dre1247

Don,t know about you, but seems to me I cannot ever recall such bad weather in Pattaya, and I've been here more than a decade.

Feel sorry for all those affected by flooding etc, so best of luck to you.......

C'mon, pussy weather. Cold season with a lowest of 13 centigrade (snow in C'rai), Water scooters providing transport services on 2nd and South PTY road, Beach road completely washed in the bay opposite Soi Post office, Soi Post office a really fast streaming river with kids with floating devices risking their health, Jomtien beach road washed away, Sukhumvit between South and Klang impassible by traffic except tour busses. All in various years though, but this is mild and pleasant weather by any standard.

A Kingdom of Fools dancing on a house of cards.

Happy to be out of it.

Sorry for the money I left behind.

You are not really out of it, you still curious and reading about it 5555

And thats exactly why Thailand is not ready yet for democracy as so many westerners profess. A benevolent dictatorship with a strong leader will do wonders for everyone except for politicians, they will bleed dry, rightfully so. OK guys shoot hahaha

Obvious counters would be:

- its easy for a benevolent fellow to turn in to a lunatic

- problems occur when ruler is on way to death

- still have massive powerfull interests which need to be pandered to, such as generals, exceptional wealthy etc

- no accountability to deal with corruption, unpopular deeds etc

the list could go on but but i can see the plus side of a benevollent dictator. The only time it would really work though i think is when the man, or woman, has an overwhelming sense of duty to the people of the country, such as that which a monarch or true grassroots socialist may have, otherwise it would be nothing more than a free for all, of corruption and probably much worse things, for thos in power. Can see this all over the place from burma to zimbabwae.

I'd advocate a re-optionaly-addopted-collonialisation where a country could vote to join Britian, france or who ever would take them, and in exchange for preferential trade deals they would be sorted out with a functioning government, independant judicary and police aswell as infustructure and services. No sure anyone would go for it or if any counrty would want the burden, especially now, but in the long run i should think everybody would be better off.

Thailand is not a country that needs any dictators or outside help i dont think.

MCCW, interesting view. I forgot to say "with a council of (12?) wise men and woman to make it more possible to be right".

Abhisit said politicians should not be making decisions on the public's behalf

Statement of the decade.

Well spotted

About a new constitution of course

Metallic security door - Bangkok - Pattaya - Do you know any shop to install a metallic door in Jomtien / Pattaya ?

Hi,

Do you know shops and prices to add a metallic door in front of condo wooden door ?

Thanks.

Just ask your neighbors who have installed such a door already.

It's clear that HomePro Pattaya seem never to have heard of the Consumer Case Procedure Act (CCPA) nor the Thai Civil and Commercial Code - laws that offer some protection to us consumers. Blank looks and silence eminates from good English speaking management. I am planning to have a legal go at them for their straightforward dismissal of my legitimate claims against them for supplying defective products (goods not fit for purpose) and their misleading statements. I find this store's arrogance to be unbelievable. If you have any recent & similar issues with them or any helpful comments I'd be pleased to receive them. I realise it will be a waste of time but hey, I'm retired.

PS - I have searched TV and reviewed the many other previous HomePro threads.

PPS - how do i start a unique HomePro Forum - it would save others having to search back?

If you come over to any Thai like the way you come over in this post you will get nowhere, retired, right or wrong, it's irrelevant. I don't know how long you are in TH but if you come over as a threat they don’t know how to handle this, IF YOU LIKE IT OR AGEE WITH IT IS IRRELEVANT (sorry for the capital letters, to make sure it sinks in). If you keep your cool and don’t argue (never argue for then you lost the game already) with the lower level staff (they have no power and will not stick out their heads ever) but FRIENDLY ask for a manager you may get the answers you want, especially if you FRIENDLY insist. One very important thing is to learn some Thai for it will put the staff at ease, they can all speak some English but they are afraid to use it for fear of losing face if they make a mistake. Try to understand that this culture is 180 degree different form yours, and after all it’s their country, try to fit in, especially when things may not go your way. Making treats about setting up a site to blast home pro is just plain silly and shows YOUR incapability of handling a situation. I shop often at home pro and always get friendly service and walk out with what I want. Attitude is the buzzword. It also looks like you want to start a unique HP forum, why, to make you feel better so you can blast them?? Or to pass positif criticism? Think deep and honest, will you reach you goal or only satisfy your hurt ego? Com on retired man, your old enough to know what's right, at least you ought to know...

The house is around 250sqM not including the sala and has 4-bedrooms and 3-bathrooms(1 external).

Not a problem working in Udon.

And concerning sandwash,sandstone,pebbledash unsure of the correct term-so i'd post a pic!

If anyones serious regarding this builder you are welcome to have a look round,you can even have the plans i've got no use for them now-well as long as you not gonna build too close.

Did I see UPVC or white aluminium windows?

White aluminium.

Just be quoted an additional 16,000baht for mosquito nets/frames for all windows plus sliding doors.

Make sure you cannot lift the windows out of the rail, I am in the home security business and have come across this problem several times.

