richard_smith237

Pretty much all of the Hospitals in Thailand... VUMI has direct billing with Samitivej, Bumrungrad, Bangkok Hospital...

It was April International... (Underwritten by LMG Insurance). (not sure if thats the Thai one or Global)

Instinct and common sense., eh ???... What does your instinct and common sense tell you about being able to open a car door with thousands of pounds of water pressure pushing back ??

They do. They’re known and as established as any of the other companies such as April. My Wife and Son have been covered with VUMI for the last two years. We were all covered with April before that until they *reneged on preauthorisation for treatment I received (I ended up paying out of pocket). VUMI have been decent, Wife has received treatment with no issues with the claims (direct settlement at the hospital). *I’d been pre-authorised for treatment to remove a kidney stone. I’d had a kidney stone ‘pass’ 5 year before that, which was in my medical notes. April considered a second kidney stone a pre-existing condition and refused to pay for the treatment.

Is there an ‘interpretation’ to be made here ?? The stamp is a ‘statement of fact’... You can stay until xxx date. There is no statement that you have to leave a day before xxx date.

IF it was a couple in their 30’s or 40’s its unlikely the accident would have happened in the same manner... in Thailand at least its more likely Somchai in his 30’s or 40’s would have fallen asleep at the wheel after too much Lao Khao... The manner in which the accident is described lends to the assumption that age and poor perception was a primary factor in the accident.

I have been accused of being ‘ageist’ in the past for having similar opinions. Particularly regarding older folk on motorcycles. Older drivers present an elevated risk to other road users, younger too, of course, but for different reasons. There should be no reason an older driver cannot drive if deemed fit to do so by a medical professional - that said, as mentioned the UK system is weak. My father still drives (at 84), on fast British countryside lanes, cars passing each other 2 feet apart at 50mph (closing speeds of 100mph) - watching my father drive frightens me because he refused to realise he’s no longer young, his judgement and perception has slowed, he’s clearly aged beyond a point where I’m comfortable with the safety of his driving. We’ve had discussions, but he’s stubborn. When in the UK my Wife or I drive, I’ve already mentioned my Son will never be in the car with my father driving. Yet, his Doctor deems him fit to drive every 3 years. It’s horrible to remove someones independence and freedoms by removing a licence, but hard decisions have to be made. In Worcester there is a man who’s remembered for killing his wife because he should not have been driving at 88 years old. He’s not remembered for the decades of wonderful work he did as mayor. Fortunately, the father and child in the 4x4 he’d hit head-on survived, they were airlifted to hospital. How did this accident happen ? he was too old - the person who been following the car earlier had already pulled over to phone the police and report an apparent drunk driver... (he wasn’t drunk at all - but his driving appeared that way) - that driver who’d pulled over, came across the accident 10mins later.

Most insurance policies here are any driver. Of course, it’s best to double check as some people also take out named driver policies to reduce the premium.

The Drugs don’t work…. (The Verve) - heart breaking when combined with personal (physical) loss. Make this go on Forever (Snow Patrol) - - heart breaking when combined with personal (emotional) loss.

It might not be rocket science but it certainly isn't as simplistic as you make out! Personally, I'm a multiculturalist anyway. I think the language used was incorrect, however the underling point was perhaps valid. Thai culture is more conformist than that from which many of us originate. Thus, we see more Thai’s wearing masks than Western Foreigners. For many westerners there is perhaps a greater general level of understanding of why were are wearing masks rather than continuing to wear them because everyone else is. The mask wearing itself is not ‘cultural’ but the underlying reasoning of why much of the Thai population copies the ‘Thai Population’ perhaps is.

Or a momentary ‘fad’….

Absolutely, its not rocket science Not over such a brief timescale… … If the population of Thailand has been wearing masks for decades there could be an argument that it is a cultural facet of society…. I suspect the wearing of masks will go back to the ‘cultural norms’ of pre2020 behavior & mask wearing will considered something temporary rather than anything permanent enough, lasting enough, or widespread enough to be considered ‘a facet of Thai culture’.

Is it illegal to bring in thing like Haggis or sausage etc ???

Yes it is. Take a trip to market Village Huahin and look who is wearing masks and who isn't Don’t be silly… mask wearing us not ‘cultural’… Thais we’re not wearing masks 3 years ago. Mask wearing is not cultural at all. It may be an indication of a more conformist society, perhaps even an indication of the general understanding within a society. Thai’s are still wearing masks because they don’t want to be the ‘odd one out’ . Mask wearing us no more cultural than drink diving…. It’s behavioral and readily influenced by those with influence over the populace. And no, we shouldn’t blindly adopt the local culture when visiting a foreign country… sometimes culture (and also religion) are used to explain & justify abhorrent behaviors.

