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"If you have paid into a pension; then you are fully entitled to what you are owed regardless."

It's the spouses that they are rightly concerned about. Also what about gays? Most paid into the scheme for many years and never even got the right to marry never mind about leaving their pension and death grants to their partners. Don't hear anybody screaming about that do we?

Why don't u just explain all this to our employer and let him decide?

This topic relates to safety. Safety is something Thailand seems to have little regard for. Locking of fire exits; blocking of fire equipment; overcrowding in shopping malls; sales of dangerous fireworks to very young children; discos built with flammable materials; badly constructed scaffolding; failure to use seat belts; failure to wear safety helmets; vehicles failing to stop for pedestrians on a crossing; talking, without hands-free device, on the mobile whilst driving car or riding motorbike; overloaded pickup trucks; passenger hanging out the back of baht buses; Rabid and dangerous dogs allowed to roam public streets; etc. etc. And each of these examples are not few in number, they are huge. Safety helmets for instance. At any given time in Pattaya I'd estimate only a 70% observance of the rule with children as passengers at as little as 1%. Failing to stop for a pedestrian on a crossing 99%. People know the rules but take little notice of them. Enforcement of the rules is so infrequent it has no effect. The penalties are so ridiculously small people are prepared to pay them over and over again.

My condolences to the mother of the young European man who was the victim of this senseless lack of regard for safety. But Thais too are victims of the same lack of safety yet they don't seem to want to do anything about it.

It's not about caring about safety, it's a disregard for human life that is the core of the matter. If Thais don't want to do anything about safety (or corruption) then they aren't victims are they? They are at worst perpetrators and at best complicit. For example, if a Thai motorcycle rider dies of head injuries because he didn't wear a helmet, is he any less guilty of causing his own death just because a careless driver cut in front of him?

If I was in the same situation as this mother and did not get a response from my solicitor's letters and my own letters to the relevant authorities, I would come to Thailand, get myself a good reporter and/or a solicitor with balls and go occupy his office. I would inform the international news media and cause such a (peaceful) stink that the international media would report it. If they didn't I would go on hunger strike until the Thai authorities proved they had done something substantial in the case, incl. the Prime Minister if necessary. I would be so incensed at the unnecessary loss of my son and the lack of any intent to solve the crime that I would go on hunger strike in the municipal offices if necessary. It wouldn't matter if I wasn't allowed back in Thailand as long as the news media reported it for however long it would take to get something done or I had embarrassed the sh*t out of the authorities, incl. TOT.

I have an 18 year old son about to take his first un-parented foreign trip, so I feel for her loss. Children should never die before their parents.

The slick tyres - well, if the bus had recently passed an inspection then someone should pay for that obvious error.

Regarding the lack of seat belts in the bus. Does any passenger bus anywhere in the world have seat belts?

Do the smaller Toyota buses in Thailand have passenger seat belts? I know full sizes buses don't.

Anyway - good luck to her in her uphill challenge. I doubt suing a company now out of business is going to be easy - or fruitful.

You're wrong there Mike - Nakhonchai Air is one of the companies running long distance buses out of Chiang Mai and all their buses have seat belts on every seat. They also carry a relief driver on each bus and the two swap over every 4 hours on the longer journeys (e.g. Chiang Mai - Nakhon Ratchasima).

All modern buses, at least long-distance ones, in Thailand have to be fitted with seat belts, as do taxis and minibuses, incl in the back seats. All the 666 buses from BKK to CM have them. However, some private operators and taxis fix them down or hide them for some unknown reason, but I make sure I pull them out whatever damage results.

its a requirement for all passenger carriers in the uk to have seatbelts ,has been for a couple of years,,

And how many people ignore them? I wouldn't use seat-belts on a bus.

Those who don't think about the future consequences of what could happen resulting from a collision.

yes, we all take a risk when we enter a vehicle, but it doesn't mean we should throw caution to the wind. If it has seatbelts, it's probably a good idea to use them. If not then it is up to the passenger..

As a regular bus traveller in Thailand, I make a note every time that no Thais use available seat belts, and neither do farangs (except me). At least farangs have the advantage of safety education in most aspects of life when they are growing up and usually take heed in their home countries but not in Thailand, which represents freedom and a lack of regulation that they like so much. Unfortunately, sometimes it bites them.

unfortunely this is just another sad case to lose a son at 19yrs old with his life in front of him i wouldnt even think i could cope.what she is trying to do i'am afraid she would be better off highlighting what happens here in thailand in the uk.i saw an interveiw with her on tel.where she said if she can change things as to help thai people be aware then she will have achieved something sadly this will not happen.as for the civil lawsuit i hope she goes ahead.

