Enforcement Of Thai Debts On My Way Out?

[FunFon]

For those not interested in wading through the whole sob story, feel free to skip to the bottom-line question at the end.

I'm working on settling up as much as I can of my shamblous affairs here and heading home assisted by loans from family and possible embassy repatriation arrangements. My largest debt is over a year's worth of back rent to my landlord - she's been unusually patient and trusting with me of course, and I fully intend to repay the whole debt as soon as I can, but won't be able to clear more than a fraction of it before leaving the country.

My plan is to get everything I'm planning on taking with me or posting back home out of the house before broaching the issue with her, so that if she tries to take a hard line locking the door to take possession of my meager furniture, boxes and boxes of books and (mostly broken at this point) appliances, I'm happy to let her do so.

I've been informed by Thais that she could in theory have me locked up, but of course in practice she'd have to find me first, and I believe her only contact would be with the upcountry home of the parents of my wife at the time when I signed the lease six years ago, we've divorced over four years ago and they wouldn't know my physical location.

I'm 90% sure from our past very pleasant working relationship that she'll be OK with a couple of months' now and take my word that I'm good for the rest over the next year or so once I get a job back home, but obviously trying to prevent the situation from making this more impossible for me than they already are, my already very strained negotiations with those helping me won't support at all just paying the whole lot out before I go and if I'm stuck here much longer things will just go even further downhill, possible leading to my having to give the children up to ex-inlaws grandma dirt shack out in the rice paddies, which I certainly would rather not do. . .

===============

So other than the "general request for useful information never mind the high-horsing judgmental pronouncements please" I guess my biggest question is:

Has anyone heard of a bad debt being used to actually block a foreigner's exit from the country? And if so, are the systems such these days that the land borders and the airport would be covered concurrently by the same notice?

Edit - I realize this is asking a bit much for this crowd, but I'd greatly appreciate it if the specific questions/issues could be addressed with the goal of helping me out with real information, ideally by people with actual knowledge rather than sheer speculation. . .

Edited April 11, 2013 by FunFon

[The Investigator]

Not personal experience but there was the recent case of the gay couple and the landlord that forced them to stay here for 4 years,during appeal after appeal over some allegedly broken furniture.

I think the reality here is you have to put yourself in your landlady's shoes and ask how you'd feel if a tenant owing 12 months rent told you that they were off to their home country...but they promised they'd pay you back some time in the unspecified future?

The road to hell is paved with good intentions and I think your best bet (and you must know this) is just to disappear in the middle of the night with whatever you can carry.Otherwise you may find that the smiles disappear very quickly and you may find yourself in a whole heap of trouble!

If you're planning to pay off the landlady anyway what difference does it make how you leave?Do yourself a favour and do it extremely covertly,anything else would just be foolish and naive in the extreme!

Edited April 11, 2013 by The Investigator

[FunFon]

Not personal experience but there was the recent case of the gay couple and the landlord that forced them to stay here for 4 years,during appeal after appeal over some allegedly broken furniture.

I think the reality here is you have to put yourself in your landlady's shoes and ask how you'd feel if a tenant owing 12 months rent told you that they were off to their home country...but they promised they'd pay you back some time in the unspecified future?

The road to hell is paved with good intentions and I think your best bet (and you must know this) is just to disappear in the middle of the night with whatever you can carry.Otherwise you may find that the smiles disappear very quickly and you may find yourself in a whole heap of trouble!

If you're planning to pay off the landlady anyway what difference does it make how you leave?Do yourself a favour and do it extremely covertly,anything else would just be foolish and naive in the extreme!

-

The problem is she's good friends with all the neighbors, so I think the best I can do is get the amount of stuff out I'm heading home with without attracting their attention.

The rest is a very solid moving lorry's worth of stuff, more than you could pack into three regular song taews.

So if I start moving all that stuff out without having discussed the issue with her she'll obviously think I'm trying to do a real runner on her and make it more likely that she'll take that kind of drastic action.

