HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Congratulations on your 10th Anniversary

Investing, scams & scoundrels

Heartfelt congratulations

We don’t want you

Disappointed and need help

Thai hospitality

Fix the potholes

Congratulations

Prepare for your future

Inflated visa fees

Congratulations on your 10th Anniversary

Pattaya Mail,

I got the first complimentary copy of the PM at the hotel I stayed in Pattaya some years back, and have been “addicted” ever since, so to speak. When I left Pattaya to go back home after my quite a long stint in Rayong, I migrated to the WWW, updating myself on the news you published week in, week out, without fail.

Kudos to the staff, and especially Peter, for a job well done! I hope all of you would continue for many years to come.

To Hillary, I love your column and your tongue-in-cheek answers. Too bad, am quite far away, and am unable to share my chocs with ye’! Post ‘em you’d say? No way, aint gonna let you share ‘em with anyone else, except me! Ta Ta..
Lotsa luv,
Ali

Investing, scams & scoundrels

Editor;

This is a letter of warning to anyone thinking of investing in a business in Thailand whether you are an experienced resident or not. Personally, I have been resident in Thailand for almost ten years and have seen countless friends invest their life savings in a business in Thailand only to lose the lot, so I always swore to myself that I would never be caught and then before I knew it I was!

Whilst I may have some slight degree of justification for my actions all this could have been avoided if I would have taken the most obvious option and sought proper legal advice from a reputable lawyer but like everyone else I found myself getting caught up in the excitement of the size of the project (it was not a bar with weighing scales or shophouse selling English breakfasts, unfortunately!).

Then to be associated with what can only be described as very high profile Thai nationals as our board of directors - it all seemed too good to be true. Naturally, it was, but when you are in it and you are meeting the people we were and getting involved with the things we were and going to the places we were, it seemed like everything was going the way it should. In addition, to be involved with a very influential and alleged reputable local businessman the formula seemed destined for success.

At the time the company also got carried away with the amount of people willing to invest money with them and they too believed in it so much they also ignored legal advice believing we were on a road for a successful business.

As time went by, things were done in an improper manner and when the question was raised at the time regarding our company and its operational procedures, it was looked upon as an insult that due to these high profile Thai people that the company would operate in any other manner than a legal one. Looking back now and in light of the prime minister’s recent clampdown on people of dark influence, I realise that this was no more than a facade for the company to hide behind.

Thankfully this was also their downfall, we as the shareholders now find ourselves in a strong position and are taking the case through the Civil Court in order to retrieve investment. However, this has come at a price as friendships have been broken, money has been lost, dreams have been shattered and after long sleepless nights and constant stress and worry. The strangest thing of all is that no-one wanted to be a millionaire, we just wanted a honest, decent income to be able to live in the place where we have chosen to spend the rest of our days.

Therefore, the purpose of writing to you is to say that no matter how clever we all think we are or how safe we may think our business partners to be, always seek legal advise and not that of the bar room lawyer! As Leslie Wright himself says, if you are sick you go to a doctor and not ask the guy next to you in the bar.

Name and address withheld due to pending court case

Heartfelt congratulations

Dear Pattaya Mail Team,

I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations on your 10th anniversary and my apologies for the delay in sending the message for this important milestone in your newspaper’s history. I’m slowly settling into my new home, but always think back of the great time I had in Pattaya and the good relationship with your team.

Please extend my best wishes for the next ten years to your team.
Ingo Gero Raeuber
General Manager
Dusit Inya Lake Resort

We don’t want you

Editor;

It looks like by the new visa fees, Thailand does not want tourists. I first went to Thailand in 1975 when it was a real Thailand. Thai people, Thai customs and the real feeling of being welcome as a tourist. I wised up about three years ago when I realized that Thailand really does not want tourists. My suspicions are now being reinforced by the new visa fees.

They want your money. Too bad we cannot just send a check for the government to distribute among the places that we spend the money like the bars, hotels, tourist sites, etc. Then, they would not have to put up with us. By the way, they have changed the visa fees for Non Immigrant visa (multi-entry) $125, Resident application $190 and then Resident permit $4785. It’s easy to see they do not want retired people or winter residents. Also if you happen to have married a Thai and have children, the government does not what you either. You will be paying $2393 for your spouse and each child under the age of 20.

