sweetchariot

a paid witness

doesnt the "paid" part usually affect a person's credibility? especially if the person have vital information that will affect the case.

No. Because most of the evidence is in a PC that she owns. It is her right to keep it and does not have to tell her part of the story if she doesnt want to. Thats why they have offered her money. It happens all the time in most big trials.If you cant get a legal document stating that she has to come to court then they offer money.This is not the DA's office, but the accused legal team.

All seems a bit weird to me. Surely if she has crucial evidence then she would be required to attend??

Why are you worried about her rep? Something you're not telling us?

If she's moving over here with you then her rep in the US is irrelevant really.

I had to testify in quite a big trial in the UK just after I moved here, by video link. It was quite fun actually, and the tosspots who nearly killed my mate got just what they deserved thanks to my testimony. Never worried about my rep when doing that.

Thanks Sweet chariot, where can I get a copy of the new escrow?

This is a cut and paste from a previous thread where I first learned about it. Don't have an official source I'm afraid, but google 'escrow thailand' and I'm sure you will find it. Sadly it's not compulsory yet, and it sounds like only a few (if any) will sign up to it any time soon - but still a good bargaining chip.

Escrow Business Law

24 March 2008 | The new escrow business law was enacted by Parliament on 21 December 2007 and comes into effect on 19 May 2008. The law is intended to protect buyers and sellers of real estate from possible fraud and deceit through the services of a neutral third party who holds funds, property, or legal documents for disbursement once certain conditions are met as instructed by the buyer and seller. An escrow service provider can provide services in the areas of reciprocal contract, contracts for purchase of homes, condominiums, and land. In property purchases, the escrow service provider is responsible for overseeing that payments for purchase of property are made according to schedule and as specified by the conditions under the escrow contract. In the event of breach of contract, such as the seller cannot complete the project as stated in the contract, the funds held by the escrow service provider will not be disbursed to the seller and can be returned to the buyer.

It is not mandatory under Thai laws to enlist the services of an escrow service provider. If the buyer and seller wish to avail themselves of an escrow arrangement, a contract with the buyer, seller, and escrow service provider as signatories will be needed in addition to the contract between buyer and seller.

The details are as follows:

1. The escrow service provider must be a financial institution, a commercial bank, or a financial company.

2. The escrow service provider must have received authorization to provide escrow services from the Ministry of Finance.

3. The escrow contract must be signed by the buyer, seller, and the escrow service provider.

4. The escrow service provider must be a neutral third party and have no connections to buyer or seller either directly or indirectly.

5. The escrow service provider must open a bank account for the parties to the contract with a financial institution.

6. The property, funds, or legal documents held in trust by the escrow service provider must be kept separate from the escrow service provider's personal assets.

7. For escrow property agreements, the escrow service provider must inform the Land Department that the property comes under the escrow agreement and that transfer of ownership is not permitted until the escrow service provider provides the department with a written notice authorizing transfer of ownership. The department's official must make a written record to that effect.

8. In the event of disagreement between buyer and seller, the escrow service provider must not transfer funds or property to either party until the parties come to an agreement or under order of the court.

9. Once the funds have been transferred from the escrow service provider's account to that of the rightful owner and the escrow agreement comes to an end, the escrow service provider must close the escrow bank account and inform the parties immediately."

Had to read the whole OP just to find out what the hel_l a G-Club is.

me too

I still don't know what it is

I think (but I could be wrong) that he means a gogo.

Every day I am confused living here, it's part of the attraction I reckon

"Really? Are you a real estate agent by any chance? "

Nope. I bought a condo 4 years ago, without reading the comments of horror in ThaiVisa. Since then, my condo has appreciated considerably, and I'm very happy with my decision. BingoKoko, and others, have claimed that the weak baht would destroy the Thai real estate market. Then, the oversupply of condos would destoy the Thai real estate market. Then, the strong baht would destroy the Thai real estate market. Then, the coup would destroy the Thai real estate market. Then, the 30% witholding would destroy the Thai real estate market. Then, the US real estate market would destroy the Thai real estate market. Then, the US bank situation would destroy the Thai real estate market. Then the falling bourses around the wrold would destoy the Thai real estate market. Every prediction that bingokoko and others naysayers have been wrong.

Actually, the naysayers have missed the boat, and they are upset that someone might be making money. Regardless, the Thai real estate market will be OK with them, or without them.

I understand where you are coming from, but you have to realise that we are facing a global recession the likes of which have not been seen for nearly 40 years.

I too have done well in the market over the last 4 years, but have recently liquidated all my assets as I can see what is coming. These were investment properties, not 'lifestyle' properties, and I agree with the previous posts that this should not affect the OP's decision to buy.

Zorro, if you are buying off plan, then make sure the developers have signed up to the new escrow laws, even the big developers are going under at the moment.

My UK bank allows me to transfer up to £5,000 per day by telephone, no agreement has ever been signed.

Obviously this will vary from bank to bank, but in this day and age shouldn't be too difficult to set up.

Yeah I get the same - Little Britain has alot to answer for!

Luckily all my close friends and family have been over to see me, and realise that I don't live in a brothel.

JoSky - I don't think all western women are nags etc, I just think they have different values and priorities. Every Thai women I have met cannot do enough for me, be it household chores, gardening, sexual etc. etc., whereas in the UK I was expected to do everything, as well as being the breadwinner. My father summed it up nicely on his recent visit, he compared the Thai culture to the British 50 years ago.

Anyway, on a side note, what is the attraction of Thai men? They can't grow proper beards, and allegedly all have small todgers (I only know this from my first visit here when I tried the local condoms, which I couldn't actually get on).

Peace.

This is obviously a troll - 1st post and all.

If it's for real the answers are already above, if she didn't have a husband/ bf then she would be all over you like a rash.