Basically my plan is to do as you say but contact her before she knows what's going on, let her know of my intentions, and then if she's going to try to take drastic action anyway - which as I said I honestly think is very unlikely, as evidenced by the fact that she's cut me that kind of slack - nearly 14 months at this point over the last three years, never mentioning interest etc!

If she is going to try, I've basically already done the runner, but it will still take another few weeks to get one of my child's passports issued, have to transfer the ex-wife's visas etc, will be camping out at various family and friends couches for the time between vacating the house and actually being able to leave the country.

Hence my very specific key question as to specific practicalities . . .

If anyone can point to the thread about the gay couple, maybe that discusses the actual police/court/border mechanics of how they were prevented from leaving the country.

Edited April 11, 2013 by FunFon

[Tywais]

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/628326-british-man-trapped-in-thailand-for-four-years-is-back-home/

Rather than packing your stuff and taking it why don't you sell it to her for the back rent? Seems more fair than the picture I'm seeing at the moment.

[FunFon]

Doesn't even come close to 5% of the value, stuff wouldn't be worth her time trying to sell, most of the appliances broke a long time ago, never did buy much furniture.

The stuff I'm taking out of the house first thing I get back to BKK - before I broach the subject with her - two checked and one carry-on - doesn't have resale value, just important to my livelihood, clothes kids favourite books and toys etc.

Heading for bed now, check back in 8-9 hours. . .

Edited April 11, 2013 by FunFon

[Beetlejuice]

Not personal experience but there was the recent case of the gay couple and the landlord that forced them to stay here for 4 years,during appeal after appeal over some allegedly broken furniture.

I think the reality here is you have to put yourself in your landlady's shoes and ask how you'd feel if a tenant owing 12 months rent told you that they were off to their home country...but they promised they'd pay you back some time in the unspecified future?

The road to hell is paved with good intentions and I think your best bet (and you must know this) is just to disappear in the middle of the night with whatever you can carry.Otherwise you may find that the smiles disappear very quickly and you may find yourself in a whole heap of trouble!

If you're planning to pay off the landlady anyway what difference does it make how you leave?Do yourself a favour and do it extremely covertly,anything else would just be foolish and naive in the extreme!

-

The problem is she's good friends with all the neighbors, so I think the best I can do is get the amount of stuff out I'm heading home with without attracting their attention.

The rest is a very solid moving lorry's worth of stuff, more than you could pack into three regular song taews.

So if I start moving all that stuff out without having discussed the issue with her she'll obviously think I'm trying to do a real runner on her and make it more likely that she'll take that kind of drastic action.

Basically my plan is to do as you say but contact her before she knows what's going on, let her know of my intentions, and then if she's going to try to take drastic action anyway - which as I said I honestly think is very unlikely, as evidenced by the fact that she's cut me that kind of slack - nearly 14 months at this point over the last three years, never mentioning interest etc!

If she is going to try, I've basically already done the runner, but it will still take another few weeks to get one of my child's passports issued, have to transfer the ex-wife's visas etc, will be camping out at various family and friends couches for the time between vacating the house and actually being able to leave the country.

Hence my very specific key question as to specific practicalities . . .

If anyone can point to the thread about the gay couple, maybe that discusses the actual police/court/border mechanics of how they were prevented from leaving the country.

One year’s back rent to my landlord is owed? This lady is either extremely stupid or a saint. Unusually patient must be the under statement of the century.

If you knew you had severe financial problems over a year ago, you should have taken the appropriate action at the time and not left the situation until it reached this level. Do you really believe that people will sympathize and want to advise you on how to hoodwink this kind, generous lady? Out of interest, how much do you actually owe this unfortunate lady? Must be literally in the thousands. Renting a home that you could not afford. Not only is she out your one year`s rent, but also another year`s rent if she had rented to a proper paying tenant in the first place.

You are typical as one of my main reasons that I try to avoid other expats here. A sneak and irresponsible. If you had been my tenant, your ar-e and junk would have been out the door months ago.

Why should your problems become this nice lady’s problems? If I personally knew this lady, I would grass you up with no hesitation.

