captnhoy

Your info on Mo Chit is nonsense. SNIP

I would have agreed with you had I not seen it for myself. You would not recognize that part of MoChit - there is no taxi queue. Well, a very small one with way more passengers than taxis and it's in a different location. We ended up in a minivan to South Bus Station as we could not find a meter or afford to wait our turn in a long queue.

Look for info on car auctions. They are numerous and include repo bikes. I do not know if true but some report that "good stuff" is scooped up, including good factory parts, replaced by cheap copies. That sounds a bit extreme to me but TIT, so maybe..

Do let us know what you find. I tried this in Ranong and the pickings were slim to say the least. Only 2 available and they were falling down ruins. So it would have been a land buy and very overpriced considering that. I concluded that the strong economy does not produce many opportunities. But it makes sense that "insider trading" is a big factor too and that mere mortals would never see what's available.

What if she gets pregnant?

Clearly you are unaware of the silver lining in these affairs of the geriatric heart

They don't tell

They don't swell

They are grateful as Hell

Another effort to be helpful and detailed about an important visa topic.

Another set of goofy grumpy ill-tempered holy-than-thou responses.

This is why, even if I have good and somewhat unique info, I will never post that.

After being burned a couple of times, now I just post softball opinions on ephemeral topics.

AMEN to that. So many of the snide comments on here expect the OP to know what he did not know. Well now he does and he is sharing it with the one or two other expats in Thailand who DO NOT ALREADY KNOW EVERY(deleted)THING. I do cruise through TV but rarely want to participate in the never ending pissing contest. WHAT a friendly bunch.

My reaction to this topic is that it (again) confirms that the "rules" vary from office to office. At the Ranong office they will not issue a letter of residence unless the gov't office that requires it, like for a driving license, sends a letter requesting it. WHAT a pain! Otherwise no hassles. I would agree with the OP if the delay cost me my trip out of the country. If not, I'd have whipped out my camera and taken her pic while informing her that she's being reported. Those who agree to the bribe are perpetuating the problem. Those who think I should just go back home may well see that happen. It never changes and it wears me out.

Merry Kissmass, Santa not come for me . . .

@Gentmartin - I'm glad that the police helped you. In my case they turned me away and said it was a civil case, not a criminal case.

Isn't this another example of how we have to just suck it up here? No one will actually help you because no one really gives a shit but YOU. You are on your own. I'm not just projecting possible outcomes as I am in the same situation with a wicker furniture shop at Chatuchak Market. I placed a sizable order with a 20,000 baht deposit and have nothing to show for it but the receipt. That was 3 years ago. That Consumer Affairs Dept mentioned here? Go ahead and do let us know how that turns out. They did not even acknowledge my complaint. At this point I'd actually prefer to settle it Thai style. But I can't do the time so I have to suck it up. I bet if you were to take a poll on this topic you would find that it's a bigger problem than the piss tests at Asoke.

And where did you meet your lovely wife ? did you bother to learn Thai to make the negotiations yourself ? I bet you a million bucks you did not. A lot of Thai wives skim. Mine does,nt. but than again i did,nt meet her in a bar and learned to speak Thai before i arrived on my first trip.

Oh JIM! I want to be just like you when I grow up! You are SO right! It's All his fault!

Some posters want to tell you what to do. I want to ask you what do you want? Do you want a partnership? Or do you want an arrangement? IMO, if you stay with her it will be an arrangement.

One thing is certain - I'm not putting my name, phone number, fireproof copy of my passport, tabien ban, and proof of address from immigration on those lanterns any longer.

Clearly this policeman is not familiar with the concept of not bringing your work home with you.

"They explained that checks will be made whenever a foreigner requests an extension of stay in Thailand. If the place where they are staying is not found in the notification system, the owner or manager will be fined B1,600."

I don't know why any foreigners here are getting upset. It is not aimed at the foreigner but the owner of where they stay. I am curious how some owners would even know what to do. If a foreigner is renting a place how does the owner know that he/she has to report it? It is not like they will frequently go to Immigration offices, check government links or forums like this. There are no public information commercials on TV or in the media as far as I know.

