parallaxtech

Just a suggestion: You might want to get your terminology correct. A pedophile is someone who has a sexual interest in prepubescent children (refer to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-IV)). There are many countries around the world where the age of consent is 14 years old (and some even 13): for example, see http://www.avert.org...of-consent.htm. Too many people simply throw around and use the term "pedophile" indiscriminately.

By the way, I agree with your comment about the 'heresay' issue.

JJ

If anyone reading this now were picked up by the BIB and paraded in front of a news crew because of hearsay evidence from some mother, could you prove you were not a pedophile? You might say that you are a doctor, minister, or teacher, with a good wife and several children, and they would say that the prisons are full of pedos that fit that description. So, before we burn this guy at the stake, place yourself or a friend in his position. Hearsay evidence and witnesses are easily bought in Thailand. Evidence should consist of pictures, or video, and/or a rape check kit. Again, would you want your life dangling on the word of a greedy mother? If he is truly guilty than he should serve his time. What worries me is that if word spreads that you can extort money from any farang just by filing a report at the police station, we will all be targets.

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JJ: Thanks for the comment. I use my opening statement as a hypothetical meaning if one of us were charged as a pedophile, not that this guy was. Most of us know the meaning of the word, but people like an easy label, even though sometimes incorrect, instead of saying "farang caught having sex with a minor," which is too wordy in a statement. Maybe a new label like minorphile or teenaphile might be better than claiming everybody who has sex with any person under the legal age is a pedo.

Yes, fact not fiction but read coldmikes post...he is referring to the Thai market and buyers whereas you are referring to the market aimed at foreigners, all the gated communities and developments out Soi 112 etc are not selling/renting and probably never will even if the prices are slashed by 50%...Totally different story with stand alone properties and condos....look at the Boathouse, 80% sold to Thais..In the center on Petchkasem, 30mil Baht condos sold out..to Thais..Land in Cham is selling like there is no tomorrow but its all to Thais, just take a look in Cha am land office, its packed everyday with buyers/sellers.....3 plots opposite me just sold for between 4-6mil...to Thais..The Life on Petchkasem is almost sold out..to Thais yet Ban Tawan targeting foreigners has hardly sold any in over 3 years. 1.5 Rai on the beach a few hundred yards from where I live has just sold for 50mil...to a Thai...it makes sense that with a few hundred tousand foreingers and yet over 65 million Thais that the best market to target is the domestic...

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I live on Koh Samui and can tell you that 99% of the Thais live in a 3K/mos apt with ten others. The only Thais I know who can afford the prices you mention are mainly the mafia, police, and gov't officials. Seventy-five percent of the island was already purchased by farangs, but sales have probably dropped 90% since 2007. However, developers are still building all over and Thais are asking 20% more each year for land. A Thai who has inherited the land can simply wait until one day a gullible buyer arrives. Many farangs facing financial hardship have lowered their prices drastically in order to sell. Most farangs here with money will not buy from a Thai, so simply wait for a distressed property advertised by a farang.

Note: These are just my observations from living here for six years and figures are not documented, plus I am not involved in real estate sales, so maybe somebody has some non-biased real figures.

There is a bulletin board outside of SI, so it would be helpful if someone posted this notice on it. I'm sure it will be removed, but if it gets replenished maybe we can at least slow down this extortion racket. Why not make it more difficult for them to swindle us?

The last time I used DHL I bought a pair of shoes off Ebay and DHL charged me 125% of the declared value. I argued with them for two days and finally told them to return them,

I just bought a used diving watch off of Ebay and the only way the guy would send it was FEDEX. My question is if they charge me 125% should I argue with them? Do they have the flexibility of adjusting the price or will they just say to take it or refuse it?

They may get blown out of the water, because the Thai Navy has sent two gunships to hunt for pirates. ****Boom**** You blew up the Greenpeace!!!! Sorry, I thought is said Green Pirate :jap:

If anyone reading this now were picked up by the BIB and paraded in front of a news crew because of hearsay evidence from some mother, could you prove you were not a pedophile? You might say that you are a doctor, minister, or teacher, with a good wife and several children, and they would say that the prisons are full of pedos that fit that description. So, before we burn this guy at the stake, place yourself or a friend in his position. Hearsay evidence and witnesses are easily bought in Thailand. Evidence should consist of pictures, or video, and/or a rape check kit. Again, would you want your life dangling on the word of a greedy mother? If he is truly guilty than he should serve his time. What worries me is that if word spreads that you can extort money from any farang just by filing a report at the police station, we will all be targets.