Here is an answer to your question:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/628326-british-man-trapped-in-thailand-for-four-years-is-back-home/?hl=landlord

I sincerely hope that you get pulled in before boarding the plane and making your escape route and there is a strong chance that you will.

Perhaps we maybe reading about you in the news clippings section next week?

BTW: running away from a debt with intent, is a criminal act.

Edited April 11, 2013 by Beetlejuice

[MrWorldwide]

It's a bizarre day indeed when I find myself agreeing with Beetlejuice, but that time has come. The OP has been able to remain in Thailand for the last 12 months, presumably finding money for everything but the rent ?? How many here would try to leave a hotel without paying the bill ?

funfon, if this is a windup, you have a bloody perverse sense of humor. I'm particularly stunned that you would bring this to a board that you know (courtesy of roughly 50-posts-per-day) is extremely judgemental, particularly of Farang who add to the negative image many Thai people already have of foreigners. It would seem that you found one of the few genuinely trusting souls in LOS and rewarded her for her trust by spending your remaining funds on everything bar the rent - extremely poor form, IMO.

I expect that there is a failed business or somesuch in there somewhere, and some sort of heroic 'I did everything I could to salvage my life in Thailand', but you pay your freaking rent before you do anything each month, Amigo. Those of us who have to put up with the weekend warrior tag - not to mention the bloody depressing taxi ride back to Swampy - cop plenty from expats : to come here and read this kind of bleating ('ooh, will they try to stop me fleeing the country ?') just turns my stomach. Man up, <deleted>, and dont post another word until you've repaid every Satang. I'm all for people digging themselves out of holes, but I'd prefer to hear about it AFTER you've extricated yourself from said hole - if they throw you in the monkey house, I doubt that too many here will shed a tear.

[Mrjlh]

Considering all she needs to do is notify the BiB that you are a slacker and may try to leave the country, they only need to put a passport hold on you and you are off to jail when you try to leave. Depends completely on how fast they can notify Immigration. You signed a lease and she has all the information she needs. Ask the question. "do you want to visit a Thai Jail as a permanent resident?" You are taking advantage of a very trusting Lady. I would have kicked you out by now.

I'd suggest you find a way to get the money and pay her off before you leave. Be it credit card or friends and family.

[mad mary]

It's a bizarre day indeed when I find myself agreeing with Beetlejuice, but that time has come. The OP has been able to remain in Thailand for the last 12 months, presumably finding money for everything but the rent ?? How many here would try to leave a hotel without paying the bill ?

funfon, if this is a windup, you have a bloody perverse sense of humor. I'm particularly stunned that you would bring this to a board that you know (courtesy of roughly 50-posts-per-day) is extremely judgemental, particularly of Farang who add to the negative image many Thai people already have of foreigners. It would seem that you found one of the few genuinely trusting souls in LOS and rewarded her for her trust by spending your remaining funds on everything bar the rent - extremely poor form, IMO.

I expect that there is a failed business or somesuch in there somewhere, and some sort of heroic 'I did everything I could to salvage my life in Thailand', but you pay your freaking rent before you do anything each month, Amigo. Those of us who have to put up with the weekend warrior tag - not to mention the bloody depressing taxi ride back to Swampy - cop plenty from expats : to come here and read this kind of bleating ('ooh, will they try to stop me fleeing the country ?') just turns my stomach. Man up, <deleted>, and dont post another word until you've repaid every Satang. I'm all for people digging themselves out of holes, but I'd prefer to hear about it AFTER you've extricated yourself from said hole - if they throw you in the monkey house, I doubt that too many here will shed a tear.

Ohworldyone said "just turns my stomach. Man up, <deleted>, and dont post another word until you've repaid every Satang"

Between you and beetlejuice threatening to grass up the OP ,you come across as a right pair of narks.

