Nigeone

Posted on another topic but applies here

I'm afraid in these days of facebook and trip advisor type sites the news gets around..I know some friends who thought of going to Thailand

and spent along time after the coup looking up info on travel to Thailand...They ended up going to Greece...Too much in the news and on the web now

I'm afraid...And I actually hope the place does change for the better..a step back or two and in the future maybe it will be a better place..

I'm not going to hold my breath!

I'm afraid in these days of facebook and trip advisor type sites the news gets around..I know some friends who thought of going to Thailand

and spent along time after the coup looking up info on travel to Thailand...They ended up going to Greece...Too much in the news and on the web now

I'm afraid...And I actually hope the place does change for the better..a step back or two and in the future maybe it will be a better place..

I'm not going to hold my breath!

Yeah and I wonder why that is? you silly pricks. A mate of mine who works offshore and spends $100,000s of dollar in Thailand every year just got refused a Tourist Visa. He's been here 9 years and they do that because he used to come back and forth on a visa exempt cause he works 4 weeks on and 4 weeks off.

Thai immigration, you reap what you sow. Som Num Naa

All of you will be out of a job soon, because without the foreigners coming into Thailand, there will be no need for immigration LOL

Well I'm surprised to hear of anyone on a 28 day rotation being refused entrance, especially at the airport.

I didn't say he got refused entrance at an airport did I? I said he got refused a Tourist Visa. An application at Hull Consulate to be precise.

Ok, my mistake, I thought you meant refused entrance on a tourist visa, I'm a little tired today.

This is actually very concerning.

I've never heard of anyone being refused a tourist visa at a consulate in the UK, especially Hull.

This should be followed up and verified in the Visa section as it's big news if there's been a change in the policy for issuing tourist visas in far away consulates.

It could be because the consulates don't do visa's by post in the UK now...Only way to get a visa by post is through Thai embassy in London..I could be wrong but this is probably a reason why he didn't get a visa...You can get visa's from consulates but only by appointment and in person.....new system now..

All alcoholism is weak willed people who cannot say no. Its much harder to say my fun stops now, not the reverse

This comment is so wrong...Alcohol is probably the worst drug in the world ..It takes a hold on someone and messes so many people up...It starts like most drugs

and then its too late...In a social situation its very easy to be carried along without knowing it..

Bht 57 million..wow thats a whole chunk of money...Is there any virus etc that's not treatable ??? I dont know of any but someone on here probably does..

I dont think the changes are going to help the Thai's..Its a culture thing with them..When theres a public holiday and drink is banned from being sold the Thais in my village area all all smashed by 4 pm afternoon....They do drink so much as a nation and taking in to consideration there size far more in relation to body mass than farang.

Obviously this a generalisation but you know what I mean...When this hits the tourist industry , restaurants . bars etc like it or not many many Thai Girls and people in this industry are going to really struggle...Like I said earlier already around me in Lamphun a club is closing which stayed open till 4 and there is about 100 employed there..this is going to have big effects on many aspects of Thai life..some good ..a lot bad..

I dont think the changes are going to help the Thai's..Its a culture thing with them..When theres a public holiday and drink is banned from being sold the Thais in my village area all all smashed by 4 pm afternoon....They do drink so much as a nation and taking in to consideration there size far more in relation to body mass than farang.

Obviously this a generalisation but you know what I mean...When this hits the tourist industry , restaurants . bars etc like it or not many many Thai Girls and people in this industry are going to really struggle...Like I said earlier already around me in Lamphun a club is closing which stayed open till 4 and there is about 100 employed there..this is going to have big effects on many aspects of Thai life..some good ..a lot bad..

If ..and its a big if in my view..this goes ahead there going to have to revise there unemployment figures big time.....I would love to be a fly on the wall in the tourism powers that be offices now....talk about shoot yourself in the foot....For me I can get plenty to drink easily before 12pm and Lamphun everything closes around 12 any way..except the disco/pub and there closing as I mentioned already..they employ I would say over 100 people....all the ones I know its there only job...not sure how this is going to affect restaurants and the girls who serve...Its plain that the promo girls are going to have a problem but how do they class the other's...? In lamphun its not the same as Chiang Mai and the girls dont go with customers etc for money...although I'm sure you can have a relationship with them..just takes a little more time...so theres probably upwards of 400 girls under that umbrella of just serving you your drinks and ice etc......unemployment for lots of thai's....makes sense !!

This news could explain alot.....Where I stay, Lamphun, there's a disco with live entertainment and am friendly with the singers etc..They tell me the place..Rodeo pub its called, is closing in September.Its rumoured to be owned by police and usually stays open till 4 am..They have all the stuff thats going to banned so this could fit in...