I agree, but sadly, going ahead with a lawsuit is likely to cost a lot of money and finally end with frustration and failure. The money might be better spent on some charity in the name of her son rather than on lawyer's fees.

The pilots realized the auto-pilot had been turned off in their sleep?

The vertical drop of 10,000 meters woke them up!

Don't know coz I can't remember any words that I've forgotten.

"McCormick pleaded innocent, claiming that his devices "bypass all concealment methods""

For concealment methods read bribes.

Making medical insurance compulsory for long-term residents in Thailand will just mean inflated prices by Thai providers if they know they have captured customers. Collusion in price hikes will undoubtedly take place. Having insurance does not guarantee payment of medical bills, which is what is being talked about. It only insures that annual fees are paid. There are so many exceptions when it comes to companies paying their bills. If someone can prove they have at least a minimum income/savings then it should be enough. Maybe proof of insurance and/or minimum savings/income would be better as the over '70s would have trouble getting insurance or have to pay exhorbitant premiums when they prefer to pay themselves.

Somehow I doubt that any foreigner would be allowed to join the Thai national scheme at 30b/month, and I really don't see anything wrong with that. In the same way, I would expect a visitor to my country to have some form of insurance or be able to pay for their own medical costs if they have an issue while travelling there.

I have long term travel insurance which I renew every year. Costs about NZD500 for a year and has all the necessary cover I need for both living in Thailand and travelling overseas.

I'd consider it very unwise for anybody living as an expat or travelling anywhere in the world not to have appropriate insurances in place. As to Insurances in your domestic country, well they're all different so everybody has to make their own call based on their circumstances and government policy.

I think it actually is a good idea for any government to require travel/medical insurances before entry is allowed into the country - not just Thailand. It sure would solve a lot of hard-up stories from travellers here that get injured or sick and didn't have the wisdom to think that maybe a foreign government doesn't have the same obligations to look after me as my own government.

If you live in Thailand how come you can get long-term travel/medical insurance from New Zealand? As far as I am aware, non-residents of a state can't get such insurance unless they are resident of that state - it seemed to apply in the UK. Can you illuminate us on this in case others could get the same?

Part of the problem with bus deaths is that passengers don't use seat belts when provided. They assume they don't need them in a bus and often stare with incredulity when I always put mine on. The seats at the front or facing a stairwell are also dangerous because there is nothing to stop forward motion except the stair rail or window if there is a sudden halt. Always sit behind a seat to cusion blows and wear a seat belt, preferably in the middle of the bus near an emergency door and next to the aisle - then there is a better chance to avoid damage from impacts and escape any crashed bus. Never use minibuses unless unavoidable.

A fellow explained the inflow of money to a few of us old geezers the other day.

A lot of this is ill gotten money which has been held outside Thailand for the benifet of the corrupt. With the anti laundering overhaul the banks are going to impose, people are moving funds back so they will have easier access to the funds.

I did note this self proclaimed expert and his theories, yes there were more, had consumed about a bakers dozen, good stiff drinks. But he was buying for the audience, so we were duty bound to half way listen.

Much of the inflow of foreign funds is to buy Thai government bonds by foreign investors. The Thai govt is issuing quite a lot due to fiscal deficits.

I completely agree, noise pollution outside, and inside stores and restaurants, and malls, basically everywhere, is one of the worst aspects of living in Thailand. Even the highest and most reverend personage has commented on it and advised that it effects both the mental and physical health of Thais and visitors in a negative manner. Alas, I guess the Thais have all gone deaf from the aural assault because they seem determined to ignore any and all advice on the subject.

Between the noise and the ever worsening traffic, I am seriously looking to relocate outside of pattaya...maybe to chiang Mai. It's not that I didn't know about these things (they drove me out of Bangkok 10 years ago) but as I get older and the excitement of "Fun City" has lost most of its allure, I can think about moving on.

Welcome to the smoke then.

I'm in the same position - just built my partner a house near the family - I don't have much verbal communication with the family or the village but at least they refer to me as Khun ..... I do appreciate that even though they usually laugh after saying it!

The Dutchman is more corrupt than the policeman as it was he who started off the conversation about alternative payments and actually paid the bribe. He could have accepted the original fine. But of course in the west, it will be all the fault of the policeman without any thought of what the westerner did wrong. He broke the local laws twice - once for not having a helmet and the other for paying a bribe - and maybe drinking and driving depending on how much of that bottle he drank)..