Agreed…. Not a scam… Just a careless owner who…. Maybe she (the owner) doesn’t know it was dirty… or maybe she did & didn’t care. Regardless, the owner is responsible for the cleanliness of the place., The op was foolish for paying before seeing. The owner is selfish / greedy & wrong for not refunding.

He changed his mind because he was not being provided with what he paid for. Earlier you suggested that the place ‘may have been on a reasonable cleanliness’ - are you suggesting the Ops standards may be excessive & unrealistic ? (No confrontation just curious why you sure against the Op) . I agree with you… it’s not a scam, but neither is the landlord being honest - I doubt the advert read ‘dirty, with ants, in need of a clean’…. … if the add did read that I’d be with you 100% that the op is entirely responsible. But, as it stands the place was not as the Op understood it to be. The landlord has taken money for a place which was not as advertised. They should return the money.

Yup... they also use perspective to make the place look a lot bigger etc... The place is clearly not what the Op expected... who was misleading who ?? -------- I just saw my old motorcycle for sale (4 years later) - the owner (seller) is using my old photos with the add so the bike looks 4 years newer !!! - people are cheats.

Agreed on the false equivalence, but stated nonetheless to highlight the silliness of you asking 'where does it say the owner agreed to a certain level of cleanliness ?' Common decency dictates a ‘standard level of cleanliness’.... Of course not... So without proof of a photo you are just suggesting the Op is a liar... You want photos of the Ants too ? Op was lying then... is that was you are saying ? Or, the Ops standards are excessive and unreasonable... The Op complained the place was dirty with ants... I’m not sure why you are defending the owner.

Would you also get rid of penalties in the game ???... it seems you think penalties are not part of the game... How about direct free-kicks ???.... when a player shoots directly, he’s not involving all of or any of his team...

Thats ok... So long as you are wearing a neatly pressed collared shirt, well ironed slacks and polished loafers you’ll bring the 'average back up'... and we ‘farang’ will be judged accordingly all thanks to you !!!!...

The Op was misled. He was also naive and made a mistake in paying the deposit before seeing the place. But, the owner is still at fault for the state of the place and also at fault for misrepresenting the place before the Op paid the rent. It always amuses me how on this forum we always have people ‘victim blaming’ - in this case its so obvious that the owner is in the wrong for renting out a dirty unliveable place. I fully expected the same people victim blaming will now ask me how the owner misrepresented the place, do I have proof..... !!!... how about a link !!!... These type of characters always side behind the the person at fault based on flawed technicalities. ----- I remember renting an Air-b’n’b for a few nights in Singapore.... it had no AC... I had to move out after the first night. The owner asked why I left a bad review - It was because she didn’t make it clear there was no AC... my fault for ‘assuming’ any place in the tropics would have AC. Technically - the ad didn’t say it had AC... I should have checked, but really, IF the owner cared, they would specify clearly - No AC to avoid disappointed customers.... I felt cheated. In this case, the owner has not been forthcoming at all.... The owner is in the wrong.

Thats a silly comment - its like writing “where does say the toilet flushed”.... There is a perfectly reasonable assumption that a place is clean and liveable. It had an ant-infestation... Agreed... naive of the Op.. but that doesn't place him the wrong.

There may be some good ideas popping up on this thread... I’m a long way off from retirement, but I’m already wondering the same... After Golf... countryside walks etc... what else does Thailand offer ? In the UK I’d be making a kit-car... going for Motorcycle rides... Taking mountain bikes on trails (perhaps an e-bike as I get older). Lots of good walks etc...

There's another angle... He paid for a something he didn’t receive... i.e. a Clean liveable space.... clearly this was not provided. Its not a scam of course, but if the place is filthy, the owner has not kept up to their side of the contract (and then she says there is no contract). He should of course have looked before committing.... lesson learned. When someone books a room ‘paying as is’ is fine if the place is not filthy and infested with ants. Clearly the place was not what was promised. You’re being extremely harsh on the Op... its not his fault the place is filthy, its the onwers fault for not providing the place as advertised - I very much doubt the photos of the place showed ants and unclean rooms...

So why even bother watching it or commenting on something which you seem to be implying is of no interest or relevance to you ??? They do that... its called ‘extra time’.... The same could be argued about Basketball... Just give each time 100 points and let them play 5 mins.... usually a comment made by those who have no understanding of the idiosyncrasies of the game... the same can be said for your comment on football...