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Posted

They cannot give you a receipt because it is not an official fee. Resident certificates are not the fee list.

One thousand is high. For most offices it is in the 200 to 500 baht range.

  • Like 2
Posted

"My girlfriend got angry at me after we left with the money."

"She said they will give me problems next time I need to go."

Seems like "wonderful" Support !

  • Like 2
Posted

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

The correct price for a certificate of residency is what I paid zero Baht. The issuing of certificate of residents is a free service. Do you really think that the immigration official would have returned my money if they were correct in charging me 1000 baht? The cost of a service is not up to whomever is on duty at desk at the time, the price is not sometimes 200 baht and other times 500 baht. You can call the 1000 baht a tip or tea money, but it is extortion plain and simple and it is illegal under Thai law.

Of course what should have been done was to gently suggest, using the Thai language, that a very small mistake had somehow occurred.

  • Like 2
Posted (edited)

/<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

I really could care less about the loss of face for some criminal with a badge at some back water government office. As for my girlfriend she got over it real fast when I put the 1000 baht note in her handbag. If you caught a thief running out of your house with your television would you care about face?. In my culture if you let a bully extort you , you are called a punk, I think standing up for yourself as a man is held in high regard in any culture. If you want to bow down to a thug that is your choice, I was not raised that way.

Some could be accurately described as "blow im away" rednecks!

Those who pay the g/f a 1000 Bht to "get over" a loss of face !

Edited by thepool
  • Like 1
Posted (edited)

Really, so I should have Just paid the 1000 and not asked for the receipt? What have I got to learn? Smile and pay what ever extortion a Thai Official request to do his job?

Extortion ????

So what is the fee for those two certificates then? You don't know that. And it could be 500 each.

Edited by larsjohnsson
Posted (edited)

The correct price for a certificate of residency is what I paid zero Baht. The issuing of certificate of residents is a free service. Do you really think that the immigration official would have returned my money if they were correct in charging me 1000 baht? The cost of a service is not up to whomever is on duty at desk at the time, the price is not sometimes 200 baht and other times 500 baht. You can call the 1000 baht a tip or tea money, but it is extortion plain and simple and it is illegal under Thai law.

You change your story. In the first post you complain that you didn't got a receipe for your tax record. Then after a few posts and reading the other posts it about the money ;) Edited by larsjohnsson
Posted

No receipt is ever forthcoming from immigration no matter what , they were charging you big time a resident letter costs no more than 500 baht . You could always report the incident to the big boss in Bangkok, think from now you will always have difficulty when you take a visit to that office I upset an officer many years ago not intentionally I just didn't bring him a gift I sat and sat and sat watching people come and go they closed for lunch and told me to come back , back I went two hours later I got my passport returned,all I was doing was 90 day reporting a five minute process took 5 hours

Posted

I wondered why these residence letters seemed to be given undue efficiency last time I got one.

All done pretty quick and easy... although they forced 2 on me when 1 would have sufficed.

Waited ages for the extension of stay..........

Posted

It's not even a certificate. It's a free letter to show your address in Thailand.

The immigration office in Pattaya try the same trick.

When I last went in to collect a residence letter my GF was with me and she politely refused to pay (in Thai). The officer still asked for 200 baht when she returned for the letter.

Don't pay. All TV members should refuse to pay. Why pay for a free service.

What you say is true about it officially being free. However refusing to pay can lead to problems like having to wait wait and wait and perhaps never get it. They know they can make things awkward for you if you don't pay. Not all of us are as lucky as you having a girlfriend who would argue on our behalf.

I'm not saying people should or shouldn't pay. It's up to the individual. Until Thailand manages to stop (assuming they want to) the billions being ripped of by their politicians this kind of small tea money will probably never stop. But IMO they would fair better if corruption was limited to only among the Thai people. They should leave us farangs out of it. We're generally not accustomed to it and having it applied to us just causes bad publicity and loss-of-face for Thailand as with this thread.

  • Like 1
Posted (edited)

I never heard of a residency certificate and am confused about this post. Surely this certificate is not about permanent residency, as then you would get the book.

I got a Thai drivers license before and did not need this document. Now I use my tambien baan (yellow) to show I live here.

Edited -

Duh. I just googled it and now I understand.

brain fart.

Edited by Minnehaha
  • Like 1
Posted

"My girlfriend got angry at me after we left with the money."

"She said they will give me problems next time I need to go."

Seems like "wonderful" Support !

In this instance I wouldn't call the GFs attitude "lack of support" (although it is quite common not get support from the better half when one stands up for oneself against authority). ...I think she was simply looking after your interests and concerned that they may remember you if there was a next time.

Posted (edited)

T.I.T.

Here is a splinter-ar5ed response:-

Once again in Thailand everyone is not wrong.

No - of course the OP or anyone else should not pay. Why? - because there is no official price/tariff for this and the tea fund benefits.

However,........... (and there has to be an however in Thailand).... it is common practice and is usually 'only' 500 Baht. A lot less than your own embassy would charge for anything similar.

Just because it is accepted practice does not make it right. However.... principles are one of the things that you have to be prepared to compromise in Thailand if want an easier life. It is up to you to make the choice.

By standing your ground, you are not wrong - but you may need to use an alternative immigration office in future. You could REALLY stand by your principles and next time at immigration get a (new) GF to video proceedings. They are, after all, greedy bully boys who should be put in their place. Will all Farangs stand up for this principle - no, most will prefer the easier life approach.

The main lesson you have learned is not to reply on your GF and where there are 2 (or more) Thais involved many GFs will appear to 'side' with the Thais. I have personal experience of this and it is disconcerting at first - next time don't take her if she does not add value to the experience.

Welcome to Thai corruption culture.

Edited by Jip99
  • Like 2
Posted

Here's at tip Marcus, develop a sense of humour, learn the 'rules' and obey them and stop embarrassing your GF in front of Thai people.

I'll check back to see if your'e still posting from the LoS in 6 months, my bet?

You will be long gone.

Posted

"My girlfriend got angry at me after we left with the money."

"She said they will give me problems next time I need to go."

Seems like "wonderful" Support !

In this instance I wouldn't call the GFs attitude "lack of support" (although it is quite common not get support from the better half when one stands up for oneself against authority). ...I think she was simply looking after your interests and concerned that they may remember you if there was a next time.

I think your girlfriend "getting angry" on you in front of the officers was a smart move. It gave some face back to the officers who are not used to be challenged.

By this action she demonstrated she "would handle" you, paving the way for the officers to let go.

Smart girlfriend.

  • Like 1
Posted

If the OP was really serious about stamping out corruption, he would not have lied to the Immigration staff about the receipt being needed for 'tax purposes'. He would have stated they are extortionists and forsaken his paperwork AND the cash, demanded their ID's, gotten out his cellphone and called their boss. The OP needs to bone up on martyrdom 101.

In reality, the Kap Choeng staff have handled enough opinionated and sanctimonious farangs in their time, replete with their long-haired translators, that they probably had the OP tagged when he came through the door; hence the up-front 1000 baht price tag.

In the end, he got his paperwork for free but had to pay off his girlfriend thus posts here seeking the validation that he desperately needs (but she hasn't given him freely).

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