Helping you wife on her own food stall would not be permitted and you would be doing in full public view. In ay case, the profits would probably be very small.

To be secure here, you need a fund behind you and an adequate income. Remember also that her family will probably expect a sinsot when you marry unless you forgo the traditional wedding.

Why not live with her in Singapore and work something out from there?

Good luck and I hope that you will bot be happy together.

I fully agree - no foreigner should try to make it in Thailand without a reasonably well-paying job or substantial savings. If your first language is English then you might want to try teaching English at a private school - it should pay enough. Otherwise try to get your bird into Singapore after marriage. Stress on income often leads to divorce or separation so make sure your home economy is right before proceeding.

This is a rip off.

Homes are assumed to be occupied full time. If some owners choose to be away for much of the time, then that is their problem - others who use their homes full time should not have to cough up more for wear and tear because of that.

What would stop renters from using the facilities - are they locked up? If not, then they are assumed to be available for all owners/ renters.

Phuket expat skimmed for B100,000Claire ConnellAli Goebel.PHUKET: -- Phuket expat Ali Goebel is issuing advice to other ATM users after B100,000 was skimmed from her bank account on Saturday while in Hua Hin – cover your hand when you’re entering your pincode.Mrs Goebel had B100,000 taken out of her Citibank account in 11 transactions on Saturday (April 13), with bank records showing the money was taken from an ATM in Vietnam.She was alerted via an email from the bank, which questioned the multiple transactions. A phone call stopped any further withdrawals, but by that time the skimmers had already taken a large amount of cash.“The withdrawals started at US$50, then up to US$85, then US$100, US$200 and then US$400. And finally it was stopped at B100,000. It is scary. It is lucky I caught it because that account had B200,000 in it and they could have got it all.”Mrs Goebel, who has lived in Phuket for six years, said a cash fraud investigation was already under way by Citibank.“I’m disputing the transactions, and I’ve sent some paperwork to them. It could take up to two months but I will get the money back.”When she called the bank and asked how it might have happened, Ms Goebel was told the skimmers attach some sort of scanner to the ATM, and set up a camera so they can video you entering your pin.She said that ATM users should use cover their hand when entering their pin on an ATM, to avoid being videoed if there was a camera set up.“The bank also said it is better to use bank ATM machines as they are safer. I use the ATMs at Family Marts and 7-Elevens.”Mrs Goebel said Citibank had been “excellent” to deal with, and she was thankful she would get the money returned.Skimming from ATMs has been a hot topic on the island for many years.Yesterday (April 14), two Frenchmen and a Tunisian were arrested for skimming.Evidence collected by the police included a laptop computer with card reader, 70 ATM and credit cards with passwords written on them, and 6,000 Euros and B134,000 in cash.Earlier this year, Australian Robert Millard made headlines when B90,000 was skimmed from his Krungsri bank account in April 2012, withdrawn in Pattaya while he was in Phuket.Mr Millard is still trying to get the money back, but so far has been unsuccessful.Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-expat-skimmed-for-b100-000-38665.php

-- Phuket News 2013-04-15

Strange. I'm with Citibank and there is a ATM cash withdrawal limit of 20,000 baht per day inside or outside Thailand.

Many years ago, my ageing dog had kidney failure. I wasn't there at the time but my mum told me how painful it was. If, for some strange reason your vet won't put the dog out of its misery then do everything you can to find one and now. I doubt that the condition will get any better and may deteriorate quickly. You don't want a screaming dog in the middle of the night and not being able to do anything about it.

I think the OP has made it clear that he hasn't not paid rent for a straight 14 months, but that he missed some payments here and there, or maybe paid less than the full rent at times, but that money has been flowing to the landlord. In a total stay of 6-7 years I believe, he is a total of 14 months behind ...which might equal something like a 15% discount so far. If you look at that way, it doesn't seem as bad as if you think he hasn't paid a dime in 14 consecutive months.

Many landlords would have had vacant periods during that amount of time, especially in Thailand, that would have amounted to a much bigger loss, plus cleaning up the place in between tenants, plus maybe some other tenant would have left with a debt here or there. This doesn't really sound like a total crisis to me, for the landlord.

Some of you seem to be totally missing the point, that the OP has two young kids, needs to go back to the UK?, needs 3 airline tickets, needs food for everyone, and might be homeless at any moment, and possibly is still not free to leave Thailand due to paperwork/immigration matters.

Where is the concern for the kids? Would you really pay off your credit card, or some other debt, before feeding your kids? While stuck in a foreign country?? If you are so worried about random Thai people, well his kids are Thai people at the moment. His ex-wife is a Thai person, who is maybe racked in worry and guilt because her two children are about to become homeless, and have no food, school, or anything.

