Hua Hin - Trust No-One!

[Jaime]

Given that, forget it and enjoy life. Of course, you've got more left than I do! Pete

Don't take this the wrong way Pete but.... I hope you're right!

[PeteC]

Given that, forget it and enjoy life. Of course, you've got more left than I do! Pete

Don't take this the wrong way Pete but.... I hope you're right!

Shit, I'm 106 now with 3 mia noy's. That means I should last at least another 30. Pete

[Onlyme]

Jockey, my heart goes out to you. As a previous poster suggests, you are a good person and above the scheisters that ripped you off.
Don't think we're all the same and don't be put off by it.
Next time you're in Cha-Am, give me a call and I'll buy you a beer.
Onlyme.
PS. PM me for number.

[Gutte]

Not to be misunderstood, I just want to stress that what I posted about, and I'm sure Jockey as well, was not the times you are paying too much for something. If you let that get to you, you simply can't stay here.

I'm talking fraud. And it's not mainly that there is big money involved. (although I've lost many hundred thousands of Baht.) My big problem is that I simply get depressed when I realise that people I have trusted should not have been trusted - that they created "friendship" and confidence just to use it for fraud.

I can understand that many people think that all of us westerners coming here with our money are just here to be ripped-off. If somebody sells something to me 400 percent more expensive than what he just bought it for, it's OK as long as I get the thing. It's a fair deal between a greedy seller and a stupid buyer.

Losing money because of fraud is something different. It feels bad. But losing the ability to trust anybody is a lot worse.

[SuperTonic]

We've had a fair amount of building work done by 2 local Thai firms, though just outside Hua Hin.

The terms of payment have been the same both times.

40% (with signed receipt) as soon as they are on site with their workers, tools, machinery and a basic load of materials, e.g. sand cement, gravel, etc. so that they can buy further materials.

Another 30% when the work is just over 1/2 done or the structure itself is up.

Last 30% on completion and not 1 baht before.

On completion, check that the job really is finished to your reasonable satsifaction, taking account that you cannot expect the same quality as in your own country at Thai labour prices. We can't have our cake and eat it!

If there is some snagging to be done, certain items haven't been provided or rubbish hasn't been removed (the latter is a very comon one), hold back a reasonable amount from the last 30%.
Do not simply pay up and believe promises that "we'll send someone round to do it tomorrow".
On the last work we had done (house extension), I withheld B 8,000
because of rubbish, 3 missing mosquito blinds and some making good plastering I wasn't happy with.

Everything was then sorted out within 3 days and I paid the balance.

On neither occasion did we have any problems using this formula.

Sensible advice anywhere, not just Thailand.

[SuperTonic]

the so-called "Paradise" offers only illusions (mostly).

So why are you in Hua Hin? Do as I am doing. If you're not satisfied with the place you live, do what you probably did when you first moved to Hua Hin, and that means find somewhere that is satisfactory, and go there.

[SuperTonic]

I don't think naive is the correct word/feeling, and maybe it's not a one word definition. I would say something like "culturally balanced and aware of one's own values, expectations and desires." Pete

3 words will help you keep a level head in all this.. Mai Pen Rai (not sure if that's spelt right)

[hogus]

SuperTonic,

I've not said that I don't like this place....I just said it offers mostly illusions.
(Has to do what you're looking for, of course!)

If you're ready to recognize these illusions, you can avoid to run into pitfalls and to become a financial victim.
Protect your money at first, and than enjoy this place!…a rule which should be valid all over the world, isn’t it?

[Randy Cornhole]

I rent my house here and all my money is in an English bank! Nuff said.

[clive]

I have only just read Jockey's post. Jockey you are a grown man, getting caught is because you were greedy like everyone else who gets caught. 20 % off in Home pro for a Thai builder, I cannot believe you fell for that one! Signing a lease agreement without checking with a lawyer, and all this with a Thai girlfriend. The list of people who have took money of you seems to be endless, starting with the big daddy of them all [ Edited by Moderator - no specifics please ] . Only fools and horses my friend.

[buksida]

On request of the OP this one is locked.