And thats exactly why Thailand is not ready yet for democracy as so many westerners profess. A benevolent dictatorship with a strong leader will do wonders for everyone except for politicians, they will bleed dry, rightfully so. OK guys shoot hahaha

The house is around 250sqM not including the sala and has 4-bedrooms and 3-bathrooms(1 external).

Not a problem working in Udon.

And concerning sandwash,sandstone,pebbledash unsure of the correct term-so i'd post a pic!

If anyones serious regarding this builder you are welcome to have a look round,you can even have the plans i've got no use for them now-well as long as you not gonna build too close.

Did I see UPVC or white aluminium windows?

Who's money was it by the way? Who's 500k was it...

Its a very lot of Money for her to have had access to, and a very lot to withdraw at one time.

Its a very strange story indeed.

It was her money in her account, she was suppose to buy some land next month for this money. And the house is in a company name without her name on any documents, so yes i asked her to take care of a potential buyer if he comes along, so she did not try to sell the house herself.

She had to to the bank to get the money, and like somebody said " it's not easy to withdraw that amount of money" yes it is!!

She is very distressed about this, a huge loss of money for her. For the satisfaction of some repliers i did not loose a single satang.

I will call later and check if they found anything on the video tapes

So at the very worst she has been gullible and has been scammed and has lost her own money. What is your take on the TV contributors who from their ingrained prejudice jumped to the conclusion that she was a crook?

Maybe crucial non information and experience??

Who's money was it by the way? Who's 500k was it...

Its a very lot of Money for her to have had access to, and a very lot to withdraw at one time.

Its a very strange story indeed.

It was her money in her account, she was suppose to buy some land next month for this money. And the house is in a company name without her name on any documents, so yes i asked her to take care of a potential buyer if he comes along, so she did not try to sell the house herself.

She had to to the bank to get the money, and like somebody said " it's not easy to withdraw that amount of money" yes it is!!

She is very distressed about this, a huge loss of money for her. For the satisfaction of some repliers i did not loose a single satang.

I will call later and check if they found anything on the video tapes

Next time give these detail beforehand now you have 30 useless responses based on non information.

These girls have got more tricks then Harry Potter.

Right, and they all deserve an Oscar....... on a daily base that is..5555

I'm going to play devils advocate here and say that she was duped.  They told her it was for "closing costs" and she believed them.  I find it hard to belive that the mrs. would settle for 500K when she can sell the house and get much more if she was in it for the money.  To many people 500K really isn't a huge sum of money so I'm not sure why everyone immediately jumps  on the OP and says his wife/g'f is stealing from him, especially after 4 years.

" especially after 4 years" not relevant at all, some make their move after 10 even 20 years.

My girlfriend called me today saying that she had been scammed by somebody that where suppose to be a potential buyer for my house.

This started a couple of days ago, she called and said that a woman went to the house saying her sister was interrested in buying the house, and she would come to the house a few days later.

"her sister" which turned out to be 5 guys in a Toyota Fortuner showed up yesterday, all dressed up/hi-so looking, as she said... somehow she was lured to hand over money to them for god knows what?? and they where suppose to show up later with a deposit for the house.

All in all she handed over about 500k baht... The first thing on my mind was gambling-debt,,, but i am not to sure about it.. I called later today and then she was at the police station, they told her that this was a profesional gang, that have been reported before, and the car was most probarly a rented one with fake plates. Tommorow they are going to Lotus on Sukhumvit to go trouhgt the cctv cameras, and see if they can recognise the car/plates (they didn't go in with her to the bank).

So what you think guys/ladies, is this just another rather advanced excuse for a loss of money, or have somebody heard anything about this? We have been together for about 5 years, and this is not a common thing...

Your girlfriend has access to your bank account?????????? You just paid 500K school fee, hope you learned the lesson.

Her's a new twist and one that is almost impossible to avoid.

My Nephew came from the UK to BKK so I gave him the standard advice: 'don't use taxi touts, go to the official desk for a taxi, make sure he uses the meter'.

Well he did and the ride from Swampy to the east side of town to a hotel on Sukamvit cost 700 Baht plus toll fares. The second time a few days later the fare was 400 Baht to Banglampoo, on the west, much further. The second fare was right, the first very wrong. My best guess is that the driver had rigged his meter to run at twice the rate.

Anyone else had similar problems?

Yeah, me, about 20 years ago. This is very old twist. Some do have a little switch under the dash board.

Right, who believes a megalomaniac criminal on the run who has proven to lie about everything in the past. On arrival a straight jacked and forced medication and then serf his jail term.

"We've witnessed a record number of pregnancies in girls as young as 13 and 14, and that's worrying," said Prof Surasak Taneepanichskul, who is a representative of the Asia-Pacific Council on Contraception.

......

Surasak, who is also dean of Chulalongkorn University's College of Public Health Sciences, said Thai teenagers must develop social skills.

"In particular, women should learn how to say no," he said.

With people making this kind of statement is it any wonder that pregnancies are out of control.

Harry, what are you trying to say??

I am a small resort owner and was approached recently to sign up for bartercard . Can any other business owners give e feedback (good or bad) about this card and system.