When I read the Pattaya Mail each week, I cannot believe how much crime is going on now. Thailand listened to Western governments for the past 20 years or so to clean up the place in regards to sex, drugs etc. “Take us as an example,” they said. Well the Thais did just that and what did they get? Crime just like the West. Now ask those governments where do we go to get back the old Thailand crime free.

There are many wonderful places in the world that you can go. Many still have what Thailand use to have: beautiful beaches, clean water and yes, sex. Let’s send Thailand a real message, find someplace to go other that Thailand and see how they cry for tourists and how fast the visa fees change or completely disappear.

Ralph Rio (known as Andy Rooney of Rio)

Disappointed and need help

Dear Editor,

We are retirees (65 and 66 years), and have resided in Pattaya since June 2000 at a condo on Thepprasit Road. When we moved in at this condo, we saw several dogs looking for food around the trash bins. It touched our hearts quite a bit. Since then we decided to feed them and continue everyday till now.

All dogs (7 Thai dogs plus a few others as guests. They are from 1 and half year to 7 years old) are vaccinated, sterilized (male and females) and have been treated for skin diseases.

Suddenly, the condo management tells us to stop feeding the dogs. Why? we ask. They inform us these dogs will be sent away from here. For more than 3 years, nobody cares, why now? What kind of decision is this? They are not stray dogs or street dogs. The car park is their home for years, even on the hard rainy days, they must stay at the cars park.

If any readers or any dog lovers have any suggestions or want to help these dogs so they can have the home, please contact Ms. Teresa, tel./fax 038 300222 or leave a message.

Unfortunately, we don’t have the opportunity and a home for dogs and would appreciate it very much if you could print this article, hopefully, to find a home for dogs.
Sincerely,
T.C.L.

Thai hospitality

Dear Editor,

The multi-tiered pricing in Thailand has never concerned me too much. Since I am usually accompanied by a Thai lady, I have viewed it as a discount, since I’m the one paying. However, in view of the current tourism slump, it is not something that many people go back to their homes and brag about. That, combined with a recent article about discontent among many tourists over false advertising, lack of transportation, litter, etc., makes you wonder where TAT’s head is at. Now the huge visa fee increases! I think TAT and the hoards of other government agencies coming up with these ideas have their heads in the sand!
Sparky
Pattaya

Fix the potholes

Editor;

When I first came to Pattaya several years ago, I didn’t much care for your paper. But, much like a drug, I have become addicted and with expectation wait eagerly each week for it to hit the newsstands.

I am curious, with the multiple pricing in Pattaya, and the recent increase in the immigration fees, if it might be in the realm of possibilities to use some of the money to do something about the disgraceful potholes in the street?
Jim Cornick

Congratulations

Editor;

Congratulations. Keep up the good work. Spending most of our time in Saudi Arabia, your newspaper enables us to keep in touch with the goings on in town and on the sports scene. It also helps us retain some semblance of sanity.

Thank You. Paul & Malee

P.S. Would Hillary be interested in a chocolate bar laced with Champagne in lieu of her more extravagant needs?

Prepare for your future

Dear Pattaya Mail,

Happy 10th anniversary. I read your newspaper regularly on the internet and in the paper form when I visit Pattaya.

I would like to say how sad I am to hear about yet another suicide in Pattaya of a once prominent person.

I would like to stress the importance of people taking good financial advice, before retiring in Thailand, so that they have enough income to see them through. Speaking to an independent financial adviser and ensuring that one has enough income in rent or business income can make retirement more comfortable and can save lives.
Best regards,
Matthew M.

Inflated visa fees

Dear Editor

I was very shocked and angry to read in the Pattaya Mail Vol XI that the immigration service will raise the visa fees from the 26th August by grossly inflated 3 times. Has this government gone crazy?

The interior minister must understand that a lot of money is invested by the ex-pats who live here. How many people will say enough is enough and sell up and go back to their countries?

I for one will be thinking long and hard about this, and if I decide to go back to the UK, I know that my Thai wife will be able to live in my country for the rest of her life with no extra visa charges. The only loser is Thailand, as my money will be invested in the UK and not Thailand.

Please interior minister I don’t want to go back to the UK, I love Thailand but your inflated visa fees are unfair.

Alan, a worried resident

Letters published in the Mailbag of Pattaya Mail
are also on our website.