SDM0712

A few months ago the central locking something wasn't working on my rear tailgate. The security man asked me to open up, I said that it was broken, so he looked through the window into the back section for a few seconds and then waved me through. I have 90% tinted windows so unless he had x-ray vision would have seen only his own reflection.

It would be interesting to put a big black box in someones boot and write "This is not a bomb", and see if that gets any attention.

S

...................

I've driven in Cairo, Egypt - much worse than Thailand.

It's funny you should say that, I have an Egyptian client that has just moved here from Cairo, and he won't drive here because, he says, it's far too dangerous.

I'm on the roads every day all over the island. Sometimes on a big bike, sometimes in an SUV. I've got to say apart from the occasional lunatic, it doesn't really feel dangerous to me. Maybe I'm just used to it.

S

As a suplimenrary, although not strictly relevant to this thread, anyone offered a used bike with a green book could call the Vehicle Dept and just get them to check on their database that the book serial number does match what it is supposed to be. There's a lot of fake books out there.

SDM

C'mon HKT is much more common than PIA. How about BIA instead of BKK ?

PIA is more commonly associated with the well known Phuket International school in Thalang, Phuket Internatioal Academy.

SDM

It's an interesting concept but as a Phuket Ninja 650 rider I can say with confidence that the fastest bikes on the road that I don't dare try to keep up with are 110/125 scooter and small bikes driven by Thais, they are by far the quickest and craziest things on the road. Also most accidents are caused by inexperienced foreigners that think they know it all on Scoopys and Clicks. I've read about many accidents with big bikes, but am yet to see one with my own eyes. I wonder how much these big bike licences will cost for the more expensive big bikes.......

Slightly off topic, but hopefully someone knows the answer because they have done it/currently do it yearly...what required forms do you need to file with the IRS at tax time if you have "said" company and only have a house in "said" company name?

Thanks

There is no IRS in Thailand

And the Internal Revenue Service in the US or the Inland Revenue Service in the UK could care less what you own in Thailand

You have an accountant or lawyer do the paperwork to "pay" your annual taxes to the Department of Business Development, Ministry of Commerce but most of these companies are legally structured so that they don't make a profit so no taxes are due, just an annual audit to show that they did not make a profit

Under US Law American citizens are required to advise the IRS in the US of any financial set up like this that they have anywhere in the World.

The point is a relevant one and something my American clients have to deal with.

SDM

" I see the mother is Thai so I doubt she was wearing a belt. Can't shout foul if playing foul. ".

Does this mean that if the mother wasn't wearing a belt then the death of her child is deserved?

Whilst the council should take responsibility and at least apologize to the parents, the mother should also shoulder a portion of blame for not ensuring her daughter was properly restrained in the car. A seatbelt could possibly have saved her life ?

BTW I did express my condolences to the family on the original thread, so don't bash me about it now...

How many of us really make our kids wear seat belts in the car? The problem is that unless you have the child on a booster seat at exactly the right height (which I'm not even sure you can buy here) the belt runs over the child's neck which would also be catastrophic in this kind of situation. Since this accident I've made my boy wear the belt under his arm but around his body, although I'm really not sure if this would secure him.

I'd heard that the parents were starting a private prosecution against the local authority, but haven't heard any more on that.

SDM

Are you kidding? I don't think I know a single farang parent who doesn't require kids to buckle up, or have appropriate booster seats installed. Many Thai parents at our school too. My son is a teenager now so he uses regular belts, but ever since the day we took him home from the hospital he's been in a correct age-appropriate seat. We even had an extra seat to install on occasions when a friend was along for the ride. I'm not looking to argue or question anyone's parenting, I just want to encourage every parent to put safety first.

No, I'm really not kidding, I don't know any.

SDM0712 I have no problem with your response to CornishCarlos and only include you in my comment because I'm curious as to whether I missed a piece of news in which it was stated that Molly was not wearing a seatbelt. After reading CCs comment, I went back and read every article regarding this tragic accident....and nowhere could I find any reference to their use or absence of use. Without any report regarding their use or non-use, assumptions are being made that, in my humble opinion, have no place in any responses to this article regarding Molly's death. This latest article is simply reporting that Molly has died as a result of brain injuries resulting from that accident. An accident which was the direct and SOLE result of the authorities in that area not only NOT carrying out the necessary repairs but NOT ensuring that proper barricades to prevent such an accident from happening were maintained. I hope her parents do sue....not for the money, but as another commenter (Junk1e) said, " to send a message to the authorities". Nothing like a hefty kick in the wallet to help someone to remember to do or not do something!

