KhaoYai

Hardly surprising that 'spending is subdued' - given the current cost of flights people probably have very little cash left over. Hopefully the surge in people willing to pay the current ridiculous prices because they haven't been able to travel for so long will decrease next year and the airlines will be forced to return to competitive pricing.

You come to this conclusion simply because of age? There are huge differences in both mental and physical condition across all age groups. Much better to have a system like the UK does where a person's health and ability to drive is checked regularly after the age of 70. Although I think the UK's system needs some strengthening, in principal, its the fair way to go. You can't simply take the licence of a perfectly healthy person away simply because of their age.

What is it with Thai police and photos? Connected to Thailand for 21 years and I still don't get it. Is it that they want to show that they are doing their job? Imagine if we all did that. Is it simply because they expect praise for catching these 'serious criminals' and the photos provide evidence that begs such praise? Is it to re-assure the public that they are safe - these 'zero tolerance' officers are keeping the country safe? Just about all of the Thai people that I know have little or no trust in the Thai police and say that the police themselves are criminals and that results in them having no respect for the police. I can't comment on such viewpoints ????. Likewise the re-enactment photos with the perp and police doing their 'pointing thing' - and that, before the perp is even convicted! By all means, if you've caught a major 'Underworld' crook, involved in serious crime, tried and convicted them, show us the results and assure us that you are dedicated to keeping the country safe for its law-abiding citizens - but a bunch of overstayers???

I cannot agree that online purchases are a 'public domain'. You buy something and that is a transaction between yourself and the seller - you are not standing at a public auction and bidding. Buyers should have every right to keep details of their purchases private.

Its difficult to comment on the cost as it was part of a bigger litigation against my ex wife which involved criminal charges. A pure guess would be that the portion relating to the car was 20,000. My lawyer turned up 2 decisions from cases heard in the supreme court where a foreign husband had been successful in having assets returned. Thai courts expect both parties to negotiate and try to settle matters prior to any court hearing. I had plenty of evidence that I had in fact bought and paid for the car - even though I was out of the country at the time. I obtained a letter from the seller stating that all negotiations for purchase had taken place between myself and him and produced my bank statements showing the transfer of funds for the car. I had previously asked my ex to return the car and she refused - even produced a spurious 'loan agreement' that claimed she had used the car as collateral for a loan. Once a court summons was issued, my lawyer called my ex, advised her of the past supreme court decisions and asked her if she would like to reconsider - she did and I have the car back. I had used the same lawyer before and my ex knew she doesn't muck about. Over the years I've seen several stories and there seems to be a general view that the 'farang' always loses in legal cases. I think most of the people involved in such cases simply walked away without even trying. My experience has been different - I was involved in litigation against a hospital that had acted against me resulting in me paying 120,000 baht needlessly. Again, once legal papers were issued the defendant backed down. Every case is different but the OP would be well advised to seek legal advice - if he's anywhere near Nakhon Ratchasima I'd be happy to give him my lawyer's details - she won't operate outside that area.

A good lawyer is the only way to sort this out. Just had something similar and the car is now back on my possession together with the tabien rot, signed transfer form and power of attorney - all carried out by my Thai lawyer.

Which I have been a victim of and is one of the main reasons I'm against data harvesting of any kind. Its just too vulnerable and criminals will always find a way to access it. Best that its not recorded in the first place.

The point is, marketing data has been misused and will continue to do so. Those holding such data are also regularly hacked. Now we are talking about the harvesting of finacial data and the likelihood is that that will also be misused, hacked, whatever. I believe I have a right to privacy but when you buy or receive anything electronically - what are your rights? In the West there is regulation but there is still abuse........ imagine Asia? Account and PIN numbers hacked wholesale?

Don't be so bloody riduculous. And by the way, I don't have a wife.

You are targeted every day. What you read on this forum will form part of the data that is collected. Some of the very companies that harvest your data have recently been the subject of hacking. Hundreds of thousands of Facebook users had all their details posted online by hackers recently. Why should the fact that I visited Starbucks recently be anyone else's business? Yesterday I bought a pair of boots online - as I type this I'm seeing an advert containing 'Stylish Leather Boots' on the right of my screen....................do you not know how this works?

Everybody right to privacy. If you don't know how your data is used - I suggest you find out.