Move on. To quote one of our illustrious admins, she has already had more pricks than a second hand dartboard

josky,

i was having a dig at you but when i go back to the uk for a couple of weeks i get it all the time off women,when they know i live in Thailand.i could be living on my own in a remote village with a gay guy but they always refer to me as some sad git who cant have a realtionship with a british woman. Far from being nagging old bags i have not got a preference as to my choice of women,as long as they are not killers lol,and i would never entertain going with a young woman here for sex,even though the temptation is great i would feel horrible after.My first experience of a thai woman was back in the uk but found out she was married and he was impotent and she was nuts also,so why did i come here to live lol.

No you wouldn't

You are correct, the land transfer tax has been reduced to 0.01% to try and boost the ailing housing market. You will also be liable for 0.5% stamp duty, and if the vendor has held the land for less than 5 years they will be liable for 0.11% business tax (which they may try to offload onto you).

You will no doubt find that the %age you quoted is an annualised rate, don't expect that return for 3 months. Also they have probably compounded it, but will pay you simple interest.

You should have a form (which is generally translated) with a tick box to either roll it over at the prevailing rate, or deposit back to your savings a/c.

Kasikorn will open you a 'savings' account with just a passport. You get a visa debit/ atm card and online banking. The debit card is no good for online or telephone transactions, but it's a start, when you get your WP you can get them to open a current a/c for you.

Seen that happen before, but unfortunately the farang lady in question - wasn't the sort of lady you would want to watch.

This one was definitely worth watching. I would have tried to save her had I been without missus chariot

I don't think it is a regular occurrance, as the Rusky did seem quite pissed, and the majority of the Thai girls were not happy in the slightest about this girl stealing their thunder.

I am not a regular in gogo's, but last night was my birthday so I was dragged to a few.

Just checked with the missus, apparently it was Happy a gogo.

Funnily enough about an hour later we saw her 'partner' (who was looking at her with daggers at the time) staggering up walking street with a British guy that I know

I switched from CAT to TT&T about 3 months ago, and it only cost 100 baht. Tell them you heard from a friend about their 100 baht promo.

The only foreign women I see in Pattaya (without foreign husbands) are lesbos, which is great IMHO. Only last night we were in a gogo and a Russian girl ended up on stage naked, getting a good muff lickin from the thai girls.

I think I'm a lesbian...... .

Why don't us rugby hooligans get a mention. We drink far more than the footy thugs could ever dream of.

I've been to Ibiza, Mallorca, Costa del Sol etc as a young lad, and it seemed that unless you acted like a <deleted> you weren't accepted.

As I said before, these idjuts don't come here as it costs more than £99 for a week's package deal.

On the other hand I have met plenty of middle aged British tosspots here, normally getting pissed with their Ausie or Kiwi mates.

We are the kings of pissheads in Europe, but certainly not here. I have met more Thais who can't handle their beer than Brits. Luckily Yanks can't fight very well without guns, so we don't see too many of them after 11pm

"I personally see this region suffering a lot more pain before things start to get better and that includes the housing and currency markets. "

This mindset has been the mainstay for the Thai real estate for the past decade, and it is wrong.

Really?

Are you a real estate agent by any chance?

First step is go to the TOT office nearest you and ask. They will tell you if there is a line available in your area. Then you can find out how much. Depending on your location ADSL may or may not be available or work reliably.

If you are renting then the owner is the only one that can apply for a line.

I would ignore the above.

Decide which ISP you want first, unless you want to go with TOT then they will not use their line, and will install a new one (which bizzarely will still be billed through TOT).

A tenent can get a line in their name - I have....twice.

I go into the bank and have them use their machine ? to withdraw large amounts (up to 100,000) only 1 transaction fee and I found the fee is less than when you use atm outside the same banks front door, for a single withdrawal. This is a withdraw from a bank outside Thailand.

Well if you are using non Thai banks in the ATMs here you will get stiffed with a huge transaction fee, and a crappy exchange rate.

Edit to add: for all you Nationwide lovers - Nationwide do it for free, but still shaft you on the xc rate.

I've found a solution, which is to minimise the attachment, then right click and close. Still seems a bit weird though.

The vast majority in Thailand are limited to 20 notes, some 25.

I was amazed one day to be offered a max withdrawal of 10k, which was all in 500 notes. After checking with the bank the next day they confirmed the above.

Never seen a british football hooligan in Pattaya - seen plenty swede, finnish, german and russian muppets though!!

I don't think their budget can stretch to the airfare these days, thank <deleted>.

If Kamman Po was being pursued by the BIB along Thappaya Road, on foot, broken bones would be involved!

Amazing Thailand indeed, it always surprises me how little the locals complain, many businesses along this road must have been ruined or at the very least seen there trade reduced substancialy, guess they know there is no point complaining?

Yeah a friend of mine (UK) had a small restaurant up there, and one day they turned up and started digging up his front terrace/ seating area. No warning or explanation was given. He lost about 7-8 metres of tiled, raised seating area, and the whole place was in such a mess he was forced to close.

This was over 1 year ago, and he has still not reopened, the unit is now on the market a a vastly lesser cost than he paid for it - no compensation was forthcoming.

He seems to think that Thai business owners where compensated for loss of land/ trade, but as a farang you might as well just walk away and chalk it up to experience.

As everyone knows Farangs cannot own businesses here, they must be at least 51% Thai owned.

Tosser.

Of course it was owned through a Ltd Co, do we really need your help?

Oh so it was one of those illegal companies then? Like the ones where 'Farangs own land"

Companies owning land are deemed illegal as they are non-trading, or shell companies, which have been set up purely to circumvent the land ownership laws.

A trading company is perfectly legal if you have the share ownership set up correctly, and are paying tax on the company profits.