Thai Debt

[ozzieman05]

I have been asked a question I need an answer to

My friends wife now living in Australia, had a debt to a telephone company in thailand for an old telephone account or credit card, I am not sure which, and she had forgotten it.

Letters it seems came from the company to her home village but her parents just put them in a drawer

Now it seems they have been to court and gotten a judgement against her

The debt is in her name so their is no holding over her parents as she owns nothing in Thailand and has no assets in Thailand

Her parents now tell her if she does not pay the debt she will have to go to jail

Now this is a civil action not a police or criminal action

In the west civil action are not jail inforceable and most companies when they find there are no assets or means to recover the money find it cheaper to write off the debt

Does and one know how it works in Thailand

[Carib]

Don`t really know how it works in Thailand, but to me, if you have a debt, pay it, and there is no need to worry about jail or anything else.

It wouldn't be nice to be confronted with this when entering Thailand at the passport check, or later on, when maybe your friends as a couple were to live in Thailand and have been blacklisted in one way or another, with banks or other institutions.

We always think that it is not possible in Thailand, but look how far they got now with that debt already.

Don`t let it "bite" when not expected..

[sassienie]

I have been asked a question I need an answer to

My friends wife now living in Australia, had a debt to a telephone company in thailand for an old telephone account or credit card, I am not sure which, and she had forgotten it.

Letters it seems came from the company to her home village but her parents just put them in a drawer

Now it seems they have been to court and gotten a judgement against her

The debt is in her name so their is no holding over her parents as she owns nothing in Thailand and has no assets in Thailand

Her parents now tell her if she does not pay the debt she will have to go to jail

Now this is a civil action not a police or criminal action

In the west civil action are not jail inforceable and most companies when they find there are no assets or means to recover the money find it cheaper to write off the debt

Does and one know how it works in Thailand

I`ll tell you how this works in Thailand, the same as anywhere else in the world, YOU PAY YOUR WAY.

The parents probably have knowledge of their daughters contact address, so why not just pass on the bill, daughter pays it, end of story.

Disgusting attitude, the results being costs increase for those living here, than we all end up footing the bill on your friend`s behalf.

[ozzieman05]

Just for interest

I know if you have a criminal conviction they can link it to you passport

But a Civil action

I would have though half the girls in Bkk are in credit card debt

again can a civil debt incurr police interferance, in my country this is a sheriff recovery duty not the police

[Ski_Goong]

Just for interest

I know if you have a criminal conviction they can link it to you passport

But a Civil action

I would have though half the girls in Bkk are in credit card debt

again can a civil debt incurr police interferance, in my country this is a sheriff recovery duty not the police

I know several people who are in debt. Many have court judgments against them and I've never seen any one of them going to jail for it. There is one infamous lady here. She managed to barrow money from several people totaling over 1 million baht (she even tried to barrow from me through my friend...I laughed). After 3 months she stopped paying them and they took her to court. Of course the lenders won but she told the court she could "only" afford to pay 1500 baht a month total and the court agreed. So that's what she is paying......1500 baht per month until debt is cleared.

[ubonjoe]

Yes she can be put in jail. It's not same here.

My wifes nephew recently got locked up for a motor bike debt. His wife's family had to bail him out.

This bill needs to be settled. Her parents can probably get it taken care if she sends them the money.

[ozzieman05]

Now we have to conflicting opinions

Is there someone who knows the facts on this subject

1) I am told she disagrees with the debt and that she has no intention of paying

2) She is no longer living in Thailand

3) she was never notified that a court action was being taken

4) For and under what logic is it to spend money to recover a debt if the parson must go to jail, tis would be only done in spite as there is no chance they will recover the money if he or she goes to jail

5) This question is not concerned with the moral thought behind the debt just the legal facts

[Soutpeel]

Disgusting attitude, the results being costs increase for those living here, than we all end up footing the bill on your friend`s behalf.

And pray tell why is it disgusting and why will You end up footing the bill ??

A normal judgmental rant, I have come to expect on TV.

The guy was asking the legal stand point, not whether it was right or wrong...

[ozzieman05]

When a Farlang meets a lady In Thailand and they start to get serious, he has no idea of any debts she has incurred in the past, and in most cases she feels he will bail her out anyway

I remember my wife had 8 credit cards, and she never told me about them for a long time after we where together

So this subject may just effect alot of our readers, not just my friend

[Heng]

No jail worries, but she'll never be able to own any property (other than things bought at the mall or supermarket).

The moment her name appears as owner on any land or car title, she'll get a court order within a month or so with the court attempting to seize the property. Said property eventually ends up at auction where more responsible (with money) folks will bid for it.

[GungaDin]

Where are the lawyers who advertise on Thai Visa???

[ozzieman05]

After spending 3 years in Thailand myself, I am amazed the Thai courts would be that efficiant as to be ble to cross match every legal purchase against docs, but I have an open mind

In the west they have a period where all debts are wiped, does this Apply in Thailand

This maybe a good idea for us farlang husbands that are constantly told by our wives we need to buy a house or car in their names, do they have a bad debt register in Thailand, It would be interesting for many of us to check our GF or Thai wife credit history ha ha

[true blue]

most large loans have to have 3 or4 guarantors, mainly from the village were they live so parents usealy chase up there children about letters recieved, so as not to lose face.

[lifeisrandom]

thai visa users sure do have a strong interest in friends of their wives and the wives of their friends

[benjamat]

After spending 3 years in Thailand myself, I am amazed the Thai courts would be that efficiant as to be ble to cross match every legal purchase against docs, but I have an open mind

In the west they have a period where all debts are wiped, does this Apply in Thailand

This maybe a good idea for us farlang husbands that are constantly told by our wives we need to buy a house or car in their names, do they have a bad debt register in Thailand, It would be interesting for many of us to check our GF or Thai wife credit history ha ha

How do you go about checking credit history of thai ladies ?

[Maigo6]

thai visa users sure do have a strong interest in friends of their wives and the wives of their friends

It must be his friend, cos ThaiVisa members only marry rich women from influential families.

[Soutpeel]

thai visa users sure do have a strong interest in friends of their wives and the wives of their friends

It must be his friend, cos ThaiVisa members only marry rich women from influential families.

And you forgot to add .....with at least a bachelors degree, but mostly they have masters or Phd degrees...

[ste860]

right ive been told by a lawyer that the debts stay for 14 years and if arrested for a debt its 200 baht a day in jail until the debt is cleared ie 50000 baht=250 days in jail so for every day in jail 200 baht is cleared of your debt