richard_smith237

i'm trying to get jeff to come along... think bkkstevie is back already as well.... if you got josh and chris number, can give them a ring to check as well

I can definitely make it this week...

Is it still at 4pm ?

The problem as I understood it was that the open plan layout of many of the shops in King Power lead to people being accused of steeling when they are just ambling around the shop with something in their hand.

Then there was the scam where something additional was dropped in the bag on payment, the purchaser through it was a freebee, when apprehended they have no receipt for the extra item.

At the Airport with my wife (and in fact at any shop - i.e. power mall in Paragon) when we want something we ask the staff to take it to the counter so we are not walking around with it. That is quite normal here. So perhaps there is something cultural in the way that when the staff see us walking around with a bottle of perfume in our hands and go into a different area they over react, either innocently or knowingly that they might get a little kick back.

Sometimes I think I would quite enjoy the opportunity to get caught in a scam like this and see exactly how much of a stink I could cause for those involved.

I'm good for today...

Is it on ?

Too PC, there is a reality here.

If my wife was going out all night, getting drunk etc, I wouldn't happy about it.. Its not because I think I own her.

I wouldn't like it if my wife wore tight hot pants and a tank top in a shopping mall (or anywhere to that point)... its not because I think I own her...

The same goes for easily visible tattoos... If she wants to tattoo a W on each bum cheek so it spells ‘WoW’ when she bends over then fine...

But something visible to the public is also making a statement, and that statement of individuality is interpreted differently. The most predicable and possibly negative opinion in this case will be that of the general public.

Maybe some people like to walk around thinking how lucky they are to have an 'individual' at their side in-spite of others discriminatory and narrow-minded looks...

I on the other hand like to walk around thinking how lucky I am to have an individual at my side and simply feel comfortable being dealt with positively and not give others who I come into contact with the opportunity to make a negative judgment.

Unfortunately society in Thailand is not as socially developed to the levels we would like to believe it has in the West.

People make negative judgements here very quickly, people do judge a book by its cover, especially when regarding mixed couples.

I walk around the shops etc and sometimes see women who when walking around with a Thai fella would look normal, but place them with a Western guy and they look rather slutty....

I think when in Thailand a Thai girl has to dress a little more conservatively if she is walking around with a westerner if she expected to be treated and looked upon respectfully. Absence of tattoo's is part of this dress code in my book.

I'm all for individuality and character, but not at the cost of a woman looking like a hooker in not only in my eyes, but in the eyes of the general society.

A few years back, I did have an ex girlfriend who was a flight attendant (I assume they make a decent salary).

She never would pay for anything, yet her family were quite rich (a really huge house etc)...

She simply thought it was the mans job to pay his way for the woman.

I didn't appreciate that, it was one of the reasons I broke it off.

It depends what it is...

My wife works for her family business, she can spend what she likes and the business covers it.

When my wife was my girlfriend we would go 50/50 on most things (to a reasonable extent).

With dinner we'd usually we take it in turns and still do to some extent.

Travel, for local flights etc, she has paid most. Int'l travel, I have always paid.

Local holidays etc, she has paid some, I have paid others (it depends who makes the booking or who does the checking out).

International holidays (skiing etc, Europe, Japan etc) I pay.

When we went on our first Date. I can't remember if she offered to pay - But I'd have never expected her to pay anyway.

When out with my friends in a large group - the girls (in couples) never pay, the same applies back in the UK, the men always pay.

When out with her friends in a large group, she pays for us.

Now its got to the stage where when we are out, who ever the bill is handed to pays. She's my wife and its too late to work out who should be paying for what...

What's mine is hers, and what's hers is hers !!!! ;-)

One situation that using the online computer sites precludes is meeting a Thai woman who -- for whatever reason -- until she met you never considered hooking up with a Western guy in the first place.

Some guys will have no idea how important that is... but I am glad you pointed it. You could write a doctoral thesis on that subject alone!

After reading this thread for a laugh I came across these comments which I reckon is one of the best pieces of decent advise anywhere on this forum when the topic of dating Thai women is concerned.

For sure there are exceptions.. However, all of my friends in successful relationships are dating women who would never have thought about 'catching' a foreigner.

And a couple of friends who do seem to have difficulty in their relationships always end up dating what I refer to as 'the occupational farrang hunters'... Not necessarily hookers, but professional, attractive women, who have decided that they are 'too good for Thai guys', this notion of preconceived ideas is a precursor to headaches in the cases I have observed.

