NewInPatts

Tell us what you've learned from this and what advice would you pass on to others, please.

Honestly? Drive with a stolen license plate and don't stop in case of any accident.

That would be if I didn't have too much integrity to pull this off..

Update: Case is basically closed. Through a few connections we had the case officer replaced as he sided with the victim.

Now I had to pay a 400 baht fine and will have to meet them again for what ever reason at the station this week. Guess to sign a few papers and close the case?

My wife got a threatening phone call earlier, claiming her mother (the victim) needs surgery now (oh now almost 3 weeks later?!) and if I wanted to help to pay for it.

She told her very nicely if she wouldn't have asked to rob me in the first place we would be happy to help but please contact the insurance for assistance.

She replied something like OK we will see you in court.

Knowing that she doesn't have a valid tax sticker, no valid driver license, no insurance and no money to pay her hospital bills, I highly doubt she can afford a lawyer to take me to court.

But if that's what she is planning to do, oh well bring it on.. I'd rather spent 50,000 baht on a lawyer than give to such thieves.

Narz Soi 23 if its still open

Villa market on soi 31 or 33 opens 24 hours as well. Not sure about IT stuff.

That played out pretty much as I expected when the injured party chose to follow the give me money course at Nongprue police station. The OP shouldn't be thinking that the Nongprue cops are in any way on his side and want to close the case. If they wanted to, they would have done so yesterday. Remember that they will get a percentage of any remuneration that they feel compelled to arrange although the insurance company won't follow that course, the cops may expect you to blink and agree on additional cash payment to make it all go away. Don't.

On my recent experience with those guys, our mobile number was given to the claimant and family members and telephone harassment of my wife commenced. The cops and the insurance agent were only ones with that mobile number. If this happens, the OP should limit his communications on the matter to his insurers and kick it up a notch by getting the regional or Bangkok manager of the insurers claims department involved. After we did this, my wife got further reassurances direct from that management to leave it all with the insurance company and don't bother with a lawyer since if the injured party holds out, the insurers will sue them (get their own lawyer). Based on my experience, the next meeting will be the last and if there's any feet dragging by injured parties, the insurance company will make a final offer and that is the end of it.

In our case, the whole thing took about 4 weeks to resolve over three meetings at the police station but we did have 2 seriously injured motorbike riders (underage, no license, no insurance) who planted their bike in the side of our car. The second meeting saw the parents come out with all sort of hypotheticals of 'What if my daughter cannot walk again?' and my response was maybe she can look to her dad and ask him why he allowed them to ride around at 11 PM (my wife hustled me out of the negotiating table at that point but they got my drift). They were holding out for 350k baht per victim... a nice little earner.

The sad/funny part is, we are actually on good terms with the cop and he was on our side (cop is a friend of a thai friend who went to the station with us since day 1) the whole time and wanted to close the case asap.

The other party kept insisting on this insane amount and insurance wanted proof for her claims which she couldn't produce. The cop told her to accept the payment the insurance offered here and thats when she started yelling 'it's always thai peoples fault'.

The cop actually called us today and advised us not to come to the station for the next negotiation as I paid my 'reckless driving' fine (400 baht) already and let the insurance make the deal. If the insurance offers to pay them 7,000 baht and they want 10,000 I should just pay the 3,000 baht difference and walk away from it.

The other party doesn't know where we live nor do we know where they live, so it's probably in our best interest not to show up at the station again and probably 'make them lose face' to the point where they seek street justice.

Ok, so it took 3 hours at the station today.

She claimed she cant go to work for 2 months and demanded 54,000 baht from the insurance or me.

The insurance of course asked her for payment slips (she works as a cook) and she couldn't produce any.

Turns out she doesn't have a tax sticker nor a drivers license either.

Now the whole thing has been rescheduled as she will have to produce all paperwork for her claims, the insurance will have to come again to the police station and since they think they hit a money tree and not a car, they might get their 3,000 baht hospital covered and another 4,000 baht to fix the motorbike and thats it.

Haven't paid a dime and won't. I am actually looking to counter sue her as she is buried in debt, just bought a house and is trying to milk me. Will talk to a lawyer about her false claims and hopefully put an end to the case this month.

I was polite, opened the door for her when she walked in 'on crotches' to look even more dramatic but not a single smile or anything. They just want money and even the police realised it and wanted to close the case today but they wouldn't budge on their 54,000 baht.

Have another appointment at the end of this month and will keep you guys in the loop.

PS: She also kept screaming things like 'it's always the thai's fault' and stuff like that. I told her lets go to court and she got all quiet. I am sure it will be settled on the next appointment and they will walk alway with nothing.

Would have gladly paid 5 or 10,000 baht just to put an end to it today but they wouldn't budge. Idiots.

