Racial discrimination from Triple B?

[sedge]

Due to some service issues from TRUE I decided to change my companies' ISP to Triple B ..... to find out they would only do it if I granted power of attorney to one of my staff to act on the companies behalf. This is on top of paying a deposit of B2,000 for the router.

The company has traded for well over ten years so it's not as if we are a startup.

Suffice to say I sent them away with a fly in their ear. Never have I been asked to do this for any other company I have ever dealt, traded or signed contracts with ... which is very many!

Edited January 16, 2014 by sedge

[joncl]

TiT springs to mind ..

[Brevity]

That is certainly some strange way for a large company to operate. It shows very small-time thinking, but how do you know they don't ask Thai-owned business to do the same thing? Your post said nothing to indicate any racial discrimination that I could see. Why do you think you were a victim of racial discrimination? It's a very strong accusation to make.

[KunMatt]

How was this racist? Are you a Thai resident? If not, then I guess that they don't trust somebody on a visit visa to go into a 1 year contract with. Makes perfect sense from a business perspective and is the norm in any other country.

[muratremix]

How was this racist? Are you a Thai resident? If not, then I guess that they don't trust somebody on a visit visa to go into a 1 year contract with. Makes perfect sense from a business perspective and is the norm in any other country.

It doesn't make any sense. Only 3BB asks for 1 year min. contract, others don't. If one owns a company here, it means he/she has a work permit. Work permit is more than enough to get a post paid sim card or anything requires subscription.

I don't think this is racism, it is more like idiocracy.

[sedge]

How was this racist? Are you a Thai resident? If not, then I guess that they don't trust somebody on a visit visa to go into a 1 year contract with. Makes perfect sense from a business perspective and is the norm in any other country.

Sorry just a real dumb ass response.

I am here on a non-imm 'B' visa with work permit and have been for ten years. I as MD of the company I am the only one to sign contracts legally. If that is good enough for Thai law (and the dozens of other companies I have entered in to contracts with over the past ten years) then it should be good enough for Triple B.

And to make it perfectly clear when asked 'why do you need a Thai with power of attorny?' the answer was 'because you farang.'

Can you now understand my OP?

[KunMatt]

How was this racist? Are you a Thai resident? If not, then I guess that they don't trust somebody on a visit visa to go into a 1 year contract with. Makes perfect sense from a business perspective and is the norm in any other country.

It doesn't make any sense. Only 3BB asks for 1 year min. contract, others don't. If one owns a company here, it means he/she has a work permit. Work permit is more than enough to get a post paid sim card or anything requires subscription.

I don't think this is racism, it is more like idiocracy.

More like it is their policy and their right, I'm sure you could find out what 3BB's policy is regarding contracts with non-residents. Still not racism aimed at the OP.

[sedge]

How was this racist? Are you a Thai resident? If not, then I guess that they don't trust somebody on a visit visa to go into a 1 year contract with. Makes perfect sense from a business perspective and is the norm in any other country.

It doesn't make any sense. Only 3BB asks for 1 year min. contract, others don't. If one owns a company here, it means he/she has a work permit. Work permit is more than enough to get a post paid sim card or anything requires subscription.

I don't think this is racism, it is more like idiocracy.

More like it is their policy and their right, I'm sure you could find out what 3BB's policy is regarding contracts with non-residents. Still not racism aimed at the OP.

You are correct. It is their policy and their right, as there is no anti-discriminatory law in Thailand. However, it is still discrimination based on race.

[KunMatt]

How was this racist? Are you a Thai resident? If not, then I guess that they don't trust somebody on a visit visa to go into a 1 year contract with. Makes perfect sense from a business perspective and is the norm in any other country.

It doesn't make any sense. Only 3BB asks for 1 year min. contract, others don't. If one owns a company here, it means he/she has a work permit. Work permit is more than enough to get a post paid sim card or anything requires subscription.

I don't think this is racism, it is more like idiocracy.

More like it is their policy and their right, I'm sure you could find out what 3BB's policy is regarding contracts with non-residents. Still not racism aimed at the OP.

You are correct. It is their policy and their right, as there is no anti-discriminatory law in Thailand. However, it is still discrimination based on race.

Prove it. Find their policy that states they will contract with non-residents otherwise it's just your wild assumption.

