artvarkk

I'm going to a town called Ye in mid-August. Not confirmed if foreigners are permitted to travel by land from Yangon-Moulmein-Ye and south to Dawei. Can fly to Dawei from Yangon, then travel by land north to Ye, but the last time I checked, there is a 'black zone' between Moulmein and Ye. Does anyone know if the restriction has been lifted?

I'm going to a town called Ye in mid-August. Not confirmed if foreigners are permitted to travel by land from Yangon-Moulmein-Ye and south to Dawei. Can fly to Dawei from Yangon, then travel by land north to Ye, but the last time I checked, there is a 'black zone' between Moulmein and Ye. Does anyone know if the restriction has been lifted?

It's been a while since a group of at least 6 Chalong plain-clothes
police officers have been on their rounds, fining foreign-owned
businesses for extraordinary amounts of money for petty offenses.
They're back! If you have a business in Chalong, Rawai, Kata, Naiharn or
anywhere under Chalong police jurisdiction, be sure you are following
all the rules. This week, at least 2 businesses in the Rawai/Saiyuan are
have been targeted for massive payments. One for 50,000 baht and one
for 40,000 baht. Although the owners had all their passports, work
permits, and business licenses up to date, the plain clothes policemen
took them to the Chalong police station (through a side door) and
demanded payment or jail time because neither had a Thai national on
staff at that moment. Both chose to pay, and both were informed that the
police group would pay a visit monthly to collect 2000 baht unless the
infractions were rectified.

The businesses were admittedly in the wrong, but the fines imposed were
shockingly high, and the penalties were far beyond what a small business
can sustain.


Area business owners... mind your Ps and Qs!

I added online service to my account. Best thing ever. When a withdrawal or deposit is made, I get an automated SMS message on my phone showing the amount. When I withdraw money from the ATM, my phone buzzes before the money even comes out of the machine!

I'm trying the yeast/sugar water method now. After 2 days, I've trapped a couple dozen fruit flies but no mosquitos. Maybe the 'skeeters here are different breed than the ones in the photo?

Thank you for your responses. The Thai company is her own. I have an appointment to see another accountant who, I hope, is more skilled at these matters than the accountant she has been using. I will print and bring the appropriate forms from the Office of Foreign Workers Administration that PoorSucker posted.

I have not gotten a clear answer to an issue I have now. My girlfriend, a foreigner with a valid work permit, wishes to change the nature of her work as well as the address of the business. She had a restaurant, and now wants to start a clothing shop. She will keep the same company name and continue to pay social insurance for her 4 Thai employees. The guys from immigration (mobile unit) paid her a visit and said that she needs to leave the country and re-apply at a Thai Embassy. To me, it seems a simple process without the time and expense of leaving Thailand. Does anyone out there have experience in this matter?

The bungalow structure will stay as is. No hard feelings or disagreements from either myself or my landlord (yet). I just would like to gather opinions from those who have knowledge of this type of situation before I even discuss it with the landlord.

Our agreement is that I pay for construction and pay a minimal rent, but when I am ready to leave, the structure is handed back to the land owner. I am only interested in taking a few 'attached' items with me... that I paid for: A/C unit, water heater, hanging lights and curtains.

Thank you all for your replies!

I paid to have a rental bungalow built, next to the house I rent, on the same property. Same landlord. I am ready to move and walk away from both the house I am renting as well as the bungalow. I equipped the bungalow with air conditioning, water heater for shower, ceiling lights, curtains etc.

My question is, can I take the attached items from the bungalow when I leave, or will the Thai landlord protest? I purchased all of it, and the landlord will have to replace these items if he chooses to. I have all the receipts for the items that I want to take with me as proof that I paid for it.

What are my rights in this case?

Beware the arrogance of the big banks, and the governments that are in bed with them. The proof was played out all around the world a few years ago. To act as if debt is not a problem... is a problem.

I wonder if they will ban activities for Mon National day too. After all, a fight might break out!

Good work! Go Thailand!

That's great news considering the evidence that Myanmar may be changing. Now we can hear from the cumudgeoned grumps in Burma too!

Thank you all for your opinions and advice. We contacted the HO and the company (a Thai company, by the way) offered to continue her policy without having to pay for last year. It is fortunate that she had no health issues during the lapse in coverage!

I would think that the company would contact a policyholder that (seemingly) has let their policy lapse. Seems they don't value the money or the continued business. Better we start a new policy with a different company.

Excuse my ignorance, but what is the BiB and how do I contact them?

My wife (a foreigner) has has a health insurance policy with the same company for 7 years. The last time the yearly premium was paid in full, the agent accepted the money and gave my wife a receipt. One year later (3 days ago) she called the company because the payment due date was coming soon. She was told that she could extend the policy, but would have to pay for both 2011 and 2012 because she had not paid in 2011.

The agent had taken her money and given her a generic receipt with no company logo. My wife did not consider that she never received a new policy booklet or membership card. We have been informed that the agent no longer works for the company and is no longer in the province.

This is clearly fraud and theft, but who should be held responsible? Should we contact the police first or an attourney? We are in Phuket, and any suggestions or insight will be appreciated.

Did anyone notice? 12 Thai men yesterday = 2 Swedish men today!

Once again... Thailand shoots itself in the foot.

Maybe... Thaksin money and influence sabotaging the system? Look out for Thaksin's promises to fix the problem, along with free mobile phones for all stray dogs.

"Imagine what could be done with broad and mandated recycling programs."

Where I live, the recycling wagon comes at least twice a day. The 'staff' picks through my black plastic garbage bags and throws all the bottles, cans and re-sellable items into the sidecar, re-ties the bag closed and moves on to the next garbage can. I think it's awesome (and slightly sad) that people make a living that way, but it keeps a whole lot of stuff from going to the incinerator!

1 question ,do you think I should pull the plug on my stock porfolio?

My Thai stock portfolio's plug has been leaking steadily for 2 years. How does the baht remain so strong while the market is going down the toilet? My balance is so low that even if I cashed-out, I wouldn't garner enough cash to even matter.