that can be settled with relative small money - "small" from a farang's point of view - is worth doing it that way, instead of through the court system; sometimes it's worth forgetting about who's on fault and just pay...????

I hate to think of what might happen in a major accident, and with a foreigner - or me - at fault, quite scary thoughts...????

I've seen a number of postings on Facebook concerning the next AZ-jab, which many of us aliens are due between the 19th September - i.e. this coming Sunday - and I believe till the 22nd September.

Some talks about rescheduling the dates, others mentioned that there will be no vaccination in the University, i.e. International School of Tourism, as last time, as the place of the next vaccination is moved to Samui Hospital in Nathon (the government hospital).

Have anyone received re-confirmation for their second jab?

If I see something more firm, I'll share it here.

1 hour ago, paul1804 said:

I would dispute that the Chinese were the biggest spenders in 2017, which Thai brown paper bag minister or official told you that!!

Official statistics - Chinese are mega-shoppers and many buys expensive luxury goods - but I'm not sure if I'm allowed to share the stat-image due to forum-rules, but you can try to Google for it yourself...????

5 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

He may be blind.

Not at all blind, rather clever...
Seems like you don't know the case of the Spanish duchess, she was both old and filthy rich...

Known for her frizzy hair and colourful dress sense, Maria del Rosario Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart owned swathes of real estate, palaces, great houses and treasures including paintings by great masters from Goya to Velazquez.

Her premier title was Duchess of Alba de Tormes but she had more than 40 others due to a series of complicated marriages by her ancestors, which made her the noble with the most officially recognised titles in the world according to Guinness World Records.

She was reportedly a duchess seven times over and a countess 22 times over, leading to claims that she could travel from Spain's north to its south without ever setting foot on anyone else's property.

Read more HERE.

13 hours ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

Maybe a subtle message ?

A man cannot do that , neither can she ?

Isn't that a risk many takes with a Thai girlfriend, especially if someone more handsome - i.e. more rich - shows up...

11 hours ago, cocoonclub said:

As someone who has a boring corporate job with a work permit here and likes to not risk that, I may be too boring and old and risk-averse to understand these things, but I’ve always wondered how that works in practice.
 

Don’t you need a bank account to accept payments? Don’t you need an office address, or at least use your private address? If none of that is in Thailand (because you would then expose yourself to the Thai authorities) but you’re a “nomad” without living anywhere, what bank account and address do people put into their Adsense accounts, iTunes accounts, Amazon accounts, or however they earn money? And if they use their home country’s address (if they still have), aren’t they then taxable there again?

 

Or do people really open offshore shell companies in Belize for selling an eBook or having some followers? 

There might be different ways round it, I know that some for example use PayPal for transactions.

Some can still have a business registered in their home country, even that they might live abroad, and are tax residents abroad. That is for example possible in my home country, both a personal owned business or a limited company, which could be registered on a friends address, but with no production facility, which gives even further benefits, as a personal owned company then will not be taxable of  profit in the home country, but can still have a bank account; i.e. the offshore bank account, or the one linked to a PayPal account.

Others use an off shore limited company, for example a Britisk Ltd., which requires almost zero capital to open, furthermore the taxation is reasonable. I know some that use a British limited company for business. Other nations might be even better destinations for offshore companies.

If you just work online as a person, you can have offshore bank accounts many places, Singapore is often used. You can be personal app-developer and sell your apps via Apple's or Google's app-shops; or you can just do various online jobs, like for example copywriter or translations; or write ad hoc program-code for websites or apps.

And there might be way more elegant methods than I know about, or can imagine...????

I'm positive...????

5 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Do you know anyone that married a very ugly woman?

21 hours ago, swissie said:

While sitting on the front porch, enjoying a peaceful sunset, have you ever considered exchanging your current Thai wife for a "newer model"? Granted, that you would not suffer ruinous financial consequenses by doing so?

Or rather go the traditional Thai way: Get a Mia Noi on the side?

I really looked forward to be 70 years old, and live like in all the stories I've heard from Pattaya, about 70-years old men with their 18 years and one day old girlfriends...???? - but when I turned 70 Covid came and spoiled the dream...????

It might be a financial benefit to stick to a girlfriend instead of getting married, it might make you more free in choice of changes; however a number of us also thinks about the future far ahead, when one gets really old, and is not so much interested in new "inventory", but rather about who is taking care of us...???? - a wife; or a long-time girlfriend; or the housekeeper that has been there during several years, if not for ages; or shall one end up in a nursing home, if one can afford it...????

Before that time arise, then a mia noi, or just some side side girls or small giks, might be a nice choice. I don't think one really need to be old in a relationship before that kind of interests grow. Pay-&-play has it benefits in various games instead of a full time membership, perhaps also this one. Think of the benefits when you have a housekeeper to take care of the home, and the freedom to bring whatever you want home to play with, or just "eat out". The real trick, or balance, is perhaps to hook up with a partner with the right knowledge of what a cool "handsum" man really needs...????

My lovely clever girlfriend use to say that "a man cannot eat the same dish every day"...????

