Bob Chittie

Eva airways back to the States and pay your bills. Amazing you would have to ask but since you did......that's the best advice.

Someone here mentioned "what if" you "have" to go back, what do you do then? That's sound advice too.

Plus, do you think it's "ok" to just burn companies who trusted you? You did it now do the right thing.

It all comes back around.

Mr Vietnam 

Vietnam, I appreciate the advice, but I'm not sure how jumping on a plane back to the US is going to help my situation. Amazing that I would have to ask? There are many different approaches one could take here. I know I'm not the first one to run into probelms with credit cards. So asking was a natural thing to do.

No, I don't think its 'ok' to burn companies who extended me credit. I actually pride myself on never having made a late payment throughout my entire credit history. I also don't think its okay to help friends in financial need only to be stabbed in the back when it comes time to pay me back.

We all know that you are financially secure. Great! I'm happy for you. I've been there too beleive it or not. At present I'm in a bit of a bind due in large part ot my generosity or perhaps stupidity is a better word. Please try to see things from both sides. You may be over here at some point as well.

>>>>I'm actually owed by the parents of some Thai friends. Definitley a stupid mistake loaning the money... and now I'm left with the consequences...

For the love of God people - DO NOT LEND ANY $$ over there!

To Thai or Falang !!

Dont even trust your shadow over there!

Don't even trust your shadow. I like that one. Yes, I've learned the hard way on this one.

I'm actually owed by the parents of some Thai friends. Definitley a stupid mistake loaning the money... and now I'm left with the consequences...

And another friend of mine does this quite regular,,he runs up some bills,goes on vacations to Tahiti or Thailand and then when they get on him,he makes a deal and pays off at 25% or some such figure and still has his cards,,I don't think I could get by with it,but I know he does.

Any idea how exactly this is accomplished?

Thanks guys for all the info. I can't believe that some people get away with paying the cards off at 25% AND still get to keep their line of credit. That would certainly be a nice option. Perhaps I will be paid back by those who owe me, but I'm not holding my breath and will begin putting together a Plan B.

Any advice from fellow Americans here with any similar experience would be greatly appreciated.

Firstly, I'm not a complete loser. I'm owed significant sums of money my a couple people up here. Maybe I am naive for lending it, but that's another story. At the end of the day, without the money that I am owed, it will soon be impossible to make my credit card payments in the US.

So, if I stop making the payments, what can I expect the affect on me to be (apart from terrible credit for the next 7 years) considering that I am over here and return to the US once a year for a brief time? One important point is that I am the owner of a sole proprietorship in the US and I am concerned as to whether this business could continue to operate or if the creditors would hamper my ability to run a business by perhaps reaching into the business accounts when payments are received. Would I need to register the company in a family member's name in order to avoid this?

Any advice is most welcome.

There is also the option of cable TV if you are in a city. There's not as much live sports and the channels tend to be more Austrlaian than American, but still 20 or 30 channels of English TV for a few hundred baht a month and a very small instalation fee is not bad...

Tell me more! I live in Bangkok but the house I am living is almost 200 meters from the pole/street. I have UBC but I had to buy a dish. I wouldn't mind going for a cheaper service and buy the movie to view on dvd instead.

Can I buy the cable from Chinatown? What company is cable ? Is it UBC as well? If so, they told me the problem was with leakage due to the length of the cable.

I suppose I will be stuck with UBC.

In the North the main one is WeTV I believe. its what you find in most hotels and restaraunts who understandably don't want to spend the big money for UBC. I'm positive that similar services are on offer in Bangkok, if not WeTV itself, but I'm not sure where to tell you to look. Maybe google- 'cable TV thailand'?

While we're at it, does anyone know why UBC can't sell advertising? Who's preventing them? With advertising dollars, they could afford to bring down the prices and buy some up to date programming. Most of what you see on the Discovery Channel/National Geographic etc. was produced years ago. Its especially humourous when you watch the tech shows and they are discussing what exciting gadgets might just be around the corner and its some outdated piece of equiptment I bought two years ago...

The mayor of London has declared that Bush is the greatest threat to life on the planet. All the avid Bush supporters will no doubt declare Livingstone irrelevant. ('Who cares if they don't like us. <deleted>#k them'.) That argument would go over a little better if it was me, Bob, who had made this statement. But come on guys. When even the mayor of London is disgusted with Bush, maybe, just maybe GWB is leading the country and the world in the wrong direction.

