stevenl

Agree with the remarks about Slater, he really has no clue.

Excellent race from Alonso, Hamilton is losing it (or himself maybe better). Looks like a race between Button and Vettel this season, Mercedes unknown as of yet, but doubt they'll be able to match Button or Vettel.

In Rawai we have our own well, in Kata at the shop though we are dependent on government water as well. And the last 2 weeks it has been on and off there.

I don't care what other countries do. I have never mentioned any. But if they approach you in a public place, there has to be some burden of proof that what you are carrying was brought into the country by you. Just having something in a bag in a public place isn't enough. If that is how they do it at BKK, then it is a stupid way and prone to situations where someone can reasonably argue that what is in their possession isn't subject to excise.

"Burden of proof" pshaw - You obviously have no clue about how things operate on the ground in Thailand. The only purpose of "laws" here is to allow officials to line their pockets by arbitrarily "enforcing" whatever catches their fancy. Imagine the government being run by the mafia and you'll begin to get the picture.

Whether you've actually broken any "law" or not isn't relevant, simply how much they want from you, you're willingness to hand it over, and your realpolitik power and willingness to use it relative to theirs. Mess with the wrong people and they'll get back at you in a way that you never have any idea where it came from.

Farang die or disappear here all the time and rarely are the true reasons known by anyone except the perpetrator.

Do you really believe that the more you repeat your words they are slowly becoming the truth?

I don't think so Steve, they clearly tried in vain to manipulate them and denied they even had that option in their contract and the OP was then forced to take their complaint to the authorities to gain some leverage and finally did but, if not, the insurance company would have been very happy to screw them, I'd say that categorizes them as "dodgy" in my book and he should protest with his feet to another insurance company. Let them feel it where it hurts, in their wallets and he seems to have enough business with them to get some attention on that front.

Op make sure when you do make your changes that they understand why so it doesn't go unnoticed and don't just tell the agent either, go to the top..

Could have been easily an updated list of 'preferred repairers', while the policy stated the old one. Of course the police is valid and they should honor it. But calling a company dodgy over that is IMO way over the top.

They tried to screw him and he had to go to Comsumer Affairs to get the right outcome.

I guess your definition of "dodgy" and mine differ.

Regards

Will

I'd have to agree in this case Will, I'm not sure what would define "dodgy" to you Steve?

Dodgy would IMO be if e.g. what happened here is company policy. And maybe it is, but it could also simply have been an mistake.

Flying, it depends on models, but Ford quoted me June for the 3.2 Wildtrak.

Chevrolet quoted 1 month for the 2.8 LTZ71 4x4.

Toyota had Vigo in stock but won't let you test drive.

I have yet to take a look at Isuzu.

2 months at the moment for Isuzu.

On both of my visits to Phi Phi I witnessed drug use and casual violence between both Thais and foreigners. Not my idea of a fun place to be.

Phuket has plenty of lovely spots...my only real complaint would be a lack of trees on the beaches giving little to no shade. Oh and the traffic....

Glad to hear you feel that way.

Plenty of trees and shade at Kata Beach.

Another happy tale from the cesspit of Thailand. The island is full of every lowlife type imaginable, both foreign and Thai.

Don't change sides, last time you meant Phuket with 'the cesspit'.

Had problems with AIS Edge/GPRS today in Rawai. All ok again now.

Yes, balancing should do the trick. I had exactly the same with a motorbike, at 140 k/h they started vibrating, at 160 it was over. Balancing and all ok again.

So they tried to send you to their preferred service center, you wanted to go to the one you preferred. Yopu were in the right and got what you wanted.

'dodgy' and a boycott seems a bit over the top here.

I don't think so Steve, they clearly tried in vain to manipulate them and denied they even had that option in their contract and the OP was then forced to take their complaint to the authorities to gain some leverage and finally did but, if not, the insurance company would have been very happy to screw them, I'd say that categorizes them as "dodgy" in my book and he should protest with his feet to another insurance company. Let them feel it where it hurts, in their wallets and he seems to have enough business with them to get some attention on that front.

Op make sure when you do make your changes that they understand why so it doesn't go unnoticed and don't just tell the agent either, go to the top..

Could have been easily an updated list of 'preferred repairers', while the policy stated the old one. Of course the police is valid and they should honor it. But calling a company dodgy over that is IMO way over the top.

So that's why you're so bitter. Your parents spoilt you too much and you did not have enough character to motivate yourself to get out of that.

Where on Phuket are you staying?

I would not worry about getting charged for damage you did not cause, as LIK has said, make some photos and you'll be fine.

Also, theft (or scammed theft) is a far smaller problem IMO than sometimes suggested, but a more realistic issue than getting scammed for damage.

"is a far smaller problem" - so, the "problem" exists. Your advice is to "roll the dice." My advice is, DON'T DO IT. Do not rent a bike and ride here. You place your health and safety, and your financial well being at great risk.

Starting to look like you're following me. Any thread, any answer from me and you'll quote me and contradict.

they wont answer. As i keep saying all they care about is their little beach life with chang and motorbikes. The hell with the kid's future and safety.

As you can see he takes my comments as insults. They're not insults unless you know you're doing something terribly wrong.

Yes, it's a good life. However, that life was made by working in the west, on western money. Try making that life here, from age 18, earning the Thai baht.

