sendintheclowns

2 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

So why were the 80 officials removed? And why did takings in August rise dramatically once they were moved out? No word of course about the corrupt officials being prosecuted though. That would be a step too far I suppose.

ah - ''the first step cuts the deepest'' (with apologies to Cat Stevens). It is pretty obvious, from the formal style of representations made, that the established resort owners are moving fast to protect their interests. If legit use of land, no problem. Surely, the army came bring in some whatchamacallthems and survey who's taken over what  land? as for the lower end of the food chain;, the vendors, and even the accursed jetski operators are always subject to blackmail by someone. The island needs an independent beach management organization, which controls licensing and garbage removal, coupled with 'green' volunteer groups (which are starting to pop up in many tourist beach areas. 

On 5/11/2016 at 4:10 PM, elgordo38 said:

Thats some shooting for a guy under the influence 4 head shots on a moving target. There has to be more to this story 

he may  be following the techniques shown on the TV series 'Westworld'. Or, maybe he is just an old time fan of Yul Brynner, like me :)

16 hours ago, Anthony5 said:

 

But that doesn't really matter.

 

In Pattaya there is a devloper, who also advertises on this forum, who promises 10% for 10 years. So whatever the purchase price is, it will be completely recovered after 10 years...........................may be

I have re-edited to avoid being (deleted).

So, the consensus appears to be that one should not trust everything you read. In particular advertisements by developers offering what appears to be very generous deals. Caveat Emptor (Buyer Beware) 

okay-dokay.... let's sell everything and put in a parking lot. Tree huggers unite!

14 hours ago, Pinot said:

 

??? Baloney. The land is not being used as intended. Any enforcement of rules and the masses should rise up?  

 

There has to be enforcement of the rules...or there are no rules. There has been a change in Thailand and especially in Phuket for how land and by that I mean public/King's land can be used. Thais will take any non-enforcement of laws and run with it. 

 

I love seeing enforcement of these laws. It means the long corrupt local officials, now have to obey the laws. 

 

These guys were building restaurant, spas and hotels on restricted land. They don't have a case.  

 

 

I imagine (or I certainly hope) that your ''baloney'' comment is re: the bit about maybe its a petty squabble'' . The fact is that more and more Thai are dropping the sociological taboos they are weaned on - and expressing their concerns to government. This is a major development. I agree with you that we can hope it will gain momentum. I'm not naive enough to think that there are no limits to what a Thai can complain abut to a military minded government.

One thing whcih we need to see is the 2 national rags develope some balls and start doing some investigative reporting. I am an avid news reader; the lack of anything resembling proactive, investigative journalism can be depressing. Particularly now that Phuketwan got muzzled and the 2 UK loose cannons left town.

12 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

 

Perhaps during retirement tutsi can age graciously and just rock in peace.

 

13 hours ago, Anthony5 said:

 

Made my day, actually made the next 4 years bearable. Thanks !!

12 minutes ago, eisfeld said:

For me, it's a red flag. Any development that promotes something like this, immidiately is out of the question. The properties are usually overprized and they know that the guarantee means nothing because they would just disappear and not be held accountable. I see many condo projects with this kind of scheme and they sell condos with less than 50sqm for 5M THB and a monthly maintenence fee of 3-5k THB. Completely bonkers. That thing would have to rent out for about 45k THB per month on avg to make 10% ROI including the monthly fees. Everyone can decide for themselves if that's realistic or not.

 

It's pretty simple: Look at the overall market and the amount of unsold property. If the rentals were so sought after and really got such high rates, then there wouldn't be much left on the market. There's plenty of people with money to invest in these properties but they wont, they know better.

my own view is that, first the market here is unregulated. Property agents do not self regulate with a professiional body, with teeth, ditto the legal side. You might be able ot rely on one of the major developers like Supalai or Siri and so on. Because they have a reputation to protect, sort of.My experience,, when I did due diligence work for clients, was to see if the guaranteed rate of return was based on a financed deal where the mortgage rate had been bought down, so as to inflate the attractiveness of the investment. I can see the buy-down cost included in the selling price, but not something like was suggested at 30%. anyways, thanks for the comments. I will continue to be entertained by these huge billboards next time I drive through Phuket Island.

or any similar styled SUV. (for example MAZDA TRIBUTE). Low mileage, and fully serviced log by dealer.

On 4/7/2016 at 5:49 PM, schlog said:

Mission Hospital.

Mission: second that. The lady dentist there specializes in implants. The male dentist (I think head guy, although ts a small clinic) is Dr. Chukiat. We used him for the 12 years we lived on Phuket..excellent. Also, he has a clinic (very well equipped) at Talang, as well, open every evening and Saturdays, I think.

