"tea Money"...good Or Bad, Advantage Vs Disadvantage

[krisb]

tea' mon"ey

(esp. in parts of China) a bribe used to facilitate any business dealing.

Ok, just a quick definition of the word (from google) in case you have never heard of it. Its called "paying tea money"

Most have heard of it, its not uncommon in countries outside of S.E Asia. Ive read heaps about BIB demanding cash from traffic incidences on here. Seems to really pee alot of us right off!....Fair enough I say, until now.

We just got my wifes son into a course he wanted to do but didnt think it was possible, hes not the sharpest tool in the shed, until "tea money" became involved. "Welcome aboard, your in son!

Krap."

That easy it was....Woohoo!

So, "tea money", its a polite (I suppose) word for bribes...the good the bad and the ugly...,but has it worked as a positive for you before?....

[Soutpeel]

tea money....Pure captialism at its best

[kennedy]

My yearly thank you to immigration for a job well done.

[Terry Newman]

The Thais like to use poetry like tea money for bribes and corrupt pricks.

And graft for stealing

Want to make you vomit ????

[smokie36]

Depends upon the context used.

Pure theft is just that whereas oiling someones wheels is a different matter if things are concluded happily for both parties.

Tricky.

[Morakot]

The Thais like to use poetry like tea money for bribes and corrupt pricks.

Fifty years ago!?

[MrRealDeal]

The same concept applys in the US just in a different way , is taking your client out to an expensive dinner or on trips to "conventions" in Vegas not tea money ? People build wings on to Hospitals or Donate large amounts to some civc organisation as a way to get favored status from town councils all the time.

Even small things like buying a police booster sticker for your car are a from of donating to the police and putting a sticker on your car in hopes they notice it if they pull you over.

You think people in the US donate 5 million dollars to campaigns and not expect anything for it ?

Is it good ort bad ? It depends I guess , but it's a fact of life that's not going to change so I don't care.

[kennedy]

Depends upon the context used.

Pure theft is just that whereas oiling someones wheels is a different matter if things are concluded happily for both parties.

Tricky.

You said better than I did.

[krisb]

My yearly thank you to immigration for a job well done.

I'll pm you later

[Morakot]

My yearly thank you to immigration for a job well done.

I'll pm you later

Done!

[rene123]

tea money....Pure captialism at its best

I tend to think so. It's another form of not paying taxes to support honest folk. The USA works entirely on that principle. The big Oil mogals use that system to their advantage.

[farang000999]

Most talk of tea money has to do with government officials being the takers. That is not capitalism, that is cronyism and one of the reasons why Thailand is a poor country.

[notmyself]

Makes my life easier that's for sure. The down side is that it has become such a way of life over the years that I unknowlingly try to offer bribes in other countries such as Aus or the UK.

[whybother]

Paying the 200 baht to the BIB to avoid some hassle is the same as paying 3 million baht to avoid murder / manslaughter charges.

[MrRealDeal]

Not exactly because the 3 mill usually goes to a victum not to the police ...... but it's an interesting point

[VocalNeal]

Not exactly because the 3 mill usually goes to a victum not to the police

What? Were have you been hiding?

[loong]

We just got my wifes son into a course he wanted to do but didnt think it was possible, hes not the sharpest tool in the shed, until "tea money" became involved. "Welcome aboard, your in son! Krap."

So he gets into the course by paying. Will he be able to complete the course? Will it cost more tea money for him to graduate?

Maybe he will get a job, but there must be a good chance that he will be kicked out when his employers realise that he is a Dumbo

[MrRealDeal]

Not exactly because the 3 mill usually goes to a victum not to the police

What? Were have you been hiding?

Obviously not all of it goes to the victum but in settlements of that sort they are settlements to the victum ..... if you have some other opinion please explain

[robblok]

Tea money,

You always screw someone because of it.

Constructor and government official after some tea money not the best but the worst get the job and isnt checked for doing a good job. Constructor happy, government official who is bribed happy. Looser, tax payer or people using the construction

Paying your way from a drunk driving charge

You happy police happy next time you drink again because you can get out of it.. and this time you hit and kill someone... guess who isn't happy.

School example.. others who got in the school on their merits aren't happy because if they let stupid guys in and graduate it brings the value of the diploma down.

Anyway call me a moralist, i think tea money is wrong. But i don't deny it can be useful for the people involved.

[VocalNeal]

Not exactly because the 3 mill usually goes to a victum not to the police

What? Were have you been hiding?