To CornishCarlos, I respectfully have to say that I found your comment regarding "....the mother should also shoulder a portion of the blame....." cruel and extremely unwarranted at this time! Not only do we not know whether or not she was wearing a seatbelt, but we don't know that the use or non-use played any part in her death. You, sir, are making assumptions, assumptions which appear to have basis only in your fertile mind. Should it have been a reported fact that Molly was not properly restrained, I would agree with you if you were to have said something along the lines of "....in addition to suffering from the tragic death of her daughter, her mother must now live with the knowledge that her failure to have the daughter properly restrained may have contributed to her death" And, it would be fair comment to say that, in some countries, a highway traffic charge at the very least would result. But for you to make the currently unsubstantiated criticism which you have made in your comment, for me was totally uncalled for.

Whilst the council should take responsibility and at least apologize to the parents, the mother should also shoulder a portion of blame for not ensuring her daughter was properly restrained in the car. A seatbelt could possibly have saved her life ?

BTW I did express my condolences to the family on the original thread, so don't bash me about it now.How many of us really make our kids wear seat belts in the car? The problem is that unless you have the child on a booster seat at exactly the right height (which I'm not even sure you can buy here) the belt runs over the child's neck which would also be catastrophic in this kind of situation. Since this accident I've made my boy wear the belt under his arm but around his body, although I'm really not sure if this would secure him.

I'd heard that the parents were starting a private prosecution against the local authority, but haven't heard any more on this.

My boy was in Molly's class at School and I understand that Molly was asleep in the front seat and not wearing a seat belt.

SDM

Can we even buy booster seats I'm Thailand? I've never seen them.

Whilst the council should take responsibility and at least apologize to the parents, the mother should also shoulder a portion of blame for not ensuring her daughter was properly restrained in the car. A seatbelt could possibly have saved her life ?

BTW I did express my condolences to the family on the original thread, so don't bash me about it now...

How many of us really make our kids wear seat belts in the car? The problem is that unless you have the child on a booster seat at exactly the right height (which I'm not even sure you can buy here) the belt runs over the child's neck which would also be catastrophic in this kind of situation. Since this accident I've made my boy wear the belt under his arm but around his body, although I'm really not sure if this would secure him.

I'd heard that the parents were starting a private prosecution against the local authority, but haven't heard any more on that.

SDM

I'll go ahead and say that all responsible parents who care for their children make them wear seat belts. If a booster seat is needed, you get one – simple as that. Even if you haven't got a booster seat, my guess is that the pros far outweigh the cons.

If the mother didn't make sure this poor child had a seat belt on, she is equally responsible for her death as the people who allowed that hole to remain.

I assume you live in Thailand, have kids and always make them wear seat belts using a booster seat if appropriate. Only yes or no answer required, anything else and let's assume no.

Whilst the council should take responsibility and at least apologize to the parents, the mother should also shoulder a portion of blame for not ensuring her daughter was properly restrained in the car. A seatbelt could possibly have saved her life ?

BTW I did express my condolences to the family on the original thread, so don't bash me about it now...

How many of us really make our kids wear seat belts in the car? The problem is that unless you have the child on a booster seat at exactly the right height (which I'm not even sure you can buy here) the belt runs over the child's neck which would also be catastrophic in this kind of situation. Since this accident I've made my boy wear the belt under his arm but around his body, although I'm really not sure if this would secure him.

I'd heard that the parents were starting a private prosecution against the local authority, but haven't heard any more on that.

SDM

Sounds like you're after a PBX system. Are the calls going to be primarily domestic or international? If the latter, you'll be better served by a VOIP based system, which doesn't require the "box on the wall" - each handset just needs internet access.

I thought I would let you know that based on your advice I was able to properly research what I needed and am having installed a NEC PABX SL1000 system with something called a VoIP Gateway.

If I can be any help to you please let me know.

SDM

Yes that's exactly it, a PBX system. It's a ground floor real estate office, the calls will be within the Kingdom. I have a VOIP system on place for the international stuff already.

Evening all.

I'm just in the process of setting a new office up in Phuket and need an office telephone system. Typically in the would comprise a box that fits on the wall that connects with the telephone provider and splits the number into various handsets. I need at least 4 incoming and outgoing lines on the same number. TOT recommended I speak to a private company since they don't offer any systems, but they couldn’t recommend or suggest anyone.

