HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Looking for Ian

False advertising

Foreign owners should be aware of Thai condo law

Re: Editorial

Pattaya’s rate of inflation

Lack of safety in hotels, clubs etc

Looking for Ian

Dear Sir/Madame,
I am trying to locate someone for a friend who has moved to Pattaya some 7 years ago.
The person I am trying to contact is Mr Ian Hannah, he is Scottish, quite short and stockily built. He I believe is in his 50’s, used to be lorry driver and Lived in Northolt West London.
He knows my friend who’s name is John Russell; they met at a public house called The Eastcote Arms and became firm friends; in fact before Ian moved to Pattaya they visited Thailand on holiday together.
As I live in Northolt I have been trying to trace Ian on John’s behalf as he moved back to Ireland about 10 years ago. I managed to speak to someone who knows Ian and he gave me the details of where Ian is.
Apparently Ian has had a house built and is always to be found in the U2 beer bar also know as “Ye Old Oak” but not sure.
All I know is it on Soi 8.
Please can you possibly help as I know it will be a most joyous reunion for both parties.
Sincere best Wishes
May Pearce
12 Laughton Road
Northolt
Middlesex
UB5 5LL
United Kingdom

False advertising

Dear ‘Baht Bus Weekly’ (aka Pattaya Mail),
I am writing to register my annoyance with your Letters Column for the consistent and flagrant false advertising that you have been publishing about the resort of Pattaya over the last few months.
I have been here two weeks now and I am extremely disappointed that none of the following have happened:
I have not had an angry encounter with a baht bus driver, in fact one of them had the cheek to say ‘Thank you’ in English when I handed him 10 baht.
I have not been conned at an ATM, in fact come to think of it someone actually picked up and returned 500 baht that I dropped the other day.
I have not been robbed by boys on motorcycles, maybe because I haven’t been stupid enough to wear jewellery worth a month’s local wage, so I’ll be buying a Singha beer vest tonight to show off my necklaces.
The water hasn’t been cut off at all in my hotel, very annoying that one.
Some of the bars I frequent have had the cheek to provide me with great value beer, company and entertainment well into the early hours of the morning. I was desperately hoping that they would all kick me out at 1 a.m. but they have had the front to refuse to do this.
And finally, much to my chagrin, I have not once been accosted by girls I later found out to be ladyboys, but I guess that’s my fault as well since I haven’t decided to ‘go for a stroll along Beach Road’ whilst off my trolley at 3 a.m.
I will be returning home next week much disillusioned with the place and your false advertising.
Regards,
Ian, England
PS, See you all in October!

Foreign owners should be aware of Thai condo law

Editor,
In response to ‘Jomtien Observer’s condo inquiry (Mailbag 12th May). Section 49-4 of Thailand’s Condominium Act states that common property may only be changed or modified as permitted by the condominium’s regulations, which when it is first registered must be lodged at the Land Office. Section 49-3 requires change to these rules to be approved by 75% of the apartment owners. Management are notoriously reluctant to provide a translated copy of the regulations, as apathy and ignorance allows for abuse of power. It is amazing how many condo owners allow selves to be kept in the dark and their ignorance exploited. It is not always by Thais, either.
At the 2006 Annual General Meeting of apartment owners in the condominium where I live, it was announced that some 1.3 million baht had been stolen by an office girl. Farang who were quick to rant about this Thai infraction failed to consider that the farang chairman of the management committee had previously forced through an extra fee of B4000 per apartment, and on the basis there was insufficient maintenance income for necessary work. Odd, then, that after the work was done the theft of the same sum in total was possible by the girl allegedly simply filching from the cash take day after day for more than a year, and without it even being missed!
Prior to discovery of the theft, the particular chairman had resigned after being accused by the [farang] secretary of AGM ‘vote manipulation’. So hopelessly lost were some apartment owners, that they signed a petition for the chairman’s return. They could not work out that after four years of this person being in charge - he called himself ‘executive director’ of the condominium - the theft meant there was no daily cash check procedure in place. Such incompetence (at best) in any western company would likely result in those in charge being hauled before a court and disbarred from being directors. Even more incredible, owners were told that the alleged thief will not say where the money has gone, yet the theft has not been reported to the police. These are all documented facts, yet there are those who signed the petition for return of the chairman that allowed all this to happen who object to being told they were like chickens wanting a fox to look after them. Oh - incidentally, it was claimed at the AGM that this is one of the best-run condos in Pattaya, and there were those who applauded the assertion.
It is worth noting that an English translation of The Condominium Act is often advertised in the Articles For Sale column. Every farang condo owner should have a copy.
Tony Crossley

