DavidBrook

Anyone got any good ways to find someone in True Move that actually has a ounce of business sense?

No.

That's what I feared.

And, sadly, expected.

D

Sometimes in this life you can't believe your luck, sometimes you just can't believe your eyes.

On Friday all my emails started bouncing, the quote was that the MTA had a poor reputation [for spamming]. According to what True Move later said, CS Loxinfo backlisted True Move network addresses. So did Hotmail. So did Yahoo. So (unbelievably) did truecorp itself (I have some friends who, like me, are dumb enough to deal with these people).

It took me 3 hours to find anyone that even understood the problem. AN IT help desk and nobody knew what a refused email was. The call centre staff asked me to forward the bounced emails to their truecorp email address so they could have a look at the messages. Unbelievably, these also bounced with the message that the MTA had a poor reputation etc etc...

True corp had blacklisted itself.

Unbelievable, even for Thailand.

Overall investment in getting this sorted out - 6 hours of my time. Result - nil. Nada. Zip. Too hard. And of course, they never, ever allow you anywhere near a manager so you can righteously complain. No sir, no way. Thai-style management.

Anyone got any good ways to find someone in True Move that actually has a ounce of business sense?

D

Hi there

Anyone got Macspeech.......what d'you think?

I'm in CM. Anyone know where I can get it without sending off a lot of $ to America and hoping I don't get Alzheimers before it arrives?

thanks John

I use Macspeech. I used Viavoice and Dragon on the PC, and though Macspeech is not so feature-rich as Dragon, I personally prefer it and have found the voice-to-text to be faster and generally ore reliable. Probably the Phillips engine.

D

Your location ?

BKK, sorry - should have said.

D

perhaps I have been unlucky but every bank I have been with manages to completely foul things up. Are there any banks in Thailand with more than the average Thai competence? Tried BAY, tried SCB

D

This is often a topic of conversation with westerners - if Thailand is a Buddhist country why do they have the death penalty?

It is because Thailand is not a Buddhist country. It is a country that *says* it is a Buddhist country.

D

I posted on the 23rd of Sept in the Eastern Thailand Forum on more or less the same subject and have not had one response

And that was also the reason for my post as I posted a few days ago and got one response.

Although I have probably decided to settle in Chiangmai I was interested in Rayong as I found the VIP condo seems reasonable and is accessible.

I do not think my reply was unreasonable.

Many thanks to all those who responded, your opinions were well received and I appreciate your help. You too Harry, have a great time in Chiang Mai - a bit hot for me and a bit of pollution but it is a great place.

D

Thinking of moving from BKK to Rayong or somewhere close to it. Anyone who lives there can tell me what it is like as a spot to semi-retire to? Probably looking to buy a decent condo too, something nice with sea views and 1 or 2 bedrooms. How much should I expect to pay?

All advice gratefully received.

D

Thinking of moving from BKK to Rayong or somewhere close to it. Anyone who lives there can tell me what it is like as a spot to semi-retire to? Probably looking to buy a decent condo too, something nice with sea views and 1 or 2 bedrooms. How much should I expect to pay?

All advice gratefully received.

D

I have a car with some scratches and dents left by careless drivers in car parks etc. I have had what seems to be an outrageous quote from the Peugeot dealership here (it is a Peugeot car). Nearly choked on my coffee.

Anyone have a suggestion for a good quality but reasonable panel shop near Srinakarin Rd?

Thanks for any suggestions.

D

Hard to believe, but apparently true, some people actually get sucked in by this.

D

A valuable insight into the psychology of a Thai. Listen up because this is invariably the case.

Thais do not treat loans and gifts differently if the money is obtained from a foreigner. They figure you can afford to lose it more than they can, so get some whistling practice...

They wont feel any embarrassment about defaulting either - for a Thai, possession is 10 tenths of the law and owing money is not a concern if they figure you won't break their legs or kill them (as their own countrymen might well do).

Work within this simple rule and you won't get disillusioned. And remember that should you get ripped off by a Thai, you are not allowed to say they have no integrity or that they are dishonest or anything. 'Tis agin the rules to say that. Definitely. They get all upset and don't understand your attitude.

