RickBlaine

What's the best place in Udon to change Thai baht for Japanese yen? We're going to Japan end of this month, and I'd like to have at least enough hard cash to get a coffee/subway ticket when we land. I know there are exchange booths in the airport(s), but we're landing early, and the rate is usually poor at the airport. I saw PPP on the internet, near Fountain roundabout, anyone used it? Thanks. Ray.

Hello guys. I live near Sakon Nakhon in the north east. I've decided to restart an old hobby - model aircraft flying, and have just built my first balsa model in 50 years. I don't think there are any expat modellers or flyers in my area, unless anyone knows differently? There is an active Thai group here, the one guy I met spoke English and seemed helpful. There's a model shop in Udon Thani (ready built models with RC), but otherwise I'll be buying online. I'm struggling to find model aircraft suppliers (plans, kits, balsa, tissue etc) in Thailand. Online searching just brings up toy shops or ready built aircraft or plastic models - and that's fine but it's not what I'm after right now. The kit I've just built I brought back from my last UK visit - that would be an expensive way to buy them! Thanks for any help.

Sad but true. I checked Google translate; Debt is 'nee' - can't tell if it's high or falling tone. Run away is 'wing nee' (run is 'wing' in Thai). Someone had a sense of humour when they invented Thai.

Too late for that. There's a lesson there somewhere.

Originally I thought the finance co will go after the car first, not the guarantors (they must have a whole department of investigators). But it's whatever's cheapest and quickest. And your point about people turning up, I wonder how many times money changes hands to 'forget' finding a vehicle.

I can't say too much, but yes, all possibilities are being looked at.

I did wonder what the law is on making a family homeless, whether the finance co can only put a charge against the property (payable when/if it's sold). But if even the police can lose their house, that's a worry.

The bank can 'demand' all they like, the problem is firstly to find her and the car.

Do you know if that's always done? If so, it suggests she's not taxing it, or the company would have her. We need to talk to a lawyer about options.

When we've had cars on finance, we had a photocopy of the owners book so we could get tax (the finance co kept the book till the final payment). I hope she's taxing the car, so she doesn't get stopped at every checkpoint, as it should make it easier to narrow it down to a province. I did wonder why the finance co haven't already looked for the car (maybe they have). I guess it's cheaper and easier to go after the guarantors.

'rich farang' Ha ha, someone's going to be disappointed.

Yes. 'Doubt she had the income...' The borrower has to be responsible for their actions, but ideally the finance company would also get it in the neck from the Financial Ombudsman for irresponsible lending. No one's holding their breath.

Too late for that. Rightly or wrongly we're all 'coming together' to try and help.

Thank you. That final suggestion is an interesting one, and possibly cheaper than going through a lawyer. Police will have access to more information than lawyers. We often complain that the police won't do anything without a reward - but maybe, on this occasion...

I know, but these (guarantors) are decent people, just trying to help a friend.

Not a pleasant thought. I haven't got all the contract details, and I would need wifey to translate Thai legalise.

Good idea, lovely irony if I were able to befriend her. Unfortunately it will all be in Thai, but I'll suggest it to the family.

My Thai sister-in-law stood guarantor for a 'good friend' (as she thought). There were 2 other guarantors, for a 1.2M baht SUV. Unfortunately said 'friend' has stopped making payments and done a runner, they think with the vehicle and boyfriend. They all hoped the problem would go away, but the 3 guarantors are liable for about 400K each, and the finance company are now threatening to take their homes. I think they just want the easiest way out, and will try to scrape the money together, but this cannot be right. 'Madame' is swanning around somewhere in a nearly-new SUV with no intention of paying for it or even returning it. I can't believe she would do that to her friends. My idea is to engage a lawyer/private investigator to find her, take the vehicle and hand it to the finance company or Police. They will sell it at a loss at auction, and there will be fees of course, but it should reduce the bill. As a foreigner (Brit) my only involvement can be to find/finance a lawyer - I presume the lawyers can recommend private investigators? Any thoughts, anyone been involved in something like this before? Thanks. Mods - I couldn't find a Legal Forum, so I hope this is the right place.