You are SO right. 6 months ago my wife was scolded by the immigration officer for not reporting my presence. He threatened to fine her 10,000 baht but did not. Her response was "How was I supposed to know this?" He had no answer.

I have seen other details somewhere - TV? - that state that if I leave her house, she must inform them. To me this is where it really gets screwy. I had to get a re-entry permit or lose my extension of stay. Then I was documented leaving Thailand - then I was documented returning some weeks later. Supposedly SHE should have informed them EACH TIME. She only did the form once though. Anyone looking for logic here will be sorely disappointed.

To pick up the actual extension stamp ? At Jomthien my wife has gone by herself a couple of times just with my passport, no problems.

I try to limit my contact with immigration as much as I can, it's like pulling teeth.

So TRUE! But they are friendly when pulling these teeth right?

As a marine person , I don't have issues with this.

The more regulation the better.

If they can make basic fundamental outlawing of operators ,who ply their trade largely illegally fleecing westerners with deception and criminal activity eg uninsured Jet ski hire etc ...this law would seem to be more in line with reality.

Thailand is not so safe anymore ...this law is in my view a smart move.

And I am a critic of Junta where they seem unjust.

I have no issue with any safety premise. The laws are only as good as the enforcement. Do you think the dive boats that sink so frequently passed a REAL safety inspection? The annual safety inspection for my boat was more about collecting the "survey fee" as they called it.

Speaking from experience, the price of marine electronics in Thailand are usually about double what they sell for in the western world. When quizzed on that, dealers always blame the "import duty". If the duty charged is a high as they say then that is corruption. In any case, prepare for another grab at your funds when you are forced to buy AIS in Thailand because everyone knows we have "too much money". If I still had a boat here I'd weigh anchor. The other thing it reminds me of is that during the 5 years that I did cruise my boat here, the only time I was ever checked for anything was once while at anchor in Chalong. That was just a formality about paperwork and had nothing to do with a safety inspection or even to see if the radio that I bought in Singapore was licensed. So it's a bit like traffic laws IMO - they are on the books but little enforcement is in place.

Huh? Import duties are corruption?

Import duties are not twice the price of the product. Sorry that was not clear for you. The implication since you seem to need it spelled out is that IF the sales shop is paying double the sales price of the product in import duties then they are being overcharged. If true, that would be corruption. What seems more likely though is that sales shops prefer a greatly inflated profit margin and then point the finger at "duties" when questioned about high prices. I have ordered marine electronics online from the US, paid shipping to Thailand and paid the import duty. I still saved half the price over the same product for sale in Thailand. That will not work with items that need to be licensed like radios and radars and probably AIS, stand by on that topic, because if you do not buy the item in Thailand you cannot get the Thai license.

Speaking from experience, the price of marine electronics in Thailand are usually about double what they sell for in the western world. When quizzed on that, dealers always blame the "import duty". If the duty charged is a high as they say then that is corruption. In any case, prepare for another grab at your funds when you are forced to buy AIS in Thailand because everyone knows we have "too much money". If I still had a boat here I'd weigh anchor. The other thing it reminds me of is that during the 5 years that I did cruise my boat here, the only time I was ever checked for anything was once while at anchor in Chalong. That was just a formality about paperwork and had nothing to do with a safety inspection or even to see if the radio that I bought in Singapore was licensed. So it's a bit like traffic laws IMO - they are on the books but little enforcement is in place.

I foolishly thought that a buttoned cargo pocket was safe enough while in transit. Was pickpocketed on a baht bus in Pattaya 8 years ago.

I have 2 dogs. They are the best of friends and entertain each other endlessly. One is 3 and the other is 2. I had to have them neutered because they stopped being friends. Now they are good again. They love food but they love riding in my sidecar motorcycle even more. They each have a trick they do when it's time to eat. One stands up on his hind legs - a stand up not a sit up and the other turns in a full circle at least once maybe 3 times. I never taught them this or required it. The one who goes around looks me in the eye before eating as if to say thanks. The other one just chows down. The one who chows down learned that he can put his paw in his bowl to hold it still when he's down to the last few bites. The other one pushes his arounf with his nose as he licks it clean..

