samtam

so far I'm not too thrilled by Krungsri......

firstly they told me that we (my wife & I) could only have one ATM card on our joint a/c - something they later saw sense on & reversed the policy......

then they claimed (& still claim) that we can't have internet banking because we have a joint a/c (why? I wonder)

lastly, of course, one year after the takeover, the minimum a/c balance requirement kicks in (I'm not clear on whether it's 2, 3, or 5MB) if you wish to maintain so-called "Exclusive" status (the benefits of which have so far escaped me). With HSBC "Premier" a/c status was automatic as long as you qualified for it with an a/c in another country.....

So HSBC's claim that customers would not be in any way disadvantaged or inconvenienced by the deal looks, from my point of view at least, to be very shaky indeed. I think they were just relieved to get shot of the business.....

Glad you got the ATM card sorted out for your joint account. We didn't have a problem with that, or with getting internet banking for the joint account. Didn't you do the account transfer with your HSBC relationship manager?

I agree, the terms of service will change after 1 year, and I think it's THB5m per person (for a joint account that's pretty hefty). I do not intend to take up this offer, and it does indeed stuff up the Premier Relationship that was afforded us previously by virtue of large deposits held within your HSBC branches overall. I have no intention of having so much THB doing bugger all. HSBC is not exactly a name to conjure with at the moment with all their compliance issues in the USA, and the hounding of its previous chairman, Stephen Green. But then again, no bank really is, and HSBC does have the edge on a number of its services, and if they weren't up to scratch I could always get satisfaction. I am hugely disappointed they have closed here, (and in Japan too), where they were the first bank aswell. As a shareholder I do of course understand the need for this change, but it is sad that banking has lost its focus on customers, and because of its involvement in businesses it had no right to be involved in, we are paying the price, so obviously I don't think it's altogether a good thing. The share performance is pretty dire too, but so are most, in every sector.

Bit early to say, but my HSBC relationship manager has transferred to Krungsri in the same capacity, and she was great at HSBC, so I would expect the same. The systems at Krungsri are not as user friendly as those at HSBC - linked accounts etc.

No, Krungsri - (Bank of Ayuddyha), as of 30 June 2012. HSBC, Thailand's first bank does not see any merit in personal banking in the kingdom.

The fundamental question is –are the majority of the 75% happy with the output of the management process. Do you have happy co –owners?

If so then I can only suggest that you let sleeping dogs lie.

"Happy" within the context of Thailand, and Thais' reluctance to rock the boat. They are appalled by the behaviour, but given the prominence of the family, it is easier to say and do nothing.

Note : Committee members only have a 2 year term. That can be over –ridden if no other candidates volunteer. If you volunteer officially at a general meeting then your application must be accepted. If your inclusion takes the total number of committee members over the figure of 9 then an existing member must stand down. This will be that member with the longest service time.

Ideally at the next AGM you require 9 volunteers –then you can replace the entire committee (assuming that all the existing members have done their 2 year stint)

Tried that, but given the context...also many who might put their names forward do not because they are wary of ending up dealing with the same chairman.

I guess one of the problems is language. Given that we are in Thailand then use of the Thai language by Thai people is reasonable.

If you are the only native English language speaker then change will be difficult-probably impossible.

The Thais in the 75% will not want an all Farang committee. That said if the 9 volunteers are Farang then there is nothing that anybody can do about it. The 9 are in.

Yes, language is an issue and the chairman is on record (in writing) as saying he does not want any farangs on the committee because they do not speak Thai...and (essentially) "ask questions and do not accept his views without question"...I'm paraphrasing.

You say ‘and having their business adversely affected’

What business are you referring to?

Their running of commerce, trade etc within the normal context, (within which they have to trade with companies of the prominent family). It's an implied threat, rather like the mafia.

Perhaps you could detail symptoms of poor quality

more than one building manager per year, huge staff turnover.

maybe –dirty pool –lack of cleanliness –unkempt gardens etc.

