Thai Debt Blacklist

[SunsetT]

A Thai girlfriend is paranoid about defaulting on the finance on her car. Someone has told her that she will be placed on the Thai debt 'Blacklist' and this will mean she cannot travel abroad for 20 years. She's been told some story of a blacklisted Thai being arrested in Laos and held by police for being on the blacklist and then being deported back to Thailand after paying a hefty Laos fine. I suspect this story is distorted and exaggerated nonsense.

Does anyone have knowledge or any experience on this matter please,e.g., Whether a Thai is checked for debt blacklisting when applying for visas to visit or migrate to the UK or any Western country?

[theoldgit]

Currently there are no credit checks carried out by overseas visa sections.

What an applicant does have to prove is that a proposed trip is affordable and that would normally, amongst other things, showing they have money in the bank or funds from a sponsor.

If they can provide the required evidence, they should be fine.

I'm not aware that the Thai authorities would stop one of their nationals leaving the country for a debt, unless their was evidence of a crime, unlike the UAE.

[Jerry Cornelius]

Don't know about any time restriction. But if an incurred debt is outstanding and procedings are under way to recover the debt. This could well have been registered in Thai immigration files.

If it has, she may well be prevented from leaving.

It may be reasonable to assume that most Thai's aren't considered to be a flight risk and no registration would be made with immigration.

It is probably a good idea for you to get a real understanding of the details surrounding the reason for blacklisting before-hand.

It would be a shame if a visa was granted, but she couldn't leave the country within the alotted timescale.

Jerry

[Nowhereman60]

To me it could be this Thai girl is looking for some financial help from her farang boyfriend.

[SunsetT]

To me it could be this Thai girl is looking for some financial help from her farang boyfriend.

Nothing new there mate.............but limits have been reached!

[AnotherOneAmerican]

10 years, no land, no property, no vehicles, no bank accounts.

Don't know about leaving the country.

[ishouldknow]

The blunt answer is that in Thailand one can go to jail for not paying a debt!

On the international front - the GF is completely taking you for a ride.

There are no international laws regarding leaving a home country and going to another when bankrupt (and on the lesser positon of owing a debt) - they cannot stop the GF.

The only issue of some validity is that visas may not be given if proof if financial positon is required for a few countries.

My advice, tell the GF to face the music and remind her of the way Thai law can go! Tell here you will not give a penny more. Either she will say bye to you or reform!

You are not the UN, IMF etc to bail out people that mismanage their funds. Just today on TV is an article about farangs who are homeless (living on the street) in the Land of Smiles because they have been ripped off by the one they loved!

Edited August 19, 2013 by ishouldknow

[AnotherOneAmerican]

The blunt answer is that in Thailand one can go to jail for not paying a debt!

No one can't.

[jbrain]

The blunt answer is that in Thailand one can go to jail for not paying a debt!

On the international front - the GF is completely taking you for a ride.

There are no international laws regarding leaving a home country and going to another when bankrupt (and on the lesser positon of owing a debt) - they cannot stop the GF.

The only issue of some validity is that visas may not be given if proof if financial positon is required for a few countries.

My advice, tell the GF to face the music and remind her of the way Thai law can go! Tell here you will not give a penny more. Either she will say bye to you or reform!

You are not the UN, IMF etc to bail out people that mismanage their funds. Just today on TV is an article about farangs who are homeless (living on the street) in the Land of Smiles because they have been ripped off by the one they loved!

Foreign governments may not have a problem with issuing a visa to a debt laden Thai citizen, but at the end it is still Thai immigration that has to stamp you out before you can leave the country

[SunsetT]

Don't know about any time restriction. But if an incurred debt is outstanding and procedings are under way to recover the debt. This could well have been registered in Thai immigration files.

If it has, she may well be prevented from leaving.

It may be reasonable to assume that most Thai's aren't considered to be a flight risk and no registration would be made with immigration.

It is probably a good idea for you to get a real understanding of the details surrounding the reason for blacklisting before-hand.

It would be a shame if a visa was granted, but she couldn't leave the country within the alotted timescale.