This is Thailand. Not the West. Things do work differently. The Insurance should take care of the vehicle damage, yours and hers. If she has no broken bones, just a few scratches etc, i would visit her, be polite, and put 5k in her hand, and apolgise. It's called Kharma, good will, whatever, you've done your bit, and shown compassion (the 5k), and everybody should be happy. This is how it works out here.

Sure, and what if the 5k is seen as an insult because it's far too low? What if she comes from a wealthy family? I wouldn't be following this advice. There's always a chance that if you're so willing to part with 5k, what's to stop them from returning the next day and demanding 50k?

Leave it up to the insurance company and don't follow any silly advice.

Never admit fault. Never offer money, which is basically admitting fault. Fault is never clear cut - there's a shared responsibility here and it's not necessarily 100% the OP's fault. For example, what if the motorcyclist was drunk, or riding too fast? What if she was unlicensed or unregistered?

I don't know about insurance companies here, but all insurance contracts where I come from have an important clause that you must never admit liability - it can void your insurance. Insurance companies are always looking for reasons not to pay.

She doesn't come from a wealthy family. She is like 50y old and works as a cook in a local hotel.

PS: Will update you all tomorrow morning once I went to the station and hopefully come back home ;)

Thanks for all the replies. Will let you know the outcome once I went to the station this Saturday!

Whats the thing with the wife? Thinking she could get emotional and make matters worse?

Credos to you for not fleeing the accident scene like a rat.

The "police" have no interest in puting you into jail, it is "only" about extorting money.

It is classic for the "police" to fool you to sign a paper which blames you while not scrutinize the Thai counterpart.

I would never flee the scene and make matters worse. I am not one of those people. It might have been my fault, it might have not. After all it's called accident. It's not like I was waiting for her to come close and hit her - I just didn't see her.

It is normal, once insurance company has agreed and settlement made to "injured" party, that a small fine is levied for any accident and it goes no further other than that and a police report noting things down. Once that is done, then no further claims can be made and no court appearance is needed.

Thanks for your reply! So all of this is normal procedure and I am not facing any jail time or some stuff like that? I mean the lady is fine, I had my wife call up on her to make sure she is ok and basically she just got a few scratches on her leg.

From what I understand, I'll go there on saturday, the insurance people will show up, agree on an amount, I will get fined and maybe pay the lady a little compensation and then the case is closed?

I have also just noticed that the document I signed at the station says " I was driving carelessly and that it's my fault". So I automatically took the blame without any investigation or anything.. unbelievable.

Did the insurance rep let you sign it?

When I asked in the station what the document says, I was told it's a notification for the appointment on saturday.

I always expect to be lied to here whenever money is involved. That way I only get good surprises (though they are extremely rare).

KK is correct. The Insurance guy is supposed to be working for you and the Insurance Co but I discovered recently that many are contractors and not directly employed. My gf had a recent experience where there was a "conflict of interest" and she had to insist on the policeman rewriting the report as it was factually wrong. We reported to our broker re the problems with the rep and apparently the company he works for are no longer being used by a quite large and reputable Ins Co.

My point being that if you have already signed you need to contact your broker/insurance company and explain as it appears that the rep is not doing all he can to safeguard the interests of his paying client/s.

From your description of the accident however it does sound as if maybe you were at fault...........

Not even saying it isn't my fault. I simply didn't see her coming. Maybe she was speeding, maybe she didn't had the lights turned on - I don't know. I moved the car about 2 metres on the road until she hit the front fender.

Still not a good feeling being told to sign a certain paper which turns out to be something different. Will see what Saturday brings, but does anyone know the maximum penalty / fine for that kind of accident?

I have also just noticed that the document I signed at the station says " I was driving carelessly and that it's my fault". So I automatically took the blame without any investigation or anything.. unbelievable.

When I asked in the station what the document says, I was told it's a notification for the appointment on saturday.

If I were you I would let my insurance company rep handle everything, including doing all the talking.

He was already at the station at the morning (5am) of the accident. He is not going to show up to the station again. I think the appointment is to make a deal if the case goes to court or not. If it goes to court, I wont be able to post bail on a saturday, correct?

Thats my biggest fear right now, not knowing whats happening. Can't imagine that it goes to court but I better prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

Desperately trying to find a house in the ekkamai, prakanong area for around 50,000 baht.

2 bed / 2 baths, small garden, parking.. furnished or unfurnished. A little bit further out is no problem too but those are the preferred areas.

Not being in Bangkok right now makes it hard to drive and look around.

If anyone has any tips even all the way down to srinakarin road please let me know.

