"Homeless" tourists and ex-pats, i.e., foreigners who can't pay for accommodation, have never been much of a problem in Thailand. A few guys sleeping rough don't really inconvenience anyone, Thai or farang, Most will be picked up by the Thai cops for visa overstay or violating the terms of their visas, then deported.

It's barely a ripple, not a tempest, in Thailand's tourist teacup.

However, a tiny number of high-profile homeless guys do manage to hang on for considerable periods. In an earlier thread, I wrote about the German guy who haunted Bangkok and Pattaya for at least three years between 2009 and 2011. https://aseannow.com/topic/1366726-concerns-raised-over-iranian-national-living-on-pattaya-beach/page/2/#findComment-19946210

I don't know if things have changed in the past 15 years, but in 2011, Thai authorities lacked the resources and expertise to handle mentally ill farang. Locking up crazy farang in a jail cell when they should have been in a mental hospital caused the BiB and other authorities to lose face when the stories broke in the international press. It was safer in terms of face to allow homeless farang wander the streets.

Some of you may remember the homeless German man who hung around the LK Metro-Soi Diana area in 2010-11.  He was NOT a beggar and mostly refused offers of food or money.

 

 

I and numerous others offered to give him food and clothes, but he said he didn't want them.  Once when he was sitting near  the intersection of Soi Diana and 2nd Rd, I said I'd get him a takeaway meal from Kiss Food.  He told me her didn't like the food at Kiss and asked me if I knew of a hotel buffet!  He may not have been a beggar,  but he sure was choosy!

 

Eventually the foot without the flip-flop got so badly infected and swollen I thought it would turn into gangrene.  In October 2011,  his physical and mental condition deteriorated so far the Immigration Police picked him up and deported him back to Germany.  Unfortunately, no one knows the full story or at least isn't willing to post it on a forum.  

8 hours ago, IsmeUno said:

The way that I read it...

is that particular staff member was removed. Though bank accounts being frozen sounds dodgy.

Read this: https://www.w-lawthai.com/why-foreigners-bank-accounts-in-thailand-may-be-frozen/

1 hour ago, ZigM said:

Read this: https://www.w-lawthai.com/why-foreigners-bank-accounts-in-thailand-may-be-frozen/

In the second half of last year, several accounts in Pattaya were temporarily frozen at Bangkok Bank, while authorities were investigating money laundering cases from scam centers inside and outside of Thailand. They were of course all opened again when they were cleared.

Your Australian friend was no exception, and he would certainly have been able to access his account again, if he wasn't laundering money for these scam centers.

As he was on a long term visa (12 months extension), his account wouldn't be closed later either (which did happen to some accounts with owners on tourist visas).

This was also why agencies had to increase their fees last summer for a first time visa/extension based on retirement. It became impossible to open bank accounts from tourist visas or visa exemptions, even from DTVs. And at Bangkok Bank in Pattaya, they cancelled their policy where agents could do the financial requirements, a short in and out practice, so many agents had to shift banks, and also for a while use Bangkok (CW) for the immigration procedures.

But the 12 months annual extensions exclusively wasn't much affected by this increase in price.

Many if seeking help, will try the other organization, private... The Embassies, may just refer them down the line.

19 hours ago, emptypockets said:

Oh dear, another "my money built your country" delusion.

Yes, the place was built on the backs of the hardworking bargirls!

2 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Yes, the place was built on the backs of the hardworking bargirls!

Or hard working bar girls on their backs.

19 hours ago, IsmeUno said:

It's not really the cold hard truth, but your seemingly somewhat bitter perception. Why so? Happy people tend to post more positively or even, with less negativity. Your post rings of someone not happy with his life and needing someone on whom to take that out.

Speaking of cold, hard truths, obnoxious people tend to have to pay for their company or have to stay alone. Are they born winners in your book? You don't sound like a winner. They tend to be more magnanimous, giving credit to those around them.

Perhaps it's part of my upbringing, but we don't, in general, kick people when they are down. Why do you feel the need to act like a savage from behind your keyboard?

First, I am very happy, married and have 2 daughters, living in Thailand on my 29th year. When we got that cleared. I just don´t accept idiots who think they can do things they can´t. Life takes planning, and you don´t just throw yourself into something without careful planning.

20 hours ago, dougieboy said:

I think you are very unsympathetic, I'm sure there are plenty of folk who make poor decisions and perhaps deserve the outcomes, but to say "They are just a bunch of born losers, that thought they could hack it, but that was just a dream!" is cruel and unfair. You cannot possibly know the circumstances all of them who hit hard times.

You may think you are smarter than them all, you might be too, but I doubt that because if you were that smart I don't believe you would be that cruel.

I feel for anyone who may need your help, hope you never fall on the hardest of times.

Ok, so I should have sympathy for people who do thing in life without thinking at all? Ok, go ahead and have that. I will not join the club.

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59 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

First, I am very happy, married and have 2 daughters, living in Thailand on my 29th year. When we got that cleared. I just don´t accept idiots who think they can do things they can´t. Life takes planning, and you don´t just throw yourself into something without careful planning.

No one asked you to accept idiots. What do they have to do with your 'happy life'? Are they affecting it somehow, in that you feel the need to spout abuse at them?

Doesn't seem normal balanced behaviour to me. Obviously not just to me, by the reactions here. Bullied as a child? Why do you feel the need to try to kick someone when they are down? Try to gather up some humility, otherwise you won't have any real friends.

Happy people don't behave in the way you do. That's resentment.