Were you to decide on him, I can PM you a locator map for his Talang clinic.

A word of caution, the dental clinics at the majors  are NOT part of the hospital, despite the bill saying so. The official policy is that ''the .xxxx hospital only rents the space to the dental clinic.'' 

If you find out the work was crappy and the dentist has disappeared when you go back there, you are on your own. that was our experience, and it left us with a bad taste in the mouth: (180,000 b).

Prompted to post this, as I just read the main TV page, where there is another established developer promising 10% return on your investment. I am an experienced (40 years) investor, in Europe, Canada and Thailand. Those were self managed properties - meaning I worked at hiring subcontractors, etc. I made decent returns each year, on my investment properties. Capital gains, when selling. These advertisements are not referring to capital gains, as far as I can tell,  when you sell. They are offering a rental income return to you, starting in the first year you invest..

My question is this: do you believe that, these are realistic promises, bearing in mind that there will be deductions for the management fees charged by an established management company,  ? I am not so much asking for ''stories by brilliant investors'' . Just want to get a 'feel' for what the average bloke thinks of truth in advertising, in Thailand. Thanks. . 

a pleasure to read this news. all the pros and cons discussed. it would be good to see a few complimentary letters posted in the 2 national newspapers.

On 25/8/2016 at 11:42 AM, Gary A said:

Farang and Thai owners as well as tent dealers can all be dodgy. The biggest danger is vehicles that have had a bad accident. Most body shops are artists and it is nearly impossible to detect bent and twisted bodies or frames. Keep in mind that any mechanical problems can be repaired or replaced and be like new.

 

You can get a decent second hand vehicle if you know the owner and know that the vehicle has never been wrecked. Late models should have a service book. If there is no up to date owners service book, walk away regardless of who the owner is. 

 

The best way is to buy new especially if you intend to keep it long term. You will forget the extra expense long before you can forget  problems you find with second hand. 

Agreed abut the importance of an up-to-date service manual. A chat with the head mechanic at the dealers shop (assuming that is where it was serviced) might provide some feedback on whether the vehicle has been in an accident. Of course, most Thais will not commit to saying anything. so you'd want to motivate the mechanic. 

William, I forgot to start by asking why you are seeking a lawyer referral on TV.?

That is a bit like picking a stock investment, based on one of those investment bulletin boards.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news - but you should not be trusting anyone on social media, with your money matters.

Have you not lived long enough in Thailand to have developed a network of contacts who would have better experience, in making a referral?

Breach of contract would come under the Consumers Protection Act, unless you are filing criminal charges?

To be honest, when I needed to refer to a lawyer in Phuket, the one we ended up going with was on the referred lawyers list of a European Embassy.  That lawyer proved to be less than competent. Actually, if your read the Embassy's words carefully you will find that any embassy, in general,  takes no responsibility for who they place on their list. That is understandable. By the way, when we moved on to a secondary level of litigation we sought comparative quotes from 3 lawyers. I recommend that you do that, too.

19 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Not ever required at Jomtien. You do need a copy of bank book going back about four months. Also the id page. Just sign the copies yourself.

thanks...lucky all you city slickers

Please direct this news source to the Department for No Bad News About Thailand. Thanks!

On 17/11/2016 at 5:35 PM, hansnl said:

Why is it that taxpayers, ultimately, have to cough up the costs for protecting the profits of producers that market overvalued products?

If those overvalued products are so easy to reproduce, so very much based on a name, well, then they deserve to be copied.

Instead of making their products so unique, so high quality, so much better made of such expensive materials, they continue to sell products that are only valued by a name.

And probably manufactured in the same sweatshop where all the mass produced goods originate, the only difference a sticker or something like that.

Let them pay the police, not the taxpayers.

 

I saw a Trump shirt at the local market, one of the executive ones. Probably cost 100 bucks back in NYC.  I figured - I'm a supporter of all things bright and beautiful..so I declined to buy. It did ,have drool marks on it, which might have explained the 50 baht price tag.

19 hours ago, Sydebolle said:

A tip to all of you good-sayers. Come to Pattaya, preferably the east side (Khao Talo) or Chayapruek Road (linking the far end of Jomtien with Sukhumvit Road) and see, how much money is made weekly on the booze cheque. 
The going rate is THB 10'000 for a Thai and THB 20'000 for an alien - to be settled on the spot prior to any paperwork. 
Did not happen to me but I'm told so by affected customers of my wife's restaurant. 
While I certainly agree to take boozers off the steering wheel please don't whine about the reputation of the BIB; there is little damage which could be added to this. 

