Andya18

Here's the update and ALL replies were appreciated. The price Siam Legal asked for a quoted 5 hours work was 32k baht. After serving the builder the demand letter the builder phoned Siam Legal and said he has done nothing wrong and if I go ahead with court proceedings he will appoint a lawyer and fight it! My lawyer (a junior partner in the firm) advised me it might be better to seek a cheaper and more local lawyer to save on taking this to court. To add insult to injury the lawyer demanded an additional 32k baht for additional work! He advised me after 2.5hrs that there were 2.5hrs remaining for translating the demand letter and serving it but not that it would go over by another 5hrs! I also asked for the junior partner's credentials to practice law at the beginning prior to engaging the firm and rather than providing his license no. or details of the qualification he seemed offended by the question. I've heard nothing since after my complaint. Seems they are after the easy money. As for the building the quote to finish and repair is another 200k. To proceed to court will start at 250k and as one of you mentioned no guarantee any assets are in his name. An honest character would have buckled at receiving the letter. He's clearly a seadoned criminal. The additional late penalty fees now far exceed the total build cost so no court will award such an amount and damaged are decided by the court. Faith in humanity? I had very little to start with!

Where do you begin if you have a dispute with land or substandard building works? If you bought goods or services and the builder has run off with your hard earned money? Can the local police help you? Do you hire a law firm? 

I am in the middle of such a dispute where a nearby builder took the money and just walked away from a relatively simple job. I should mention there was a signed contract in place which he supplied and we added our own protection including late penalties. The payments requested at each completed stage meant he got all but 34k baht far too early (due to a misunderstanding with my wife). I initially only wanted to pay 30%  up front. There is now considerably more than 34k baht work to rectify the roof, install 4 large doors and frames and re-render properly inside and out! During his time on site he and his team (which left him after 2 weeks for some unknown reason) he was afforded nice hospitality in the form of refreshments. I sought lawyers in Udon Thani but as 3 different firms failed to respond I have now instructed Siam Legal. Most of the advice I have received from Thai contacts are to just let him walk away with my money. That is not going to happen with me! 

On a related note let me know of any builders and digger, tractor owners requiring a job in Udon Thani. The work is in Kut Mak Fai. Let me know what is the expected going rate for these services per day? Thank you everyone here ????

17 hours ago, AndyFoxy said:

So they do a hit and run, and then carry on with their holiday?

Looks like it!