JimboJ

The first problem with the Mediterranean is that it is cool and often wet in winter.  The second is that it is very boring.  Older expats are mainly couples grimly slogging on, waiting for their grandchildren to visit them.  Lone males on the lookout for cheap pussy are not appreciated.

The location is Pattaya.

The point about a public interest defence is encouraging, but I do have to be prepared to go to court, and would like to find a lawyer I have some confidence in first.  It's strange that lawyers are not lining up to make a bit of money out of what must be a common form of litigation.

I know about the laws governing meetings.  The problem is that the management keeps just enough owners on their side by doing them favours, and hires proxies off the street to represent them when they hold meetings.  The only way of contacting owners would be through a public forum, since there are few in residence.

There are numerous problems with the management of the condo where I live, and any attempt to talk about them is met with threats to prosecute me for defamation.  These are probably exaggerated, but it seems sensible to take legal advice before going any further.

Another problem is that general meetings are held in the depths of the low season, when as few people as possible can attend.  I need a lawyer to act as proxy.

Does anyone know a good lawyer who would be interested in dealing with these problems?

4 hours ago, KittenKong said:

 

I think that your only real hope is to ditch the corrupt people fast and try and find someone less corrupt.

How?

Even now in high season few owners are in residence.  The committee controls when the next general meeting will take place, which will be when there are as few people around as possible.  They may even invent the attendance forms and proxies - there is no way of checking.

As I suggested, the only way of discouraging blatant illegality is by giving it maximum publicity, but in spite of all the complaints about condo management, no one seems interested.

Thanks everyone for the information.

I meant the end of the calendar year by the year end.  So the AGM was two months late.

The most useful point may be from smutcake, who says that complaints have to be made within 30 days.  Where does this information come from?

Since I was not in Thailand for two months after the meeting this would not have been possible.  The minutes were not sent out by email, and were not even posted  to mail boxes.

Another line of attack is the monthly income/expenditure accounts, which should be posted on the condo notice board every month, but of course are not.  The fine for not doing this is max. 50,000 baht, plus 5,000 a day.  (Condo Act section 68.)  Does the juristic person manager pay these fines personally (in theory),  or are they an expense for the condo?

Obviously everyone has these problems, and the Land Office is not interested.  I have been told that there is only one lady checking all AGM minutes for approval.  Another possible approach is to publish on the internet details of infractions of the rules with names.  This might put people off buying into badly run condos, and so put some real pressure on the committees.  But it would need the advice of a good lawyer, who I have yet to find.  Would anyone be interested in exploring this possibility?

The gang running my condo at the moment held the annual general meeting in the depths of the low season when no one was here.  It was also three months later than the time limit after the end of the accounting period, which is the end of the year.  Also, they did not send out written notification, as is required by the condo law.  None the less, the Land Registry seems to have approved the change in committee members.  Can anything be done about this?

http://www.thebigchilli.com/features/dark-side-of-online-pharmacies

See the above which says that online pharmacies are illegal.

19 hours ago, Srikcir said:

Thankfully, Islam Occupied part of Europe to help it survive The Dark Ages by providing a "golden age" of creativity and toleration versus Western intolerance for science and anything faith not Christian-based.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_world_contributions_to_Medieval_Europe

 

The link above is mainly about transmissions from Greece and China.  There is a link to Muslim inventions, the most notable of which are improvements to ceramic techniques and coffee. So we have Islam to thank for Sarbucks.

Another view of the Dark Ages is that they were prolonged by the military pressure of Islam, especially piracy and slave trading around the previously civilized Mediterranean.

All the comments above ignore the fact that the southern provinces are Malay speaking.  Who would want to learn Thai if they could avoid it?

2 hours ago, The man from udon said:

I didn't say you having a speed gun,I will stick to my cart thanks.as for not knowing what I'm talking about I've owned bikes all of 35 years and ridden around countries you can only dream about.it doesn't take much to send a person flying,take a look at motocrossing,some of the riders are not doing great speed and get thrown into the air.how about you stick a bucket on your nugget and go play on the hi way.

Bikers are on bikes, the Russian was on the road.  Experience does not compensate for stupidity.