D

Just had an email from my (new) Thai accountant. She says that a VAT invoice I claimed is rejected because (get this) the supplier missed out one line in the middle of the registered address of my company and I did not notice it at the time.

Anyone else had a similar problem or is someone taking the piss out of Johnny foreigner?

Are people *really* this anally retentive here?

D

Perhaps I should re-phrase.

What do you all consider to be the best risk/reward ratio investments in Thailand at the moment?

Cheers,

D

Keep your one mil in cash David - in a safe, accessible form. Save your question for your second + mil.

Thats good advice. Actually it is the 2nd mil I am thinking of. Thanks for the sober advice.

D

Newin Chidchob

Newin to be probed over Food Exports Lab Scandal

An investigative committee was appointed by the Assets Examination Committee (AEC) yesterday to investigate 53 individuals, including Newin Chidchob, former Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister during the deposed Thaksin administration, alleged for corruption in the Central Lab project to control food exports’ quality.

Newin Chidchob, a banned former Thai Rak Thai party executive was alleged for abuse of power while in office by illegally directing the establishment of a selected company to run the project.

The banned politician along with 52 other individuals were found involved with vested interests in the Central Lab project, leading to numerous irregularities being discovered in the establishment of the organization to run the project, bidding process and contract terms, along with the procurement of laboratory equipments.

Reportedly, the structure of the organization which ran the project was changed from public to a limited company, considering projects ran by private firms will not be subjected to government regulations.

The panel’s findings concluded that participated politicians in the project had intervened with the overall project’s management to avoid being controlled by state rule.

According to AEC spokesman Sak Korsaengruang, the 53 accused include politicians, company’s executives and directors, along with officials from various organizations which participated in the bidding of the project.

Newin’s abuse of power and his misconduct had violated Article 10, 11, 13 of Offence involving State Agencies’ Bidding Act (1999), Article 84 of the Criminal Law and Article 66 of the National Counter Corruption Commission Act.

The project was launched and approved by the previous administration of deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2003 without any feasibility study to determine whether the project was worthwhile for investment.

During the project implementation, certain branches of the company in question had purchased high-priced laboratory equipments to monitor seafood’s quality, but the equipments had never been used since the branches’ locations were far off from the coast, leading to decreasing demand for the services by their customers.

However, the committee discovered that the contract terms were drafted to favor certain bidders of the project, especially Sitthiporn Associates and Vichitchai Thonburi, who won the 1.6 billion baht concession to construct the laboratory and purchase relevant testing equipments for the project.

- Thailand Outlook

Insofar as Thailand is concerned, this guy is poison. The antichrist. The sooner they bang him for a very long time the sooner Thailand will be able to get over the consequences of his thievery and shit-stirring. 2 satangs-worth.

D

How about investing in bar...seems to be a good business model in Thailand, considering the number of Farangs who have opened or want to open a beer bar... biggrin.gif biggrin.gif

I think the OP was after a bit more serious answer..

What country are you from? , as an amount of 1 million THB could be entered into a fixed 5 year Bond with around 9 % APR

i agree that the OP would want a serious answer and not one generated by wet dreams like 9% APR

Serious question, serious answer appreciated. I know it isnt a fortune - I already have cash tied up in real estate in BKK (big worry). I am from UK but was really looking for advice on bonds of funds in Bangkok. What I know about this is the square root of bugger all, so advice would be welcome.

Anyone in BKK getting reasonable returns on bonds/funds?

please define "reasonable". next questions are: bonds or funds in THB? funds comprising bonds or funds comprising shares? personally i don't see any reasonable returns on any investment in Thailand

Perhaps I should re-phrase.

What do you all consider to be the best risk/reward ratio investments in Thailand at the moment?

Cheers,

D

How about investing in bar...seems to be a good business model in Thailand, considering the number of Farangs who have opened or want to open a beer bar... biggrin.gif biggrin.gif

I think the OP was after a bit more serious answer..