Obviously not all of it goes to the victum but in settlements of that sort they are settlements to the victum ..... if you have some other opinion please explain

It depends a lot on the status of the victim or the victims family. But the amounts relatively are very small compared to the millions of dollars that can be paid to the police or judiciary. Should someone, say, run over a policeman when driving a Ferrari

[manarak]

I draw the line at criminal activity and actions that are directly detrimental to other people.

There are many situations in which officials can decide one way or another without breaking the law and situations where procedures can be sped up.

In these situations, I think tea money is harmless.

I also consider bribing oneself out of a police incident such as drunk driving or speeding not to be too bad, because traffic safety is a matter of statistics, not a matter of individual or coincidential situations.

But bribes to allow for doing damage to other people's wellbeing or property are evil in nature.

[whybother]

I draw the line at criminal activity and actions that are directly detrimental to other people.

There are many situations in which officials can decide one way or another without breaking the law and situations where procedures can be sped up.

In these situations, I think tea money is harmless.

I also consider bribing oneself out of a police incident such as drunk driving or speeding not to be too bad, because traffic safety is a matter of statistics, not a matter of individual or coincidential situations.

But bribes to allow for doing damage to other people's wellbeing or property are evil in nature.

"situations where procedures can be sped up. In these situations, I think tea money is harmless."

It's not harmless to the people that are delayed by others queue jumping.

[StreetCowboy]

Santika

[manarak]

I draw the line at criminal activity and actions that are directly detrimental to other people.

There are many situations in which officials can decide one way or another without breaking the law and situations where procedures can be sped up.

In these situations, I think tea money is harmless.

I also consider bribing oneself out of a police incident such as drunk driving or speeding not to be too bad, because traffic safety is a matter of statistics, not a matter of individual or coincidential situations.

But bribes to allow for doing damage to other people's wellbeing or property are evil in nature.

"situations where procedures can be sped up. In these situations, I think tea money is harmless."

It's not harmless to the people that are delayed by others queue jumping.

you are right in theory, but do you have experience of working in an administration?

to tackle the extra cases, they usually just put in extra work to get more through.

and paying is a good way to prioritize important tasks over less important tasks (because the tea money is mainly business related).

[theblether]

Tea money = dead people.

[whybother]

you are right in theory, but do you have experience of working in an administration?

to tackle the extra cases, they usually just put in extra work to get more through.

and paying is a good way to prioritize important tasks over less important tasks (because the tea money is mainly business related).

I had a translated document verified by the Dept of Foreign Affairs today. 400 baht for a 2 day turnaround, or 800 baht for a same day express service. I don't see it as "tea money" when it is clearly advertised and available to anyone. It is when it is under the table that it is a problem, particularly when it is deliberately delayed when "tea money" is not paid.

[jvs]

So a little bit is tea money,more money is a bribe and a lot of money is corruption.

Seems to me corruption works well for the people who can afford it.

No matter how you call it is a part of life here and no way to get around it,a lot more in your face here compared to farang countries.

[manarak]

you are right in theory, but do you have experience of working in an administration?

to tackle the extra cases, they usually just put in extra work to get more through.

and paying is a good way to prioritize important tasks over less important tasks (because the tea money is mainly business related).

I had a translated document verified by the Dept of Foreign Affairs today. 400 baht for a 2 day turnaround, or 800 baht for a same day express service. I don't see it as "tea money" when it is clearly advertised and available to anyone. It is when it is under the table that it is a problem, particularly when it is deliberately delayed when "tea money" is not paid.

yes, this clearly does not qualify as tea money

[Beechboy]

I think it is one of the less admirable traits of human nature.

It is crookery in every way, shape and form. It encourages dishonesty and law-breaking. It favours those with money and those who are corrupt.

Any civilised socirty needs to be maintained by laws and by lawmakers and enforcers who are beyond reproach.

The latter is, of course, impossible to achieve totally, but to openly ignore, encourage or praise basic bribery is detrimental to the interests of all decent people.

Sermon over.

[theblether]

Tea Money get's you this...........

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-19292531

and this..............

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/15/shanghai-fire-kills-8-in-_n_783446.html

and this.............

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16345592

It's what happens when you can't trust the agencies to enforce the laws, you end up with shoddy construction, management and out and out negligence/ dereliction of duty.

There's many a person dropping dead every year in Thailand due to poor wiring and other building related issues, the government could bring in World class construction regulations and I think we know they wouldn't be worth the paper they would be written on.

Beechboy is right.