moontang

Facebook is littered with recruiters for these companies.  You are mostly dealing with Chinese, so that almost guarantees a large degree of underhandedness.  They practically want you to wear a clown suit so the kids will "like" you, and you will be evaluated by people with a very elementary English ability.  You will also not get paid for being on standby.  They also want young, white faces, but wont come out and say it...so wasted time becomes an issue.  I was marked down for having white walls.  You will pay dearly for technical issues on your side, but you will not get compensated for numerous issues on their side.  There are possibilities, but it really seems to be exaggerated.  Certainly, not the worst digital nomad lie, by a longshot.

My sister is around 60, and a co-worker decided learn Spanish with a similar type of online outfit.  He ended up with a highly skilled university professor from Colombia.  Best teacher he had ever had in 17 years of school.  Cost:  Five USD per 60 minute lesson.  At least a million Filipinos would work for even less....supply and demand.  So you think you can get paid 20 an hour by the Chinese, when they pay engineers building the railroad here five, you might want to think twice.  And they are big players in the review game, getting people to write glowing reviews before they received their first check.  And dont forget the 15.3% self employment tax you will owe Uncle Sam, if American.

5 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

No.

then possibly a marriage visa, which gives you permission to teach.  Enlighten us.  I have only been following this pile of soi dog turd for 20 years+.  Talked to a language school teacher the other night.  He signed on about a year ago, with promises of a WP...as soon as they had 4 thais working there.  Meanwhile, he was working on 90s from KL.  He just paid an agent 35K for a two month extension..maybe it is a 30, with a 30 day extension.  A co worker at another franchise had completed a year above board, and then tried to re-enter on a TV, and was sent back to England.  They are both in extremely precarious predicaments at the moment.  Worked in a grey area...and got burned with the full torch.  

11 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Language  schools give work permits if they want. I recenrly got one for 4 hours a week

But, you very likely already had a working visa, which a retiree or Ed visa holder does not have. 

I am looking at a dead persons house...330 wah, 100 sm house...nat gas, newish roof.  7000 feet elevation.  About 1.5 million THB, but it is in a potato and cattle region of Colorado.  Might be ideal for splitting the year with BKK.

42 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Logged straight in with my phone app.

I am not a member, butwas forced into trying to use it to get my 492usd from claimcompass,  My flight was late leaving FRA, and I missed my connection at Dulles.

what a farce...just emailed claimcompass my bank info...they knew people were having a lot of trouble with TW.  I sure as heck will never trust them with my money...so sloppy.

9 minutes ago, cmsally said:

For starters missing an objective pronoun (after prepared) and the word population should probably be proportion.

Should be an interesting 120 hrs!!!

And has does not agree with experiences.  A high population.. sounds like my school in Phoenix.. students were often high.  

I seldom nitpick on grammar.  It is too easy to slip up... but, I was a business major, and I am not selling a course.  And what is it with people in the education sector, being so close to the vest about their degree.  It is one of the most straightforward, simple, and important facts you can state about yourself. Do I smell a Filipino ghost writer, or would they do a lot better? 

I was in one the other day, and they said no sales to companies, except the commercial spaces in the lobby. 

His experiences with his students, including a high population of ELL students, has prepared to adjust his instruction to engage students of all age-levels, skill-levels, and levels of English acquisition.

Does that make sense to you?  It is the bio of someone offering a 120 hour TEFL course.  I was almost interested.  

1 minute ago, dabhand said:

I actioned a TW transfer, UK to Thailand, a couple of hours back and received confirmation that funds should be received later today into my local bank account.

There was an outage yesterday but seems to be fine now. 

I will try with a rebooted computer.  

I am trying to get my airline compensation, which is using TW beta... tried on two different computers.. technical glitch.. Lots of reports of outages.  Some terrible reviews out there.  Glad it's not my money.. but I don't like the feel of it.  Claim Compass says they have my 450 Euros, just need to get it through TW. 

36 minutes ago, parafareno said:

it is 46 sq m with huge pool yes

Reasonable.. How much for water?  Any TV channels?  I was paying 30 psm pm in CM, no pool. 

For small, like 200 ml, I would go to Jampha on Suthep, across from Royal Project... Large at Makro.. 

56 minutes ago, parafareno said:

i was also quoted 13000 bht maintenance fee per year for my condo......seems quite a lot.....

is that normal price?

A lot less than the West..  that is on the upper end, I would have no problems with it, but would raise my expectations a bit. Hallways should be clean and neat, same with trash area.. now that is something that can vary a lot.. How they store the stinking garbage.  Probably should have a decent pool, too.  How many square meters is it?  I pay 10,000 for 31 sm.. Nice folks, really.  Still using an old dot matrix printer.. 

Our water is 17 per unit, but there is a 25 THB per month billing fee. Can be as high as 40 per unit, I have been told. 

Don't know exactly why, but Loy Krathong is maybe the best holiday, and blows away Songkran, which just about drives me nuts.  Hung out with multiple generations of Thai's.. drinking, eating... Very chill, low stress.  Hope you all had similar experiences. 

