36+ years coming and living in Thailand.

[Gonsalviz]

I am so glad that I have not seen the problems that a large percentage of expats in Thailand seem to have.

I got ripped off............

I got scammed.............

I got attacked...............

I got ..........................

Amazing that I have survived 36+ years coming here and just seem to find it normal.

Not to say I haven't experience any problems but I actually find these problems here less that the other places I have lived.

[Costas2008]

OP, only have been here for 7 years and as you, never had any problems.

I think people create problems for themselves, so they can cry on TVF.

Yes the last one applies to me.......I got........married and am happy ever after.

[Bernard Flint]

sir

i agree with you, however my years are no where near 36.

[uptheos]

OP that's a long time, what do you remember most about Thailand in 1978?

[davethailand]

Maybe some of the things that happen to people are because of their own mistakes or behavior?

In 13 years I never got attacked, I got robbed twice and both times from store rooms.

Ripped off? Badly once by an accountant when I first started living in Thailand.

Other than that OK, always was alert though with my belongings, papers etc.

Now cheated, two faced behaviour or attempting to rip me off yes a few times.

That **** happens in every country though.

[konying]

the luck of people like OP is total oblivion so even when they do get scammed, they do not even know it.

[Gonsalviz]

OP that's a long time, what do you remember most about Thailand in 1978?

Meeting my first wife and losing a camera to a thief because I walked off and left it. Tell me that would not happen in, say Singapore, the low crime state?

[Gonsalviz]

the luck of people like OP is total oblivion so even when they do get scammed, they do not even know it.

lol

[AnotherOneAmerican]

There are two sorts of people who don't get scammed in Thailand.

1. Those who never understand what's happening.

2. Those who are essentially broke.

[Gonsalviz]

There are two sorts of people who don't get scammed in Thailand.

1. Those who never understand what's happening.

2. Those who are essentially broke.

You forgot number 3. The ones that keep their wits about them.

I don't say they haven't tried but the same thing happens in my country and your country and any other expats country. Why continually pick on Thailand?

[guzzi850m2]

Well that guy is always negative about Thailand when I read other posts from him, I wonder why he didn't move?

I have been here for app 12 years and only lost money when I was stupid drunk.

Now as a married man with a kid I don't behave like that anymore and don't get scammed/pick pocketed and so on.

No I am not poor either and I know fairly well what is going on here in LOS, if not my wife will explain it to me.

[konying]

There are two sorts of people who don't get scammed in Thailand.

1. Those who never understand what's happening.

2. Those who are essentially broke.

You forgot number 3. The ones that keep their wits about them.

I don't say they haven't tried but the same thing happens in my country and your country and any other expats country. Why continually pick on Thailand?

You can keep your wit,BUT

Say you bought a tshirt for 200 baht, while 3 shops down it is sold for 180.

Guess what? you have been scammed

To make matters even more funnier, both shops are owned by the same person

It does not have to be "in your face" scam to be scammed, so to claim you have never been scammed = you living in total and utter oblivion.

[NanLaew]

There are two sorts of people who don't get scammed in Thailand.

1. Those who never understand what's happening.

2. Those who are essentially broke.

You forgot number 3. The ones that keep their wits about them.

I don't say they haven't tried but the same thing happens in my country and your country and any other expats country. Why continually pick on Thailand?

You can keep your wit,BUT

Say you bought a tshirt for 200 baht, while 3 shops down it is sold for 180.

Guess what? you have been scammed

To make matters even more funnier, both shops are owned by the same person

It does not have to be "in your face" scam to be scammed, so to claim you have never been scammed = you living in total and utter oblivion.

That's not a bloody scam. That's being unobservant and clueless.

If the same happened down the markets in the UK, you wouldn't call it a scam. It is being.... unobservant and clueless.

A scam is not getting something you expected or paying more for something than was originally advertised, agreed or contracted. Something with a different price in two shops? Try Big-C and you can have different priced items in the same store, ON THE SAME SHELF. By the way, that's not a scam either, it's bloody lazy stock-checking but if you don't catch it before the check out girl does, you are being... unobservant and clueless.

If you are too blind to or lazy to check prices before handing over cash, that's being (all together now)... unobservant and clueless.

[Gonsalviz]

There are two sorts of people who don't get scammed in Thailand.

1. Those who never understand what's happening.

2. Those who are essentially broke.

You forgot number 3. The ones that keep their wits about them.

I don't say they haven't tried but the same thing happens in my country and your country and any other expats country. Why continually pick on Thailand?

You can keep your wit,BUT

Say you bought a tshirt for 200 baht, while 3 shops down it is sold for 180.

Guess what? you have been scammed

To make matters even more funnier, both shops are owned by the same person

It does not have to be "in your face" scam to be scammed, so to claim you have never been scammed = you living in total and utter oblivion.

Wow, 60 US cents. My God. I think I'd go sucidal.

You are a child living in a place you do not understand. Go home where they steal money from you regularly. And they've done it in a way you have no idea it is being done. I am talking about your government.

