PingRoundTheWorld

Agreed and understandable, but processing fees for domestic debit cards is minimal at %0.55, domestic credit cards %2-2.5, and internation credit cards %2.8-3. Why they insist on charging a whopping %5 extra which is above and beyond their fees is a mystery. (well not really - it's just greed). I just use cash or QR payment with such merchants because there's no way I'm padding their bottom line beyond their fee cost. Really annoying practice that DOES break their merchant agreement (they do say they are not allowed to charge extra to use cards - they just ignore it). https://www.kasikornbank.com/en/business/sme/financial-services/collection-solutions/pages/edc.aspx

And that's before you account for the fact that most electricity that charges EV comes from fossil fuels, so you're not really significantly helping pollution either. The only way it might be greener is if you have a solar/wind/etc charger and used it instead of the grid - which owners don't do.

Even if this were true (which I'm not sure) - how do you think Visa/MasterCard would get the baht needed to settle the accounts? they'd have to exchange foreign currency to buy the baht. There isn't some magic where foreign currency is magically turned into baht by the CC companies - they'd have to buy (exchange) currency to have local funds to settle.

And the Yen circling the toilet down 40%... Might actually bring some production back home there, maybe.

Again with this lie. These are "on the books" numbers, but the reality is that the majority of tourism spending isn't on the books. Anything from street vendors to tuk tuk drivers to hookers - these constitute a massive chunk of the economy that isn't "on the books" because nobody reports it. What tourists spend in hotels and reputable establishments isn't the majority of spending - nightlife and other unreported income is. In reality Thailand's GDP is probably more like 30% tourism, if not more. If you have any doubts - just look what happened during Covid when there was no tourism - millions unemployed back to their villages, richest province in the country (because tourism!) - Phuket - on it's knees, basically a ghost town. Manufacturing is nice, but there are cheaper options for that (Vietnam, even if we ignore China) so it's not the future of Thailand - nor should it be. Thailand should aspire for tourism and higher tech as a future, not manufacturing. Of course they won't, but that's another story.

To be accurate: a Thai man saying the girl said the foreign man assaulted her is the only evidence that we know of. It could very well be that the Thai man himself did it and trying to pin it on the foreigner. Also it could very well be that the police have DNA or other evidence that they haven't announced to the public. The word of a third party who didn't witness the event himself should definitely not be enough to convict - hopefully they conduct a proper investigation for DNA etc.

Again with this bs? Pattaya has never been and will never be a world class family friendly destination. Amazing that there's people delusional enough to believe this. And as far as pissing in the water - who cares? people do it all the time, just in the water and not out. Fun fact: the smell of chlorine in public pools is not actualy chlorine which is odorless - it is the smell of piss in the water - even a little goes a long way to get that familiar scent.

Getting "shocked" by open display of affection in Patong is like getting shocked that there's gambling in Las Vegas. Tourists literally go to Patong for the debauchery, it's not the beach they come for.

What's wrong with a little sin? As long as everything is consensual and everyone is happy - it's all good. Your wife and her boring "educated" friends can stay home - Pattaya does not need them.

What is there to commend? the guy broke several laws and karma hit back: 1. Working illegally (streaming is work). 2. Not paying tax on revenue that was sourced in Thailand 3. Driving a vehicle without a driver's license. 4. Driving without insurance. 5. Driving a vehicle he does not and have never had a license or experience with (just like a regular car license doesn't qualify you to drive a truck). Arrest and deport. Thailand does not need the kind of "advertisement" these YouTubers provide. I could be wrong and he has a work license, drivers license, and insurance - but somehow I highly doubt it.

You're clearly living in an alternate reality. Just two nights ago I saw an Arabic guy being dragged out of a restaurant after starting a fight. Not sure what happened later as I was just passing by but there was definite violence. Just the other day there was a report about a group of them knocking out a guy in front of Marine Plaza. You're delusional if you think it doesn't happen. No- not all of them are violent. Sure there are some who keep to themselves. But violence around that area is pretty common. That it doesn't always hit the news (though it does in extreme cases) doesn't mean it's not there. I pass through there on a regular basis, so I've seen a few incidents, they're just not serious usually so don't hit the news.