She also says that I can have a mia lung, just I keep her as mia noi, as the mia noi gets more money...????
However, having both a mia luang and a mia noi might be complicated - apart from I still need to save quite a bit more up, before I can afford one - so pay-&-play on various lanes seems like the right option to consider, instead of an extra full time membership...????

On 9/10/2021 at 2:05 PM, D M G said:

That truly makes no sense.  It begs a journalist to follow-up.

As the headline of your post says "Pattaya open to fully vaccinated foreign tourists in October", but you're not a tourist. Your options are 2 weeks quarantine in a hotel room, or use one of the sandbox-type openings for tourists, and spend the required time there like a tourist.

It's not a question about if it makes sense for expats, it's how the rule is at the moment.

On 9/12/2021 at 6:01 AM, Serindib said:

What were the vaccination/test requirements to get on the ferry in chumphon?

Should be the same as the list posted above, if arriving from Dark Red Zone vaccination and test - i.e. no vaccination = no entry - if you have left Samui within 7 days and got a so-called Travel Certificate for re-enter, then vaccination and certificate, but no Covid-test is needed.

From Nicha, a.k.a. Samui Info by Nicha, posted today...

I just came back to Samui today from Dark Red Zone with BKK Airways and with the Travel certificate (within 5 days, of course). All good with the document, was quick, no comment from authority upon arrival. The first thing BKK Airways staff asked at the check-in counter was "Do you have a Covid test & evidence of vaccination?" I said only vaccinated but I've no test and just showed them my 'Travel certificate' which is sufficient. I asked the staff there at check-in counter what if a person is not vaccinated but have a test, can he/she still board the plane? They said no as it's the regulation that they need both certificate of vaccination and a test result or a Travel Certificate less than 5 days. Upon arrival, to double check, I asked the same question to an authority who checked my paper, if unvaccinated visitors can come to Samui now and I got the same answer which is " No, it's the new regulation now that visitors have to be vaccinated & tested ". So that's it, a review from my personal experience as of today.

This is an information in relation to flight to Koh Samui, not sure how arriving by ferries is now.

However, check with the ferry line what they wish of documentation.

3 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

As I thought, it is not impossible for the Thai adoption documentation to be produced, as you claimed, it is the Danish authorities refusing to recognise the produced documents!  Big difference.

Thanks for your thoughts, but I think you shall read the background again as you seemed to have missed what's it about, it's a case of the "impossible", and that's not my understanding, but how the Danes understand it, i.e. the news article I quoted wrote...

But they have also been refused because Guide's little brother has no affiliation with Denmark. And that decision has now put Guide in an impossible situation where he is caught between Danish and Thai rules.

13th September
Koh Samui, no new cases reported
Ko Phangan +1 case

Koh Tao +9 cases

On 9/12/2021 at 12:25 AM, Tayida said:

The school I work with, its outside Thailand. Do you think will be safe without a WP?

You'll not be "safe", but nobody might care about it. Lots of digital nomads does it "under the radar", i.e. officially living from their savings, all customers or employer being abroad, and all money settled abroad into an offshore account.

If you stay in Thailand for more than 180 days within a calendar year, you are fully income taxable in Thailand. Foreign income is taxable if transferred into Thailand during the same calendar year as earned. Savings are however free from income tax, foreign income transferred in later calendar years than it's earned, is considered savings; i.e. money earned in 2021 can be transferred as tax exempt savings in 2022...????

For visa option you might consider a Thai Elite Card...????

1 hour ago, jazzdog32095 said:

I had an issue arise from a bar I bought were I set it up just as the OP has. It came to my attention later that as director merely signing off on necessary legal paperwork would be considered '' work'' and therefore a work permit would be required. Common sense tells me that these laws are written in order for Thais to be in the drivers seat. Very, very unlikely there were holes left open to circumvent the intent of the law. Having said that it's up to the OP the level of risk he is willing to live with. For many of us it is a none starter for at least a half dozen valid reasons 

Work permit - in earlier time, it has changed a bit a few years ago - was a question of how high level you signed papers. On top level you never needed a work permit as director, in the meaning of board member, but in the level of managing director, you needed a work permit...????

3 minutes ago, jazzdog32095 said:

You have omitted the fact that funds placed in a proper investment would more than double every 10 years. Couple this with the fact one can rent a far more expensive home all things being equal along with the not so grey area of ''tricks'' to circumvent the letter of the law. Finally lets' factor in the well earned reputation Thai ladies have for separating expats from their assets and it becomes difficult to currently place a positive spin on this deal. The mere fact the OP is attempting to own real property in a country that expressly denies ownership rights to non-Thais is taking on huge risks. Fact is there is a much greater chance of a negative rather than positive outcome down the road. Personally I sleep well paying rent here from airbnb income in countries that encourage 100% foreign ownership. 

A proper investment - when talking about real estate - is investment in location, or future interest of location; and yes, I have taken that in mind.

"Investing" in a home might not always equal "proper investment", a home is a place you like to live, and you might not wish to sell it as long as you can afford to live in it, or as long as you are alive.