Idiots on large and noisy motorbikes regularly use the main roads as racetracks in the early hours of the morning.  As someone has said above, the problem is the traffic police not doing their job.

1 minute ago, ubonjoe said:

You already wrote what it is. It is a often called a multiple entry non-o visa I assume it is for retirement if you are 65 or over and getting a state pension.

I am over 65, but no proof of state pension was required.  Perhaps it was just assumed.

I just checked the Thai Consulate London website and it says that for non-immigrant type O a pension statement is required if the applicant is a pension earner.

I was over 65 when I got a visa in London last year, but was simply given a multiple entry tourist visa - two entries for 50 GBP.  This is no longer available.  The new METV also costs 125 GBP but only allows 60 days initial stay, which can be extended for an additional 30 days.  Also, it is only valid for 6 months, whereas mine is valid for a year.

If it is a retirement visa, do I have to leave after 90 days, or can I just get it renewed?

I did not ask for a retirement visa.  But the easy availability is good news for the over 65's, especially if the 90 days can be renewed without doing a visa run.

2 minutes ago, DUS said:

You do not have a METV.

I take it that METV stands for multiple entry tourist visa.  I have a visa for tourists, which allows multiple entries.  Could you tell us all the correct name for it?

METV - London  90 days on arrival

I got what I think people are referring to as an METV in London on 3rd October.  The actual visa says Non-immigrant, category O, No. of entry M.  Cost 125 GBP.

The surprising thing is that I was given 90 days at Suvarnabhumi - from 7th Oct to 4 Jan.

I went to Immigration Pattaya to ask if I will be able to extend this for 30 days, and was told that I will only be allowed 7 days.  The official may not have known what she was talking about, and I couldn't see anyone senior.  I have not been able to find anything on various web sites.

To obtain the visa, I only had to submit passport, form and photos - and money.

I stay here about 6 months a year, so intend to leave and return within about a week.  Leaving before 4th Jan to avoid possible problems.  It will be interesting to see if I get another 90 days when I come back.  Perhaps it's worth going via Suvarnabhumi, although Don Muang is likely to be more convenient.

Does anyone else have relevant experience of the length of stay granted on entry?

So it's my fault if immigration make an error?  Probably.

I'll check at the Pattaya office, where I am now.

Another change, from London consulate.

Last year it was 25 pounds for a 60 day tourist visa, plus 25 for each reentry.

This year it is still 25 for the basic visa, but 125 for multiple entry.

More interesting, the stamp I was given at Suvarnabumi is for 90 days.  I assume I cannot get an extension on this, which saves a trip to immigration. 

The web site of the London consulate still says that the maximum stay is 60 days on a tourist visa, and extensions are at the sole discretion of the immigration officer.

Last year I did one reentry and two extensions from 60 to 90 days.

BTW, I have had short overstays in the past, but these do not seem to have caused a problem.

To sum up.  No one knows of an independent audit company who could be relied upon to expose embezzlement. 

It is no use relying on the management company, since they are in the best position to be dishonest, and need to be checked up on by an independent audit.

So it is necessary to pay for an audit to conform to the law, but it is just decoration,  and may even mislead owners into a false sense of security.

Every owner must do their own audit, relying on the committee/management to supply the relevant documents, which they have no legal obligation to do.

The condo law requires an annual audit, and that the audit company should be appointed by a general meeting, not by the committee or management.  Does anyone know a good audit company who would actually expose embezzlement?

On 11/30/2015 at 3:51 AM, superal said:

Depends what you think is expensive . I have just paid £310 for 6 months which is a comprehensive travel policy including a £10,000,000 medical cover plus of course all the many other associated insured benefits How does Bupa compare on costs for this period for a 68 year old man without serious health problems or history ? I was not able to get extended insurance or cover for a year . However there are some companies who will but the ones that I found would not insure people over the age of 40 years . Also I had a short spell in an Issan hospital earlier this year and the same insurance company were excellent and very helpful and even paid me £25 per night ,over and above all hospital fees ,to meet any minor personal expenses .

So this is a well worth option for retirees who return to the UK regularly and not forgetting that you have to be in the UK when you buy the policy .

What was the company?