Jerry

The details are the same as with hundreds of other Thais. They are now being bombarded by sophisticated adverting and being tempted by easy finance on shiny new cars and anything and everything else that we can buy in the West. Most are earning peanuts, they've had no education so most cant do the maths or understand how interest works. I know cases of monthly car repayments being the same or even more than their monthly salary.......never mind the running costs of the car!

This particular lady is so far in arrears on a car that she must attend court shortly. She's ignored repeated advice to sell the car which is now scratched, broken down and not fit for resale. It will be repossessed and she's been warned that, quite deservedly, her name will be placed on the 'Blacklist'. I hope it will teach her a lesson, and at least it will stop her taking on finance for other stuff that she cant afford.

She has no immediate plan to migrate or travel at present, but it could be an issue in the future.

If blacklisted Thai ladies could be prevented from leaving the country by Thai immigration, then this would be a serious issue in the future. I would think the many visa assisting agencies should have guidance and knowledge on this issue.

[ishouldknow]

The blunt answer is that in Thailand one can go to jail for not paying a debt!

No one can't.

Read http://www.samuiforsale.com/law-texts/thailand-civil-code-part-1.html and all the other parts. There are ample bits that gives a creditor the right to bring criminal law in!

Edit: if you distrust the validity of the simple link I posted, please verify here: http://www.thailaws.com/index_thai_laws.htm

Edited August 19, 2013 by ishouldknow

[SunsetT]

The blunt answer is that in Thailand one can go to jail for not paying a debt!

On the international front - the GF is completely taking you for a ride.

There are no international laws regarding leaving a home country and going to another when bankrupt (and on the lesser positon of owing a debt) - they cannot stop the GF.

The only issue of some validity is that visas may not be given if proof if financial positon is required for a few countries.

My advice, tell the GF to face the music and remind her of the way Thai law can go! Tell here you will not give a penny more. Either she will say bye to you or reform!

You are not the UN, IMF etc to bail out people that mismanage their funds. Just today on TV is an article about farangs who are homeless (living on the street) in the Land of Smiles because they have been ripped off by the one they loved!

Dont worry, Im in perfect control of the ride she is taking me on....and she will have to face the music.............But she really believes this rubbish about being prevented from travel or being arrested and sent home.............I dont believe it for one minute. What I would like to see is some qualified informed info. on here about this matter that I can show her to reassure her. She is really really worried. As I said above I would hope someone out there running a Visa agency might know about this and could enlighten us as to whether there is anything to worry about.

[ishouldknow]

The blunt answer is that in Thailand one can go to jail for not paying a debt!

On the international front - the GF is completely taking you for a ride.

There are no international laws regarding leaving a home country and going to another when bankrupt (and on the lesser positon of owing a debt) - they cannot stop the GF.

The only issue of some validity is that visas may not be given if proof if financial positon is required for a few countries.

My advice, tell the GF to face the music and remind her of the way Thai law can go! Tell here you will not give a penny more. Either she will say bye to you or reform!

You are not the UN, IMF etc to bail out people that mismanage their funds. Just today on TV is an article about farangs who are homeless (living on the street) in the Land of Smiles because they have been ripped off by the one they loved!

Foreign governments may not have a problem with issuing a visa to a debt laden Thai citizen, but at the end it is still Thai immigration that has to stamp you out before you can leave the country

Which brings me back to my points above - if the locals have made it criminal then YES it MIGHT affect. At the present point there is no indication of such - so, she is free to travel.

[ishouldknow]

The blunt answer is that in Thailand one can go to jail for not paying a debt!

On the international front - the GF is completely taking you for a ride.

There are no international laws regarding leaving a home country and going to another when bankrupt (and on the lesser positon of owing a debt) - they cannot stop the GF.

The only issue of some validity is that visas may not be given if proof if financial positon is required for a few countries.

My advice, tell the GF to face the music and remind her of the way Thai law can go! Tell here you will not give a penny more. Either she will say bye to you or reform!

You are not the UN, IMF etc to bail out people that mismanage their funds. Just today on TV is an article about farangs who are homeless (living on the street) in the Land of Smiles because they have been ripped off by the one they loved!