On 4/10/2026 at 10:28 AM, emptypockets said:

Oh dear, another "my money built your country" delusion.

Ah, where did I imply that? Stated only opinion that after 10 years, trouble free, it would be an inducement to grant recognition of Permanent Residency. You are looking for something not in evidence.

On 4/10/2026 at 10:43 AM, baansgr said:

That route is already in place, providing you contribute through paying tax and social security.

On 4/10/2026 at 10:43 AM, baansgr said:

That route is already in place, providing you contribute through paying tax and social security.

On 4/10/2026 at 10:43 AM, baansgr said:

That route is already in place, providing you contribute through paying tax and social security.

Agreed for those still working. In my 80th year, 15 retired here in Thailand with Thai Wife and Stepdaughter. Just thinking it is a benefit for me, as it is a benefit for Thailand.

3 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Ok, so I should have sympathy for people who do thing in life without thinking at all?

Quite a few of your posts appear to fit that category.

3 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

I will not join the club.

Too late! It seems that you were automatically enrolled after a certain amount of totally erroneous posts. If only you had checked the facts before posting. Do I need to remind you of one of your embarrassing blunders, claiming that cannabis and the shops selling it were all illegal, because they were selling flowers rated above 2% THC? What a loser, eh? Didn't bother to think nor to double check before posting and arguing.

You see? Anyone can make a mistake and anyone can get lucky, jumping on the cryptocurrency bandwagon. You aren't special, in a good way. Try to be nice to people when you are doing okay...and when you are not.

22 hours ago, Summerinsiam said:

Nobody pays. They are faciltated to contact family, and if that fails then lent the money with their passport as security.

I know that was the procedure some years ago, I wasn't sure if it was still the same. For the UK anyway.

On 4/9/2026 at 10:22 PM, CecilM said:

Easy enough to spot and deport.

Not like they're hiding in a cheap rental apartment like so many others.

Deporting someone costs money, who's going to pay for it?

18 minutes ago, Shocked farang said:

Deporting someone costs money, who's going to pay for it?

Who cares as long as the scum, whoever it is, is deported!

I wonder how many of these destitute foreigners won't return home, as opposed to can't.

On 4/9/2026 at 10:22 PM, CecilM said:

Easy enough to spot and deport.

Not like they're hiding in a cheap rental apartment like so many others.

Deporting someone costs money, who's going to pay for it?

1 hour ago, scottiejohn said:

Who cares as long as the scum, whoever it is, is deported!

You say this because you don't pay taxes in Thailand. Thai tax payers have better ideas about how their hard earned tax money is spent, rather then deporting farangs.

20 minutes ago, Shocked farang said:

You say this because you don't pay taxes in Thailand.

What an asinine post!

You have NO knowledge of the tax status of any poster on AN unless they have made their own posts regarding their own tax status themselves.

I remember when I lived in Philippines. There were so many white beggars. I remember 1 day, I walked less than 1 km and saw 3 white beggars with signs begging for money. I would have spat on 1 of them, but I couldn't identify which one was american. I don't understand why the authorities don't just deport them.

28 minutes ago, 1tooth said:

I remember when I lived in Philippines. There were so many white beggars. I remember 1 day, I walked less than 1 km and saw 3 white beggars with signs begging for money. I would have spat on 1 of them, but I couldn't identify which one was american. I don't understand why the authorities don't just deport them.

Why would you choose the American exclusively to spit on?

29 minutes ago, 1tooth said:

I remember when I lived in Philippines. There were so many white beggars. I remember 1 day, I walked less than 1 km and saw 3 white beggars with signs begging for money. I would have spat on 1 of them, but I couldn't identify which one was american. I don't understand why the authorities don't just deport them.

I will explain why, there's no budget for the deportation of foreigners in a country with limited resources as the Philippines.

1 hour ago, Shocked farang said:

Deporting someone costs money, who's going to pay for it?

"Maintaining" beggars has costs too that could outweigh a one way ticket.

1 minute ago, Yumthai said:

"Maintaining" beggars has costs too that could outweigh a one way ticket.

True, but you still have to convince the budget decision makers about it.

2 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Yep, and you try to take care of your own life, instead of telling me what to do.

My life is good, thanks. I have time to explain to you how to behave like a decent human being.

Not a lot have changed since 2018 i see...

Collateral Damage when u got 40 million Tourists visiting ! Choose wisely !

55 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

I think you can find better use of your time, or are you so bored that your life surrounds people online you not even know?

No, not bored. 😊 Do you know the homeless people you insulted? A bit of a hypocrite, aren't you?

We all know you here and it gives me great pleasure to hand bullies and 'know-it-alls'(who, ironically, seem to know nothing) their a*se. Enjoy.

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On 4/10/2026 at 1:14 PM, NONG CHOK said:

An Australian pension doesn't get cut when you're living overseas. In my case I don't get the pension as I didn't reside in Australia for 2 years prior to when it was due. I'm going ok as I sold my property in Australia and invested the money in a term deposit. Many expats live like tourists that's where their money goes. Once you decide to live here you need to set yourself up with a monthly budget. Set aside money for your rent, food and services and if you're that way inclined blow the rest but no more than what you budgeted for that month. I'm fortunate as I don't pay rent.

When I retired, I was 7 years away from retirement age. Back then, I wouldn't have got the pension as I owned two houses and my super payout was too big. Then if you were on an age pension, it was indeed cut after 6 months unless you lived in a country that had a social security agreement. Thailand doesn't. Thresholds and requirements have changed since then.