English speaking lawyer Phuket

[jak2002003]

After a long dispute over our condo ownership, I am now looking for a good lawyer in Phuket. Basically we paid in full for a Condo and after completion they refused to register it in our name and now won't allow us in it and are renting it out to tourists. 

 

I have contacted several lawyers, but none but one replied to me, and  the one that did was asking for £7000 upfront...and would not  give me any idea if they would be sucxessful. 

 

After the problems with our condo we are worreod about trusting a lawyer and throwing more money away. My partner wants to walk away from it and give up as its so stressful. 

 

We also have returned to the UK now and will have to correspond with the lawyer from there for the most part. 

 

Cam anyone recommend from, personal experience, a lawyer in Phuket that we can trust? 

 

[Celsius]

I have nothing nice to say about Phuket.

[LivinginKata]

I have nothing good to say about Thai Lawyers. And I speak with bitter personal experience.

[reefsurfah]

How much was the condo for?

[stoner]

2 hours ago, Celsius said:

I have nothing nice to say about Phuket.

 

i just moved to phuket. good luck with the whole i bought property in thailand situation though OP. trying to correspond from back home too. ouch. 

 

how long have you been married ? 

Edited December 21, 2023 by stoner

[jak2002003]

4 hours ago, reefsurfah said:

How much was the condo for?

What's that have to do with anything? 

 

Anyway, seems my partner may be right... It might be better for our sanity to just walk away.

 

Its a horrible feeling knowing I've been conned and am powerless to do anything about it. 

 

 

[ChasingTheSun]

Do you have some document saying that you bought/own the condo unit as leasehold or foreign freehold?

 

If yes, talk to the cops, show them proof of ownership, and tell them you are illegally being denied access to your property and ask them to intervene.

 

If that doesn’t work, ask a Thailand lawyer to write a letter to the developer, warning of legal action unless they give you access to your property within two weeks. Should only cost a few thousand baht for the letter.

 

if they are conning you they are probably conning others. Create a group on here or on facebook etc for conned owners of that project. Perhaps as a last resort you can take the developer to court as a group.

 

 

Edited December 21, 2023 by ChasingTheSun

[DFPhuket]

My lawyer is Audy at Inchan Law Firm and I've been happy with this work. Prior to Phuket, he worked for several NGOs and his English is perfect. While I didn't use him for property purpose, I know he does a lot of work in that area. 

[daveAustin]

3 hours ago, jak2002003 said:

What's that have to do with anything? 

 

Anyway, seems my partner may be right... It might be better for our sanity to just walk away.

 

Its a horrible feeling knowing I've been conned and am powerless to do anything about it. 

Maybe they ask because if it’s not life savings it could be easier to walk away, although I would not do that. Have you tried approaching a law firm outside Phuket for advice like Siam Legal? Many families are all tied in with that island. 
All the best. 

 

[jak2002003]

6 hours ago, ChasingTheSun said:

Do you have some document saying that you bought/own the condo unit as leasehold or foreign freehold?

 

If yes, talk to the cops, show them proof of ownership, and tell them you are illegally being denied access to your property and ask them to intervene.

 

If that doesn’t work, ask a Thailand lawyer to write a letter to the developer, warning of legal action unless they give you access to your property within two weeks. Should only cost a few thousand baht for the letter.

 

if they are conning you they are probably conning others. Create a group on here or on facebook etc for conned owners of that project. Perhaps as a last resort you can take the developer to court as a group.

 

 

Yes. We have all the documents showing payments. We also have all the replies and excuses they sent to us.  We also have their emails promising us payments from renting it out... Many.... Payments we never got.

2 hours ago, daveAustin said:

Maybe they ask because if it’s not life savings it could be easier to walk away, although I would not do that. Have you tried approaching a law firm outside Phuket for advice like Siam Legal? Many families are all tied in with that island. 
All the best. 

 

I tried our lawyer in Chiang Mai, who we have used for many years and is really good and trusted. and he told us only a Phuket lawyer was allowed to act on Phuket matters. The lawyers had to be from the province the problem was in. 

 

I will however contact Siam Legal and see if they say the same. Thank you. 

[sikishrory]

I came to recommend Audy from Inchan legal as well but I saw someone already did.

Good English and puts in more effort than I've seen other lawyers do.

I used him for my condo purchase and a couple of other things.

 

[Sharp]

Spot on this guy.khun Somchart 

[1FinickyOne]

6 hours ago, jak2002003 said:

I tried our lawyer in Chiang Mai, who we have used for many years and is really good and trusted.

It seems you were quite obviously scammed - I hope you at least recover your investment. Sometimes letting go is good for your health if you can afford it - I would not pursue it too long or too directly... 

 

Who was your CM lawyer? I may need one soon for International advice in drawing up a Will... 

[ChasingTheSun]

9 hours ago, jak2002003 said:

Yes. We have all the documents showing payments. We also have all the replies and excuses they sent to us.  We also have their emails promising us payments from renting it out... Many.... Payments we never got.

I tried our lawyer in Chiang Mai, who we have used for many years and is really good and trusted. and he told us only a Phuket lawyer was allowed to act on Phuket matters. The lawyers had to be from the province the problem was in. 

 

I will however contact Siam Legal and see if they say the same. Thank you. 

If you have the paperwork saying that you are the owner, then call the cops.

 

Nobody can legally stop an owner from entering/living in his own property or leasing it out.

 

They are essentially illegally squatting in your unit.

Edited December 22, 2023 by ChasingTheSun

[Nip]

11 hours ago, jak2002003 said:

Yes. We have all the documents showing payments. We also have all the replies and excuses they sent to us.  We also have their emails promising us payments from renting it out... Many.... Payments we never got.