If it hit the fan here and you had to leave, would your 'other half' go with you and leave everything she or he has behind?

If I were chucked out, Thailand could look after its own, I don't do baggage anymore (never let emotion come between you and your money).

As I am only a guest here I don't believe I have to behave any other way .... now give me Thai citizenship and maybe I would take my responsibility to my Thai wife and our children more seriously.

You need citizenship to take your responsibilities to your wife and kids more seriously?... (I'm not sure that was intended quite as it reads ???)

If Thailand made it too difficult to stay here, I would go back to the UK and I'd be happy about it. What I wouldnt be happy about is having to pay the high tax I'd get charged there.

At the moment there is a nice loophole where people can live in Thailand and work on a rotational basis outside of Thailand (and get paid outside of Thailand) and not have to pay tax here. Or with contracts that are taken here the local tax is often covered by the employer (This could be industry specific).

That's what I like most about it here.

I came here with work at first, I thought the place was a little backward and still do in some respects, but that backwardness also has many positive sides that I'd miss if I had to leave.

If my hand was forced I would move back to the UK, but not another asian country as it simply takes too long to build up the contacts sufficiently enough to have that 'not getting stitched up by corrupt officials' card and feel comfortable when the jollies (Police) try it on, or know that we would be protected against extortion and serious (false) charges incase of a more serious event.

It might be difficult for my wife who'd miss her Family and friends, but we could visit regularly. The most difficult aspect of moving back to the UK or another country would be ensuring that my wife is happy and occupied, she would have to start her business over again in the UK, which would mean lots of hard work, starting from scratch with new laws and regulations.

It might simply be easier to do whatever it takes to remain legally in Thailand for her sake. Whatever we do, we have already discussed possibilities and eventualities and agreed that we would always discuss our decisions together and whatever conclusions we come to together we would try for at least a year before making any further decisions.

A very tragic story. My condolences to the friends and family of the deceased.

Pardon my ignorance, but, like a previous poster, no oxygen at 10 metres. I find this hard to believe. Also, to a previous poster, methane gas at 10 metres, I find that a bit hard to believe as well.

I am not suggesting anything sinister, just happy to learn from anyone on TV, who is in this type of industry, the possibilities of no oxygen at that depth and/or methane being present at that depth.

A previous post suggested a heart attack - this could be possible, but I doubt for all three victims (if the uncle and child died).

The story mentions it was a "well." Is it possible he/they drowned?

You can have methane collect at ground level. In many countries, house or industrial parks are built on old garbage dumps that have been covered over. The dumps produce gas. All the buildings have methane gas detectors to warn people to get out of the building if there is a build up of the gas. All that is required is a closed in area. The first floor of a house or building would do and a well 10 meters would do very nicely.

cheers

Sad story... RIP.

H2S Gas (Hydrogen Sulphide) is a more likely culprit. It's a high risk for the guys drilling shallow water and engineering wells and is deadly in very small concentrations (50 ppm). Methane is lighter than air so its unlikely that this is the cause. It would take a lot of CO2 to displace enough oxygen, possible.

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.

The upside with the SCB credit card is that as soon as a transaction takes place you get an SMS from SCB with the time and amount and for larger amounts and overseas use, they call you to confirm, so any "funny" useage is picked up very quickly

Unfortunately that system won't work for me if I am overseas and the phone is turned off.

I'm happy using a UK card when overseas because of the protection it offers and has proven to offer. A few years ago I was in KL, my UK card issuer picked up on the fact that while I was in Malaysia it was impossible for my card to have been used in HK just 2 hours after using it in a hotel in KL (that was the last time I ever permitted a paper (embossed print machine) rather than an electronic transaction). Back in the UK 6 months later all I needed to do was sign an affidavit that it was not I who had used the card in HK and the money was reimbursed.

I'm not yet confident that a card issued in Thailand would reimburse any fraudulent activity (although I have no proof of this).

I try to be careful where I use the debit card. I noticed a double transaction a few years back and had the B40,000 reimbursed immediately, although that response was down to the shop itself, the staff after seeing proof of the mistake on my statement and matching it in with their records reimbursed my account.

Soutpeel - Does the SCB card you have offer you fraud protection. i.e. in the event that a sum of money has fraudulently spent on your SCB card, is it the money lost or recoverable?

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.