Let's see, she has a farm, a bar, a hair salon ...do you think she has an iPhone, a car, any gold, credit cards, or anything that could help. (I know the OP is expecting her help, that he has to pay her for, for her labor, interest on her financial loan if that ever comes through, and as well she is probably only going to the UK, if she does go, in order to benefit herself, get better farang hunting grounds, etc.) So where is the outrage about this mother, either feeling sorry for her poor problems, or feeling angry that she isn't there to help her kids.

Or what about worry that his kids will end up in shack somewhere with grandparents? Unclear why the mother seems to be doing okay, but his kids will end up with Thai grandparents ...but isn't this typical of SOME women here? Women doing okay financially, but not taking care of the kids, not contributing much or nothing to their welfare?

This sounds like a typical farang/Thai relationship gone wrong, where the lady just wanted her "nice life" and got "accidentally pregnant" to secure that income for life, then "whatever" happens for a few years, lady leaves, without kids, or with kids, but then blackmails the hell out of the Dad, this story is told once a week on this forum. Dad can't leave Thailand, Dad can't really work in Thailand, Dad is trying to be a good Dad, Mom is worried about herself and her money and nothing more, etc.

Why are we seeming to have two standards for Western people, and another for Thai people? Because we have been trained now to expect the bad Thai behavior? As far as I can tell, a majority of Thai people, and I mostly have only known what I would call "middle class" Thai people here, live all their lives in a state like the OP is in at the moment, a state of total chaos (according to my standards), yet they can work at any job here legally, have zero unemployment rates, have all the family support, can get credit here, free medical, etc., unlike a lone farang. They don't need several thousand dollars to get home with their kids, they are free to travel home, don't have passport/immigrations issues, co-parents who are constantly trying to stop them leaving, and generally, often, causing a lot of problems, to the same extent as some foreigners get hit with here.

Why not applaud the OP for taking responsibility for his kids, trying to make a go of it here, having a rough road to look forward to back in his home country? If you just heard that some poor Thai lady was 14 months behind in her rent, had been struggling to care for her half farang kids, all alone, let's say in Cambodia, had no money to get back to Thailand, blah, blah, blah, I think the reaction here would be totally different. Surely the newbies here would be asking for help "how can we get money from the farang father who abandonded them, how can I help her get a divorce, a passport for her kids, who wants to contribute, who wants to fly there and hold her hand because she can't fly alone, how can we help her cousin get into military school", oh, and 6 other people in her family need help, one had a car accident, one can't pay for thier HIV meds, another needs XYZ, and on and on and on!!

I think some of the posters today are just frustrated, as I often am too, living here, and maybe we redirect some of that in inappropriate ways, like attacking our fellow expats, because 6 times we almost died trying to drive around town today.

Some farangs really do behave badly here, but those seem to be mostly a criminal element or people with some serious problems ...the OP does not seem to be one of these people.

I think most Thai people, would be thinking badly about us farangs, upon reading something like this thread, and the response by his fellow expats, and not at all about some guy not being able to pay all his debts at the moment. And I think they would be utterly SHOCKED that the OP would one day actually pay the landlord back, or even be seriously considering it, they would just think his statements were total lies, and the typical thing to SAY, but to never DO.

What a load of old cobblers. If this guy cannot manage his life then only he should suffer, not his kids, not his landlord and not Thavisa. Only he should suffer and he should not be asking us how he can make his landlord suffer but how he can use his resources to make sure others don't suffer. I don't believe for a minute that this guy intends to pay his landlord after he returns home and fully expect that he hopes this little debacle will lead to someone in Thaivisa paying up for him. Give it a rest will you?

Well since his kids depend on him and only him, at this time, how do you suggest he only suffers, and not them?

If one should use their resources " to make sure others don't suffer" then what do you do with your resources? I have plenty of suggestions for you, if you only care about "others not suffering" ...what an altruist you seem to be!

And how is TV suffering from this? I think it is quite a popular topic and getting a lot of looks which is what TV is here for, making money for the owners. Too bad you don't believe the guy hopes/intends to pay back the landlord. I don't really care if he does or not. I've lost quite a lot of money in Thailand due to unethical behavior, and from sometimes criminal behavior, can't say I have found anyone who is worried about me or those situations. Would you like to start a thread on my behalf, or contribute to my losses? Since you hate to see suffering?

Serves u right for puting yourself in the position of being expolited or cheated - you make the mistakes then you suffer, OK?