The Thai students in Nakon Nowhere or even Bangkok attending government schools are not the future business leaders or movers and shakers of Thailand. 

 

It could be argued that putting resource of any kind into teaching English to prospective farm workers, labourers, 7/11 shop assistants and armed forces cannon fodder is basically a waste of time.

 

Rest assured that the children of the ruling classes and upper middle classes will be receiving appropriate English lessons from fluent speakers at expensive private schools either in Thailand or abroad.  There are at least 20 Thai students enrolled in my former small town high school in New Zealand , paying big fees for a western education - I'm sure they all come from Nakon Nowhere and are the children of farm labourers.

 

That's just the way the hierarchical system works in Thailand, and the ruling classes (Red/Yellow/Military included) don't want to see that changed any time soon, despite ASEAN.

I think it also could be argued that you are painting with too broad a brush. I know of more than one example of the children from the farmlands who have done additional education and are sought after in today's job market for their technical expertise. Is English a part of that? Somewhat - it did not hurt any. Why not offer every advantage possible to those who are interested? There are still more than enough who will be happy with whatever comes their way.

I'm very happy with TOT ADSL because it's fast enough to suit me, it's been reliable one year into it and there are no data caps. 3BB was just pulled into my neighborhood too so I have that choice if I wanted to switch.

Because the whole fabric of society is corrupt! to make changes now is going to be very difficult. Good luck to them.

"The whole fabric" of what society?

If you find a gang of crooks in New York or London or Sydney, does that

make everyone in the country (the whole fabric of society) corrupt?

Seems like a flaming generalization at best.

I have to agree with clockman. To say it another way, corruption is so widespread and so accepted here even when people are not directly participating. In my dealings here I often see gov't officials allowing Thais to lie about sales prices and reduce taxes. It's all done with a wink and a big smile by all parties. It's a way of life. It's the norm. Having said that, I don't see the "contract holder" as quite the lowlife that many here do. The fact that she cries foul so openly suggests a naievete about her contract and it's validity. I conclude that she may be thinking "Since such dealings are the norm, how can they be wrong?" On the other hand I believe that the officials who "sold her" this contract probably know by the number just exactly which laws they are violating. They do deserve the harshest punishment. We can only hope.

Tourist areas all over the world, like magnets, are plagued with scams, shystering and corruption.

However, common sense tells us that the tourist areas -- whether in Phuket or Perth or Panama,

represent less than 5% of their respective country's population. Just bcoz you may have chosen

to live in one of those low-life areas, please don't paint all of us with your plagues and problems.

The real Thailand (away from the tourist areas) probably has less corruption than your hometown

in farang-land.

I certainly agree with your conclusions about tourists areas. I however do not live in a tourist town, Claiming to know where I live perhaps illustrates how big are your blinders. And I stand by my observations - I'm not painting as some folks on TV are, I'm observing.

Because the whole fabric of society is corrupt! to make changes now is going to be very difficult. Good luck to them.

"The whole fabric" of what society?

If you find a gang of crooks in New York or London or Sydney, does that

make everyone in the country (the whole fabric of society) corrupt?

Seems like a flaming generalization at best.

I have to agree with clockman. To say it another way, corruption is so widespread and so accepted here even when people are not directly participating. In my dealings here I often see gov't officials allowing Thais to lie about sales prices and reduce taxes. It's all done with a wink and a big smile by all parties. It's a way of life. It's the norm. Having said that, I don't see the "contract holder" as quite the lowlife that many here do. The fact that she cries foul so openly suggests a naievete about her contract and it's validity. I conclude that she may be thinking "Since such dealings are the norm, how can they be wrong?" On the other hand I believe that the officials who "sold her" this contract probably know by the number just exactly which laws they are violating. They do deserve the harshest punishment. We can only hope.