Dont worry, Im in perfect control of the ride she is taking me on....and she will have to face the music.............But she really believes this rubbish about being prevented from travel or being arrested and sent home.............I dont believe it for one minute. What I would like to see is some qualified informed info. on here about this matter that I can show her to reassure her. She is really really worried. As I said above I would hope someone out there running a Visa agency might know about this and could enlighten us as to whether there is anything to worry about.

OK, contact big name legal firm here that will refer you to the above law source that I have given above (and charge you ABOVE western prices). Or, take the GF on a bus ride (or plane trip - a few thousand Baht) to a border and pass through it and check if she is arrested....

You might be in control of the ride, but the GF is dictating the pilots actions!

[slipperylobster]

Perhaps not relevant, but I suppose, if on a fiancee/tourist visa to a foreign country, a Thai lady who had some credit issues would be better off flying out of Laos or Cambodia. Of course, she would be screened by Thai Immigration at those borders, but could arrange her flight 3 days later (in case they were to be held), thus not missing their flight. Also, they could test the "black listing" or whatever its called, on a test run across one of these borders. I am not endorsing running away from credit issues, but I think that their credit could be managed better if they were working in a foreign country. Why would immigration stop them from potential employment, as long as they have the intent on paying the debt. My girl was divorced two years ago, and has some credit issues that intend to settle. However, she has never been stopped by immigration when traveling to Laos or Cambodia.

[slipperylobster]

The blunt answer is that in Thailand one can go to jail for not paying a debt!

No one can't.

Read http://www.samuiforsale.com/law-texts/thailand-civil-code-part-1.html and all the other parts. There are ample bits that gives a creditor the right to bring criminal law in!

Edit: if you distrust the validity of the simple link I posted, please verify here: http://www.thailaws.com/index_thai_laws.htm

Simply too many people have unpaid credit. Laws are one thing, enforcement is another. Courts and legalities would simply slow down the process. I have not heard of anyone going to jail for late payments on a car. I suppose it would have more to do with fraud or misrepresentation. If every single Thai who could not pay their credit were jailed, there would be no more girls left to buy drinks for. Best thing is, just have a lawyer contact the creditor and send them a payment plan (even a few thousand baht a month). There would be no criminal intent if you did this, and hopefully, you would get a letter back approving these payments and avoid the ..."""blacklist"""">>

[wooloomooloo]

Myth 5: You could be on a credit blacklist

Blacklists don't exist and your credit rating doesn't take account of your race, ethnic origin, religion or gender. Some factors that lenders do consider include your repayment history and how much you already owe. They want to be sure that you aren't taking on more credit than you can comfortably manage.

http://www.experian.co.uk/consumer/credit-education/common-credit-myths.html

Could the blacklist confusion be similar to the above.

[NanLaew]

...I'm not aware that the Thai authorities would stop one of their nationals leaving the country for a debt, unless their was evidence of a crime, unlike the UAE.

Oh dear, there's always one isn't there?

Dont worry, Im in perfect control of the ride she is taking me on....and she will have to face the music.............But she really believes this rubbish about being prevented from travel or being arrested and sent home.............I dont believe it for one minute. What I would like to see is some qualified informed info. on here about this matter that I can show her to reassure her. She is really really worried. As I said above I would hope someone out there running a Visa agency might know about this and could enlighten us as to whether there is anything to worry about.

So if the OP does manage to find someone that can firmly debunk the myth about being arrested overseas and sent home, what's the point? The OP has already indicated that it's her problem and that overseas travel isn't even being considered right now.

If someone comes on here and can categorically state that it's all rubbish, what will she do? Nothing probably. Just carry on dodging the inevitable financial bullet, hang on to a crap car and get more into debt rather than lose face.

On the other hand, if someone can make up a much more convincing tale of being banged up IN THAILAND for not paying your bills, or even being called on at work by the creditors or even worse, having a repo man tow the car away when she is out clubbing with the girls, now that may have a much more sobering effect. But I doubt it.

Luckily, due to the hugely ignored bad creditors market in LOS, the repo man is virtually unknown here. Locals will revert to the traditional, local loan shark before facing the reality. Now THOSE debt collectors can be bad! The banks don't want to carry the bad debt which in turn happily feeds the loan sharking market and the punter who is upside-down on their car note never learns how debilitating a bad credit rating can be.