richard_smith237

This is somewhat off-topic and may not be possible for the OP.

Here is how I got my CC six years ago:

Tried many banks and was told my salary is not enough or I would have to have a certain amount locked up to cover the card.

Not an option for me.

My wife (Thai) had already a CC from SCB with a credit limit of 30K. She had to have an account with them but no minimum deposit required and as long as there were enough funds to deduct the monthly charges there was no problem, even if the funds are not sufficient they just charge their exorbitant interest rate for late payment (hasn't happened to us yet).

I applied for a family card based on my wife's account and got it on the spot. Documents required: Application, PP, Marriage cert. and house registration of wife.

Now we have a consolidated credit limit of 50K with my card having a limit of 30K.

This is just fine with us. My card is Visa and works well abroad but I use it mostly for on-line payments of bills.

So, what I'm saying here is: If you have a wife who has a CC try to get a card based on the same account.

opalhort

Same here - Citybank Platinum B300 k limit / krungsri Platinum B350 k limit both as a second card with my wife as the main card holder. I earn significantly more than she does but there is no chance I can get a Thai CC as I don't work in Thailand.

I rarely use the cards as my SCB debit cards do the same job - Although the SCB savings account Mastercard Electronic looks funny with kiddies cartoons on it.

I'm also a little paranoid about the rumored lack of protection against fraud with Thai cards. I don't know the details or whether or not the rumors are true. But whenever overseas I use my UK CC which protects me from fraud.

Regardless of others posts here suggesting that you don't have an equal right to Thai's to get frustrated and annoyed when on the receiving end of the 'run around' and 'misinformation', IMO it is ok and natural for anyone, including Thai and a westerner to be frustrated when some idiot in sales lies and wastes your time.

I'm guessing that when they told you that you can have the car in your name they were making the assumption that you had a work permit.

It seems to me that through shear laziness a lot of assumptions are made when doing business here and your frustration in this case is understandable.

OP: I assume because we as foreigners are a higher flight risk there is increased security involved with borrowing money from any institution in Thailand. Be it credit cards, mortgage, bank loans etc… A Thai can secure a credit card on a minimal income where as a westerner, without a work permit can not, even if he earns B500,000 per month (foreign income).

It's the same with the car. Because the finance company will view you as a higher flight risk the finance company will limit your opportunities.

With a work permit and a desperate sales team you may be able to get finance with a 25% down payment – The norm is 40% down payment I think.

If you have no work permit, I'm not sure if you can get finance at all which is why they will ask for the car to go into a Thai's name.

As another Op said; you can get the car in your name if you pay for it all.

I have financed 3 cars in my name, and never had a work permit. 25% down on Vios, you will not need a thai guarantor either. Several threads here on this already, so keep reading to learn.

The attitude OP show here towards thais is not going to work though

Smile, gentle and cinsistent and you will have a Vios with 25% down in a week

Fair enough. Did I read that the rules apply differently to pickups ?

10 years ago - Honda CRV finance - with a work permit. I still needed 40% down-payment and a Thai guarantor. 3 cars later, I've just bought them out right instead of going through the finance hassles so I'm not really up to date.

As I understand it....a work permit, 40% and a guarantor will guarantee that finance can be secured, anything less is flexible and down to the individual finance company.

While always starting off happy and smiling, the 'kreng-jai' level of the sales staff in Thailand often needs kicking up a notch - smiling and mai-pen-rai doesn't always achieve this which is when alternative measures are acceptable for both thai and Westerners.

Of course, we have to know when we are dealing with simple stubborn idiocracy and walk away or face it head on. Each situation is different and can be dealt with based on its individual merits.

Regardless of others posts here suggesting that you don’t have an equal right to Thai’s to get frustrated and annoyed when on the receiving end of the ‘run around’ and ‘misinformation’, IMO it is ok and natural for anyone, including Thai and a westerner to be frustrated when some idiot in sales lies and wastes your time.

I’m guessing that when they told you that you can have the car in your name they were making the assumption that you had a work permit.

It seems to me that through shear laziness a lot of assumptions are made when doing business here and your frustration in this case is understandable.

OP: I assume because we as foreigners are a higher flight risk there is increased security involved with borrowing money from any institution in Thailand. Be it credit cards, mortgage, bank loans etc… A Thai can secure a credit card on a minimal income where as a westerner, without a work permit can not, even if he earns B500,000 per month (foreign income).