This is going to be interesting..Around there is many thousands who work in electronics etc and enjoy there late nights a couple of times a week.....This is so going to hit the tourist trade too as word gets around..

A dry Thailand only affect falang. Thai people are Buddhist and drinking is against believes anyway. This is a Buddhist country.

Your having a laugh aren't you.....So what your saying is Thai's dont drink...wow....

Amazing how THAI can lose money when tourist arrivals have been increasing double digits in the past 4-5 years until the protest and coup. Agree that THAI airway tickets are expensive if purchase locally but when purchase overseas they are for the majority of times cheaper or same as local airlines in foreign countries. It all comes down to poor management and I suspect shareholders are being overpaid while the company rots. This is pretty common with Thai corporate companies.

I'm sorry thats wrong..re prices of tickets....If I search for flights Isle of Man to Bangkok return it comes out as approx £500

more in economy than say Etihad or Emirates....From Manchester only it comes out around £300 upwards dearer....And the service is very poor to what it was in late 90's early 2000....It is a very poor and expensive service and why would you fly Thai... I know some do from London as the flight is direct so I can understand that but further north no way !

I have tried to explain to my x wife about planning and checking out the market place before going ahead with a business...Its a education thing and I feel sorry for Thai's

as running your own business is hard at any time but without any thought its bound to have a problem....Rice , rubber and Lamjai growing are all in big problems.

Education education education...and then lots of luck..!!

Bet she speaks and understands English !

...when Thai Universities teach (lecture) in Thai

Yes...this would be my first ..Test.....if she speaks and understands English....first warning signs..beware...not saying she's then a bar girl but its a good

reason to tread carefully..how she handles herself around you and in company.....also Tattoo's aren't cheap...where did she get the money etc???

all things to look out for..how she dresses ..Gold etc..all signs of warning bells....still not saying this would be diffinitive but all bad...or good.!! signs.

Lots of uni girls 'work' at weekends etc in bars or freelance...just go to disco's around CM to see that....still not saying she is..!! but the signs are likely

Good luck

Plenty of girls have Sank Yank tattoos on their shoulder.

They seem to get them done to change their luck (sometimes they change their names too).

Matthew 7:1-3King James Version (KJV)

7 Judge not, that ye be not judged.

2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

Personally, in life I try not to judge a book by it's cover...but I make an exception if they're wearing buddha amulets and wife beaters

RAZZ

Lots of the young..20 something girls in Lamphun have tats..usually on shoulders etc and quite tasty as well....and the girls......!! but there by there lack of english ie none.. and the way they handle them selves I would say they def haven't been bar girls....They work in the local resturants and bars..not same as bars in nearby CM. and I have mixed with alot of them regulary and there lovely girls and def come under the bracket of girls you could have a relationship with but only after a long time

How can any one compared international cities with so different history !

You come to Bangkok :

1. you do enjoy the hotels

2. you are under the tropics in a very sophisticated capital where a lot is under offers.

3. you can visit a lot of places and enjoy the various colourful scenery with floating markets.

4. you can spend a lot of times on and around the river where it all started from.

Of course for museums New york, London Paris etc...offer a lot but at a high costs and who comes to Bangkok for museums ?

5. you can pamper yourself so well with various body services to select from.

6. you can enjoy tailor made suits at competitive prices and fast delivery to your room.

7. you can eat every where the best Thai, etc...seafood being not attracting allergies like in New York, London, Paris.

8. you can go around in National Parks, on Islands and play in 50 golfs Clubs within 3 hours drive.

Sophisticated...I wouldn't call Bangkok this.! correct me if I'm wrong

Hopefully the undercover foreign operative had a work permit.

The labor department has made clear that only regular volunteer work requires a work permit. One off or the occasional, non regular volunteer work doesn't not require a WP.

In addition, there are several exemptions to the requirements of the Alien Immigration Act which allow foreigners to work without a WP in Thailand.

From WORKING OF ALIENS ACT, B.E. 2521 (1978)

Section 4. This Act does not apply to performance of specific duty by aliens in the Kingdom in the following capacities:

(1) as members of a diplomatic mission;

(2) as members of a consular mission;

(3) as representatives of member countries and officials of the United Nations and specialized institutions;

(4) as personal servants coming from foreign countries to work regularly for persons in (1) or (2) or (3);(5) as persons who perform duty or mission under an agreement concluded between the Government of Thailand and foreign Governments or international organizations;

(6) as persons who perform duty or mission for the benefit of education, culture, art, sports or other activities as may be prescribed by the Royal Decree;

(7) as persons permitted by the Government of Thailand to enter and perform any duty or mission.

