Tea Money And Bribe Money

[yellow1red1]

All the time 'tea money' is posted in Thai Visa. Is there a statistic on how much Thai and expat citizens have to pay run businesses or get out of trouble or do anything? What is the 'size' of tea money in the whole economy?

Bribes from foreigner companies too. How much is paid to officials from overseas every years? any economic estimates?

Is it 'big business' like so many say or urban myth?

[smokie36]

Tea money is currently running at 500 Baht a month. Probably cheaper in Chiang Mai I guess.

[Peterbigeyes]

Tea money is currently running at 500 Baht a month. Probably cheaper in Chiang Mai I guess.

That is good and practical knowledge. Haven't been here long enough to know lol.

[smokie36]

Tea money is currently running at 500 Baht a month. Probably cheaper in Chiang Mai I guess.

That is good and practical knowledge. Haven't been here long enough to know lol.

Sorry I should have pointed out for those who don't know its 1000 Baht.

[moe666]

My tea money comes to about 200 baht a day. I am addicted to Thai Ice tea.

[Peterbigeyes]

Tea money is currently running at 500 Baht a month. Probably cheaper in Chiang Mai I guess.

That is good and practical knowledge. Haven't been here long enough to know lol.

Sorry I should have pointed out for those who don't know its 1000 Baht.

You mean its 1000 baht in Chiang Mai? or generally?

[waza]

Usually when the BIB pull me over I pay 200 baht. When 3 of us were pulled over in Pattaya I paid 200 for the 3 of us. However, I have noticed they are being more covert about it lately.

[smokie36]

You mean its 1000 baht in Chiang Mai? or generally?

I guess its all fairly localised but 500 Baht per month each bar. Nice little earner.....!

[Peterbigeyes]

You mean its 1000 baht in Chiang Mai? or generally?

I guess its all fairly localised but 500 Baht per month each bar. Nice little earner.....!

Ahh.. agreed

[scorecard]

I pay my 500 through a recuring charge to my credit card, saves the hassle of going to the 'tea money' office every month.

[Eazy-Going]

I pay 300bht a month in Udon Thani for business.

With ref to getting stopped by the BiB whilst driving, can be anything from 50bht to 200bht here, depending on the day and how you argue your case.

[bifftastic]

Tea money is currently running at 500 Baht a month. Probably cheaper in Chiang Mai I guess.

That is good and practical knowledge. Haven't been here long enough to know lol.

Sorry I should have pointed out for those who don't know its 1000 Baht.

You mean its 1000 baht in Chiang Mai? or generally?

I think he means it's 1,000 for you 'cos you don't know it's 500 maybe he'll be nice and pay it for you save you the trip to the tea shop

[bifftastic]

I'm not sure how these things are worked out, surely it must be almost impossible to calculate. Maybe we have some economists who can chip in and tell us how these things are estimated.

This link shows comparisons with 'above board' GDP and shows Thailand's underground economy between 1990-93 as 70% compared to it's regular GDP!

[djinn]

It seems I am a lucky guy.

Total tea money since 2003:around 1500 b.Mostly extorted by the immigration long time ago when they were located in soi8 Pattaya

BiB don't stop me usually on the roads.I have a trick

A nice european emblem on my car they don't know.

[robblok]

Last timed i murdered a farang it did not cost me a thing, however Thais are more expensive to kill.

To be honest i find it scary to know people can bribe themselves out of situation it means the law means nothing and your never sure if your right or wrong.

Nice bribing yourself out of speeding... but now everyone is speeding and stuff gets dangerous and your wife gets killed by someone speeding. Do you still think it was good to bribe yourself out of it knowing because its easy for you and easy for anyone it cost you the life of your wife. Many people don't see how dangerous corruption can be. It makes all the lawmaking in vain.

[scorecard]

It seems I am a lucky guy.

Total tea money since 2003:around 1500 b.Mostly extorted by the immigration long time ago when they were located in soi8 Pattaya

BiB don't stop me usually on the roads.I have a trick

A nice european emblem on my car they don't know.

I quickly show my Permanent Resident book. white book with big gold garuda emblem, first page has my photo, following pages dozens of in and out immigration stamps.

Most police don't really understand what the book is and seem to assume that I am some sort of VIP or perhaps embassy staff.

Most times there's an instant change of attitude, lost of politeness, a big salute and lots of help to get me back into the traffic.

This is life!

[mrdeedee]

Tea money is currently running at 500 Baht a month. Probably cheaper in Chiang Mai I guess.

That is good and practical knowledge. Haven't been here long enough to know lol.

Sorry I should have pointed out for those who don't know its 1000 Baht.

i m not a stupid as op....................lol. 500 for what, 1000 for what????????????????? tea????????

[yellow1red1]

I'm not sure how these things are worked out, surely it must be almost impossible to calculate. Maybe we have some economists who can chip in and tell us how these things are estimated.

