Irene

At the Land Office. There is a standard form of 30 year lease that a land officer could provide.

Some of the comments do illustrate my earlier point about taxpayers not wishing to pay the costs of situations like this. If people are concerned or wish to help, just contact the hospital and the German Embassy and ask what you can do. No point in posting how much one is touched or "feeling" that they will help if one doesn't dig into the wallet.

Last year there were a number of incidents involving UK and Australian nationals suffering serious injury on Phuket. The local UK and Australians had fundraisers. It is up to the local, large, german community in Thailand to take the lead on this. Until someone does, there really is no point in tut tutting or pointing fingers of blame at the government. Nothing is stopping Mr. & Mrs. Schmidt from reaching out.

I found the name of the organisation: "Deutscher Hilfsverein". Founded by a former German ambassador to Thailand, the purpose of this organisation is to help Germans who got in trouble through no fault of their own and can't get themselves out. Examples in their brochure show medical cases, like this one. They get their funding from the German expat community that you mention. It appears that even Germans are human, who would have thought.

If this organisation doesn't help, there is more to the story than we've learned from this thread.

Well searched. I bet there is no organisation for British expats like this German organisation. My hat to former German ambassador, you really do have heart unlike many of the heartless contributors of this thread.

Hi,

I live in Samut Prakarn and work in Bangkok. Samut Prakarn compared to Bangkok is not even another town, it's another province... Really.

I live on Theparak Road, near the ring road. My office is on Sathorn, near Surasak. I would never even consider Sukhumvit to go back and forth; every morning the g/f and I take the ring road to the Bangna-Trad expressway, then we go all the way to Bangna and pass Bitec we jump on the other expressway, exit to follow Dao Khanong (after the port, before Rama 4 exits), follow for Rama 9 then exit at Sathorn. It takes 30 minutes on a very quiet morning, more than an hour - an hour and a half on a rainy Monday morning (30+ Km). Toll boots cost 65 baht one way. The same ride by taxi (including expressway tolls) costs about 300 baht. Evening ride is the same, opposite direction.

Not really my ideal location, far from that, however that's where the g/f insisted we move because her parents live nearby.

Happy commuting!

I live near to km 8 Bangna-Trad (Smuthprakarn) and work near to Queen's Convention Centre. Going up on Cholburi-Bangna expressway linking with Bangna expressway, it takes me 15 to 30 minutes. The secret is being near to the entry to the expressway. On the way back, I have to take Bangna exit and cruise along the Bangna-Trad road, it could take 30 minutes.

I used to live in Sathorn and it took slightly more time than when in Smuthprakarn. The beauty now is the break from town and yet take less time travelling when living in town though having to pay toll fees.

'WinnieTheKhwai'

Thank you and no apology is necessary. We live and learn from each other that is the beauty of this forum.

I can only assume you know this particular person.

I do not know this person but I have been facing this type of questions from first-timers in small businesses so often that the answer is so simple and proven to be effective. That is not to do anything in a big way at the beginning such as incorporating a company etc. or having a fancy name of a company hung up or trade name of any sort to gratify one's sense of grandeur. Be humble and low-profile at the beginning by testing your toes in the water first. One will learn the right way. Talk to similar traders before ever talking to any tax advisers. When you need a tax adviser is the time when your business is flourishing and then can use those advisers effectively. Don't forget that these advisers never have done any profit making business and know less than those hawkers and street food sellers on how to deal with tax matters.

I will always remember the name of this hospital and the lady involved:

Songklanakarind Hospital in Had Yai,

Sukanya Panthomrawee, head of the hospital's patients' rights and entitlement division.

I will also remember the German Embassy having so far not having lifted a finger or am I missing something?

Indeed, but please DON'T travel without travel insurance.

Preaching in the desert though

Embassies are here to promote their country, NOT to help citizens in distress.

Now I know the meaning of harshness!

Forethat,

Well said, Sir

iko,

You are right on the spot. Why then have a consulate office? Why then warn citizens not to visit a country when in danger? The health and welfare of the citizens should be its concern not only shaking hands with Foreign Minister and ambassadors of other countries.

WinnieTheKhwai

Completely incorrect? Your answer is based on all traders know and follow Thai tax laws completely. The number is a minority of the population who comply with the tax law.

We are similar to many countries in which effectiveness of tax collections by government officials is weak. There are a large portion of population who should have filed the tax return and paid tax but haven't done so and get away with the lapses. Believe me, I have been in the loop of Thai tax law and environment for decades. I do not write somethings that I have no knowledge of or even half of the knowledge.