It’s the same with the car. Because the finance company will view you as a higher flight risk the finance company will limit your opportunities.

With a work permit and a desperate sales team you may be able to get finance with a 25% down payment – The norm is 40% down payment I think.

If you have no work permit, I’m not sure if you can get finance at all which is why they will ask for the car to go into a Thai’s name.

As another Op said; you can get the car in your name if you pay for it all.

I agree that its 'group culture' drummed into them by the drumming out of 'critical thought process' by the education system in the majority of state schools.

Op, it appears as though you already have a good 'Filter'... The first sign of trouble, lies or games - walk away.

I don't think people really change, or its incredibly difficult for them to change. Immature behavior from women in Thailand is quite common.

There are however many who are smart enough to see beyond the now and posses an increased level of consciousness beyond immediate wants and gratification.

I've never dated a bar girl, but have had the same experiences with 'normal girls' (flight attendants, lawyers, designers), every person at some point plays games, be it for attention, to get what they want etc.. most of us do it without consciousness. What I find irritating in Thailand is that many of the girls play these games over very childish issues (i.e. the passive aggressive ignoring phone call game).

IMO the best thing to do is... If she doesn't suit you, then you probably don't suit her, move along and don't get caught in a trap of being addicted to their manipulation and games, some of them are experts, but if you don't play their game you are far better off alone than with someone who's going to mess with your head.

One of the better ways to go I'd imagine.. but not at 45.

The answer to that question is quite simply, both.

What you and a huge amount of other people aren't smart enough to work out, either because you are tourists to Thailand or expats from elsewhere, who are tourists to Phuket, is that those two groups of people are just like the skin you get on top of a cup of tea when you leave it too long. Dim or over sensitive people may throw it away, but the fact of the matter is, underneath the layer of skin, the tea is just fine.

Phuket will always be different to everywhere else in Thailand, simply because there is nowhere like it in the whole of the Kingdom, but there are plenty of good Thai people here, you just need to know where to look, and more importantly where not to.

Or in the case of areas like Patong - The tea has turned cold....

Agreed - it's knowing where to look and more specifically where not to. Patong is definitely no longer a place go to and expect to be treated respectfully.

I'm sure there are lovely areas and lovely people on Phuket - The difficulty is having to filter through so much chaff to find it that it becomes tiring to anyone other than those who have established routes and know where to avoid the tourist areas and still find quality.

Like Bangkok, there are areas I definitely avoid for the same reasons and I have located areas where I am treated very normally.

The other day in Phuket I saw a Tuk Tuk driver being quite rude to the foreigner.

The foreigner punched the Tuk Tuk driver and then out of nowhere another 20 or so foreigners jumped in a beat up the Tuk Tuk driver…

But, it must have been the Tuk Tuk driver’s fault....

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

Maybe not all, but a large majority of these guys are scum and they prey on the unaware drunken foreigner to make a 'social faux pas' ....

Of course the drunken foreigner is acting like a dick, but all to often the drunken foreigner is set upon and heavily out numbered. But really, this is not just Tuk Tuk drivers... this is Phuket (more specifically Patong) in general, the acceptance of foreign tourists appears to be at an all time low.

The Dept. Of Land transport does keep records of peoples license and address.

If a Thai wishes to have their driving license replaced (if lost), all the need to do is turn up at a (any) Dept. of Land transport office and give their address and ID, they can easily get a replacement as their details are on record (my wife did this).

whether or not these records are accessible from outside of Thailand is another matter entirely.

Regarding insurance. If the lady in question has driven in Thailand before she should have an insurance history. Although in Thailand, the car is insured and the lady in question may well not have been a named driver and have no personal record.

If the lady in question has a Thai license - surely that gives sufficient history (i.e. she's been driving x years) ???

For those who say just because she is Thai she needs to take a US test - Get real and grow up, people drive that way in Thailand because everyone else does and I've read on this forum enough times of people complaining of the way foreigners drive the 'local' way.

IMO Phuket Tuk Tuk drivers are the scum of Thailand. They do little other than over charge and bring down the reputation of tourism in places like Phuket.

'I'm not sure how it started' doesn't automatically mean the tourists started it and it's well reported that the Phuket Tuk Tuk drivers have a very short fuse and get violent at the slightest opportunity.