[Gulfsailor]

The one year in advance payment is required only if you want to take advantage of free installation and equipment use (albeit a small insurance deposit is due), and if there is a chance that you won't stay in Thailand for at least one year to honour the one year contract. So if you just pay for the installation and purchase the equipment then there is no need for a one year contract or full payment in advance.

[Tywais]

How was this racist? Are you a Thai resident? If not, then I guess that they don't trust somebody on a visit visa to go into a 1 year contract with. Makes perfect sense from a business perspective and is the norm in any other country.

It doesn't make any sense. Only 3BB asks for 1 year min. contract, others don't. If one owns a company here, it means he/she has a work permit. Work permit is more than enough to get a post paid sim card or anything requires subscription.

I don't think this is racism, it is more like idiocracy.

More like it is their policy and their right, I'm sure you could find out what 3BB's policy is regarding contracts with non-residents. Still not racism aimed at the OP.

You are correct. It is their policy and their right, as there is no anti-discriminatory law in Thailand. However, it is still discrimination based on race.

Actually there is as it is in the Thai Constitution. I would suggest to find another 3BB outlet or contact the head office regarding your issue. As for 1 year min. contract, pretty much all of the ISP's require that from my experience. Some have even been known to require 1 year payment upfront from foreigners. It's a security issue, not a race issue.

It sounds like they are looking for a Thai guarantor as sometimes required in long term contracts with foreigners.

[MKAsok]

It's a security issue, not a race issue.

How can it be a security issue when the OP has been here for ten years, has a work permit and is the MD of (what is presumably) a Thai company? It is the company that is the customer and the company is a Thai juristic person. The nationality of the MD is entirely irrelevant.

The poster who above referred to 'idiocracy' is probably right however. More likely a combination of stupidity and inflexibility than actual racism.

[KunMatt]

It's a security issue, not a race issue.

More likely a combination of stupidity and inflexibility than actual racism.

Either a jobsworth who was following the company policy to the letter or some fool who doesn't know their job properly. I still very much doubt it was a case of racism though. Most of the contracts I enter into in the UK state that you must be a UK resident probably mimicking the same clause in the 3BB contract and terms, if this was racist then I can guarantee that a lot of people would be up in arms about it and make a big deal out of it.

I think the OP is being paranoid and over-sensitive and before finding out the actual facts took it personally and came to the conclusion that racism is the only explanation. If it was me I would have called a manager or gone into the office to talk to him to get an explanation, I'm sure he would give you the proper reason why 3BB require a Thai national as a guarantor. So try that if you are really so upset about this and want to know the real reason.

[NanLaew]

You are correct. It is their policy and their right, as there is no anti-discriminatory law in Thailand. However, it is still discrimination based on race.

No, it is company policy based on your immigration status. Totally legal and above board.

Just give PoA to one of your local hires <deleted> and quit bellyaching about bugger all. You are spouting off about being the boss and signing contracts and all sorts of self-important promotion. Getting high speed internet in the office is NOT a capital acquisition is it? You shouldn't even have a dog in that race. That's what your local hire staff are for no? And making your coffee?

[phil2]

3BB will configure your old router to work on their network.

[ravip]

There are two sides to a coin.

We tend to look ONLY at the top side.

[NewlyMintedThai]

People still think it is racial discrimination when it has nothing to do with race. It has to do with whether you are a Thai citizen or not.

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

[edwardandtubs]

3bb have racist policies. Dispute the "racist" label all you want but the effect is the same. Their racist policies leads their staff to adopt racist attitudes. Better just take your business elsewhere.

[manarak]

I bet OP has been served by a clueless employee.

[paz]

People still think it is racial discrimination when it has nothing to do with race. It has to do with whether you are a Thai citizen or not. Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

Really, and where in the law that is written ?

Unbeliavable relentless Thai apologists...

[paz]

Prove it. Find their policy that states they will contract with non-residents otherwise it's just your wild assumption.

Actually it's the opposite, it would have to state "permanent residency is requisite".

Have a walk, apologist of undefendable.

Edited January 17, 2014 by paz

[KunMatt]

Prove it. Find their policy that states they will contract with non-residents otherwise it's just your wild assumption.

Actually it's the opposite, it would have to state "permanent residency is requisite".

Have a walk, apologist of undefendable.