[Thanks for the info Crusty. I have just sent them a letter re their Samui office and complained about the charges for Visa's.

The site said they would respond, so lets see how long it takes, if at all?

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Keep sending them. I and my associates have sent letters to agencies in the US Embassy (State and Justice), the British Embassy, Bangkok Immigration, Bangkok Post, Channel 3 Thai, NY Times, Guardian, Times UK, Reuters, etc. This is the only thing I can think of doing. If anyone has a better solution please post it.

He went to a lawyer afterwards who asked for 20K to handle it next time. Then, he went to a visa fixer who wanted 30K to process it. When he went back to ask for a refund, he advised them that he was an ex-federal court judge, and would like to see where the visa fees were printed. They handed him a piece of paper written in Thai, but they wouldn't let him have it or take a copy of it. It was probably a tally of how much baht they had taken off of stupid farangs. Ask any Thai what they would do if they went into a government office to pay for a license for 1900B and they were charged 5,10, or 30k. The answer is that they would get thirty Thais and burn the place down. They are very aware that farangs will do nothing, so why shouldn't they continue their criminal enterprise???

[ The latest twist in the Hotels guests report lists for which we were fined B10,000 last week, I find now, that the Immigration website has been down for three weeks and all the hotels can do is keep their logsheets until it comes on air again. If this is the case, what are my chances of getting a refund ? Today still unable to log in !

Mayor Crusty: SI doesn't give receipts, so methinks your chances are the same as they would be if you wanted to buy one rai of land at a reasonable price from a Thai!

An 85-yr-old retired judge on a retirement visa was talking with me last year saying how nice the people were at SI as they always smiled at him when he paid the 30K for his extension. When I told him the fee was only 1900K he looked like he was having a coronary. I saw him two days later and he said that he went down to SI and asked for a refund on the overcharging for the past six years and they said, "No problem, just show us your receipt."

If my friend's experience is anything to go by - take a good book.

He went to renew his retirement visa this year (about the 6th renewal). He was asked for 5,000 baht. He told them that 5,000 baht was a mistake - it should be 1,900 baht (or whatever the real price was). They made him wait 6 hours. He got the visa for the correct price though.

Good on ya! Each time someone pays 5K or more it raises their confidence level and allows their criminal operation to continue. Just pay the standard 1900 and hold your ground. Some might just say TIT, but when this topic was on the open forum it became clear that Samui IO was the only one doing this. All the others have their fees posted and even warnings not to pay over 1900B.

And I always take a book.

As you are leaving the Chaweng PO on the ring road heading towards Lamai go about 1.5km and you will approach a gas station on your left there is a dry cleaners with a sign "Dry Cleaning" on the right side. It is not too far from Ohm Motorcycles and on the same side of the road. I have used them many times with good results.

Pedophilia and incestual relations have been a part of Thai society since before the time of Buddha. Just google these topics to see how endemic they are to Thai society. The only thing that is different now is that Thai authorities have determined what a huge cash cow it is for them. Police don't make arrests unless it is profitable or politically favorable, hence few if any Thai arrests, but many highly visible farang arrests, even though farangs probably make up less than 1% of crime against Thai children. And who do you think runs the child prostitution rings?

What scares me more than anything is the witch hunting taking place. Any farang is a target. If the police grabbed you along with a small child and paraded you in front of a camera, could you prove that you were not a pedophile??? I suggest all farangs be very careful around children here.

What about all the regular cars blocking the Tesco front parking lot that exit out the entrance road at high speed and harass everyone coming out of Tesco? They have no taxi shirts and their vehicles are all makes and they shout "taxi" to everyone and then follow them down the road if they refuse. I see only a sticker "Samui Dragon" on the back window, which much be the local mafia. I'm sure that the Taxi Mafia would not be happy with them unless they were part of the same group. You would think that Tesco management would tell them to get off their property or pay rent. And, by the way, don't you need taxi licenses with proper taxis and uniformed drivers?