[smokie36]

It's a bizarre day indeed when I find myself agreeing with Beetlejuice, but that time has come. The OP has been able to remain in Thailand for the last 12 months, presumably finding money for everything but the rent ?? How many here would try to leave a hotel without paying the bill ?

funfon, if this is a windup, you have a bloody perverse sense of humor. I'm particularly stunned that you would bring this to a board that you know (courtesy of roughly 50-posts-per-day) is extremely judgemental, particularly of Farang who add to the negative image many Thai people already have of foreigners. It would seem that you found one of the few genuinely trusting souls in LOS and rewarded her for her trust by spending your remaining funds on everything bar the rent - extremely poor form, IMO.

I expect that there is a failed business or somesuch in there somewhere, and some sort of heroic 'I did everything I could to salvage my life in Thailand', but you pay your freaking rent before you do anything each month, Amigo. Those of us who have to put up with the weekend warrior tag - not to mention the bloody depressing taxi ride back to Swampy - cop plenty from expats : to come here and read this kind of bleating ('ooh, will they try to stop me fleeing the country ?') just turns my stomach. Man up, <deleted>, and dont post another word until you've repaid every Satang. I'm all for people digging themselves out of holes, but I'd prefer to hear about it AFTER you've extricated yourself from said hole - if they throw you in the monkey house, I doubt that too many here will shed a tear.

Ohworldyone said "just turns my stomach. Man up, <deleted>, and dont post another word until you've repaid every Satang"

Between you and beetlejuice threatening to grass up the OP ,you come across as a right pair of narks.

You come across as a sympathiser. Why not lend the OP a couple of grand to sort out his problems?

[mad mary]

It's a bizarre day indeed when I find myself agreeing with Beetlejuice, but that time has come. The OP has been able to remain in Thailand for the last 12 months, presumably finding money for everything but the rent ?? How many here would try to leave a hotel without paying the bill ?

funfon, if this is a windup, you have a bloody perverse sense of humor. I'm particularly stunned that you would bring this to a board that you know (courtesy of roughly 50-posts-per-day) is extremely judgemental, particularly of Farang who add to the negative image many Thai people already have of foreigners. It would seem that you found one of the few genuinely trusting souls in LOS and rewarded her for her trust by spending your remaining funds on everything bar the rent - extremely poor form, IMO.

I expect that there is a failed business or somesuch in there somewhere, and some sort of heroic 'I did everything I could to salvage my life in Thailand', but you pay your freaking rent before you do anything each month, Amigo. Those of us who have to put up with the weekend warrior tag - not to mention the bloody depressing taxi ride back to Swampy - cop plenty from expats : to come here and read this kind of bleating ('ooh, will they try to stop me fleeing the country ?') just turns my stomach. Man up, <deleted>, and dont post another word until you've repaid every Satang. I'm all for people digging themselves out of holes, but I'd prefer to hear about it AFTER you've extricated yourself from said hole - if they throw you in the monkey house, I doubt that too many here will shed a tear.

Ohworldyone said "just turns my stomach. Man up, <deleted>, and dont post another word until you've repaid every Satang"

Between you and beetlejuice threatening to grass up the OP ,you come across as a right pair of narks.

You come across as a sympathiser. Why not lend the OP a couple of grand to sort out his problems?

You come across as a bit of a nosey old neighbour ..Why don't you go hang out ye washing ,ye know rinse all that money you have .

[smokie36]

It's a bizarre day indeed when I find myself agreeing with Beetlejuice, but that time has come. The OP has been able to remain in Thailand for the last 12 months, presumably finding money for everything but the rent ?? How many here would try to leave a hotel without paying the bill ?

funfon, if this is a windup, you have a bloody perverse sense of humor. I'm particularly stunned that you would bring this to a board that you know (courtesy of roughly 50-posts-per-day) is extremely judgemental, particularly of Farang who add to the negative image many Thai people already have of foreigners. It would seem that you found one of the few genuinely trusting souls in LOS and rewarded her for her trust by spending your remaining funds on everything bar the rent - extremely poor form, IMO.