Published on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 by the lndependent/UK

Livingstone Says Bush is 'Greatest Threat to Life on Planet'

Article here: http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/1118-01.htm

Usually UBC runs some kind of promotion whereby you get a free TV or something of the sort along with the instalation fee. It changes month to month so if there is nothing on now, then you might want to wait a month. There is also the option of cable TV if you are in a city. There's not as much live sports and the channels tend to be more Austrlaian than American, but still 20 or 30 channels of English TV for a few hundred baht a month and a very small instalation fee is not bad...

I think the following sums things up well. Even if the Iraqi people by way of their new found 'freedom', democratically elect a government which in turn tells the occupying force to leave, the US isn't going anywhere... So much for all the hype about freedom and democracy in Iraq...

http://www.commondreams.org/scottie.htm

Scottie & Me

(formerly known as Ari & I)

White House Press Briefing with Scott McClellan

Monday, November 17, 2003 - 12:15 PM

by Russell Mokhiber

Mokhiber: Scott, Ambassador (Paul) Bremer said yesterday that U.S. troops will remain on the ground in Iraq even after the government is elected there. What if the (Iraqi) government asks the U.S. to get out. Would we get out?

Scott McClellan: I don't think that is the case. The governing council themselves said that they would expect that they would remain - that we would remain as invited guests -

Mokhiber: But let's say they ask us to leave -

Scott McClellan: The coalition forces, the security of Iraq is a very high priority. And we will continue to have discussions with the governing council as we move forward, and we will continue to have discussions with the new interim government once it is in place - about security matters.

Mokhiber: But the question is - let's say they elect a theocracy, against your wishes. And the theocracy says - like in Iran - get out. Will we get out?

Scott McClellan: Again, we will continue to have discussions with the new interim government -

Mokhiber: What if they don't want discussions? What if they just want us to get out?

Scott McClellan: The Iraqi people have indicated in a number of different ways, if you look at polls, if you look at the governing council representatives, that they want us to say until the job is finished. And part of that job is making sure that we have a secure environment for the Iraqi people. And we still have important obligations that will need to be fulfilled. That includes the security side, that includes the reconstruction side. There are an enormous amount of resources going into Iraq from the international community. All of us have a stake in seeing a peaceful and free Iraq come about. It is important to transforming the Middle East. The Middle East has been a volatile region. It has been a breeding ground for terrorism, and bringing about a free, peaceful, democratic Iraq in the heart of the Middle East will help transform that region for the better, bring about a safer and better world.

Begs and Parry, I couldn't agree with you more. Thank you for some level headed thinking. Smuggling ecstacy or marijuana may be very stupid and is certainly against the law. However, what justice is served in sending a guy to prison for life or executing a guy for smuggling a drug that is less harmful than alcohol? Is it 'just' simply because the governemnt deems the substance illegal? No. It may be within the rule of law, but it is anything but just.

Just think also, that in less than 100 years smart mouth, becuase of the brilliance of the founders of America, my country became the richest, most powerful and happy people on the earth, and accomplished things in that first 100 years not done in 6,000 years of world history. Don't like those facts?

Mr. Vietnam... Just when i was starting to find some common ground... Richest and most powerful. Quite possibly. Happiest? Are we talking about the same America? And always remember that you personally had nothing to do with the various achievments of past Americans. Don't rely on them too heavily for your personal sense of superiority.

He should have bided his time, run for political office or worked his way up the food chain in the military, and THEN got involved with smuggling drugs. Look at tony blair, bill clinton, ronald reagan, oliver north. Let's not forget ol fidel and company, danny ortega, either. Yu think thaksin doesn't chip off a piece?

I mean if you're going to be a "successful" smuggler, that's the way to go.

Mr Vietnam

Mr. Vietnam. Finally something you say that I can agree with completley. tax, please take note.

And California Dave, good point regarding ecstacy use in the UK. Ecstacy is very different from heroine...

And tax, punsihment that fits the crime, yes. Punsihment that is grossly excessive, no. Jail for life or execution for ecstacy smuggling is beyond excessive.

bob

its precisely attitudes like that,sympathy for the young lad, poor kid,bit thick and naive, etc. coupled with lax sentencing,that will encourage more and more of these young lads and ladesses to take risks.

if the mules are put off from carrying the stuff, then it wont get carried,or at least less will get carried.

i think your idea is the logical one, but unfortunatley it just doesn't work. Lock up for life or execute anybody who is involved with drugs. This will then serve as a deterent to anyone who might consider it. And this will result in a decrease in drug smuggling. it sounds good, but just doesn't work. You only have to look at countries like America to see the threat of severe punishment has little to no affect on those who would consider drug running.