It doesn't matter who started it - 10:1 odds is barbaric and show the what thugs these Tuk Tuk Mob really are.

Given the over charging it's often better for me to hire a Mini-van and driver when visiting.

But to be honest, I've seen too many issues in place like Phuket that I have no desire to go there.

I visited my sister who was holidaying there in January, I managed to get into two arguments with terribly impolite guys working there (Laguna resort bus driver and on another day a security guard), the attitude of some of the people there is so negative and almost deliberately provocative.

I find that in general the people in Phuket do not represent the character of the people through the rest of the Kingdom, my wife and others I have spoken to about this observe the same. There appears to be a negativity and resentment towards foreigners there that I have not observed elsewhere in Thailand (excluding Samui).

It makes me wonder - who is to blame? the tourists showing off their wealth and being demanding and often rude when not receiving standards of service up to western standards, OR the locals in these areas just trying to grab as much money as quickly as possible with no concern or recognition of its origins (Tourism).

Who ever is to blame the result often seems to be the same. A small minor incident is blown completely out of proportion by a jealous mob of thugs who's only entertainment appears to be waiting for the slightest event to kick off.

The response of the Police is abhorrent in these cases while often making no attempt to control or bring to justice those guilty of the violence.

I found it a while back through advise on this forum.

Someone posted coordinates for it and I found it on google maps. Its easy to drive to once you know where its located on the map (Satellite image)

13°52'50.94"N

100°33'58.08"E

Thai teachers start at about 7k typically. By the end of their careers they can be earning as much as about 75k per month, but most only make it to around 35-45k. Thai teachers get benefits such as long-term low-interest government loans to buy houses or personal vehicles. Thai teachers get a pension when they retire. Thai teachers have support networks of friends and family. Thai teachers are rarely fired.

Foreign teachers typically start at around 30-45k, depending on location, the type of school, and the subject they teach. Once their salary gets too high many schools will drop them. No school pays for experience so they will start at the entry-level salary at any new position. Foreign teachers are often terminated for no reason. Foreign teachers pay considerably more for most things in Thailand compared with Thais, like rent, comfort foods, entertainment, holidays, etc. Foreign teachers pay huge amounts of their income if they want to visit their families in their home countries. Foreigners also have additional visa costs/hassles that must be sorted. Also there is the opportunity cost to a foreigner by taking such a low wage when they could be earning much more in their home countries. Foreigners get no retirement benefits while working in Thai schools, but some get medical through Thai social security.

Which makes me wonder... why would a foreigner do it?

.... Unless they were fetching a competitive salary and benefits as with some of the international schools.

A secured credit card is a credit card as far as processing is concerned, the merchant system doesn't know about the deposit.

However, if the requirement is web purchasing, then the Kasikorn virtual card works very well, even being linked to a PayPal account if so desired.

Regards

I don't meet the requirements for a credit card in Thailand because I don't have a work permit (I work overseas).

I am the second card holder on two of my wifes cards.

You haven't paid for it all yet?... how much are you prepared to loose, Kick them out and refuse to pay the rest. Speak to their boss, send him photos, and tell him you are not paying, that you'll have to take all the work down and start from the beginning - Do Not use this company any longer, they have proven themselves to be useless.

You did the right thing by not paying everything until completion? much deposit ?

I had a similar issue in my apartment. luckily we weren't asked for a deposit. The contractor was two weeks late to install some inbuilt furniture. They came round, measured up, sent the designs, we approved them - then the delays... a promise of 1 week, turned into two weeks. We'd agreed another deadline.

They promised they'd turn up on Friday, they didn't, then saturday, they didn't

It was re-agreed that they would come on the following Monday morning by 9am to fit the built in furnature.

We called them at 9am - on their way (nearby 5mins away) . We called them at 10am, still on their way (nearby 5mins away, same place), we called then at 10:30am, still on their way - We told them to cancel and that we no longer required them to do the work.

Their boss called up straight away and we told him we do not wish to use a company that lies to us. He pointed out that the built in had already been made and was ready for delivery - We pointed out that we'd set a deadline which they agreed to for a reason (overseas guests arriving PM on the Monday) so it was a no go and we were annoyed at their time wasting, they were annoyed that it had cost them money.

After the departure of our guests we employed another contractor (recommended by word of mouth) who has done an excellent job (and was cheaper than the original contractors).