I expect that there is a failed business or somesuch in there somewhere, and some sort of heroic 'I did everything I could to salvage my life in Thailand', but you pay your freaking rent before you do anything each month, Amigo. Those of us who have to put up with the weekend warrior tag - not to mention the bloody depressing taxi ride back to Swampy - cop plenty from expats : to come here and read this kind of bleating ('ooh, will they try to stop me fleeing the country ?') just turns my stomach. Man up, <deleted>, and dont post another word until you've repaid every Satang. I'm all for people digging themselves out of holes, but I'd prefer to hear about it AFTER you've extricated yourself from said hole - if they throw you in the monkey house, I doubt that too many here will shed a tear.

Ohworldyone said "just turns my stomach. Man up, <deleted>, and dont post another word until you've repaid every Satang"

Between you and beetlejuice threatening to grass up the OP ,you come across as a right pair of narks.

You come across as a sympathiser. Why not lend the OP a couple of grand to sort out his problems?

You come across as a bit of a nosey old neighbour ..Why don't you go hang out ye washing ,ye know rinse all that money you have .

As I thought. You're skint an all.

[Beetlejuice]

It's a bizarre day indeed when I find myself agreeing with Beetlejuice, but that time has come. The OP has been able to remain in Thailand for the last 12 months, presumably finding money for everything but the rent ?? How many here would try to leave a hotel without paying the bill ?

funfon, if this is a windup, you have a bloody perverse sense of humor. I'm particularly stunned that you would bring this to a board that you know (courtesy of roughly 50-posts-per-day) is extremely judgemental, particularly of Farang who add to the negative image many Thai people already have of foreigners. It would seem that you found one of the few genuinely trusting souls in LOS and rewarded her for her trust by spending your remaining funds on everything bar the rent - extremely poor form, IMO.

I expect that there is a failed business or somesuch in there somewhere, and some sort of heroic 'I did everything I could to salvage my life in Thailand', but you pay your freaking rent before you do anything each month, Amigo. Those of us who have to put up with the weekend warrior tag - not to mention the bloody depressing taxi ride back to Swampy - cop plenty from expats : to come here and read this kind of bleating ('ooh, will they try to stop me fleeing the country ?') just turns my stomach. Man up, <deleted>, and dont post another word until you've repaid every Satang. I'm all for people digging themselves out of holes, but I'd prefer to hear about it AFTER you've extricated yourself from said hole - if they throw you in the monkey house, I doubt that too many here will shed a tear.

Ohworldyone said "just turns my stomach. Man up, <deleted>, and dont post another word until you've repaid every Satang"

Between you and beetlejuice threatening to grass up the OP ,you come across as a right pair of narks.

You come across as a sympathiser. Why not lend the OP a couple of grand to sort out his problems?

You come across as a bit of a nosey old neighbour ..Why don't you go hang out ye washing ,ye know rinse all that money you have .

You certainly live up to the first part of your user name.

Mary, Mary, you`re not contrary

[JLCrab]

Considering all she needs to do is notify the BiB that you are a slacker and may try to leave the country, they only need to put a passport hold on you and you are off to jail when you try to leave. Depends completely on how fast they can notify Immigration. You signed a lease and she has all the information she needs. Ask the question. "do you want to visit a Thai Jail as a permanent resident?" You are taking advantage of a very trusting Lady. I would have kicked you out by now.

I'd suggest you find a way to get the money and pay her off before you leave. Be it credit card or friends and family.

The above presumes that the gent will try to exit Thailand with the same passport info as he provided on the lease. As a man-of-intrigue-and-mystery he may actually have several passports.

[Rooo]

Post s containing profanity & replies quoting them deleted.

[MrWorldwide]

mad mary, any chance you could troll somewhere else, pls ? We 'narks' are venting our spleens, sure, but how many of us would have allowed ourselves to get in this deep over 12 freaking months ?

(I believe the terms is actually 'narcs', as in narcotics, as in DEA, but I guess you have your own interpretation)

[Beetlejuice]

Considering all she needs to do is notify the BiB that you are a slacker and may try to leave the country, they only need to put a passport hold on you and you are off to jail when you try to leave. Depends completely on how fast they can notify Immigration. You signed a lease and she has all the information she needs. Ask the question. "do you want to visit a Thai Jail as a permanent resident?" You are taking advantage of a very trusting Lady. I would have kicked you out by now.

