Organized Service Exchange Program For Expat Individuals

[jdinasia]

Foreigner are allowed to stay in Thailand to spend money not to start taking the jobs of local people, There are plenty here that fix computers, give massages, read tarot cards and what ever other services that offered by these schemes.

This is true for retirees, it isn't necessarily true for others. The simple fact is that if this kind of thing WERE legal in Thailand (it isn't), it would probably lead to an increase in the amount of money required to obtain the right to retire in Thailand. People looking for a green-card system in Thailand where they can do whatever they want to generate personal wealth really should consider alternate destinations for retirement.

Many of us work here, with legitimate WP's and get paid well above the minimum required for retirement in Thailand because we have needed skills, many more of us work here in Thailand with legitimate WP's because we have invested significant funds into the system here and are helping both with the influx of foreign currency AND with employing locals. We are allowed to reap the benefits of the sweat of our labor and the risk of our investments. To think that it would be acceptable to work whilst retired and evade taxation just doesn't make much sense for a country that is giving you the right to remain simply because of your spending power.

[noise]

Jingthing suggested, "....There is a central organization keeping track of TIME CREDITS for all the participants."

If you agree to landscape the mayor's yard for 100 credits, you do the work and get the credits. Then you want a 52" HDTV that the TV guy wants 100 credits for. But he lives in a condo so he doesn't need your landscaping labor. So what do you do? You ask the "central organization" for a certificate to transfer your credits to the TV guy (he wants proof you have them before you can take it home).

What is money if it is not just the "print out" of those credits? Is it not just a formalized way of exchanging labor?

[chooch7]

money is much easier.it would be hard to find A plumber who needs rice trees

[bangkokcitylimits]

Thailand should get the option of a 'volunteer visa' that is more easy to get then a work permit. It's total bs that you need a work permit just to do volunteer work ! But I gave up this country already, their system it's never ever gonna work at all.

In Holland I joined a 'barter system' for several years and it's big fun and good for people, never baked so many butter cakes in all my life and my garden looked always neath and got 'free' massages every week, lol.

[Jingthing]

Foreigner are allowed to stay in Thailand to spend money not to start taking the jobs of local people, There are plenty here that fix computers, give massages, read tarot cards and what ever other services that offered by these schemes.

Foreigners here have life experiences and skills in many areas that are often not easily available in Thailand. I have read Freakonomics. So what? In the Thai environment, foreigners probably wouldn't be giving massages, but they may teach Spanish or 1000 other things foreigners would usually be better than Thais at even if you could find Thais to do it. People aren't getting that this idea as done in the US is based on IDEALISM and community spirit not greed, and yes one hour for one hour does show it is not a traditional commercial barter scheme.

Again, I know this would be illegal. I still find it interesting that something that MAY be good for us, and no I don't believe it would really be bad for Thailand, is illegal.

Edited March 26, 2011 by Jingthing

[jimbeam1]

jingthing. I do agree with your Idea. I do though see problems, with folk maybe hanging about to build up their hours, as one example. (human nature)

The other factor as Bangkok/cl has mentioned, Visa, as in it could/would still be classed as work. As is the case if you want to help here and work for free (volunteer)you still need a Visa.

jb1

[housepainter]

What clearly undermines this barter idea is the far better helping hand. Do it for free and not because there's something in it for me. Selfishness nil. Good feeling one.

That is to have help, freely given by neighbours, friends or someone that someone else knows. That contact can be extended via the net to cover an entire Tambon, Province or country.

Take out the money, the barter, the 'banked hours' that sounds as tangible as catching the fog, and simply volunteer your service, time, labour. If we have an ex-pat community [which I personally believe we don't] then why not pass some of our ample time being occupied enabling someone else to improve their lot.

For their to be an expat community it must interests other than the commonality of foreigners living abroad. A point of contact has to be established and a purpose too. The voluntary idea of providinh help and advice achieves just that.

Examples of expat contacts such as the 'Pattaya expats Club' that Neils colov is President of is nothing other than a disguised news exchange that services a select number of business interests. In deed, it's charitable activities do not publish their accounts. There is no publication of where any monies go. Make your own mind up on that one.