I personally don't mind giving up 60 cents to people that barely survive. I won't go to a 7-11 if there is a local alternative, even if it costs more. Why do I want to give money to a multinational corporation.

I have lived in SE Asia for more than 23 years. You think you get ripped off in Thailand. You haven't even skimmed the surface.

[villagefarang]

I discovered Thailand in 1975 while still in school and moved here two years later at 23 years old. I have recently started to think that people like us, in some odd way prove the point that Thailand is really hard for many people, rather serving as an example of how good or easy it can be. The things which make it easy for me could also be seen as the reasons others have a hard time.

I didn’t come here with tones of baggage from a past life. I took 20 years to learn the language and explore the various levels of Thailand’s class structured society before I settled down. When I finally married, I already had a life here and I knew more about Thailand than my wife did. I was able to share my Thailand life with her rather than depending on her to explain everything to me.

Someone who discovers Thailand as an old man simple doesn’t have the luxury of time that I had. So I tend to look at those of us who have been around forever as anomalies and not necessarily as good role models.

[konying]

There are two sorts of people who don't get scammed in Thailand.

1. Those who never understand what's happening.

2. Those who are essentially broke.

You forgot number 3. The ones that keep their wits about them.

I don't say they haven't tried but the same thing happens in my country and your country and any other expats country. Why continually pick on Thailand?

You can keep your wit,BUT

Say you bought a tshirt for 200 baht, while 3 shops down it is sold for 180.

Guess what? you have been scammed

To make matters even more funnier, both shops are owned by the same person

It does not have to be "in your face" scam to be scammed, so to claim you have never been scammed = you living in total and utter oblivion.

Wow, 60 US cents. My God. I think I'd go sucidal.

You are a child living in a place you do not understand. Go home where they steal money from you regularly. And they've done it in a way you have no idea it is being done. I am talking about your government.

I personally don't mind giving up 60 cents to people that barely survive. I won't go to a 7-11 if there is a local alternative, even if it costs more. Why do I want to give money to a multinational corporation.

I have lived in SE Asia for more than 23 years. You think you get ripped off in Thailand. You haven't even skimmed the surface.

The amount is totally irrelevant, the fact still remains.

Just because you are a big spender who after 36 years years still counts in USD does not mean that others are as big of a spenders as yourself.

Scam is a scam, amounts are irrelevant

[konying]

There are two sorts of people who don't get scammed in Thailand.

1. Those who never understand what's happening.

2. Those who are essentially broke.

You forgot number 3. The ones that keep their wits about them.

I don't say they haven't tried but the same thing happens in my country and your country and any other expats country. Why continually pick on Thailand?

You can keep your wit,BUT

Say you bought a tshirt for 200 baht, while 3 shops down it is sold for 180.

Guess what? you have been scammed

To make matters even more funnier, both shops are owned by the same person

It does not have to be "in your face" scam to be scammed, so to claim you have never been scammed = you living in total and utter oblivion.

That's not a bloody scam. That's being unobservant and clueless.

If the same happened down the markets in the UK, you wouldn't call it a scam. It is being.... unobservant and clueless.

A scam is not getting something you expected or paying more for something than was originally advertised, agreed or contracted. Something with a different price in two shops? Try Big-C and you can have different priced items in the same store, ON THE SAME SHELF. By the way, that's not a scam either, it's bloody lazy stock-checking but if you don't catch it before the check out girl does, you are being... unobservant and clueless.

If you are too blind to or lazy to check prices before handing over cash, that's being (all together now)... unobservant and clueless.

okkkk, if you say so

[Gonsalviz]

I discovered Thailand in 1975 while still in school and moved here two years later at 23 years old. I have recently started to think that people like us, in some odd way prove the point that Thailand is really hard for many people, rather serving as an example of how good or easy it can be. The things which make it easy for me could also be seen as the reasons others have a hard time.

I didn’t come here with tones of baggage from a past life. I took 20 years to learn the language and explore the various levels of Thailand’s class structured society before I settled down. When I finally married, I already had a life here and I knew more about Thailand than my wife did. I was able to share my Thailand life with her rather than depending on her to explain everything to me.

Someone who discovers Thailand as an old man simple doesn’t have the luxury of time that I had. So I tend to look at those of us who have been around forever as anomalies and not necessarily as good role models.

We are not anomalies. We are realistic. The youngsters come here and see an Asian society. It is completely different than anything they know. Some may be incapable.

They have been paying through the nose for things they never need. Their government does it to them. It is not on a personal level, so the never see it. Politicians have perfected a way to fack you and make you happy for it.

Now they get "ripped off" for 60 cent and it makes them angry but a politician can make them pay $60 and they feel good about it.

[Gonsalviz]

There are two sorts of people who don't get scammed in Thailand.

1. Those who never understand what's happening.

2. Those who are essentially broke.

You forgot number 3. The ones that keep their wits about them.

I don't say they haven't tried but the same thing happens in my country and your country and any other expats country. Why continually pick on Thailand?

You can keep your wit,BUT

Say you bought a tshirt for 200 baht, while 3 shops down it is sold for 180.