I'd suggest you find a way to get the money and pay her off before you leave. Be it credit card or friends and family.

The above presumes that the gent will try to exit Thailand with the same passport info as he provided on the lease. As a man-of-intrigue-and-mystery he may actually have several passports.

Could be possible and also, if the landlady does not live on or near the premises, the OP could just do a runner without her noticing and by the time she actually does visit, he is long gone.

He did say that that the landlady knows all the neighbors in that area and he is afraid that they may get wind of what he`s up to. Even if he does manage to do the rotten deed and go abroad, there will probably be an arrest warrant waiting for him if he returns to Thailand.

The problem is that it`s undesirables like these who make the situation worse for expats over here. Hopefully the OP will either get tumbled and pay the price or will disappear never to return again.

These people are outrageous.

[smokie36]

mad mary, any chance you could troll somewhere else, pls ? We 'narks' are venting our spleens, sure, but how many of us would have allowed ourselves to get in this deep over 12 freaking months ?

(I believe the terms is actually 'narcs', as in narcotics, as in DEA, but I guess you have your own interpretation)

Narks=snitches mate.

[JLCrab]

It would seem to me that doing a runner oneself and doing a runner with 2 young children in tow at Thai airport immigration are 2 different animals.

[smokie36]

Considering all she needs to do is notify the BiB that you are a slacker and may try to leave the country, they only need to put a passport hold on you and you are off to jail when you try to leave. Depends completely on how fast they can notify Immigration. You signed a lease and she has all the information she needs. Ask the question. "do you want to visit a Thai Jail as a permanent resident?" You are taking advantage of a very trusting Lady. I would have kicked you out by now.

I'd suggest you find a way to get the money and pay her off before you leave. Be it credit card or friends and family.

The above presumes that the gent will try to exit Thailand with the same passport info as he provided on the lease. As a man-of-intrigue-and-mystery he may actually have several passports.

Could be possible and also, if the landlady does not live on or near the premises, the OP could just do a runner without her noticing and by the time she actually does visit, he is long gone.

He did say that that the landlady knows all the neighbors in that area and he is afraid that they may get wind of what he`s up to. Even if he does manage to do the rotten deed and go abroad, there will probably be an arrest warrant waiting for him if he returns to Thailand.

The problem is that it`s undesirables like these who make the situation worse for expats over here. Hopefully the OP will either get tumbled and pay the price or will disappear never to return again.

These people are outrageous.

Sadly they are all too common.

[MrWorldwide]

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=narc

1. n. Short for a Narcotics officer. A member of Law Enforcement that enforces drug laws.

2. n. A person who is not a member of Law Enforcement but turns you into the police for doing or dealing drugs.

3. n. A person that turns you in for something you did wrong; specifically to any type of authority figure like parents, cops, teachers, boss, etc.

4. v. The act of turning someone into law enforcement or authority figures.

1. Don't pull your stash out around Jake, I think he's an undercover narc.

2. That f**er Ronnie, he is such a narc. He told the cops I was smoking pot in the bathroom.

3. My little brother the narc told mom about the pornos under my bed.

[Spoonman]

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=narc

1. n. Short for a Narcotics officer. A member of Law Enforcement that enforces drug laws.

2. n. A person who is not a member of Law Enforcement but turns you into the police for doing or dealing drugs.

3. n. A person that turns you in for something you did wrong; specifically to any type of authority figure like parents, cops, teachers, boss, etc.

4. v. The act of turning someone into law enforcement or authority figures.

1. Don't pull your stash out around Jake, I think he's an undercover narc.

2. That f**er Ronnie, he is such a narc. He told the cops I was smoking pot in the bathroom.

3. My little brother the narc told mom about the pornos under my bed.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=nark

(nark can also be spelled narc or narq)

1: To be a nark is to be someone that will report any misbehaving to a higher authority like the police, parents and teachers.

2: To nark, or to nark someone out is the action of reporting the misbehavior; also called narking.

3: To be narked is, obviously, the past tense of narking.