Yes, I was with them for a while and it was a nightmare. A major problem is that, if you do get business through Bartercard, you will discover that none of their members has anything you will want to spend your accumulated credits on. If you do find a supplier on their list that you might want to buy from you inevitably discover that they have discontinued their Bartercard account.

They are also very economical with the truth and promise all kinds of benefits which they do not deliver and they have developed scams, contravening their own rules, in order to drum up business. They are an international company and if you contact a financial regulating authority abroad about their activities they quickly come to heel - they have now been de-listed from the London Stock Exchange.

I am 100% in agreement, all you can spend your credit on is on restaurants, and not on your suppliers. I moved out quickly, it does't work here, they say it is OK in Australia, but that is a little too far for me.

This doesn't really help, but any taxes our company pays through the accountant are in the form of "account payee only" cheques to the Revenue Department , Social Security Fund, etc., so is there no chance of the accountant keeping the money. His office just collects and lodges our cheques and does the necessary paperwork. His monthly fee is around 7000bt to take care of the monthly requirements, including VAT lodgment and the annual accounts. Annual work permit is extra. I don't know what you were paying, but you should be able to find a Samui accountant for around the same monthly fee. If you try it yourself, it might be a good idea to go to someone reputable like Sunbelt and pay them a one off fee to walk you through the process.

I solved the situation by hiring a capable staff starting at B 10,000. Deduct the B 7,000 you spend on an accountant and you have an extra staff for B 3,000. The annual accounts have to be done by another company anyway and should be done for B 10 to 12,000 once a year. This staff I hired used to work for an accounting office (for B 7,000 a month, guess who is happy) and knows the way and all the addresses.. I never regretted this structure. Visa and work permit was done by another capable company and the end result is that I now have Thai citizenship, thats how good they do their job. Also in Samui one must be able to find good offices, ask around, do some research.

Thai security is a joke look at any bank, no screens and money being counted by the hundred thousand baht right in front of your eyes . Im not so sure that any security guards would do a fat lot either if anything happened, except maybe take their lunch break?

Did you ever figured out that if one wants to steal millions from a Thai bank one needs a truck to cart it off, that's why we don't have 10,000 bills here.

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raro

i can honestly claim that only an ignorant and pompous àss can judge the 120 million Nigerians based on the behaviour of a tiny minority. take that from somebody who has spent 4½ good years of his life in Nigeria.

Well Naam, I come from the off shore oil business and spoke to many reasonable and sensible people who lived there, NOT ONE had a pleasant story to tell. Living in camps all together with top of the line security systems installed and still having to defend themselves with arms is par for the course.

In 1989 I received my first scam letter tru the mail, nobody had internet those days. Followed by scam faxes and now scam e-mails. From where do you think this originates? Oh yeah, from a tiny minority, but ONLY from Nigeria.

Up to you, but when I receive ANYTHING from Nigeria it is thrown in the round file without opening.

Try chilli powder ............

netting or obstacles to where they perch may work too.

sometihing has attracted them....maybe a lack of snakes? They are the best wauy of keeping vermin down. Rats eggs etc are all on their menu!

Pigeions likke seeds, so if there is a source nearby.....

And dry dog food, the little balls.

Don't use the room-safes! (I say this as a hotel owner who knows about these room safes and as a Tourist Police Volunteer who regularly deals with theft reports from hotel room safes).

Last Friday I had an American tourist who reported the loss of $2,000 from his hotel room safe - in the Sheraton!!

Hotel management will often say that only the manager knows the master combination, or only he/she has access to the master key. Well, master keys are easily copied and master codes are easily remembered! It is almost always the hotel staff/room-maid who commits the theft, (sometimes with full knowledge of the hotel manager), but she strangely seems to have returned to Burma when/if the police go to investigate.

Room safes are fine for items that you will not miss so much, such as your special kinky sex toy, or your mother-in-law. For anything else, either put it in the front-desk safe (if they have one), or carry it with you in a hidden (or several hidden) pockets.

Simon

Quite often nothing is really lost but the "victim" likes to claim from the insurance company back home and for that they need a police rapport. In room hotel safes are meant for small stuff, definitely not for large amounts of money. They all have some form of override, besides that there are many ways of getting in there for the smart ones around us. As my company is / was installing in room safes I made it a sport to devise ways to get in, too simple.

A complete moratorium on political protest for groups more that 10 persons for at least six months would be very welcome and in order. 99% of the population is SICK and TIRED of this "protesting" and would like to get on with life and let the government try to solve the urgent problems.

HM the King admitted to Siriraj Hospital

The Royal Household Bureau issues a statement on Sunday, saying HM the King had fever and was fatigued on Saturday.

HM the King can eat less.

Team of doctors then recommended that HM the King be admitted to Siriraj Hospital to receive medical treatment to know the cause of the illness.

HM the King is now receiving saline solution with anti-biotic.

-- The Nation 2009/09/20

Very best wishes for a complete recovery to His Majesty our King,

It's extremely heartwarming to see that we all have our love for our King in common.