Guess what? you have been scammed

To make matters even more funnier, both shops are owned by the same person

It does not have to be "in your face" scam to be scammed, so to claim you have never been scammed = you living in total and utter oblivion.

Wow, 60 US cents. My God. I think I'd go sucidal.

You are a child living in a place you do not understand. Go home where they steal money from you regularly. And they've done it in a way you have no idea it is being done. I am talking about your government.

I personally don't mind giving up 60 cents to people that barely survive. I won't go to a 7-11 if there is a local alternative, even if it costs more. Why do I want to give money to a multinational corporation.

I have lived in SE Asia for more than 23 years. You think you get ripped off in Thailand. You haven't even skimmed the surface.

The amount is totally irrelevant, the fact still remains.

Just because you are a big spender who after 36 years years still counts in USD does not mean that others are as big of a spenders as yourself.

Scam is a scam, amounts are irrelevant

Refer to

NanLaew's post.

[villagefarang]

I am all about taking responsibility for our own choices and not laying it off on governments or someone else. I think blaming others is just lazy.

[champers]

the luck of people like OP is total oblivion so even when they do get scammed, they do not even know it.

lol

What you don't know doesn't hurt you.

[SpokaneAl]

As I continue to age I learn to pick my battles. Paying an extra sixty cents is not one of them.

But I am happy that there are those out there who consider these kinds of minute life issues to be worthy of girding one's loins and setting out to ensure all is right and correct in this world.

[KittenKong]

I lived and ran businesses in Europe for more than 30 years. And I've been coming here (and latterly living here) for nearly 40 years.

In the last few years here I came across far more crooks and scammers and overcharging (and not all involving Thais, by any means) than I ever came across in Europe.

Dishonesty seems to be endemic here now, and it attracts foreign crooks also.

[ksamuiguy]

After a long, long time in "The Kingdom"

I have been scammed probably daily, the difference is I KNOW IT, 99.9% of the time it is not important enough to worry about.

i don't have to save face, let them Think they won.

No harm done on either side.

I have also been scammed and knew about it to let others save face.

None of this has effected my feeling about "The Kingdom of Thailand".

I Love it, always have and always will.

Just look at the rest of the world, almost total anarchy every where.

Most people don't know how lucky they are to live in Thailand.

If you don't know , go home and do a reality check!

I feel Safe and Sound in "The Kingdom' always have.

[Langsuan Man]

I discovered Thailand in 1975 while still in school and moved here two years later at 23 years old. I have recently started to think that people like us, in some odd way prove the point that Thailand is really hard for many people, rather serving as an example of how good or easy it can be. The things which make it easy for me could also be seen as the reasons others have a hard time.

I didn’t come here with tones of baggage from a past life. I took 20 years to learn the language and explore the various levels of Thailand’s class structured society before I settled down. When I finally married, I already had a life here and I knew more about Thailand than my wife did. I was able to share my Thailand life with her rather than depending on her to explain everything to me.

Someone who discovers Thailand as an old man simple doesn’t have the luxury of time that I had. So I tend to look at those of us who have been around forever as anomalies and not necessarily as good role models.

Seriously, how much baggage from their past life could one possibly have at the age of 23

[Andrew65]

There are two sorts of people who don't get scammed in Thailand.

1. Those who never understand what's happening.

2. Those who are essentially broke.

You forgot number 3. The ones that keep their wits about them.

I don't say they haven't tried but the same thing happens in my country and your country and any other expats country. Why continually pick on Thailand?

You can keep your wit,BUT

Say you bought a tshirt for 200 baht, while 3 shops down it is sold for 180.

Guess what? you have been scammed

To make matters even more funnier, both shops are owned by the same person

It does not have to be "in your face" scam to be scammed, so to claim you have never been scammed = you living in total and utter oblivion.

Wow, 60 US cents. My God. I think I'd go sucidal.

You are a child living in a place you do not understand. Go home where they steal money from you regularly. And they've done it in a way you have no idea it is being done. I am talking about your government.

I personally don't mind giving up 60 cents to people that barely survive. I won't go to a 7-11 if there is a local alternative, even if it costs more. Why do I want to give money to a multinational corporation.

I have lived in SE Asia for more than 23 years. You think you get ripped off in Thailand. You haven't even skimmed the surface.

Agreed, when I lived in the UK around 40% of my salary was scammed by the taxman.

[jacko45k]

Sounds like you need to get out more!

You must be a one in a million!

[nickmanchester2]

i've been blackmailed, head butted and had an iphone 3GS stolen (yeah, long time ago now!) not bad in 5 years.

[PaulHamon]

agreed I've not had any problems... but i am waiting for the day... i'm sure it'll happen.

as for the forums, it not really that strange we hear about them on them, that's the point of them really...

so people can let other know what's going on...

without all this advanced notice many of us who have not had any problems might have NOT been prepared enough.

thanks for everyone that vents on here, i know what to avoid, to increase my chances of avoiding problems.

[kkup]

I got married here and get ripped off everyday.