Yes, a good average hand rule about any investment is that it shall double it's value over a 10-year period; i.e. 6-7 percent average increase per year will double in 10 years, use the 72-rule, where you take 72 divided with average gain in percent, for example 7, then you have the number of years for a double-up. Investing in stock market, looked over very long time, fits well in the 10-year double-up formula with it's 6-7 percent average annual increase in value.

In Thailand a building lose value by age - it's value might increase a bit the first few years, and then it begins to loose - it's the land that increase in value. If you have "invested" in the right land plot your investment might increase it's value, or it might just equal what you invested - hopefully with gain of inflation - and also with gain of rent, or saved rent if you use your investment as home - depending of land size and value vs. building size and value.

However, if the land don't increase enough in value compared to loss on building, you in principle lose on your investment.

If you for example build a 3 million baht house in a rural village on a 300,000 baht land plot, you might not gain anything, you even risk of loosing money over a 10-year period. But if you instead build a 3 million baht house of a 6 million baht attractive beachfront plot, you might double your investment - or more - over 10 years.

If you read my later post about "location", you will see some actual examples...????

17 minutes ago, ronster said:

Yeah was the outdoor place not the actual club as far as I’m aware .

The outdoor pub is named "Black Bamboo" with a later addition of "Club", the indoor place completely burned up in December last year, it was named "Black Club"...????

36 minutes ago, Gecko123 said:

Thank you for your detailed and informative reply. If I understand you correctly, as long as the future buyer is comfortable remaining within the confines of the corporate structure the OP has set up, the transaction can be completed completely removed from any land office review or scrutiny, but if the future buyer isn't comfortable with this corporate structure, the transfer to the new owner will have to be made down at the land office, and there may be tax liabilities and transfer taxes incurred in the process.

 

My question is:

 

"If a potential buyer preferred to transfer the property into their own name rather than leaving it in the name of the existing corporate entity, and the OP and new buyer thus needed to go to the land office to effect this transfer of ownership, wouldn't the OP more than likely need the cooperation of the lawyer/girlfriend/mother in order to smoothly accomplish this, and if any of the above persons proved to be unavailable or uncooperative, couldn't this potentially delay or prevent the sale of the property for a significant period of time?"

"...wouldn't the OP more than likely need the cooperation of the lawyer/girlfriend/mother in order to smoothly accomplish this..."

No, a registered director with full power can sign for the company. The company limited sells a property, it's not an annihilation of the company limited. The director don't need to be shareholder - a director, i.e. board member, is elected by the general meeting, i.e. the shareholders majority of votes, and a director can have full power, or limited power - the director with full power can also issue a power of attorney to a lawyer, who can sign on behalf of the company in the land office.

In shell-companies for foreign ownership of property it's often the foreign major shareholder that also is registered as director, a company limited can have one or more directors.

The last in my previous post that you quote, talks about what happens when you close a company limited, to close you might need a higher vote majority than simple majority...????

2 hours ago, ronster said:

Seemingly the black was also closed down again the same night as this party ! ????????????

The news I saw only said "Bamboo", but could of course be short for "Black Bamboo Club"...????

2 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Why is it impossible for the adoption documentation to be produced?

The Thai adoption documents are not accepted by the Danish authorities, and Guide cannot be adopted under Danish law.

Google-translation from Danish news article...

The Danish authorities do not acknowledge that Guide under Thai law has been adopted by his aunt Praphatsanun, who lives in Denmark with her Danish husband, Niels Jørgen. Therefore, the Home Travel Agency will now send Guide on to his grandmother who lives in Thailand.

But in Thailand, Guide is registered as adopted to his aunt in Denmark, and that puts him in a legal vacuum. Nevertheless, the Danish Travel Agency is adamant and will 'establish cooperation on repatriation', and they have therefore convened a Guide for a meeting.

[ ... ]

Despite countless attempts, the couple has been refused to adopt Guide according to Danish law - despite the fact that according to the decision from the Family Court, it is Guide's biological parents' wish that Guide is adopted by Niels Jørgen and Praphatsanun. Guide's biological parents were very young when they got him, and have at no time been able to take care of him.

Legal knot
The reason for the refusal is that Guide has a little brother in Thailand, who according to the authorities will be discriminated against if only one of them is adopted. Therefore, the couple has subsequently also applied to adopt both boys, not least because their grandmother is now old and according to the Danish authorities themselves have stated that she can not have both Guide and his brother living with her.

But they have also been refused because Guide's little brother has no affiliation with Denmark. And that decision has now put Guide in an impossible situation where he is caught between Danish and Thai rules.

Sad, but true...

20 hours ago, DBath said:

These are no doubt very, very difficult times for all of us. What do you do to take your mind off all the chaos and escape the whole topic of covid?

Stop reading news articles about it, and stop following Covid-postings on Facebook and in ASEAN NOW...

On 9/11/2021 at 3:53 AM, AmericanMusashi said:

I'm a retired American under the age of 50 and wondering if it would be possible to live long term in Thailand without the vaccine?

Under 50 years of age you should be more concerned about visa, but an Elite Card might solve that. So far there is no mandatory vaccination demand, if you stay away from places where it's asked for, but sometimes, if not often, a negative Covid-test can work as well as documentation for vaccination. However, nobody know what the future might bring.