No, it was not, that life is being made here by hard working.

You're lowering yourself to thailand's level with remarks like this.

I'm always happy to listen, and learn, from other points of view. Having said that, tell me, where, and what, do you see you kids doing at 18, after finishing school, and why?

I see the oldest one going to university in Bangkok and ending up in some kind of technical profession. Mind you, he is still only 4, so really hard to predict. The other one I really don't know yet, only 3.

But I do have the feeling at least one of them will return to/stay on Phuket.

Why? Sorry, that question is impossible to answer.

"Technical profession. Where? Phuket, or overseas?

You really think I can answer these questions for a 4 and 5 year old?

The oldest may end up a motorbike repair guy somewhere on the island.

So they tried to send you to their preferred service center, you wanted to go to the one you preferred. Yopu were in the right and got what you wanted.

'dodgy' and a boycott seems a bit over the top here.

I used to drive a 4WD here, but have changed to 2WD. I was hardly using it, and when using it it was more 'I have it, so I'd better use it'.

Where on Phuket are you staying?

I would not worry about getting charged for damage you did not cause, as LIK has said, make some photos and you'll be fine.

Also, theft (or scammed theft) is a far smaller problem IMO than sometimes suggested, but a more realistic issue than getting scammed for damage.

they wont answer. As i keep saying all they care about is their little beach life with chang and motorbikes. The hell with the kid's future and safety.

As you can see he takes my comments as insults. They're not insults unless you know you're doing something terribly wrong.

As usual, you really have no clue.

And yes, of course I see your remarks as insults. Last week, or 2 weeks ago, you were complaining so many of your posts are being deleted by the mods. What do you think the reason for that is? Because you are such a reasonable, well argumented poster?

I'm always happy to listen, and learn, from other points of view. Having said that, tell me, where, and what, do you see you kids doing at 18, after finishing school, and why?

I see the oldest one going to university in Bangkok and ending up in some kind of technical profession. Mind you, he is still only 4, so really hard to predict. The other one I really don't know yet, only 3.

But I do have the feeling at least one of them will return to/stay on Phuket.

Why? Sorry, that question is impossible to answer.

Are we agreeing on the same thing????

The kid has to move, no, MUST move, for either tertiary education, learning a trade, or to earn a decent wage. That's been the theme to my posts, in both threads, the whole way along.

I don't see 15,000 baht per month as a decent wage. Bar girls are making more than that in salary and lady drinks, without even shagging anyone.

I'll say it loud and clear. THERE ARE NO CAREER OPPORTUNITIES ON PHUKET FOR 50/50 YOUNG ADULTS. Maybe this is why we do not see any here, at all.

Yes, I think we agree, we just come to totally different conclusions. I e.g. disagree with your shouted remark here.

I must also agree with some of the others here, in that I find it very strange that you are commenting here on the schools and quality thereof on Phuket, without having any clue about the schools here on the island.

You obviously didn't listen to my shouted comment. Education appears fine here, if you can afford it. No object from me about that - but I must clarify that I am only talking about good International Schools here.

The point I'm trying to make is, what happens AFTER that education. If the child simply enters the work force on Phuket, after school, they will earn 300 baht day, maybe more teaching english, or diving, but they are hardly "careers" and are not well paying by western standards. Backpackers perform this task, just to be able to stay in Thailand for 1 year. They are not careers.

I listened to your comment, unlike Thailand's insults and profanities, but I don't agree with it.

its also crazy how the road death and hospitalization #'s dont scare any of you with kids. Theres no way you wont have your teenager get on a bike or car very often. Teenagers still do not have every part of their brain completed, no matter how you teach them life, they still do not understand consequences because the part of the brain is still developing. Their chances of being crippled or dead is what? 600%-1200% higher than back home? Dont really think looking for statistic is needed and they are probably off by a lot since its shameful to thais and thais do not like to be shamed.

Who says people with kids are not scared of that?

I know I am, my biggest fear is the kids being involved in accident.

Are we agreeing on the same thing????

The kid has to move, no, MUST move, for either tertiary education, learning a trade, or to earn a decent wage. That's been the theme to my posts, in both threads, the whole way along.

I don't see 15,000 baht per month as a decent wage. Bar girls are making more than that in salary and lady drinks, without even shagging anyone.

I'll say it loud and clear. THERE ARE NO CAREER OPPORTUNITIES ON PHUKET FOR 50/50 YOUNG ADULTS. Maybe this is why we do not see any here, at all.

Yes, I think we agree, we just come to totally different conclusions. I e.g. disagree with your shouted remark here.

I must also agree with some of the others here, in that I find it very strange that you are commenting here on the schools and quality thereof on Phuket, without having any clue about the schools here on the island.

I speak to lots of tourists and am at the airport very often, at least once a week. Big signs with prices everywhere, and many people touting limousines. So yes, anybody who pays 1300 Baht or something like that is really not looking at any of the signs and simply agrees to the first price mentioned. And those ridiculous prices will only come up after they have passed the airport limousine stand inside.

What would happen if that same kid moved from Europe to Thailand?

for education? Why would they want to do that?

That is not the point.

perhaps tell us where you are staying on Phuket ,maybe save you some gasoline

Probably he is home again, a 7 year holiday does not happen that often.