Interesting. However, not sure;  are you being serious or joking? Your customers (assumed, since some are aliens)  were fined 20K on the spot for drunk driving. Do you agree with this method ? ie of damaging their pocket book? or do you think that they should be taken to the police station and have their driving license withheld temporarily until a court hearing (despite how ridiculous that sounds). I'd prefer the latter. I can't imagine how anyone can live in Pattaya, based on reports out of there. I'm not picking on Pattaya, btw. Phuket is getting really bad, too. 

Did I miss something, from the OP? My Provincial Immigration office requires a  printout of 90 days transactions in my savings account, certified  by the bank. I thought that was a standard requirement, as my bank (small village branch) reminded me to obtain it...and they are not particularly proactive about anything. So good for them. So, a 90 days printout out, certified, in addition to the certificate of balance of 800K. I always get it sorted, same day. I have to drive 250km round trip, so anyone in a big town should have no trouble with a what was it, a 2km trip back to the bank.

2 hours ago, HiSoLowSoNoSo said:

Very hard to be fair to a group people who are paid by your tax money for serving and protecting you and doing the complete opposite.

and - very hard to be fair on a group who are underpaid (for gosh sakes, they have to buy their own transport, guns, uniforms). The situation will only change when they are trained professionally and paid a decent wage. the saying 'hunger will make a thief of any honest man' comes to mind. Also,  the vast majority of posts are negative. Rarely do you read about the good guys.

Got it! Thanks.

I need a certificate of Residence, from Phuket Immigration, as I am planning on buying a car.

I have no wish to cover ground already covered. But I cannot find an answer to my specific circumstances. So, any help would be appreciated, as there seems to be many knowledgeable members who have gone through variations of this

I don't live in Phuket. I am coming there (to Phuket) next week. I'd like to have my paperwork organized.

I have a 30 year registered lease on my Phuket apartment.

No yellow book.

I do have a Blue book, (which is of no use to me) and which was obtained by Developer. I do have the monthly bills for the apartment, from  the property management company.

Is that enough to get the certificate?

What if I find a car in (for example) Surathani? Do I need a certificate of Residence issued by Immigration in the same province as I buy the car?

I have a second home, in Surathani. Will Phuket Immigration issue a certificate of Residence for another province? The 90 day receipt in my passport was filed in Surathani.

absolutely idiotic and disgusting series of missteps by Provincial Marine authorities. (after allowing the building of the Dolphinariums.

This planning decision was granted to a subsidiary of Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H), who  announced earlier that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into a management agreement with Kamala Bay Ventures Co., Ltd. for a Hyatt Regency hotel in Phuket

What are you going to do now, import new coral.?

I remember when there was an large area of healthy coral, there, off the south west end, of the beach. Once the international 5 star hotel and mansions development ripped out the hillside, in 2006 - apparently (im not expert) the coral took a real beating from the resulting mud runoff.

The local tourist economy is going downhill, steadily and one of the reasons is that Thais refuse to raise their voices to protect what needs protecting. I love and respect the country and count Thais as friends. But when is this foolishness going to stop? Thais thinking only of money money;  little realizing that their most precious resources are being destroyed.

the slow one, here:

after following this topic for so long, you'd think I could catch on.

I want to open a brokerage account, at Krungsri Securities.

This is a copy/paste of what they want:

 A copy of House Registration or other proof of residence in Thailand or work permit (for foreigners).

1. I do not have a work permit - as I have a retired type O extension .

2. I have a blue book for my apartment, evidently it was arranged for by the developer.

It shows only the address. No residents (which, I believe, is correct; as I am not a Thai national/company).

I have a registered lease of the apartment. But my lawyer says the idea of applying to exchange the Blue book for a a Yellow book is - ''complicated''.

3. I live at another province, not at the apartment. Local officers where I live say (emphatically)  ''we do not understand how to issue you a yellow book'' - i.e  we do not have a ''how to'' operating manual.'' 

This summarizes what I think I need to do: - any advice welcome.:

1. get a copy of the (unregistered)  lease of the house I live in;

2. we and the landlady filed TM28 and TM30, at the date we signed the lease. Unfortunately, we do not have a copy of those 2 forms. is that likely to be a problem?

3. Go to the Provinmcial Immigration office and ask for a Certificate of Residency

Do I need any other paperwork, besides copies of my passport (which includes the most recent 90 day filing receipt).

Meanwhile, I am attempting to get someone at Krungsri Securities to tell me if a Certificate of Residency will be acceptable as proof of residence .

Thanks !

3 minutes ago, HLover said:

 

Yes, because that is so important. Moron.

9 minutes ago, HLover said:

Amazing the 'expert polls' and popular surveys that the media tried to shove down everyone's' throat; were quite wrong.  

I like your avatar, brother clown. Am so sick of the talking heads (not the band , one of my favs)..latest topic is '''what would happen if the electoral college is tied''? where do they think up this Krap.