I repeat again. Nothing will be accomplished in this kid's life imprisonemnt. It will make certain people feel satisfied that the war on drugs is being won or that there is justice in the world. But you only have to look a little further, try the Burmese border, to see that you are basking in your own delusions. Millions upon millions of pills are being sent into the country. Those responsible will not be touched. Those on the other end, both the users and the those who would consider making a quick buck, will be the ones to pay. And the cycle continues. At what point do we stop and conceed that the current approach is simply not working? The prisons continue to fill up. The drugs continue to flow.

SoCal, in saying 'World leaders don't respect Bush? So what!', you sum up the entire problem so well. Americans compose 4% of the world's popualtion. And if the whole world thinks we're crazy and if the whole world thinks our president is insane, well <deleted>#k them all. Those six and a half billion people just don't understand. We're right. They're wrong. God Bless America.

Bob- World leader's don't respect? So what? Bush, and the U.S. do not like Shroeder & Chirac. Do we tell you who to elect? Get off your high horse (probably rocking), and quit telling us what is good for us father.

SoCal, Listen Up. I am American. I will say what I like of 'my' president. It takes a true idiot to be at the healm of the world's only superpower and earn so little respect from leaders and regular people all over the globe. And all you non-Americans, keep on Bush bashing. Until he returns to running America and not the world, every human on the face of the earth has the right to voice their disgust.

The vindictive nature of most of these posts is frightening. If most people here had their way anyone who broke the law would be tied up and burned in public. And guess what, people would continue to try to make quick money in stupid ways. As I said before, the guys who need to be stopped have nothing to do with a 19 year old kid from England. His execution or life sentence will serve no purpose.

There's no excuse, the quicker we stop this pushers the better. It's one thing turning a blind eye on people using things at home but come on dealing and transporting them through customs?? dick head!!!!

Come on now. This was a stupid move but do you really think that putting him away for life will have any positive affect? The guys at the top producing it and selling TENS OF MILLIONS OF PILLS IN A SINGLE SHIPMENT are the ones who need to be stopped.

if you read up on this kid, he was just at his mum's house a couple weeks ago asking to borrow 5 pounds. Doesn't sound like he was the real succesful type. He got himself here and figured he could make a quick buck back home. Stupid? Yes. But let's not fool ourselves into thinking that locking him up will create a safer or better society. Jesus, he's only 19. And obviously the Thai authorites don't think so, but shouldn't ecstacy be treated differently than say heroine or cocaine? Life or death seems completey over the top here.

So Cal, Bush is an idiot. He is not respected by more than a handful of world leaders and has little support from the world's population. He has over simplified a very complex matter to make it good versus evil, us verse them. Many Americans have fallen for this and its a shame.

No probelm Doctor. As Mr. Royal stated, everything seems somewhat vague right now. We know things are changing, or we think they are, but we aren't clear on the details. I suppose time will tell, but I have to agree with you. You're best off getting your long temr visa now.

While we are at it: Princess Diana Accident was not an Accident

oh g-r-o-a-n....

Where do you get this stuff? Can't anything just be what it seems?

...sigh... conspiracy theorists... You are unbelievable. You live in Thailand, but still have time for all this nonsense?

Get out and get a LIFE, man!!

Do you really believe that everything that happens in the world is beamed into your home via CNN, BBC or God forbid, Fox News? And if its not on the mainstream news, then it must never have happened, right?

Thanks George. Will be interesting to see what finally happens.

Dr. Pat Pong. It seems that you were pretty casual in your response. From what you have written previously, I expected you to tell Roger that his days are numbered. Does this mean that the impending end to the 'walkers' is no longer a truth? Was it all just a lot of talk? Or maybe the government reconsidered? Are you bascially saying that there is no longer any problem with those who stay for long periods on 30 day stamps?

I'm on a non-im myself, but its still been an interesting topic for me to follow as I do have friends who are bending the rules.

Thanks Kwiz. That's the general feeling I get about used cars. I've laready gotten ripped off in the US so I've got to think my chance in Thailand of getting a fair deal aren't real good. Maybe I'll look at something new. As far as all the financing requirments, I'm not sure that I will meet them (I do have non-im visa), but I will go speak with them and check it out. Thanks again.

I'm considering buying a car. Nothing fancy. Maybe a mid 90's Accord or Civic. Any advice on how not to get ripped off? In the US I'd take the car to a mechanic before buying. In Thailand, I've heard that the mechanics are often working with the dealers and will basically lie to you. Any way to avoid this?

Also, I'd prefer to make monthly payments. Any advice regarding financing in Thailand would be appreciated too. ie. Is there any penalty for paying it off early? What's a decent interest rate? What percentage of the total price is usually required as a down payment? Thanks.