3 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

in that case do the equivalent value in damage to the property as you walk out the door.

Don't think a Farang would get away with that. Thais do get the same problems as us with landlords. I have seen the results of Thais destroying a place when they leave. Looked like they took a sledgehammer to it. Then they crapped and pissed everywhere. 

3 minutes ago, DaRoadrunner said:

Then they crapped and pissed everywhere. 

 

The icing on the cake.

3 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

 

The icing on the cake.

Don't tempt me. 

19 minutes ago, Mark1969 said:

Agreed, except in thailand he had to deal with a thai guy possibly making up the price. I like just having the price listed so I don't need to worry about it. I guess it works if he liked the negotiation for a novel experience which it appears he does. I don't, I just want to get out with the soda water at a price I know for sure everybody else is paying.

Except that he did not have to deal with the guy, he could just go somewhere else. 

 

First, given the source, I doubt very much the story is true. 

 

Second, given the language, the idea that it was clear to everyone he would get the deposit back is suspect. 

 

Finally, are we really carrying deposit bottles back to the store? Have you seen anyone doing this? I used to collect pop-bottles when I was a kid in the US, three-cents for the small, nickel for the large, you? 

14 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

in that case do the equivalent value in damage to the property as you walk out the door.

 

No, don't do that. 

Immigration might get wind you might get kicked out of the country. 

 

11 hours ago, DaRoadrunner said:

Don't think a Farang would get away with that. Thais do get the same problems as us with landlords. I have seen the results of Thais destroying a place when they leave. Looked like they took a sledgehammer to it. Then they crapped and pissed everywhere. 

 

If someone wants to rip you off, sometimes there's nothing you can do about it.

Don't degrade yourself to their level. 

 

8 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

 

If someone wants to rip you off, sometimes there's nothing you can do about it.

Don't degrade yourself to their level. 

 

Well said.

 

"Fool me once? Shame on you. Fool me twice? Shame on me."

22 hours ago, Mark1969 said:

lot of condo buildings will have units available through the juristic office.

This is not their job, I'm sure it's illegal 

On 9/19/2025 at 9:48 PM, Yellowtail said:

I've always had my deposit returned. Six times 

There's always one ..always one.

I do the same thing as you tell the opposite 

All of this is because they are charging Farangs more rent than Thais and I caught them at it. I find this insulting to foreigners. When confronted, the owner merely said it was his policy, in a 'I do what I like' manner. You don't like it; move out. Your Thai sure hates being caught. There are online reviews for most apartments in Bangkok and my review is going to cost him dearly in lost future business.

It's been my experience that cheaters are like liars. Cheaters think everyone cheats, in the same way liars think everyone lies. 

Simple do not rent an apartment.   Rent a guesthouse is much better, it includes cleaning. For cooking get a simple hot pot.   If there is problem you can change rooms or guesthouses.  In Thailand you are set up to fail. 

 

2 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

Except that he did not have to deal with the guy, he could just go somewhere else. 

 

First, given the source, I doubt very much the story is true. 

 

Second, given the language, the idea that it was clear to everyone he would get the deposit back is suspect. 

 

Finally, are we really carrying deposit bottles back to the store? Have you seen anyone doing this? I used to collect pop-bottles when I was a kid in the US, three-cents for the small, nickel for the large, you? 

The larger reusable soda water bottles actually do have a deposit attached. You bring back the bottles, the shop collects them and you get the deposit back or the deposit amount deducted off the next purchase. If it's the smaller bottles, like at 7-11, there is no deposit.

 

The Op was scammed. Never f@ck with someones water.

19 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Cannot usually prompts me to ask for the manager, and nine times out of 10 the manager is able to resolve the problem. There are a lot of low level employees here who just don't know much, and their standard reply is cannot, cannot. 

 

I don't really respond very well to that word. 

'Cannot,' said the manager.'  

10 minutes ago, mikebell said:

'Cannot,' said the manager.'  

In my case the weird Manager IS the problem, along with the owner, whose attitude is if you don't like it leave. The great God of the Thais is money and you seldom get it back from them without a fight. 

1 hour ago, mikebell said:

'Cannot,' said the manager.'  

My Thai woman has often been astonished at the level of success I have in getting the manager involved, it very often results in a resolution to my satisfaction, and on a couple of occasions I've actually witnessed the manager scolding the underling for behaving incorrectly, and treating a customer poorly, and that was hugely satisfying. 

On 9/23/2025 at 8:51 AM, DaRoadrunner said:

In my case the weird Manager IS the problem, along with the owner, whose attitude is if you don't like it leave. The great God of the Thais is money and you seldom get it back from them without a fight. 

Yet this manager was prepared to lose 1.7 million baht rather than manage.  (Admittedly it wasn't her money!  I expect Kasikorn can afford to lose this amount.)

23 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

My Thai woman has often been astonished at the level of success I have in getting the manager involved, it very often results in a resolution to my satisfaction, and on a couple of occasions I've actually witnessed the manager scolding the underling for behaving incorrectly, and treating a customer poorly, and that was hugely satisfying. 