What country are you from? , as an amount of 1 million THB could be entered into a fixed 5 year Bond with around 9 % APR

i agree that the OP would want a serious answer and not one generated by wet dreams like 9% APR

Serious question, serious answer appreciated. I know it isnt a fortune - I already have cash tied up in real estate in BKK (big worry). I am from UK but was really looking for advice on bonds of funds in Bangkok. What I know about this is the square root of bugger all, so advice would be welcome.

Anyone in BKK getting reasonable returns on bonds/funds?

D

*won't be buying a bar...*

I have a million or so baht which I think ought to be working harder than it is. What is a good, reasonably safe investment (funds etc), what kind of return could I realistically expect and who should I go to?

All advice gratefully received.

D

Can anyone help with this please? I have been told by the accountants who look after my book-keeping, that after I submit my accounts to them (typically a ledger listing supported by copies of invoices and receipts), that they then prepare the PND and Social fund returns and then submit everything (including receipts and invoices) to the government to check.

This seems unlikely to me, even allowing for the usual level of anal retention and paranoia in LOS, but the person who told me this assures me that all foreign companies must submit returns and supporting copies of invoices and receipts for reviews by a government officer.

In which case, the opportunity for industrial espionage in Thailand would have to be huge would it not? Given the level of corruption and dishonesty in the Thai bureaucracy (not a worry in my own case the business is very small). So I am pretty sure that what my advisor said cannot possibly be true.

Anyone know for sure?

D

I have been with Standard Chartered for a while (Sathorn Branch), but even by Thai standards they have been remarkable incompetent. They 'lost' my account, they 'mislaid' a 120,000 bt transfer, they gave bank transaction details without establishing identity, they never returned calls etc etc. The list goes on and on.

After management said 'they would look into it... <blah blah>' and then the money mysteriously appeared in the account the next day (with no explanation), I think it is time for me to move. I honestly dont feel safe leaving my hard-earned there any more.

Anyone had good experience with a bank here that I can think about?

D

Hi y'all. I hope this is not the wrong forum.

I need to change book-keepers; I run a small and easy to account for business and need a Thai book-keeper to lodge VAT, Social Fund and With-holding tax returns each month. Good English would be handy 'cos my Thai basically sucks.

Anyone know of a good person to talk to?

Cheers,

D

From where in Thailand?

Cheers.

Sorry, should have said. must be BKK, helpful if local to eastern suburbs (Pattanakhan, Srinakarin etc)

D

Hi y'all. I hope this is not the wrong forum.

I need to change book-keepers; I run a small and easy to account for business and need a Thai book-keeper to lodge VAT, Social Fund and With-holding tax returns each month. Good English would be handy 'cos my Thai basically sucks.

Anyone know of a good person to talk to?

Cheers,

D

I am looking for a book-keeper to do some very basic end-of-month stuff for my small company. VAT returns, with-holding tax returns, social fund payments appears to be all that is required. Anyone know of a little old lady in her sitting room somewhere who can do this for me cheaply?

Dave

[email protected]

Need someone to do what I am no good at - marketing. Happy to look at flat fee or percentage,, and probably should have done this earlier. Msg me if you can market my company services.

D

As with all these things, good professional legal advise is a sound investment. Use someone who is familiar with the things you want to do.

Leaving a company dormant still means it has to file tax returns and be audited every year, no great advantage having it set up until you are ready to go ahead with your plans.

The shareholders of the 51% of your company are entitled to a share of the dividends similar to shareholders in other countries. Your shareholders may also have to show how they could afford their shares. The proposed foreign business act that did not make it through parliment before the election had a lot to say on this matter. It may or may not be revived with the new administration.

If you are looking to purchase property with a 49/51% share register, you may run into problems with the land office in some areas.

As the rules are subject to change depending on the direction of the political winds it is good to keep a good relationship with a competent lawyer and accountant.

Fully agree. I went with Sunbelt (Andrew Langley is the guy I dealt with). By and large they did a great job and only a couple of glitches, which probably boiled down to the things I didn't know about which maybe they thought I did. Or maybe I didn't listen closely enough, who knows? Recommend you call them.

D