Samui Immigration has been discussed on several threads -- just search "Samui Immigration" or "Nightmare with Samui Immigration." These people are criminals, scoundrels, scum, whatever negative label you want to put on them. All the embassies know about them and articles have been written about them. They must have someone very high up protecting them or they would not be operating with impunity.

The one-year extension is 1,900THB as indicated on the TM7. I know several people paying 30K and standard is 5-7K. If you put the 1900 on top of the form in an envelope they will probably make you wait a little longer and probably will insist that you pay more, but if you stand your ground and smile, you might get by with it. If they ask for more, just say that you don't want reentry permits. I did exactly that last month and got my extension.

While I was waiting I heard Mr Nut (manager there) threatening a farang that he would deport him if he didn't give him 30K. So, it's really a personal decision, but just keep in mind that they are mostly bark and no bite. It doesn't cost them anything to bark, and it makes them an absolute fortune!

For those who might find solace in a song...

Don't get my posting wrong. I'm not complaining about the high prices I just find it amusing. Especially the Thai selling to Thai. We are always told they just try to have the Farang over.

The Thais think it is funny, but most farangs find it highly offensive. One rai of coconut view in Lipa Noi would probably appraise at 100K (but sell for around 1M) and the house probably cost (Thai hiring Thai) around 1M to build, but nobody considers appraisals here. Hang any price you want on a house -- it's just a matter of how long you wish to wait to find a buyer.

It's the same with building a house here. As one Thai builder said, "Why should we build a house for 4M and have you sell it for 8M, so it will cost you 8M to build." I just took bids to build a 4x8m pool at my house and one guy quoted 6.5M. When I told him I could buy a house and pool for less than that, he quickly said ok 3M. Am I the only one here who has a problem hiring people that appear to be escaped criminals?

Citibank IPB..all ok provided you are not a US citizen...they seem to get a bit jumpy opening accounts for US citizens

I am a US citizen living in Thailand. Any recommendations on banks in Singapore or HK with good interest rates for a cd or savings account?

I order a few things a year off of Ebay and have never had a problem with the Chaweng PO until recently. The Ebay sellers will not send things registered so there is no proof of delivery. I see cameras inside the post office, but it seems to me that it would be very easy to steal things. I have ordered two more items off Ebay so I will see what happens. Would it do any good to complain to the manager?

My house is in my name and the land is in the company's name. I just heard that if you sell your house there is a 30% capital gains tax whereas if it is in the company's name you just transfer ownership of the company or close the company without incurring the cg tax. Is there any advantage in having a house in your own name?

40 pence to make the call, but afterwards the mafia waverunner guy will demand $15K because you scatched it!

Saw also three different Hummers V3 within two days on the island, a red, yellow and grey one for whatever it's worth. These had Thai license plates, not a very cheap car in the LOS.

Probably owned by Samui Immigration officers

Contact Sergeant Pop (1155) at the Tourist Police. I worked with him for six months and he is the only honest copper I have ever met on Samui plus he speaks perfect english. With a police report I would then go down to the prosecutor's office near the new courthouse south of Lamai. These thugs are all bark and no bite.

This exact same thing happened to a friend of mine six months ago and he decided to leave the island. It's more common than you know.

I wouldn't try and use your m/w oven, washing mashing, etc. The low voltage is extremely bad for these items. I'd unplug them for now.

Matt.

Matt: Ok, thanks, I will. I am just wondering if anyone else is having this problem. My elec was going out for one hour the last few days, but when it came on it was on at 220v.

My electric has been off and on the last few days, but now I have about 110v. Does anyone else have this problem?

Where are you on the island? 110v is a nasty voltage for 230v devices!

I know at the moment at one of my sites in Lamai (the golf shooting range behind the temple) the voltage is still down a lot, probably around the same reading as you're seeing. The voltage is down enough to start the UPS's running and drain them, however there's enough voltage to power things in my friends houses, lights, fan, etc. A low voltage like that is very bad, god knows what it's doing to the compressors of fridges, etc!...

Matt.

I am in Chaweng on the mountain. I was just guessing on the voltage. Lights and tv ok, but m/w, oven, washing machine are barely working. Does this sound normal?