How do you know it doesn't state that? The OP has offered up no proof at all and just jumped to a conclusion which you agree with after being given virtually no info.

I'm not an apologist at all, I'm just not being as simple minded as the OP and suggesting a more logical explanation that a big company more likely has a written policy which states the actual reason for what happened. Does any non-resident here have a business 3BB account in their name? Nobody has said they do yet.

The OP has offered no proof or any information about the reasons he had to grant PoA other than someone (a 3BB rep, manager, staff, his wife? He doesn't say) saying "because you are farang" which implies that he was not having this conversion in Thai and is more likely a communication problem as if he was talking to someone more fluent in English or he was talking in Thai then he would've probably been told "because you are a non resident". Like I said before we have the same policies in the UK so it is not a race issue. The OP has now gone silent for a couple of days after arguing with every poster before which makes me think that he has now realised the truth and he was wrong all along with his assumption.

[paz]

How do you know it doesn't state that?

How do you in first place ?!?

You talk about OP "proving", but you should quit being ridiculous, really.

[KunMatt]

How do you know it doesn't state that?

How do you in first place ?!?

You talk about OP "proving", but you should quit being ridiculous, really.

I'm not the OP of this thread, it's not up to me to make a case. When I first came here I tried to get a bank account and several banks turned me away because I didn't have the appropriate immigration status, at no point did I automatically assume I was a victim of racism, I guess I don't think everyone is out to get me here.

The OP cried racism, I offered a more realistic viewpoint and I'm the one being ridiculous?? OK, I understand the type of people I'm talking with. Enjoy your narrow minded lives here. I'm out.

[NewlyMintedThai]

Because I'm white as can be, with a Thai ID card, and I signed the 3bb contract with no problem. You see? Nothing to do with skin color. It has to do with nationality, and they perhaps naturally want a Thai citizen -- who they can actually track down and take action against if something goes wrong -- to sign.

Whether that Thai citizen has brown, yellow, black, or brown skin -- doesn't matter at all. So how can it be called "racial"?

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

[harrry]

Because I'm white as can be, with a Thai ID card, and I signed the 3bb contract with no problem. You see? Nothing to do with skin color. It has to do with nationality, and they perhaps naturally want a Thai citizen -- who they can actually track down and take action against if something goes wrong -- to sign. Whether that Thai citizen has brown, yellow, black, or brown skin -- doesn't matter at all. So how can it be called "racial"? Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

In this case however it is a Thai company that is signing and as he is the ssignatory for the company it should be him. I think it is an ignorent local employee though rather than official policy.

[KunMatt]

Because I'm white as can be, with a Thai ID card, and I signed the 3bb contract with no problem. You see? Nothing to do with skin color. It has to do with nationality, and they perhaps naturally want a Thai citizen -- who they can actually track down and take action against if something goes wrong -- to sign. Whether that Thai citizen has brown, yellow, black, or brown skin -- doesn't matter at all. So how can it be called "racial"? Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

How dare you come in here with all your facts, experience and logic?! This will not fly well with a few of the posters in this thread who are convinced that there is a Thai conspiracy out to stop them from having broadband internet. Get out!

[NewlyMintedThai]

How do you know it doesn't state that?

How do you in first place ?!?

You talk about OP "proving", but you should quit being ridiculous, really.

I'm not the OP of this thread, it's not up to me to make a case. When I first came here I tried to get a bank account and several banks turned me away because I didn't have the appropriate immigration status, at no point did I automatically assume I was a victim of racism, I guess I don't think everyone is out to get me here.

The OP cried racism, I offered a more realistic viewpoint and I'm the one being ridiculous?? OK, I understand the type of people I'm talking with. Enjoy your narrow minded lives here. I'm out.

If you don't bash anything and everything Thai here, you're called "apologist"

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

[paz]

[

If you don't bash anything and everything Thai here, you're called "apologist"

Or also when one routinely and proudly bends over and defend sopruse, or choose nicknames hinting at the desire of adopting a national identity that can't ever be yours, etc..

[NewlyMintedThai]

[

If you don't bash anything and everything Thai here, you're called "apologist"

Or also when one routinely and proudly bends over and defend sopruse, or choose nicknames hinting at the desire of adopting a national identity that can't ever be yours, etc..

Sopruse?

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app