I tried our lawyer in Chiang Mai, who we have used for many years and is really good and trusted. and he told us only a Phuket lawyer was allowed to act on Phuket matters. The lawyers had to be from the province the problem was in. 

 

I will however contact Siam Legal and see if they say the same. Thank you. 

There you go this statement by your lawyer is totally untrue. Phuket is the cradle of corruption and other Thai lawyers are aware of this. They have no wish to enter the devils cauldron. Walk away, you cannot hope to win. And as dramatic as it sounds. What value do you put on your life? The lawyers, police and officials all work together. 

[jak2002003]

3 hours ago, ChasingTheSun said:

If you have the paperwork saying that you are the owner, then call the cops.

 

Nobody can legally stop an owner from entering/living in his own property or leasing it out.

 

They are essentially illegally squatting in your unit.

We don't have the place register for the blue book in our name. They never got the blue book registered at the land office.. 

[ChasingTheSun]

15 minutes ago, jak2002003 said:

We don't have the place register for the blue book in our name. They never got the blue book registered at the land office.. 

is it leashold or foreign freehold?

 

i may be wrong, but i dont believe non-thai names are permitted in a blue book ever.

Edited December 22, 2023 by ChasingTheSun

[reefsurfah]

On 12/22/2023 at 12:43 AM, jak2002003 said:

What's that have to do with anything? 

 

Anyway, seems my partner may be right... It might be better for our sanity to just walk away.

 

Its a horrible feeling knowing I've been conned and am powerless to do anything about it. 

 

 

Sometimes it’s not worth it.  Have been there.

[reefsurfah]

21 hours ago, daveAustin said:

Maybe they ask because if it’s not life savings it could be easier to walk away, although I would not do that. Have you tried approaching a law firm outside Phuket for advice like Siam Legal? Many families are all tied in with that island. 
All the best. 

 

Yup, I value time over money.  Even if you do win, how will you collect or enforce it?  

[reefsurfah]

6 hours ago, Nip said:

There you go this statement by your lawyer is totally untrue. Phuket is the cradle of corruption and other Thai lawyers are aware of this. They have no wish to enter the devils cauldron. Walk away, you cannot hope to win. And as dramatic as it sounds. What value do you put on your life? The lawyers, police and officials all work together. 

This.  

[Datsun 1200]

In Phuket

Hi All, this guy is the rep here for Elite Visa (HQ in BKK) and does all other law and accounting. Family affair and good so far,  good for Visas to Will and buying property, see....

https://phuketlegalfirm.com/ drop my name if you dare ; )

 

Ian H

 

Edited December 23, 2023 by Datsun 1200

[jak2002003]

Thank you all for your help and the recommendations. 

 

We ha r decided to contact these lawyers in the new year. 

 

Have set a max amount we prepared to spend on it. If it goes over that we will just walk away. 

 

 

[DrDave]

23 hours ago, jak2002003 said:

We don't have the place register for the blue book in our name. They never got the blue book registered at the land office.. 

If the developer doesn't have your blue book, it's very possible the building hasn't been registered as a condominium. What about all of the other buyers? Do they have their blue books? You can also go to the land office and see if they have chanote titles on file for the building. There should be one chanote for each unit, listing the owner.

[LivinginKata]

3 hours ago, jak2002003 said:

Have set a max amount we prepared to spend on it. If it goes over that we will just walk away. 

 

 

Sadly I expect you walk away after you are bled dry with legal fees and promises promises to make all good for just a few dollars more. 

[Mang Gon]

Mr. Brian Madsen

www.lawyersforexpatsthailand.com

 

A British developer/legal consultant

 

 

[DrJoy]

On 12/22/2023 at 8:28 PM, ChasingTheSun said:

i may be wrong, but i dont believe non-thai names are permitted in a blue book ever.

Yes, you are wrong.

 

Foreigners who hold PR are listed in Blue Tabien Baan(House Book)

[DrJoy]

On 12/21/2023 at 5:48 PM, jak2002003 said:

a lawyer in Phuket that we can trust? 

 

https://www.phuketvisa.com

[ChasingTheSun]

38 minutes ago, DrJoy said:

Yes, you are wrong.

 

Foreigners who hold PR are listed in Blue Tabien Baan(House Book)

PR? No such thing as PR in Thailand. Try again.

[DrJoy]

12 hours ago, ChasingTheSun said:

PR? No such thing as PR in Thailand. Try again.

PR - Permanent Resident, Residents visa/ Residential permit/ Non Quota Immigrant visa. Has many names in Thailand.

 

Thousands of foreigners have PR in Thailand, which allows them to live permanently in Thailand without having to renew their extension of stay ever.

 

PR holders or whatever you want to call it , are listed in the Blue House Book.

 

Update your knowledge and then comment

 

There is even a thread here on aseannow , on how to obtain PR -

 

 

 

Update your limited and outdated knowledge here

 

[ChasingTheSun]

5 hours ago, DrJoy said:

PR - Permanent Resident, Residents visa/ Residential permit/ Non Quota Immigrant visa. Has many names in Thailand.

 

Thousands of foreigners have PR in Thailand, which allows them to live permanently in Thailand without having to renew their extension of stay ever.

 

PR holders or whatever you want to call it , are listed in the Blue House Book.

 

Update your knowledge and then comment

 

There is even a thread here on aseannow , on how to obtain PR -

 

 

 

Update your limited and outdated knowledge here

 

What you are referring to in your 17 year old link is a not actually what most would refer to as PR, as it is not permanent because it can be revoked, and requires yearly visits to immigration to maintain.
 

Not to mention that it does not apply to 99.9% of foreigners residing in Thailand on other forms of visas which do not permit their name in the blue book.

 

if you had read the thread, you would have also known that the OP clearly stated that he resides in the UK.

Please try to provide relevant and transparent feedback if your trying to help.