Does anyone know a company here that fits these systems?

Regards

Stephen

Even volunteers need work permits. Was all his paperwork in place before critisizing others?

My paperwork?

Yep, copies of everything in a nice neat plastic folder. But that isn't the issue.

Good luck at the dentist. Let's know how it goes. One can always use a good dentist! The Dental Clinic at the Bangkok Phuket Hospital is becoming prohibitively expensive and is now almost entirely geared towards medical tourism!

Exactly where I am now. Hope the bill is less painful than the fillings!

S

Dear SDM: You are absolutely right on both counts:

- the wording on the form is misleading but it's helpful to interpret it as to what is actually required in practical terms to get your job done. Government forms are pretty difficult to fathom, especially if they are in English in a non-English speaking country. It's best to not take them too literally.

- Anyone who volunteers for this kind of a job is motivated to help people. It needs extra amount of patience to deal with the kind of problem you raised. Sure, the volunteer concerned could have just told you that the wording is misleading. But it doesn't matter and you should just let him feel important - a little compensation for his hard work!

Happy a nice day.

As my dear old mum says, "politeness costs nothing"

Hopefully most do volunteer to help others. But I wonder, is there an element that are feeling a bit bored and unimportant in their retirement and want to put on a nice smart uniform, be important and tell others what do do? Perhaps this would be worth doing the job for nothing for some people.

Some of the visitors to Immigration are rude themselves and I can understand an equivalent reciprocal response, although it's still not acceptable for a Police Officer to reply in kind. But in my case I was not rude and merely correctly stated the facts.

I'd like to have a nice day, but am going to the dentist for the first time in two years, so that's probably not going to happen.....

SDM

My take on this would be that you probably need to get a life...

are volunteers really needed ? My local office manages without them as do many others, is Phuket that different ? Although I hate the guys at my local office, they seem to be able to communicate with the Burmese labourers , the chinese workers and the English / non-English tourists quite well enough.

When you catch a bus, there is no English speaking volunteer working at the bus station and yet, foreign visitors get to their destination.

Just my thoughts thats all.

Phuket Immigration is exceptionally busy and with the right attitude and knowledge they are very useful and helpful.

SDM

That was your attitude and im sure you took it right there to immigration also. So I can absolutely see why you come here seeking sympathy from complete strangers. Hows it working out for you?

Sorry what is my attitude ? I treat people as people treat me ? Some people just don't like being spoken down to by someone who has no right ? or there being no such thing as luck, good or otherwise.

I am not looking for any sympathy, you have misunderstood.

My post had two purposes, the first to gauge an opinion on whether I had completed the forms correctly, the second to express my annoyance at being dealt with badly and wrongly.

SDM

PS

Just re-read your post and I see what you mean now.

You are referring this is as an attitude ;

"some people just don't like being spoken down to by someone who has no right."

Firstly I don't know anyone that likes being spoken down to, and secondly the reason he had no right is because he was incorrect in what he had said.

Hope that makes it clear.

SDM

That was your attitude and im sure you took it right there to immigration also. So I can absolutely see why you come here seeking sympathy from complete strangers. Hows it working out for you?

Sorry what is my attitude ? I treat people as people treat me ? Some people just don't like being spoken down to by someone who has no right ? or there being no such thing as luck, good or otherwise.

I am not looking for any sympathy, you have misunderstood.

My post had two purposes, the first to gauge an opinion on whether I had completed the forms correctly, the second to express my annoyance at being dealt with badly and wrongly.

SDM

Listen have a little patience with the volunteers, remember they are volunteers. They have a job to do and that is to ensure you have the correct paperwork before you sit and wait for hours. How would you feel if they werent there, waited 3 hours and were turned away from service because you forgot something or filled out wrong paperwork? Also, they see hundreds of people everyday all walks of life, all kinds of attitudes. Have a little empathy for that.....

I treat people as they treat me. I have no patience for rudeness, it is completely unnecessary.

SDM

The non-o visa that gave you a 90 permit to stay is what they want on the form. You have been extending that permit to stay not your visa.

They would also want copies of your extension of stay stamp because that is what the re-entry permit is for.

The volunteer was wrong in calling your extension of stay stamp a visa.

Normally they want copies of both the visa you used for entry and the extension of stay stamp.

Joe

I accept this. My grievance is more the attitude of the Volunteer.

SDM