Business As Usual For A Bangkok Condo Company?

[REM]

So I'm moving out of the <snip> Rama IV, and it's the best decision I've made since moving to Thailand. I guess this is me venting after a culmination of bad experiences over my year of living here. I moved in in March of last year, and the first condo I had here was nice, but the previous tenant had not paid his cable bills, and in order to transfer my cable account here, they wanted me to pay off his bills or sign up for a new contract through the office. I declined both options, and asked for a new room and got one!!! It was nice and big, but I could see it had some problems.

So the real story starts here in the second room, which is one of their pricier models, and when I pointed out some leaks to them they said they would fix it. After they looked at it, they said it was a structural problem and it would take them 2 months to fix. That was eight months ago. I had asked them for a different room, and they refused to give it to me. I have had to have the air con fixed in my room once every two months because it stops working, and the repair men have stolen 4,000 baht from my room, and jewelry from my girlfriend. They continue to work here.

I have been told that they keep the deposit for 60 days after a tenant moves out in case there are extra bills, and I asked them then why did they want me to pay a cable bill for a past tenant if they keep deposit money for that reason, and they were quiet. The whole thing seems fishy, and I really want to cover myself. Is there anything I can do to safeguard my deposit? I am going to call the electric company and shut off the electric, and flip the switch in the circuit breaker when I leave, but they are wanting to charge me a cleaning fee of 2,000 baht to clean the room because they didn't fix the leaks and it ruined the paint in a few places!!!! It's absolutely ridiculous, and they give the same story to my girlfriend when she speaks with them in Thai!!! Also, the rooms were not clean when we moved in, we had to have each room cleaned twice, and new lightbulbs but in because most of them didn't work. Good use of deposit money from the last tenant!

Would appreciate any similar stories, feedback or help if there are any avenues for me. Thanks! And I guess take this as a warning against the <snip> in Rama IV!

Edited March 18, 2011 by soundman
Removed Hotel name - no naming and shaming on Thai Visa please.

[colinthailand20005]

I am sorry to hear your prediciment, but this is Thailand, count your deposit as gone, if you get it back it will be a bonus, I can't afford to live in a condo so I live in an apartment/mansion, I have always recieved my deposit back on the move out date and have never had more than 500 baht taken out of my final repayment after all electric & water.

If you room isn't 100% perfect when you move in don't take it! I never have so have not had any problems. And make sure when you sign your contract that they give you back the deposit on the day you move out, if they won't agree to it then don't move in, this 60 day refund bulls**t is rubbish its just a way for them to keep your money.

Also as a tennent you are not responsiable for repairing the air conditioner in the room, I would threaten management at the condo, if they don't refund you your money on departure that you will sue them for the bills for repairing the air con. It might get them scared, just mention you have a friend at a law firm, and see what they say.

And with your stolen goods, if I was you I would of taken things alot further with the said person, they would of either given me my money or suffered some damages for sure!

I wish you all the best, and hope you get all your deposit back!

Edited March 18, 2011 by colinthailand20005

[thairookie]

How much rental did you have to pay ?

You should have come join me in Soi Soonvijai. The place where I live is among the favorites for TV3 actors and actresses. The management is impressive.

[Derifo]

I have had similar problems here myself. I fell for it twice, and haven't done so since then until two years ago when my ex who believes she couldn't be cheated by other Thais, fell for it and it.

First case: Soi 34 Petchaburi Rd. I just got here and rented that place after staying at a hotel for two weeks. When I checked out, the manager told me to come back for my deposit the next day because they had to check things. I asked them to do them while I wait, but he refused. The next morning, I came and was shocked at the various bills. I asked for the keys to the room to check things out for myself, but was told they couldn't find the key. I went to the room only to see the meter spinning very fast and could hear loud music. They had rented out the room. Well, I only got 700 baht refunded out of 6,000 baht.

Second case: I rented a room to stay whenever I had problems with my wife. When I was ready to check out, I was told to hand in the keys and come back for my deposit ( only 3,000 baht ) after one month. I refused and told them I would keep the key and continue to use the room for that one month, so they called a lady married to a farang to interpret. They told her I'd not given them a month's notice, so I had to wait for one month to get my deposit back, but I told her they were telling a lie. She then asked them in English, and they couldn't deny the fact. She told them to pay up or that I'd hold on to the key. They paid immediately.

Third case: Rama 3: The owner of the condo asked for her keys when we checked out and told us that she would refund the deposit when the electricity bill came, as we had paid the water and service bills ourselves. I told my wife to show her all our previous bills, so she could just deduct twice the amount from the 10,000 deposit, but she just said, "Don't worry, I trust her, she wouldn't do anything bad to me." Two months later, she stopped answering my wife's calls, so as we'd only moved into the very next building, my wife, who'd been warned by neighbors that the money was lost, went back to the condo ( with the help of those neighbors ) and confiscated the washing machine from there. Those same neighbors called the landlady who called the police and when they came to our apartment, my wife told the police the whole story. The landlady told the polce she was going to refund the money at the end of the month, forgetting that it was 8 P.M. on the 31st of the month. The police told her what day and time it was, and she couldn't say anything. She was asked to refund us before midnight, and my wife was asked to return the washing machine immediately. One hour later, we got our money back.

I have an agreement with my present landlady that says I'd stop paying rent two months before I move out.

[REM]

Thanks for the stories guys. I was paying 18,000 a month. It's good to hear similar stories, and I've never had this problem either!!! I think it will turn out alright....at least I hope so! My new place is through the owner, not a company. He's cool, and the contract is two pages, not 5 like the current one!

[eMzyme]

sorry slighty confused was it an apartment or a condo? was the room through an agent?

[MarioZwepink]

How much rental did you have to pay ?

You should have come join me in Soi Soonvijai. The place where I live is among the favorites for TV3 actors and actresses. The management is impressive.

Hi there,

I wanted to know more about your place in Soi Soonvijai, is it near the Bangkok Hospital? And is it a serviced condo?

Anyway, if you have some more info on name, location and rates (though maybe its not that cheap as all the Thai 'daraa' are living there) would be great

Thanks so much and have a good start of the week

Best

Mario