That's nothing compared to what happened in the closet after work.

On 9/22/2025 at 10:39 AM, spidermike007 said:

I have had hundreds of these kinds of encounters here in LOS. Always amazed by them. There is a complete disregard for the future, for future patronage, for the idea of loyalty, and rewarding you for such. It has happened with so many merchants I had been dealing with for years. Over tiny amounts of money. Of course, they lose me for life. But, they do not seem to care one iota.

 

I am a business owner. I will do nearly anything to retain a loyal customer. Whatever it takes. A full refund, an exchange, just tell me what you want. Here? None of that. Tomorrow? Why think about tomorrow, when I can make an extra 30 baht today?

If they were Einstein they would not be there. Smart people go places where they don't care about 30 baht.

My owner refused to do a TM30, he gave me some documents, do it yourself he said,  wrong documents, I asked for the correct ones, he gave me 2 months notice to leave.

i never paid the rent for the last 2 months, I wasn’t locked out maybe he was afraid I would report him to immigration for refusing to do a TM30.

My current rental property is still registered to the previous owner who died, the current owner says she cannot put her name in the house book, Tabien Baan because her name is another house book Tabien Baan, she said you can’t have your name in more than one house book Tabien Baan or maybe she doesn’t want to pay to transfer the ownership to herself  ?

Happened with my first rental and non-return of deposit. Ever since I use the deposit in compensation of the last months, to the dislike of the landlord. I explain, what I am doing and there is no way to claim back a deposit legally as the amount in question is in no relation to years of rattling cages through the legal maze of Thailand. 

The are overly surprised at the end that I, after having moved out, come back to settle the last utility bills. If Thais would adhere to contractual obligations as in the West, all this would not happen. So, in essence, Thais have been short changing too many non-Thais which resulted in the basic question "who wants what from who" and how to ensure, that short changing is not on the cards. 

On 9/23/2025 at 10:12 AM, spidermike007 said:

My Thai woman has often been astonished at the level of success I have in getting the manager involved, it very often results in a resolution to my satisfaction, and on a couple of occasions I've actually witnessed the manager scolding the underling for behaving incorrectly, and treating a customer poorly, and that was hugely satisfying. 

"My Thai woman"? Is that some kind of redneck Amurican saying? Not a wife or GF then?🙃🙃

There are laws to protect the renter.. I do believe you have the right to demand receipts for repairs that they are claiming were used from the damage deposit. I also believe you can take them to court for any unproven claims taken for use to repair damage you made. 

I suggest the next place you rent. That you take alot of photos to compare with when you move out. If you do not wish to pursue legal action for your damage deposit, then don't ask about it. Most renters( not all) will make any excuse not to return the damage deposit. 

I am moving out soon and will post again on how this mess goes down. It don't do the white man no good.

On 9/19/2025 at 9:41 PM, Nemises said:

Easy. Just don’t pay the last month/s rent. Tell them that you’ve been ripped-off before by other Thai landlords and to take the final month/s rent from your deposit. 

Clearly why deposits are withheld!

4 hours ago, Lucky Bones said:

"My Thai woman"? Is that some kind of redneck Amurican saying? Not a wife or GF then?🙃🙃

No. It is a term of massive endearment. She says my American man. So what? Only snowflakes and victims would find offense. 

On 9/22/2025 at 2:49 PM, SAFETY FIRST said:

This is not their job, I'm sure it's illegal 

In big older condo developments in Pattaya and Jomtien I think it's quite usual, although, yes, probably illegal.

 

There is a big condo low-rise complex in Hua Hin I've stayed at in a short-term AirBnB style arrangement - those are illegal too in Thailand. But not only are owners buying for the purposes of short-term rental (usually 3 days+), but the Condo's juristic office even has a little window clearly signposted where you go upon arrival to collect the key and parking stall number. You never meet the owner.

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

No. It is a term of massive endearment. She says my American man. So what? Only snowflakes and victims would find offense. 

No. She actually say "He my ATM Man".

You been listening to the Guess Who?🙃🙃

On 9/22/2025 at 11:29 AM, mikebell said:

On one occasion she wrote it on a paper & I copied it onto the cheque and handed it over.  She pushed it back to me, 'Cheque no good.'  One of us had put the wrong figures in the wrong space. 

'No problem, call the manager and I will change the date in her presence and she can witness and initial the change.' 

She was right, you were wrong.  The only person who can change details on a cheque is the account holder/authorised signatory.   A third party (in that case, the bank manager) cannot alter someone else's cheque.

i paid for a stone table and chairs from a garden shop and when i picked it up - the lady offered me 5000 baht discount on a second set. So i paid . When i went to pick it up ...the price had now gone up 15,000 baht ....so i said i didnt want it at that price because it makes a mockery of offering a discount - now she wants to keep the money .very little recourse in thailand - police are likely to side with a thai -