Item 6....slightly off topic..does this mean I dont need a work permit to coach basketball/football etc ??

Coached my national team for many years and would like to coach certainly basketball in Thailand

Bangkok Beat on soi 7/1 is a good night and stays open till 4pm...most nights 2 for 1 and 2/3 live bands every night and there good...The staff are friendly

and quick to serve .Mixture of Thai and farang and the girls in there most are freelance . I usually head there around 10ish and can be a very good night

Was in Phuket and Patong area 14 years ago..same same....and I'm sure everyone there can back up my observations...Its a surprise they haven't sorted it out by now.. NOT!!  one of the many reasons I haven't been back to Phuket since and wont go either in the near future

Concerning the number of defaults my reading of the OP is that there are 12,500 defaults so far, 500 of which are confirmed as never going to pay another payment.

Lie. The OP, "He added that there are over 12,000 cases at risk of defaults"

With rice prices falling & rural incomes collapsing, do you think the car payment defaulting will improve or get worse?

Agriculture is 18% of the GDP what percent is rice? What percent of the car buyers are rice farmers? 5, 10%?

The other issue that will add to the problems which will just be starting to hurt is the 50% rise in daily rate last year..200bht to 300bht..this will have given some of these car buyers a false sense of wealth ..I have tried to explain to many Thai's that thought it was brilliant that it's not possible to raise wages and there not to be a knock on effect at a later date...I would feel the price rises and increased wages having to be paid will be starting to hurt now...

This forum from my brief experience of Thai Visa and figures in Thailand is a first..It is the only topic I have read that figures given out by any source of authority gives out statistics and they are believed...Pray what makes these correct ??!!! as it's been often pointed out on other topics figures are seriously flawed..I dont believe these figures of 500 or whatever...as I said earlier the lines off 1 year old cars in Lamphun would suggest otherwise..just my opinion mind !

With 12,000 at risk of default!

Give it another 12 mnths and that figure will triple. Cars and repayments that cannot be maintained. A secondhand market that collapses.

You must be Thai. Not looking to the future, just the now.

You must be Thai. Can't divide. Tell us what percent have defaulted? Now tell us what would be a bad percent? What would be a good percent? What would be a normal %.

Are you anti math or something? 500 or 12,000 out of 1.6 million is great. 1% is 10,000

In a big grown up country like USA........

The first mortgage default rate fell from 1.58 percent in January to 1.48 percent in February, while the bank card rate declined from 3.41 percent to 3.37 percent. The second mortgage and auto loan default rates showed margins increases, rising from 0.69 and 1.10 percent in January to 0.71 percent and 1.11 percent, respectively, in February.

Using your own spurious logic. The defaults have increased 25 X in one year! 25 times the number of defaults in one year!! That is a phenomenal amount by any standard. Has the US market EVER seen that increase? Of course not.

12,000 at risk defaults. Most of those will default. Then you have the thousands of at risk defaulters the banks are not reporting. Add to that all the people who are borrowing from family and loan sharks just to make repayments. Forget about servicing or new tyres or maintenance. People will expect the secondhand market to remain at its current bouyant levels, but that will not happen.

50,000 - 100,00 defaulters within 2 years. Guaranteed.

I have to agree with this...apart from the natural increase in the risk of default as the loan goes further into its loan period, the effect of the tourism industry , and all the other clamp downs.. most for the better I might add..which will have a big effect on earnings in the short term..ie next 5 years...prices are going to go up for sure to pay for all changes so the money in the pocket of the average thai is going to decrease...Mind you if all these anti corruption changes carry on we all wont have to pay all the time to bent BIB etc..so all not bad

My last visit in January to my home in Lamphun area showed a row of approx 9 identical toyota ( I think) cars lined up in the largest second hand dealer in the area.

They were all low milage and can only assume from this scheme..Didnt stop to ask as they ripped me off previous so wouldnt give them the time of day..I'm back in 5 weeks will be interesting to see the situation now as we are 2 years plus from the start I think

Yes my step son and friends all went down this road and the main pressure from family in all cases etc was to get the rebate...It's almost as if they think that once they have paid the first year or so and got the rebate thats all that matters...something for nothing....The poster above is right...I feel young people have been pressured to get a car..they also wanted one too...but the reality is in the second year onwards the BIG problems are going to start...Big reality check coming and yes the second hand market is going to be flooded..

Isn't this negligent use of state money to provide a subsidy ?

Its Thailand !!! theres negligent use of money everywear dont hold your breath to see it change some day soon..