There's no shortage of German websites that have picked up on the story now, so hopefully now that it is out there in the public, it can be resolved quickly:

http://www.abendzeit...e/bayern/209575

http://www.sz-online....asp?id=2550123

http://www.infranken...koma-63223.html

http://www.wz-newsli...e/?redid=930230

http://www.op-online...oma-901423.html

http://www.tz-online...oma-901423.html

http://www.ovb-onlin...oma-901423.html

plus quite a few more

This is most encouraging and helpful as compared with the previous post. Thank you!

I will always remember the name of this hospital and the lady involved:

Songklanakarind Hospital in Had Yai,

Sukanya Panthomrawee, head of the hospital's patients' rights and entitlement division.

I will also remember the German Embassy having so far not having lifted a finger or am I missing something?

When he is caught or when he needs evidences to show that he is a taxpayer! In the meantime, he bets on his luck. That is usually referred to as underground businesses.

Irene, you raise a point I wondered about. How does the bank know when to freeze all the accounts of a deceased person? There could be time for a joint account holder to clean out an account before the bank is notified.

But, we don't want to count on the survivor having enough time to do this immediately upon the death of a spouse. After all, the survivor probably would have other things to do right after the death of a spouse and may possiblity be injured, out of the country or otherwise incapable of going to the bank. Besides, we each have accounts in our own name for the retirment visa requirements and I don't think one party can close out the other party's account.

NancyL, this is a practical situation when banks are afraid to be involved in legal disputes with any potential benficiaries for not freezing a subject account soon enough. Therefore, if they know of the death of one party, it is their routine to freeze the account immediately. Normally, banks are not looking out for anyone's death unless through graphvine or publicity or being innocently informed by the party.

If one has a joint account and can be withdrawn by either person, then you do have time to issue a cheque to cover almost all the sum for depositing in an individual bank account.- effectively transferring from a joint account to an individual bank account. Effectively, no account is closed. This practice is meant to avoid the survivor from being short of money when it is most needed and not a sham so long as the diversion is not in conflict with the intention of the Will.

tijnebijn,

Your cautionary stance on Thai lawyers for inheritance matters is well warranted. Amphur is the best. It is their official duty to render this service with no favour or prejudice.

It is good of NancyL to describe her experiences and has prompted me to do the same when all the time I knew that this is the best course.

Irene, you may wish to meet with your bank branch manager and discuss what happens to your joint accounts in the event one party dies. Ours said that the joint account would be frozen until either a Thai Will is presented or the Thai courts were able to rule on our foreign Will. It's a good idea to have a copy of the Will on file at the bank. That way, there's no question about the Will being valid if the beneficiary arrives at the bank with the original Will after your death.

NancyL, I have a different view on relationship with Thai bankers. My joint account can never be closed upon one's death because the fund will be trasnferred to one spouse's single bank account on the day of the unfortunate demise. So my cash will not be frozen. Getting a court's order is time-consuming. You now give me an idea of having to write up step-by-step for those left-behind to do. I don't mind waiting for a court's order on change of name on my titled assets but not on cash. I have seen so many sad cases of ultra-caution of bankers in demanding a court's order all the time not satisfied even with a Thai Will. My relationship with bankers is close but not that close for them to inconvenient me.

You are one step ahead of me on Amphur Wills which is a must for all to do. It is simple and cheap. It is closest in having a notarised will. Even better, the notary is a government official who is most neutral. I now have to start rolling on this one. Just like other forms of wills, one can change one's mind at any time and better still with records officially kept leaving no room for dispute on which will is the latest.

I thank you for sharing your experience with us. It has now caused me to initiate the steps.

NancyL

Thank you for your first-hand information on the subject we are pondering of doing.

We already have our joint bank accounts everywhere where either of us has the authority to withdraw. We do not think we need our bankers to get involved with our will because one of us can operate the accounts any time. But if we both are unlucky and have to leave the world at the same time, then by going through a district office as already carried out by you would be a help and the copy of that will could be kept in a safe or left with a close friend or the family's lawyer. (Ours is intended to be kept in a safe and known only to both of us. Though this does not cover the risk of our demise at the same time. But we have left a hint with our kids of the existence of our note book used daily in tracing the movement of our assets).

