Falang builder

[David A]

Hi all,

 

New member requiring a bit of advice.

I just got stung by a falang builder for 300,000 baht through my own stupidity and trusting a stranger.

My question is, what recourse do i have other than the thai police?

Apparently this guy has a trail of debts so i doubt i will see my money. I would like to see him face some consequences though.

I now know he has no work permit, maybe that is something to chase up?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

David A.

[Crossy]

Was your builder in Pattaya or Chiang Mai?

 

You need to be very, very careful, please remember that Thailand has draconian libel / defamation laws (it's a criminal offence here).

 

[David A]

He was based in chiang mai previously but my project was outside pattaya. Thanks for the warning but i have never or will not state anything that is untrue. I'm not afraid to say what happened. Actually my Thai reatives have already contacted the police. During a conversation soley between him and me he threatened me with libel due to me calling him a conman. 

[FritsSikkink]

11 minutes ago, David A said:

He was based in chiang mai previously but my project was outside pattaya. Thanks for the warning but i have never or will not state anything that is untrue. I'm not afraid to say what happened. Actually my Thai reatives have already contacted the police. During a conversation soley between him and me he threatened me with libel due to me calling him a conman. 

It doesn't matter if what you say is true, if you say bad things about him , you can go to jail. 

If you have pictures of him working, let your Thai relatives go to the police with them.

[geoffbezoz]

Not withstanding the other poster's relevant comments, how are you aware he has no work permit as you claim ?

[Puchaiyank]

Oh the irony of it all...come to Thailand and get scammed by a farang...ultimate insult...

 

Since this is farang vs farang, I would not expect the police to be too interested...

 

Good Luck!

[eyecatcher]

Its a he said she said tale I am sure.

I think its very unlikely he purposely de frauded you.

Easy to track him down, he has regularly promoted this company and has quite vociferous views about building the right way, the farang way on certainly a couple of constreuction related fb groups which I participate

[OneMoreFarang]

About the work permit: Employers who employ people without a work permit have to pay higher fines then the people who work without work permit.

I am not sure if this applies in your case but you should keep it in mind.

Imagine the authorities would come to you and tell you: You paid him 300k cash but he never paid taxes on that. Now it's your responsibility to pay the taxes as well.

I don't say this is what will happen but it wouldn't surprise me if it would happen.

[David A]

eyecatcher

I have been in touch with previous clients , all with similar tales. He lied about using some of my funds to pay for plans (there are no plans) and proceeded to try and start construction without a permit. The tessaban stepped in right away and now i have a stop on any construction on my plot. Of course i can resolve this by showing them viable plans, but he outright lied about having them.

[David A]

The guy talks a fantastic game and will come across as knowledgable on any forum. I believe he is a qualified civil engineer. 

That aside, he told several further lies to cover his malpractice.

The person who told me he is now operating without a work permit is a former colleague. He is performing as what i would call a sole trader, meaning he doesn't have a formal thai company, hence no work permit,

[CharlieH]

14 hours ago, David A said:

He was based in chiang mai previously but my project was outside pattaya. Thanks for the warning but i have never or will not state anything that is untrue. I'm not afraid to say what happened. Actually my Thai reatives have already contacted the police. During a conversation soley between him and me he threatened me with libel due to me calling him a conman. 

It makes absolutely no difference if it is true or not.

The law here is clear, you cannot "name & shame" as my colleague stated earlier be very careful.

 

6) You will not post comments that could be reasonably construed as defamation or libel.

Defamation is the issuance of a statement about another person or business which causes that person to suffer harm. It does not have to be false to be defamatory. Libel is when the defamatory statement is published either in a drawing, painting, cinematography, film, picture or letters made visible by any means, or any other recording instruments, recording picture or letters, or by broadcasting or spreading picture, or by propagation by any other means. Defamation is both a civil and criminal charge in Thailand.