[Sharp]

Run forest Run ....

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa app

[kennedy]

A Thai landlady that let you slide for 14 months on your rent?

Nice try, but I'm not biting on this fairy tale.

[theblether]

It's a bizarre day indeed when I find myself agreeing with Beetlejuice, but that time has come. The OP has been able to remain in Thailand for the last 12 months, presumably finding money for everything but the rent ?? How many here would try to leave a hotel without paying the bill ?

funfon, if this is a windup, you have a bloody perverse sense of humor. I'm particularly stunned that you would bring this to a board that you know (courtesy of roughly 50-posts-per-day) is extremely judgemental, particularly of Farang who add to the negative image many Thai people already have of foreigners. It would seem that you found one of the few genuinely trusting souls in LOS and rewarded her for her trust by spending your remaining funds on everything bar the rent - extremely poor form, IMO.

I expect that there is a failed business or somesuch in there somewhere, and some sort of heroic 'I did everything I could to salvage my life in Thailand', but you pay your freaking rent before you do anything each month, Amigo. Those of us who have to put up with the weekend warrior tag - not to mention the bloody depressing taxi ride back to Swampy - cop plenty from expats : to come here and read this kind of bleating ('ooh, will they try to stop me fleeing the country ?') just turns my stomach. Man up, <deleted>, and dont post another word until you've repaid every Satang. I'm all for people digging themselves out of holes, but I'd prefer to hear about it AFTER you've extricated yourself from said hole - if they throw you in the monkey house, I doubt that too many here will shed a tear.

He should just pm BigJohnnieBKK, he'll have all the answers

[MrWorldwide]

A Thai landlady that let you slide for 14 months on your rent?

Nice try, but I'm not biting on this fairy tale.

I think you'll find that I did include the possibility that he is winding us up, but either way I dont see what possible value the OP saw in posting this here. If it IS an attempt at humor, how does that increase his standing on the board - if it isn't, he risks ridicule and ongoing recriminations. Either way, it's a major brain explosion, IMO.

[krisb]

I thought you had lifetimes experience in Thailand Funfon? Surely as a grown man you can sort your money problems out without asking us?

[MrWorldwide]

Hey, times are tough all over - even for self-made millionaire expats living it up in BKK. How the hell was the guy supposed to pay his rent AND 6-10K worth of Cowboy checkbins every night ? Man, with the explosion in ST rates, I can see how easy it might be to let a few things slide on the home front .......

Priorities are a bitch.

[robblok]

Hey, times are tough all over - even for self-made millionaire expats living it up in BKK. How the hell was the guy supposed to pay his rent AND 6-10K worth of Cowboy checkbins every night ? Man, with the explosion in ST rates, I can see how easy it might be to let a few things slide on the home front .......

Priorities are a bitch.

They certainly are and the OP made a comment before how it is hard to keep the local girls happy with money and that they wanted more all the time. Seems a priority thing indeed.

I wonder how you can trust someone to pay back a rent if he had not done it here for a year. If i were a landlord i might be inclined to forget about the debt and just let the guy do some jail time as the money is gone anyway.

On the other hand if he is really committed to pay back then letting him pay it back from home would be a good thing, but if his priorities before were bad how can she be sure you pay it back now while she has no way to enforce it.

[Mrjlh]

Considering all she needs to do is notify the BiB that you are a slacker and may try to leave the country, they only need to put a passport hold on you and you are off to jail when you try to leave. Depends completely on how fast they can notify Immigration. You signed a lease and she has all the information she needs. Ask the question. "do you want to visit a Thai Jail as a permanent resident?" You are taking advantage of a very trusting Lady. I would have kicked you out by now.

I'd suggest you find a way to get the money and pay her off before you leave. Be it credit card or friends and family.

The above presumes that the gent will try to exit Thailand with the same passport info as he provided on the lease. As a man-of-intrigue-and-mystery he may actually have several passports.

For some mysterious reason I don't think he's that smart. Can't manage his money, doubt if he can manage several passports. And I have to agree...he is a man of mystery.