Conclusions:

1) Never pay in advance.

2) If you have to, pay the smallest deposit they'll accept.

3) If you have any doubts - get rid of them. Professionals will do good work and keep you satisfied.

4) Use only those contractors people you trust have recommended highly.

I second Raja's on Soi 4 or 6......can't remember? See Bobby they did a good job for me. My son uses them also,a little pricey but you will not get screwed over.

Raja's on Soi 4 was also the best Tailored suit I have had made in Bangkok. I went there based on recommendations and was disappointed. So, if Raja's are so commonly referred to as the one of the best, then the others must be atrocious - I only buy off the rack now.

The Jacket top: In order to maintain its shape remains too rigid. I had to repeat, repeat and argue to get what I wanted and not the standard block suit. After a few months the fit has slipped, the cuffs do not hang as I would like

The Trousers: Hemmed poorly, don't hang as straight as I would like and now bunch at areas like the knee- this could be the material.

Note: I have worn this suit only 5 times or so in as many months.

Shirts: After about 5 washes have started to wrinkle on the collar.

As another friend of mine does, I now only buy a Good suit off the rack and pay little more to know exactly what I am getting and feel much better when I wear it than Bangkok tailored suits.

The replies in here are laughable

a few things, I am not a fat slob with bad breath and again i reiterate at no point did I have a bad attitude or lay all over her counter. i said I placed my hands on her counter, does this really warrant rudeness from an official? I remained polite throughout and rather than display my displeasure with this rude oaf I made light of it. She chose to be rude, impolite, over officious etc.

Some of you guys really need to get lives, I bet you are walked all over every day

I should do business with some of you, it would be easy haha

Until this post I was kind of on your side here.. Not for what you did, I think you made a couple of faux pas... the first leaning on her work space, the second was perhaps more innocent but nonetheless, insulting for her.

And then you add these childish remarks above pretty much proving that you may have deserved this treatment....

What I do agree with is that in general the immigration officials can be rather rude. Considering these officials are the first Thai people many will come into contact with upon entry or re-entry into Thailand they could be trained to be slightly more affable and acknowledge a simple hello and thank-you. I like it when I return home, my wife (then girlfriend) gets a welcome to England (Manchester) and I get a welcome home Sir - It makes me feel good.

It is a menial job - so is being a waitress - its no excuse for being impolite, the immigration officials are often rude and impolite simply because they can be.

My wife and I were traveling on holiday with our Thai friends - we were greeted with the same lethargic apathy and ignorance, when my friend placed his blue passport down they changed their tune very quickly and it was all Wai's and caps - The officers at the immigration desks know how to be polite, they choose not to be unless its necessary !

It rather depends how close the friend is, where and what the restaurant is and my expectations of the place...

With a friend, I'd think it is acceptable to make a complaint, but maybe discuss with the friend before making the complaint.

The times I wouldn't complain would be when I'm dining with friends of my wife or friends of my in-laws for the First time, and in that case I might mention something to my wife and let her make the decision on whether or not a complaint may create some minor social embarrassment or not.

(British)

I'm not sure this is double standards... In a similar situation a Thai would have very likely been dealt with the same way.

Discretion seems over rated in Thailand.

It Pays a flat $20 ????

Are you looking for someone so close to the breadline that they'd be prepared to publicly humiliate themselves for $20?

This is not exactly inviting a wholesome view of a respectable and professional couple is it?

I can't imagine anyone other than the most desperate of people agreeing to something like this - which then leads me to wonder what kind of range of couple you are looking for and to what extent the result will have been distorted from Mr Average Johnny Foreigner married to Mrs Asian Ann.

Toughen the visa requirements and enforce the current visa laws with zero tolerance. This should get rid of alot of foreigners that I dislike. Perhaps it is time to impose the same education, wealth and skill requirements that countries like the USA, Canada, Australia etc. impose on those that seek residency visas.

seconded!

and this weeks free yellow shirt to the elitist <deleted> of the month goes to....................

You might be one of the ones he was referring to Billy !

Lower the tax on cars.. to a reasonable limit (VAT)

Agree with JT - Good beef and lower tax on wine, again to a reasonable limit (VAT)

I like the idea of permitting a foreigner land ownership - Perhaps 1 Rai would do it.

This may appear hypocritical given the above comment about lowering tax on luxury items....