This link shows comparisons with 'above board' GDP and shows Thailand's underground economy between 1990-93 as 70% compared to it's regular GDP!

Thanks for interesting link. 70% black market !!! probably mostly from Thai on Thai sex trade?

The question came from the claim by Sopon Onkgara that 30% of Thai budget feeds corruption criminals. 30%!!!???

Yup, i was hoping economists would kick in instaed of ignoramitists.

Abhisit needs good people to help ward off scavengers

By Sopon Onkgara

The Nation

Alas. A big chunk, up to 30 per cent in most cases, will be diverted to the pockets of the three partners in the axis of evil in our self-serving politics - politicians, bureaucrats and private contractors. They have already agreed to share the spoils from taxpayers' money.

surprise and have some intelligent forum discussion on the Topic of 30% is the norm for corruption in the economy???

[Forethat]

The total after 3 years in LOS stands at 1120 Baht and 20 Rupies

[yellow1red1]

My tea money comes to about 200 baht a day. I am addicted to Thai Ice tea.

so funny i can't get off the floor

edit; fact is Thai economy would fall apart if corruption was cleaned up. so many police would lose houses and cars, politicians' mia nois would be on the street, overseas universities would have enrollment drop from police and military brats, shopping malls would flounder

better stop corruption slowly

[smokie36]

Tea money is currently running at 500 Baht a month. Probably cheaper in Chiang Mai I guess.

That is good and practical knowledge. Haven't been here long enough to know lol.

Sorry I should have pointed out for those who don't know its 1000 Baht.

i m not a stupid as op....................lol. 500 for what, 1000 for what????????????????? tea????????

Ok have problem in bar?....phone 'em up and they will remove said problem. Or you could look at it the other way....no problems with opening late.....

Cheap at the price.....certainly cheaper than the UK policing....

[astral]

Definitely NOT an urban myth!!

My son and I are members of the Royal Automobile Association of Thailand.

Our badges are on the front of the car.

I guess the police do not know what they mean, but we do get a degree of respect

that was not accorded before we had the badges.

[bifftastic]

I'm not sure how these things are worked out, surely it must be almost impossible to calculate. Maybe we have some economists who can chip in and tell us how these things are estimated.

This link shows comparisons with 'above board' GDP and shows Thailand's underground economy between 1990-93 as 70% compared to it's regular GDP!

Thanks for interesting link. 70% black market !!! probably mostly from Thai on Thai sex trade?

The question came from the claim by Sopon Onkgara that 30% of Thai budget feeds corruption criminals. 30%!!!???

Yup, i was hoping economists would kick in instaed of ignoramitists.

Abhisit needs good people to help ward off scavengers

By Sopon Onkgara

The Nation

Alas. A big chunk, up to 30 per cent in most cases, will be diverted to the pockets of the three partners in the axis of evil in our self-serving politics - politicians, bureaucrats and private contractors. They have already agreed to share the spoils from taxpayers' money.

surprise and have some intelligent forum discussion on the Topic of 30% is the norm for corruption in the economy???

I still don't know how anyone arrives at these figures. I mean, the very nature of 'under the table' payments means you can't just refer to some statistics like you can if you want to show how many new companies have been registered in a year and what they contribute to a country's GDP, for instance.

I like the word 'ignoramitists by the way! I may award myself a point if I can slip that into a conversation without anyone spotting it

[bifftastic]

Tea money is currently running at 500 Baht a month. Probably cheaper in Chiang Mai I guess.

That is good and practical knowledge. Haven't been here long enough to know lol.

Sorry I should have pointed out for those who don't know its 1000 Baht.

i m not a stupid as op....................lol. 500 for what, 1000 for what????????????????? tea????????

Yes, it's for tea. Really really nice tea that you can't get in the shops. Very expensive special tea.

Or... 'tea money' is a euphemism for money that is, allegedly, paid to certain people by business owners in order that their businesses are 'allowed to flourish unhindered'

[Travel2003]

I guess this is the "how long is a piece of string" question.

The bar Im a part owner of pay between 25-30K per month.

For this, we can have open as long as we want (normally 5 AM).

We have a "sit down" each month and look at the days ahead (days closed, holidays with more customers, etc), and agree about a sum.

Nedless to say maybe, but I never participate in the negotiations, so they dont see a foreigner by the table, which would result in a demand for a higher sum.

Some of the bigger (or nore popular) pubs/bars down town, in prime locations, cough up prox 100K per month.

[thaimate]

IN 20 years i have never ever been asked for or paid a bribe ,i dont know what i am doing right ,or wrong

[dmax]

i get asked for money in khon kaen usually twice per month by local and city cops when im stopped in the car driving, even when i produce my international licence . usually 200 baht but if im having a bad day i tell them im broke and in a roundabout way let them know im totally pi**ed off with it and they arent getting a penny, its usually the wife that breaks first. invisible speed cameras and all that ggrrrrrr

[waza]

I know a Thai business owner who pays 10,000 per month, but his factory employes 1,000 workers