But to sum up . If you have at least 20% of the co –owners who demand change and are confident that you can win a vote for change at an EGM(a winning vote with at least 25% of the total condo vote)and have an effective plan for the future –then it can be done.

Whatever you do ensure that you are not’ jumping out of the fire pan etc.etc.’

I have no confidence in winning a majority to oust the chairman whatsoever. Not because 75% of co-owners want it, but because they are afraid to make any concrete moves to effect it, for the reasons given.

No our system is a complete shambles. It is not atypical. The building was developed and built by one of the richest Thai families and they have always had a majority percentage of committee representation, (even if some of those committee never attend meetings and do not even live in the building), although their percentage holding of properties is only about 25%. Because of who they are, most of the other Thai owners toe the line, because they are fearful of upsetting the family and having their business adversely affected. There is nothing we can do to get a fairer representation of all co-owners. It is a sad reality of owning property here. The Condominium Act is quite lukewarm, and allows a lot of loopholes, and even if you wanted to argue the case with the Land Department, they would dither endlessly, (as they have for us), and they will inevitably bow to the poo yai. In fact I think it's the single biggest risk of buying a condo in Bangkok - you rarely know the full picture of other ownership, their character traits and their control over the system. Sometimes you can be lucky with a benign and intelligent person, but the member of the family that has been chairman uninterrupted almost since the building was built is not fully blessed with a full set of marbles, and the family are quite happy to let him run this condo as his toy, (to perhaps keep him out of the main business), and to give him face. He is now almost universally loathed, and is really rather a pathetic figure.

OP, the duties and responsibilities of the JPM are outlined in section 36 of the Condominium Act.

In well run Condominium's the Juristic Person Manager has no day to day job in running the Condominium, they are simply the legal signatory that carry out the resolutions passed by the elected Committee. i.e signing of a new security company.

The Condominium on a day to day basis will be run by a property management company like Savills, who will carry out the requests and wishes of the Committee. In most higher end condominiums, there will be two contracts, often with the same company. A property management contract, which will be for a management fee, and will typically include a cost for all the onsite management staff, and a second contract which will be a Juristic Person Management Contract. I would say it is very rare that a company like Savills would have an individual person as the JPM- it is more likely that Savills the comapny will be the JPM and they will assign one person to be the signatory on the companies behalf.

Delight, companies can be the JPM- there is no disqualification against this, in fact in 90% of new condo's i would say now the JPM is a company. It will get increasignly rare for individuals to be JPM's as there is simply no benefit and a lot of headache and potential legal problems with it.

The role of the Chairman is exactly the same as any other member of the Committee, other than he may get a casting vote in the event of the tie, and he has extra duties such as calling meetings. Look at Section 38 of the Act. Actually look at Section 38 (1) which basically says that it is the Committee who run the management of the Condominium.

Thanks. This is what I understood to be the case. Unfortunately our new situation is all a bit too cosy. The JPM was formerly an employee of Savills. He has succeeded in having Savills removed as the management company, (the committee voted for their removal because of his - the JPM's - close ties to the chairman of the committee). The new management company is run by another ex-Savills employee, the former boss of the JPM when they were at Savills together. The company is called First Pacific Harrison, but I don't think it has any affiliation with First Pacific. Has anyone ever heard of it?

Happy to report that the "no information available" tags have gone and the situation seems to be OK now. Maybe someone from True reads TV?!

From a couple of days ago "No information Available" is posted on the so-called TV Guide. Tried calling them, and there is a recorded message saying there may be problems due to their recent "upgrade" (!), but to just unplug the decoder and replug. Doesn't work, nor is anyone picking up the technical support line. SNAFU.

The JPM is not the Management company. The JPM is a person elected by the condo as Juristic Person Manager. The Management Company, Savills is not the JPM. Savills provide management of the building through a building manager and other staff.