I use the 15 THB ones, but avoid peak rush hours.. KSR is a pretty good place to board, and less congested then Sathorn.  They are currently upgrading Nonthaburi Pier, but there are pay toilets for 5 THB, two 711, and squid satay, etc.. perfectly acceptable to walk and dine with a cold one.  Very nice sunsets.. 

http://www.chaophrayaexpressboat.com/en/services/

Also, heard good things about the cruises, but don't have any specifics. Heard of some guys taking their new Thai gf's on them and it was a very reasonable great night out, compared with dinner on sukhumvit or 300 THB drinks on a rooftop. 

I am reminded of the very early days of Iron Chef, twenty years ago.  The Zaggats were on the panel of judges, and they had recently given a bad review to Morimotos restaurant.  He cooked them a mini pizza, and basically told them since they had no understanding of fine cuisine, he made them something little kids like.  It was hilarious.  The way businesses abuse TripAdvisor is disgusting.  The western restaurants don't seem to realize that they aren't the only ones seeing a need for good Mexican, or even good burgers and fries, but the food costs are just too high to do it right and stay in business.  Thailand was built on cheap, spicy, Thai food, with abundant and inexpensive ingredients, much like good Mexican food.. the more they try to turn it into high end dining, the more it falters. Someone asked me about the Mexican food I brought home from Nogales.. Five bucks for ten tacos, out the door.. except there was no door, it was a trailer parked in front of a liquor store. 

18 minutes ago, Lacrimas said:

You can rent a condo at 1000 baht for one night, if you rent it 20 nights a month you make 20.000 baht. Condo fee is maybe 500 baht. Water, Electric and Internet can be 2000 baht. Laundry and Maid fee are not included and the customer pays for them. All the other costs are very low. So out of 20.000 baht you can make 15.000 baht clean which is better than just renting it out for 8.000 baht.

20 move ins and 20 exits.. That is real work, and money...and a studio condo not on the beach is more like 4 or 500 per night, although some seem so Hell bent on using airbnb, they overlook some nice hotels in better locations with 24 hour services.  Not sure how the guest friendly thing fits into the equation.. Just like the Grab touts.. Often standing there waiting, with plenty of cheaper meter taxis around. 

You will even see the old timers gather at McDonald's in the US and sit on their rumps for hours drinking half price coffee, as most restaurants ended free refills because of people like them.  Not cool when paying customers can't get a seat, like at T21 in bkk.. some even think they are saving money by not having home Internet, which is silly. 

26 minutes ago, parafareno said:

so electric is 8bht /(they charge me this at hotel where I stay)

and water is maybe 100 bht...etc....

and yearsly maintenance is maybe 100 usd, is that all? This is why I want to have a condo here....

 

Maintenance is often by square meter, per month.. I pay mine twice per year, 5000 x 2.  More like 3-500 us per year on a studio in a decent building.  Seen as low as 300 THB per month, but lots of deferred maintenance, no elevators.. You don't want too low or too high, and anything involving a lot of labor, upkeep is a potential problem.. like a fitness center.. looks great in the brochure.. but there is a trend in condos offering Ala carte plans, where even elevator use is optional.. makes the second floor a lot more interesting. 

With condo, you get your own elect account and pay close to 4 per unit.. so right there you are saving 1000 per month average or quite a bit more if you use an old ac frequently.  I run ac 24/7 for 1400 in the hottest or most humid months.  But in Patts, a sea breeze is worth its weight in gold.. But in places like Florida, with high humidity, you have to be really close to get the breeze, like a 100 meters.. 

Hereyago.. just mixed a cup of Birdy Robusto with Jameson... awesome.. https://www.acuterealty.com/calculator.asp

4 minutes ago, parafareno said:

and how much are transfer fee for 1100000 price condo?

Almost nothing now, but someone would have to pay about 35000 in taxes, depending on length of ownership. Assuming the moratorium on transfers under 3 million went into effect. There is a fee calculator.. Google it... It is on a Thai real estate website.. Normally transfer is 1% buyer, 1% seller.. And 1% of the amount of mortgage, which very rarely applies to farang. 

15 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

People always fail to mention, investments can go down in value as well as up, but on this forum everyone thinks they are Soros

Especially the ones that didn't actually have the 800k in a Thai bank, some pretty shrewd investors.. Seems like everyone of them was getti g double digit returns at home in mutual funds and they never went down or sustained a loss.  Quite a few no longer post on TVF, guess they are back home enjoying their millions in mums basement. 

I know a lady, who is a chartered accountant in Oz, like a CPA, and she taught me to use 40% of monthly rent for expenses, when calculating yields, and some even use 50%...but I think 40 is accurate for Thailand.  Many dispute this, and too many calculate yields on just the rent, which is bad accounting.  Vacancies, taxes, repairs, commissions, fees.. it does add up.  Using airbnb for monthly seems fine.  My neighbor did similar in Phoenix with a golf course condo.. made it all inclusive and furnished, double the normal rent, and said he didn't care if it was vacant during the death heat low season.. It cut potential maintenance calls in half.  Turns out a few stayed six months, and it even got booked in the summer months by people from Honeywell on business in the area.  One guy did use the fireplace without opening the vent.. But otherwise, he had a clientele that was mostly better than the yearly renters.  OTOH, I simply bought a hotel REIT at 18 us per share and get 12 cents per share monthly div, like clockwork.. without the lice and diapers.