Our intention could be spelt out clearly in the will officially made at the district office. It is well-known among Thais that this is the most reliable and least disputable means. Bankers and lawyers are not necessary. Lawyers are required by the beneficiaries when the ownership of land and stocks of the deceased have to be ordered by a court to be changed to the beneficiaries. With an official will, the cases as known to us were simply processed at the court's level and not much lawyer's fees involved and no dispute has been known to us.

I am certain that our plan is not cast-iron but seems to us as rather practical. I welcome any observation of this plan.

Facing east is best. Morning sun is more bearable than afternoon sun. Lighting is the same in either side. Both are bright all day. It is either too bright and hot or bright and comfortable. West side has more hours of uncomfortable bright.

Just to congratulate you on your patience in waiting and also thank you for sharing with us your experience in which both of you seem so pleased.

I really admire you two. For many others, the experience would have brought out sarcasm on the"inefficiency" of the immigration office. It is a good example to follow and enjoy our stay here.

By the way, that stamping is in Thai. Thais would have taken the wordings lightly like a parking offence. But if it is translated in English, it would not be that complimentary. So keep it in Thai.

Travel & Leisure is based in New York, owned by American Express, and does these polls every year. The poll was done before the recent demonstrations in Bangkok. The mag has 4.5 million readers. The polls are voluntary for readers to respond and are totally unscientific. Actual numbers are never published -- only a resulting score. These polls have a long history of wierd and distorted results. Among this years interesting results : in Europe, Krakow is rated ahead of Paris in South Pacific ( include Aus and NZ ), the top 10 has only 5 results.

That being said, congrats to Bankok and Chiang Mai

Thanks for the source. Scientific or not, 4.5 million readers with voluntary voting, being top and second is still impressive. One would not care to vote if one has no liking of any cities. The only that the citizens should not be overjoyed is the poll was before that dreadful events in April and May. I like very much to know of the result next year.

Thanks! But where is the place? I love to take my family once in one year and not every week. We have to watch our weight.

Slightly off topic and out of town, but I always chuckle at the Big C mall in Pattaya which seems to have recently re-named itself "Central Center". You can't get any more central than that!

Oh, and in Dubai they've got this new attraction in the man made lake outside the world's tallest building. It features an amazing series of giant, synchronised fountains (actually worth seeing if you're ever passing through). They had a competition with a prize for naming the attraction. Guess what won?

Yep. The Dubai Fountain.

That's a good one- so bland, unimaginative and perhaps not a nice omen considering Dubai's financial problems!

Coming down from MBK passing National Stadium, the first side road on the left. There are shops making football shirts specifically for each team. I think they can also meet your need.

There are shops along Bantadthong Road serving your requirements. It is the road next to National Stadium.

I presume others in your condo are suffering too.

First, ask your condo's management to do something. I live in a gated community and had the management to contact a district office and got an official warning issued to the property owner for possible legal actions (after giving a friendly hint of knowing our right to pursue anyone for derelict of duty).

Second, the community's manager contacted the police head of the district to question on why they allowed for such a disturbance (a message of suspicious bribe) and giving a hint (not a threat) of their duty of having to do something to keep peace (leading them to think that the manager knew of his legal right in accusing the police at the administrative court of derelict of his duty - only a capable Thai can do this without threat and with a smile).

It has now quietened down. With those actions, we have implicitly made known to all that we will act for any unwarranted noises of any kind even against police and area district office. Few know this that a district office has the duty of maintaining livable environment.

In your case, the management should also contact the University's rector seeking for his sympathy for your sufferings (at an extreme level etc.) and bad for the name of the university if things turn out to be a public issue. The students may not be aware of the disturbances they have created and a rector is normally vested with power of penalising students' grade.

Considering in contacting the operator of the joint whether he will be sympathetic to your sufferings. Ask a Thai to find out the likelihood of success at the early stage in asking him to lower the volume. We had our security guards to ask them to reduce the level and turned out to be a cat and mouse exercise. I am not optimistic of this phase-one approach but at least it is worth a try earlier in creating firstly the sense of guilt for the operator.

It is like a war game. If you have to accept this, then prepare for the reduction in your property value and the loud noise would eventually end up as a norm. So, your chance of success depends on the dynamo of your manager.

We do not know how far we can protect our right of peaceful living but we will not go down without doing anything. Fortunately, we have an enthusiatic manager under guidance of many wise residents to make things right.

Hmnnn....So far I read about a Brit, a Dutchman and an Aussie apprehended. I'm starting to wonder why the Yanks aren't representin'

Because they know their places!