Thanks. Yes, I did suggest that to him, but I thought someone might possibly have had some experience of transiting in Bangkok from international to domestic.

Thanks for your response Delight, but your answer surprises me. We also have a management company - Savills. Are you saying they report to the JPM? Surely the maanagement company run thec day-to-day operations of the building?

A friend who is visiting Thailand soon has asked whether:

If you fly into Bangkok international airport do you have to collect your luggage and then go to the domestic terminal to get flights to Koh Samoi ?

I am so out of touch with the procedure, but I suggested if he through booked his luggage, he would not have to transfer it himself. Can anyone with experience of this transfer procedure please advise?

Can anyone advise whether the roles of the JPM are clearly set out in a document, or provide a synopsis. Ours seems to be very involved in the day to day operations of our building, interfering, (along with the chairman of the committee), with the day to day running of the condo.

Similarly, are there any guidelines for the role of a committee chairman?

No. There is nothing like this.

The quality of bananas in Bangkok has been pretty poor lately - either overripe or green. In CFH they used to supply Dole bananas, but now seems to be a local supplier.

My virus control system ESET NOD will not allow me to open Bangkok Post website either, as of yesterday...('m in Bangkok)...

Seems to be some problem downloading from KAT today, but maybe because of the power outage in the USA. Anyone having the same...(not dowloading). Other sites are OK.

At least it's a polite request..."please be excused".

He could try The Samaritans

Thanks Mario. That's good to know. I might renew the passport in UK, (which I think only takes a few days, or in Hong Kong. Not quite sure how long for the latter location, but I presume it's not as long as sending it from Bangkok.

What about getting a new passport (in UK) with your Extension of Stay and Re-Entry permit in the old one. Can you do the transfers after re-entering Thailand?

I suspect this is more about proletariat people coming to Thailand, who have absolutely no experience of managing domestic help.

A maid should be treated as an extended member of the family, who needs just as much leadership as one's children.

Well, yes on the second part, a lot of communication is necessary. But a member of an extended family.. no. They're an employee. And indeed employees need leadership, respect, training, consistency in how they're tasked, etc.

Agree. Unfortunately it is very difficult to find a maid who has knowledge of basic housekeeping and all the aspects you would expect of a good employee. If they do have those, it is important to teach them the personal requirements of how you want the job to be carried out. If they can't incorporate those requirements after a reasonable time, then they are not capable of learning, or are unwilling to do so, and should be let go.

I am lucky to be blessed with one of the best maids I have ever employed. How excellent she is was brought home to me very vividly when she had to be absent for 2 months to look after her ailing father. For the first month we managed on our own, and the second we employed our neighbour's. I think the former experience was preferable to the latter. I showed the temp how I liked the beds made many times. She just couldn't get it. Happily my saint returned after 2 months, and my life was able to resume its normal pace.

Whilst I like my maid on a personal basis, and I dare say she might like us, I treat her with respect and as an employee. To treat her as a member of my family is asking for trouble. You wouldn't treat an employee in an office environment as a member of the family, so the same applies in this workplace situation. I've been lucky enough to have staff all my life, (growing up in Asia), and the golden rule is as I have expressed it, with the relationship clearly defined. The employee wants that definition too.

You're only allowed one bottle DF

For old computers and related IT items you might consider donating them to Human Development Foundation, a charity that supports:

orphanages, slum pre-schools, an AIDS hospice, and housing and home repairs for the indigent etc. Vide their website: mercycentre.org

They take other household goods too, but in the case of computers they have a team which re-uses old parts and sells on the repaired and usable computers, or uses them in schools etc.

It based in Klong Toei, but they will pick up. Check the website or give them a call: 0-2671 5313. (It's run by Father Joe Maier.)

Also, I use the nlink True router which is a pain in the derriere, (cuts out, and sometimes reloads with True's on web page, which makes me lose info I've had on the last page etc). Any recommended router models, (to run three computers) by wifi.

Any suggestions/recommendations?