Less Perks For Thailand Elite Card Holders

[Thaising]

Less Perks For Thailand Elite Card Holders

BANGKOK: - Thailand Privilege Card's board yesterday approved a sharp cut in expenditures that will affect Thailand Elite Card members' privileges.

Board chairman Thongchai Sridama, who is also deputy director-general of the Highways Department, said the cuts were necessary, because losses meant TPC's working capital could cover only this year's costs.

Initially, the annual budget will be cut from Bt541 million to Bt210 million. This will require the board to terminate the Bt77-million management and information-technology service contract signed last year by the board when it was chaired by Sorajak Kasemsuwan, as well as a Bt20-million contract leasing Toyota Alphards for executives.

The board will also slash its annual spending by at least Bt23 million, leaving the organisation Bt190 million per annum.

TPC has reduced the number of golf courses where members can use services for free from 46 to 20 and the number of available spas from 91. Limousine service for members will also be provided in Toyota Camrys rather than BMW 7 Series.

Thongchai said the board was studying further ways to cut costs, including negotiating with Thai Airways International to reduce its lounge-service fee and possibly reducing available hospitals for members and available frequencies for golf course and spas for affiliated members.

TPC has also learned many cardholders are now living in Thailand, which is against the membership criteria and pushes up the operating costs.

"We need to control all of our costs, as well as the number of new members. The more members we have, the higher our costs. Members are granted five-year visas, which could not normally be bought even for Bt100 million or Bt200 million. There have been many loopholes benefiting private partners. Without these cost cuts this year, TPC's extinction would be definite even without a Cabinet resolution to shut it down," he said.

Within the next two months, the new board will present proposals for operating TPC to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa.

One is to maintain members' benefits but transfer TPC employees to another agency, probably the TAT.

-- The Nation 2009-06-04

[Ricardo]

TPC has also learned many cardholders are now living in Thailand, which is against the membership criteria and pushes up the operating costs.

But surely the main reason to buy one of these cards, was the ability to by-pass most visa-formalities, and live here ?

The next biggest reason being the (early-days) claim that foreigners would be able to own land in Thailand.

So it now comes as a surprise, and "is against the membership criteria", that members are using the scheme to do what it said they would be able to do ? Amazing Thailand !

[ukrules]

"Members are granted five-year visas, which could not normally be bought even for Bt100 million or Bt200 million."

From this comment we can see a sample of the mindset behind the visa regulations.

[Soutpeel]

"Members are granted five-year visas, which could not normally be bought even for Bt100 million or Bt200 million."

From this comment we can see a sample of the mindset behind the visa regulations.

Agreed, but I would bet if someone started waving Bt 100 million is some Thai officials face, they would be getting visa privilages pretty quickly...

[Japhrodisiac]

Guide to business in Thailand :

1.Make a set of rules.

2.Market to people.

3.Charge a one-time fee.

4.Revoke priviledges.

5.Blame the customer.

6.Repeat.

[sriracha john]

Board chairman Thongchai Sridama said

"We need to control all of our costs, as well as the number of new members."

There's a really good chance that you'll be very successful at that, Khun Thongchai...

[MHM]

We've had card holders in our business, waving their card in my face and expecting massive discounts and priveleges. Didn't get them very far....

[midas]

This reminded me of Basil at Fawlty Towers

" The more members we have, the higher our costs "

Those damned memebers

[steelepulse]

I thought this one was funny also:

"TPC has also learned many cardholders are now living in Thailand, which is against the membership criteria and pushes up the operating costs."

So what's the point of paying for a 5 year visa if you only want tourists to come for a week or two?  I thought one of the main benefits was that cardholders didn't have to do the normal visa hurdles......Silly me for thinking that.

[bkkjames]

Funny the speaker in the article made no mention of the discovery in the container in the Gulf of Thailand.

I really like the statement "The more members we have the more costs we have.."

I have an idea, why not just re-market the thing to "Thailand Elite Card - One Member Only" To be auctioned off to the highest bidder.

[jfchandler]

TPC has also learned many cardholders are now living in Thailand, which is against the membership criteria and pushes up the operating costs.

-- The Nation 2009.06.04

SHOCKING... ABSOLUTELY SHOCKING... How dare the Elite Card holders actually deign to use their supposed 5-year visas for staying here....

[raro]

so this means next time I come here I have to sit in an iffy Camry? Not sure how to explain this to my golf buddies...

[basjke]

"Members are granted five-year visas, which could not normally be bought even for Bt100 million or Bt200 million."

Hint,be prepared that the 5 year visa will be cancelled soon.

