Liverpool Lou

Proven guilty of what and in which cases?

I know you don't but that's your issue, not mine.

Coming from someone who hasn't set foot in Thailand let alone drive here. That's true...but only if my last 29 years of living here and being a driver in Bangkok, the south, the north east and the north are ignored.

Maybe if all the drivers are not in cahoots, illegally refusing to use their meters, but they're not all doing it.

Which ones? Hearsay...again?

Still open and in business.

Since when have massage/sauna businesses been illegal in the UK?

"...it was unlikely they were being held against their will". You need to read up on what constitutes human trafficking, there's more to it than that.

The people on the other end of those phone numbers would be the ones to tell you!

So true, after a long drive in Thailand I will get out of my car and realize that I am just shaking in fear. Driving in Thailand is a horrible experience. From your comments it appears that you two shouldn't be driving, either, if you're of such weak constitutions!

If that's what you think then you shouldn't be on the road, either, she was driving in the wrong direction,

She's done that already.

Doing their job? Yes.

Interesting take on it, so if someone calls you pretending to be the IRS and asks for money but you reject their offer, they aren't considered scammers? Is it like that saying where if you bang a ladyboy but don’t get banged it’s not gay? "...if someone calls you pretending to be the IRS and asks for money but you reject their offer, they aren't considered scammers?" No, obviously, they would be scammers because they'd be potentially taking your money on false pretenses and you'd get nothing in return. That's a scam. The taxi drivers offer a ride for a set price and the passenger gets exactly that, you may not like the fare but it wouldn't be scamming. If the driver doubles the agreed price on arrival at the destination, that would be a scam. "Is it like that saying where if you bang a ladyboy but don’t get banged it’s not gay?" No, it's nothing like that. What have your sexual proclivities got to do with taxi meters?

Buy it in his dad's name and will it to the son. That is very straight forward, as is opening an account in his name and giving the debit card + PIN, and internet log on details for the bank. Did I mention that it was straight forward, yes, I do believe I did, so what's your straight forward solution ? And if he doesn't want it in his someone else's name? Your "solution" is not straightforward, at all, and I did not say that I had the solution...just as you don't.

"I hire an agent (where?) and he goes to the bank with me and now the rules don't apply?" Yes, that's it. They're (discretionary) rules, not laws.

It's probably not that I'm just saying if it's the banks policy to require a non-O and letter from immigration (like for BKK bank in Chiang Mai) and you hire some "agent" which skirts the the rules you could face problems in the future. "It's probably not..." "I'm just saying..." "you could face problems in the future". SOP here, speculation.

Where is that stated?... "Qualifications and Required Documents Open an account with only 500 baht... Opening a New Account Required Documents For Thai nationals ID card or any government-issued photo ID card with 13-digit ID number For foreigners For more information, please contact any Bangkok Bank branch. https://www.bangkokbank.com/en/Personal/Save-And-Invest/Save/Savings-Account

If they meet the documentation requirements! Your link does not provide the current requirement as it used to do.

for eg. not so long ago some 55 fake Student Visas were granted to certain tourists, who then were able to prove residencey and open bank accounts and obtain licences etc...that's how! What? What laws would a bank be breaking by opening an account for a real tourist visa-holder? That was the question.

"My son would like an account here because ... maybe buying a condo" So when he needs to use the account (in a third party's name) for the incoming international transfer (condo purchase in his name) the transaction for his condo purchase will not match up with the bank details. That should be very straightforward, then.

Nonsense. No Thai banks restrict the amount of incoming international funds to their customers' accounts.

Absolutely.

"I don't know". Exactly.

He does if he wants one.