Hence, any legitimate system must avoid money exchange and in Thailand the barter system[!] too.

Voluntary is safe, sound and harmless.

There's no way spending time at someone else's place, doing whatever it may be, is any way near illegal, or avoiding tax, or going anywhere near money issues. For example, a bike won't start. Instantly, there's a bloke telling you it's the carbs, another the battery, yet another knows it's the plugs and you put your money on it being out of gas. Everyone is itching to tweak this, tighten that and twidlle those. Now if this happens on the street you all stand around, do your bit and drift away. But at home you get the barbie going, open a few cans [wisely afterwards] and call it a CBR service party, as by the time you're done the whole bike will have been rebuilt!

Be honest [for once!] and admit it; we like doing this kind of thing and for free.

Has anyone heard of the word 'hobby'?

Problem solved then.

And as for all of the retired ex-pats who have a multiplicity of skills that are currently going untapped there are numerous examples of blogs where someone is asking for advice [How do I change the tiles in the bathroom?] and it is freely given. But what also happens is that bloggers offer their time and expertise [i'm in Bang-Na, where are you as I have Saturday pm free?] and this illustrates a method that operates and achieves all of the 'barter' bull shine without the possibility of alerting the Police to concern themselves over something they don't understand.

Givng your time, volunteering, is a concept grasped worldwide.

The only flaw in my recommendation is the selfish and hidden agendas others operate by.

However, it's a start to ask can anyone help with / offer advice on.....? Equally, honest and decent persons only will respond as they are volunteering, and that takes a special breed. I think the Provinces would benefit from it and places like Pattaya would never get it off the ground.

That makes me a Central Plains man. Central Plains and plain speaking.

[Igor]

Yes, I've heard about these sorts of things. Not to be elitist but how does one hour of my long-educated and extensively-trained time = an hour of gardening? Sorry, someone's always going to feel cheated.

[rafish]

Bartering isn't looked on very highly by most Western governments, since there is no money changing hands and therefore no tax to collect.

Isn't that the only reason these schemes exist to avoid tax and big brother?

No! These days it's about people being cash poor and wanting to share with their community in a fair way. The reason this is growing in America is because the economy is historically horrible and people are being creative in sharing without cash. The impulse does not have to be corrupt! This is about PRIVATE PEOPLE, not about small business sharing services. See the difference?

I bring it up in the Thai context to show another example of how tight our leashes are here. Not saying such a program would be well used in Thailand or not. I think it might in large expat areas, but it can't even be tested. Before you say, it's the same for expats in every country. No, I really think that's false.

I am not saying don't move to Thailand because we can't do this thing here. I am obviously pointing to a larger view of our legal rights situation here. It isn't so good. Recently someone posting a survey about how unwelcome immigrants and diverse peoples were in Thailand compared to most of the rest of the world. With Thailand now officially no longer "cheap" I just want to add that thought to people considering moving here. It used to be quite frankly the cheap factor trumped everything else for many people, but now that it isn't cheap, Thailand can be compared with other expat destinations that are also not so cheap more OBJECTIVELY.

Regarding "legal rights issues," for expats, I might inform you that "legal rights issues affect Thai's as well. All one has to do is read the postings of the Thai police wherein a 17 year of girl from Laos was cut in half by the driver of a new Porsche in Bangkok. The driver ran as is common practice for Thai driver's. This resulted in the father of the driver telling the police he will submit to the police after he completes his regrets to his own dead relatives. The police place a 200,000 baht head fee to be paid by the driver or his family for the death of this 17 year old. My question to you friend is; just how much are you willing to barter for your life? No doubt as is the case of the teenage female driver who killed 11 people on the highway overpass in Bangkok, nothing will be done, no charges and very little head fee involved for Hi-so people. Great double standards here not just about ex-pats.

[Jingthing]

Never mind! It's illegal anyway. If you're in the US in an area with one of these programs going, you may want to check it out or maybe not ...

(I have requested thread closure.)

Edited March 27, 2011 by Jingthing

[metisdead]

Closed per OP's request.