Just waiting to hear how some members gonna argue this time that their 1,5 million baht,or what ever the current price is,still is a good investment.

[Robert44]

They should shut the whole thing down, its been a way for alot of people to milk off huge amounts of money with little benifit to Thailand.

[KrabiMan]

It's been a scam since day one. End of story.

[mrtoad]

If Elite was a horese it would be taken out back and put out of it's misery. However, while a few peole can still dran the coffers further it will limp along. I know one of the employee's and even they are now saying it is a scam. Furthermore, they are indeed laying off staff from next month.

[ovenman]

TPC has also learned many cardholders are now living in Thailand, which is against the membership criteria and pushes up the operating costs.

"We need to control all of our costs, as well as the number of new members. The more members we have, the higher our costs. Members are granted five-year visas, which could not normally be bought even for Bt100 million or Bt200 million."

Jeez, talk about disingenuous. It wasn't all that long ago that Thailand Elite was advertising this long-term visa as being a great benefit to the card and a ready-made end run around the endless changes in visa laws. Anybody recall their banner ad on this forum???

[skorchio]

"Members are granted five-year visas, which could not normally be bought even for Bt100 million or Bt200 million."

From this comment we can see a sample of the mindset behind the visa regulations.

A true comment, it alludes to "you are already privileged to have it". What a load of smegma

[webfact]

From the time when ELITE card was introduced it was already condemned to fail!

Zwizzle IMHO

Edited June 4, 2009 by webfact

[hoozer]

Hint,be prepared that the 5 year visa will be cancelled soon.

Yes - the thing I'd guess most members value most of all, and which costs TPC/TAT next to nothing to provide.

"Members are granted five-year visas, which could not normally be bought even for Bt100 million or Bt200 million."

From this comment we can see a sample of the mindset behind the visa regulations.

Indeed.

Maybe Thailand Elite members can purchase the Thailand Elite domain name at a bargain price and create their own website detailing how the scam went down

[realitymanagement]

My god, what a dangerous scam. Wonder what other paranoid things in this country I'm right about...

[LivinLOS]

Where to start.. Just so many.

Initially, the annual budget will be cut from Bt541 million to Bt210 million. This will require the board to terminate the Bt77-million management and information-technology service contract signed last year by the board when it was chaired by Sorajak Kasemsuwan, as well as a Bt20-million contract leasing Toyota Alphards for executives.

Meaning 5% of total budget was on leasing executives cars !!!

This has been, from stat to finish, a pure example of how to take Farang money and renage on future commitments.. An example to any 'elites' about how business is done here and obvious to anyone who knows the country and its people.

Anyone who bought into it was clearly fooling only themselves. Of course now they will come on here and post how they have already had enough use from its short life to make up for any costs, how it doesnt matter that lifetime has turned into a few years, and how it didnt matter anyway as it was not big money to them.

[scratt]

When I first heard about the Elite card I worked through the maths with my lawyer.

The Elite card is, and always has been, the absolutely most expensive way to get a 5 year visa anyway, and I did not want any of the crappy Spa, Golf or Limo services.

The next most expensive option is to try and go for PR off the back of a Work Permit and a period of uninterrupted trouble free residence in Thailand.

By far the easiest and cheapest way to stay here is to make a company, and do yearly visa renewals, employ a decent Thai lawyer and follow the rules...

So it really is a case of a fool and his money IMO.

[baramunchies]

when i first discovered this card i thought this was a joke from notthenation.com

still can't believe it even existed.

[PeaceBlondie]

From an elegant BMW 7-series to a mere Camry. Next, a Diahatsu Mira Mimt, then a tuk-tuk.

[rinpoche]

They should shut the whole thing down, its been a way for alot of people to milk off huge amounts of money with little benifit to Thailand.

The scheme can give rise to a win-win situation. Nothing will benefit Thailand if the people running the scheme (and not the foreigners) think otherwise.

[sriracha john]

From an elegant BMW 7-series to a mere Camry. Next, a Diahatsu Mira Mimt, then a tuk-tuk.

Bangkok Herald-Examiner

News of the Future Department

June 2, 2010

The last 2 members of Thai Elite Card Program (and their eligible guests) enjoy a relaxing drive through the country-side on their way from Suvarnbhumi Airport to Sombat's Boutique Guesthouse on Khao San Road.

[phiebs]

when i first discovered this card i thought this was a joke from notthenation.com

still can't believe it even existed.

That wins comment of the year for me!

[spaceshipcrew]

If I would own Bt100 million or Bt200 million I would NEVER spend one more satang here !

[thaibkk]

why they just cancel the whole thing

only elite board members are getting something out of it anyway...

many waisted millions