Probably not completely true. I'm sure some money exchanged hands anyway. However you're right- beyond her word there is zero evidence of a kick so it's his word against hers. The video he took shows him rushing towards her and she jumping up - but it does not show a kick. More likely he accidently touched her with his leg so she thinks he kicked her and he's convinced he didn't. I'm not saying he's a nice guy - the way he spoke and the entitleness are disgusting - but being a disgusting human being is not illegal and there was no assault here.

Nothing money can't fix. If he has enough money to get out of this situation - which he apparently does - he has enough money to buy a different type of visa. TiT.

Why are you assuming the current administration is concerned about sequential visa runs? the military government and immigration officials they appointed had a stick up their *** about it, but historically there was no problem doing sequential border runs indefinitely before the coup, and Thaksin always wanted foreigners (money) coming in AFAIK.

That's actually a good change from the current system where an IO can deny you based on how they feel today. I suspect the people checking these applications will be a bit more liberal in approving them, unless an actual official quota is declared. It's really the IOs that made up all the unwritten rules "come too much" - it's defined anywhere in law or rule.

Literally LMAO. Good for him and **** that b****. Paid it off no doubt, but that was not an "assault". It was a an entitled butthurt b**** trying to use connections to get revenge for something that really did not need revenge.

Oh wow! Thanks for the laugh I needed that! What are you on? there are news reports about them misbehaving on a regular basis, and when you walk around Marine Plaza it's impossible not to see (and hear) them on their big bikes. They are violent (mostly towards other Middle Easterners, less common against other nationalities but it does happen too), they are obnoxious, and I'm pretty sure intimidating tourists and locals is illegal too. Reminds me of Saudi Arabians in Dubai - every weekend they flood the place and cannot handle their alcohol. Seen a few dragged away by security just in one night.

I knew a few sons of in Tokyo - they had diplomatic passports and basically did whatever they want. Whenever they got into trouble they would simply ring up the embassy who sent a car and driver to pick them up, and since the embassy is essentially a different country they were protected legally no matter what they did. To be fair though - they weren't very violent nor seek out violence - they just wanted to get drunk and party and were generally cool guys. Nothing like these thugs who I'd be guessing do NOT hold diplomatic passports - probably just criminals and/or European Arab mafia. These gangsters love to come to Phuket and intimidate everyone around them for fun. Might even be the same people.

In Bangkok and other tourist-heavy areas - sure. But this won't have an impact on property prices in Isaan etc. Anyway I do agree Chinese shouldn't be allowed to buy out locals, but they can and do illegally circumvent the rules (buying in a company name or with a Thai as the owner). There's nothing they can do to stop it without actual enforcement and harsh penalties - which they don't do usually.

There's a special place in hell for people who produce fake alcohol. They are guilty of murdering several people, and making life a living hell (permanent kidney failure, blindness) for many others. They deserve the death penalty, not 6-12 months in jail. These clowns deliberately used methyl alcohol instead of distilling safe alcohol. The proper punishment would be to make them drink methyl alcohol until they die.

They have them on camera. Arrest and deport. Anything less is a joke. Do your <deleted> job already, Pattaya police!

I literally said nothing about taxes. But yes- I'm pro lower taxes for everybody. Taxation is theft.

What reputation? a cessepool of the world's worst tourists vs overpriced tuktuks, expired hookers, and scammy venues? Patong is truly one of the worst places on earth in so many ways. It was fun during Covid when there were no tourists, but on normal times...ugh.

Please don't settle. This is exactly the kind of clown that needs a time out in prison to learn that actions have consequences. Then deport this turd.

Why do you need an explanation? Benevolent men supporting the local economy in Isaan, countless herds of water buffalo, single mothers and their children and their mothers, and sometimes even gambling-addicted drunk husbands needs no explanation - it's good to give back to the world! Two crisp notes at a time! To be fair though, I don't do short time. It's extra long or it wasn't meant to be.