Woke up early the other day and went to 711. Parked on the opposite side of the road, came back into my car, was about to U-turn as the road seemed clear, moved the car about 2 meters into the road and BOOM a motorbike hit me with full speed on the front fender.

Of course I got out of the car, tried to assist the lady on the motorbike, but being the only white guy, everyone was yapping at me. Insurance and police were called and EMS for the old lady. Insurance took a couple of pictures, the lady was brought to a hospital (nothing serious, just a few scratches thankfully!) and I was driving to the police station with the old lady's daughter / son, my wife and so on...

There was never an investigation at the actual scene if the lady or I was drunk - I know I wasn't and I hope she wasn't either but she might not have had her lights on. Anyway, we went to the station and the insurance guys did some paper work then made an appointment for the next day (for a police report I think?).

The next day comes, I show up and the police guy tells us the old lady couldn't make it today have to meet again on Saturday.

So now I am wondering whats gonna happen to me. I have a valid thai drivers license, 1st class insurance and the lady's hospital bill was around 3,000 baht. My wife called her and asked about her well-being.

When I go to the station on Saturday what can I expect to happen? I am guessing I am getting a small fine (maybe 2,000 baht?), fill out a police report and thats it?

Do I have to compensate the lady, lets say the copper says give her 5,000 or 10,000 and case closed or can end up in the slammer for some odd reason?

After all its just a minor car accident but this being at some backyard pattaya (nongprue) police station I have no idea what to expect. Accidents like this must happen a couple hundred times a day and of course its the farangs fault, but what can really happen in the worst case scenario for me?

Went to central today and tried to open a new bank account. I have one with TMB already but wanted to open one with another branch.

ALL of them told me there is a new law and they require some letter from immigration. I asked them if they mean 'proof of residence' but they just smiled as NONE of them knew what letter exactly was needed.

I am planning to go to Jomtien Immigration tomorrow and ask about the letter in question, but does anyone know exactly what the banks need?

I am on a marriage visa and have a permanent address in thailand.

Thanks guys!

I think the husband did the right thing. I hate to go to clubs here with my wife and her friends. 99% of the time I'll take a leak some idiot walks up to her and thinks she is available.

If I wouldn't hold my temper and my girl wouldn't be a total bitch to these guys I can see myself doing the same like the husband with his wife in a gogo. It's just disrespectful. Not just because it's someones wife, but you don't just grab someones ass.

Never had this happen before or heard of it.

Will they still credit deposits from overseas on Friday ?

150,000 baht deposit? What kind of palace were you renting. Usually a deposit is one months rent.

Plus 2 months in advance. I'm guessing the rent per month was 50k.

2 months deposit and one month rent in advance.

150k deposit

75k rent in advance, so 225,000 to move in

150,000 baht deposit? What kind of palace were you renting. Usually a deposit is one months rent.

75,000 / month - 2 months deposit.

Always paid 2 months deposit when renting here.

Thats what I am thinking too.

But whats the worst that can happen if I simply ignore the calls / emails ?

I don't need (legal) drama over 5,000 baht if I already lost 150,000 baht on my deposit.

Just trying to figure out my options here. I think ignoring is the way to go but what if they want to involve the authorities and so on?

I am sure it happens 1000 times a day that foreigners get stiffed from their deposit or break the lease and the police doesn't care.

Moved out on the first of the month, cleaned up the place properly and it had the usually holes in the wall from one or the other picture of course, but besides that the place was just like when I moved in.

I would say the total cost to fix the holes from 2 pictures and a TV wall mount would not exceed 2,000 baht at the very most.

Now the owner is refusing to return my deposit - 150,000 baht. I already wrote it off when i moved into that place but now the management contacts me about an outstanding water and electricity bill which is below 5,000 baht combined since I didn't even live in the building during the time. It's one of those cut-off notices.

The management cc'd the landlord in the email of course, so what I am supposed to do?

Simply ignore it?
Forward it to my lawyer and fight to get my deposit back (which I doubt will happen since I am a foreigner)

I basically just don't want to hear anything from the management and this terrorist / mafia style landlord again.

If I don't pay up, can I face any legal trouble and what is the total worst thing that could happen?

PS: I moved out of that place 2 months ago (so maybe 1 half day from moving out is part of the electricity that I used, which is barely anything).

Does Surat Thani airport even have immigration, i dont think it does, why would they be fined there anyway, they were departing Thailand BKK, either badly reported or some BS being written

And 7 × 500 doesnt equal THB10500 BTW if it was genuine fine they overstayed 21 days

1 If 7 days = THB 3500

2 overstayed 21 days

3 scammed by someone

4 someone is writing BS

A few factual things wrong with this story

7 days x 3 people = 10,500 baht..

3500 + 3500 = 7000

7000 + 3500 = 10500

Hope that clears it up for you.