Enforce the payment of income tax - Which may generate the kind of monies that could be used to give the police force better salaries which may help weed out corruption at its entry level, help fund Emergency and social services and assist with welfare for the poor...

Hangman's Noose !!!

Kidding..... more to go on would be helpful, this might turn into a sticky topic - but it helps to know the social economic status of a person when choosing a present....

Would she appreciate a decent bottle of wine ? / Cookbook ? / Something from Jim Thompson / Shawl etc etc etc..

Or for a First meeting, something simple but respectful like a Fruit basket (or Thai Equivalent) might be appropriate....

There used to be a large one on Ratchadapisek called Brew Pavilion.... very close to where the Esplanade is now (but they knocked it down)...

Otherwise there used to be one called the Coliseum on Sukhumvit (Nr Ekammai) - I think that is no longer there...

Could one of those be the one you are thinking of ?

If everyone reacted like you did these idiots would be less careless.

One of the issues I have here in Thailand is that there is no 'concept of consequence'...

Other people will tell you that you're lucky he didn't beat you up.... But there is a small chance you made him think twice.. (probably not).. but if he gives the next person crossing the road a little more space because of this then maybe you have inadvertently improved things...

Thats what I like to believe anyway, and why I refuse to accept 'this is the Thai way' response from idiots like this. I hear / read 'This is the Thai way', or 'It's the culture' as the excuse for a lot of selfish, careless and inconsiderate behavior.

We might read on this forum that this is the Thai way..... but I've been here long enough to know that incidents like that are not the Thai way.. They are the idiots way, no Thai friend of mine behaves like that...

Apart from the fact that a couple of posters seem to have no idea of the function of seat-belts and air bags (more steel???? - good luck with that should you ever have a serious prang!) - I would re-check with Honda Thailand - who on previous form are very uncooperative.

THe is a consumer protection phone number too in Thailand. - I think it's 1160 - you might try an wake them up!

many companies make it very difficult for consumers to get in contact with them - their customer service phone-lines are usually just a barrier between them and any serious complaint.

As above I doubt if a recall is really the requires action, however Honda really do owe you a detailed explanation which you might then want to take to some independent organisation for verification.

all this could take time - but you should also be thinking of how much compensation or gratuity Honda should offer you for all the hassle you've gone through.

Remember too that the last thing Honda want is for this to be all over the newspapers and media - especially the media where they are looking for customers.

sop I would embark on a campaign to make myself heard and a thorn in the side of Honda Thailand until I get a result - good luck.

Compensation for what? Did u forget we living in Thailand (not in US) and who droves the car in a post? Not Honda Company. In US or in Europe for sure, the police would maybe even suspend your license for 3 months as they would say: You are not beaible to control your car. So not always think about suing. We living in Thailand. More steel??? Yes, why not. I have more steel around my cars, My father and my grandfather had also more steel on their cars. No air bags, no ABS at all, and both of them had several bad accidents. My Father had a Opel Senator (which he totalled in a mountain road on ice) and my Grandfather had a old Benz 250 from 1970 (which he had a frontal collision with another car). Both guys never saw a Hospital from inside (for car accident reasons). And i my self drive every year about 40'000 km since 30 year now and i never needed a air bag (og my lord, i still alive and i also cross the sukhumvit road may times per month). For small cars is maybe good to have a airbag, but better more steel around. In Spain and Italy there are airbag thefts who destroy the cars (windows, doorpanels, conosoles and dashboards). So after 3 times of "airbag theft" per year you wish you never bought a car with airbags).

Am I correct in thinking you would prefer a car such as a Mercedes S class without airbags because you think it would be safer than a Mercedes S class with Air bags ?

There is certainly enough steel on one of these cars and they are significantly heavier than an S Class of yesteryear.

Each to their own, but I really can't see the logic in that. Because my relative didn't die in x crash and he didnt have airbags is not a sufficient argument to suggest they are not necessary.

In Spain and Italy, supplying cars without airbags is not the solution against these thefts - The same thieves would turn to something else and that logic would have us removing Satnav, Radios, Leather seats and any other form of luxury from our cars - In those countries the solution is to remove the thief not the object of their theft.

As I understand it....

If you have nothing in the back, its ok (legal).

If you have 'stuff' in the back, it needs to have a fixed cover (i.e. lid, or cage).