I was always sceptical that this could ever happen in Thailand as so many people/business's don't declare their total income and/or their income (on paper) is below the tax threshold. An ex was even paid her overtime in cash by a large Japanese company. In the UK and I presume, most other western countries, undeclared income (grey money) must remain as cash or be 'washed'. However, I've had several conversations with Thai's as to what they do with 'grey money' and was amazed to find that paying it into a personal bank account is not a problem. Having had a tax investigation in the UK, I'm aware that its not possible to do that in the UK. The tax people go through all your bank accounts - back 7 years. Any cash paid in that you can't explain is treated as income and you are taxed on it - none of those I spoke to had ever heard of that happening in Thailand. So, if cash doesn't have to stay cash in Thailand, there's not going to be too much resistance to becoming cashless. That said, I'm against it - as other's have said, I don't want records of my entire financial life to be available to all and sundry - I'm sick of being a constant marketing target already. A person also has the right to privacy.

My house was broken in to last year and despite having a clear photo of one of the burglars and a many photos of a woman who I think later bought a stolen IP camera - I've heard nothing. The guy (burglar) looks as dodgy as hell and is not a young man so he's probably been 'at it' for years and most likely has a criminal record. Several local people say they've seen him around the area but can't quite place him so its more than likely that he's known to the police. Just passing the phot around the station would probably have produced a result but I doubt even that's been done. The police didn't visit my house, take any finger prints or a sample from several blood stains where the burgar (s) had cut themselves breaking in. As far as I know, the most effort they've put in was to fill out the 'Police Report'. Beg's the question - what do they actually do? A further attempt at breaking in was made a couple of weeks ago (probably the same people) - thankfully the security measures I've put in place stopped them.

No, but you will probably need a letter of invitation from your wife - you certainly do with a multi entry, I can't see a single entry being any different. All it has to say is something like 'Please grant a visa to my husband Mr John Smith to allow him to lawfully visit me at our home in Thailand.'

Thank you for that information - I didn't know the name of a condo deed but I was pretty sure it wasn't a chanotte. However, the OP's post refers to 'land ownership' and as you know, with a condo, you don't own the land - its similar to leasehold. So he's talking about a straight chanotte. Like you, I would also be interested to know how he gets along. Many Thai's think that a chanotte cannot be replaced or at the very least, they say that losing it is a big problem. It will be interesting to know the level of difficulty, if any, that the OP encounters. 16,000 photo copies for sure ????.

I'm not sure that the title deed for a condo is called a chanotte???

I don't think that's 100% correct - could just be how you've written it but.......... To the best of my knowledge a replacement Chanotte will only be issued to the registered owner or someone with a Power of Attorney from the registered owner. Whether or not that person can hold a non Thai passport is probably up to the local office.

Ever heard of World Streams Pro?

They can huff and puff all the want - they can't actually cut any progamming, not without facing some pretty big lawsuits. If they did, they'd be in breach of contract to all the sponsors that have paid millions to have their names splashed all over the pitches etc.

None at all - except in the deluded minds of the Thai gov who clearly know nothing about weed. Cannabis toursim? Yeah right!

This is a joke right? Anyone who knows anything about weed will tell you why. I can't speak for Thai growers but every grower I've ever known in the UK throws 'roots, leaves and stems' in the bin.

Sounds like a strange family - I've heard of fights in families but never between a mother and her kids. The norm in Thai families is that the Matriarch is all powerful - even when she's wrong, she's not and the kids all Kow Tow to her whims. Are you sure you are being told the truth - given what I said above, a trivial matter shouldn't cause such aggro.

Hotel rooms? I have my own place and of course I pay for drinks and food - the difference is, I have a choice. Try choosing whether to feed and water your wife.

You can 555 all you like, your sarcasm is both unfounded and inconsequential. I have my own house, ride my bike whenever and wherever I like. See who I like, when I like, cook what I want, drink when I want, come home at 5am. Go on holiday where I want and only pay for one ticket................ but most of all, I don't get taken for a ride by a wife or her family and have to listen to the same twoddle as the OP does. Having been married for most of my life and raised 2 families yes, it takes a bit of getting used to but I can honestly say that I have never been happier. Of course, some of my current 'partners' are probably 'hopefulls' with their own agenda but I don't let it get that far. I've ridden 'big bikes' since I was young and have always said that I will continue as long as I can swing my leg over a bike - the same now applies to 'other things'.

Haven't paid for years - not in the way you're suggesting. However, if I wanted to I could have a hell of a lot of fun for what a wife costs - without the agro and boredom. Anyone who thinks having a wife gets you a 'free pass' is deluded.