Re: Editorial

Editor;
I sympathise with your editorial ‘Words of the Father’ Fri. May 5th edition. The King’s worry is very apparent and to feel obliged to speak to judges to point out that if they can’t do their jobs without fear (or especially) favour they should go, shows a sad state of affairs. So far as I know no judges have resigned. His Majesty surely knows the people concerned. In the time favoured fashion they will just wait for the dust to settle and - business as usual.
I recall a similar plea by His Majesty a couple of years ago regarding excessive noise and he expressed his concern for his subjects’ possible damaged hearing. Top police officers together with an entourage of journalists, cameramen, etc., descended on a then recently opened disco and declared (as is the practice) everything was in order.
Anybody with a grain of sense knows it is not! Pattaya bars are the noisiest I have ever encountered in my long and well travelled life. Simply deafening and dangerous for the workers! Bangkok is quiet by comparison with disco noise kept within the buildings.
The King has rightly an immense amount of affection from the Thai people, but with this issue he has only received lip service from the people in charge. No doubt he still worries about this subject.
Tinitus

Pattaya’s rate of inflation

Dear Editor
Having returned from a short break in the States I invited a friend to dine with me at a small eating establishment on Soi Day/Night. Having eaten there a number of times on my last visit I was impressed with the quality of service, the food and the decor, not to mention the pricing structure. They do a wide range of European and continental breakfasts and their English was without doubt one of the best, more tasty than the American fare and at 95 baht without doubt value for money.
Imagine my surprise therefore when inviting my friend, who is English, to accompany me again, following my return to Pattaya, for such a feast, to find the price of the standard English breakfast to have increased from 95 baht (the price four weeks ago), to an amazing 150 baht today with no additions to the plate. In my absence has the rate of inflation (almost 58%) gone through the roof over here? I’ve heard nothing on the news about it and all the financial press I have read have stated that the Thai economy is much stronger than other Asian countries.
I am aware this eating establishment has been in operation almost a year, maybe slightly longer, but even if the prices had not risen in that time, what justification can the farang owner argue to hike the prices, almost overnight, by such a hefty percentage? I bet his staff has not received such a rise in their salaries. Maybe it is the old maxim, in low season we need to make enough money to survive until high season so let’s put the prices up. In high season will they go down? I think not!
As most of your readers will comment, if you don’t like it go somewhere else. My reply would be to let my feet do the talking, but this eating establishment does serve the best English breakfast I’ve ever had here and it is truly sad to find such an exorbitant increase being levied.
In conclusion, I would further comment that for $4, American, it is still good value but my question remains what facets of the Thai economy can justify a 58% mark-up almost overnight? Maybe the proprietor of the establishment recognising the above may wish to comment. It would be grossly unfair to name the establishment as I’m confident the owner recognises the place to which I am referring.
It’s good to be back.
Herbert R. Powell

Lack of safety in hotels, clubs etc

Sir,
Prior to taking up residence in Thailand, I used to work as a safety surveyor, which entailed, amongst other things, checking for fire escapes, flame retardant materials and fire extinguishing products.
I am therefore appalled at what I see here in Thailand as regards the lack of safety, and in particular am deeply saddened at the loss of life at the Route 99 Nightclub following last week’s accidental fire.
There can be no excuse for failing to ensure people’s safety and blame for this fire can be attributed to many people and government bodies. With immediate effect, all nightclubs, hotels, stores and the like must be inspected for adequate fire exits (this operation can be carried out by one person in only a few minutes at each location) and any not fully conforming to legislation should effectively be closed there and then until exits are provided. In practice, holes could immediately be knocked in walls to provide exits, and security guards brought in to guard the openings until proper fire exit doors are installed. Business can continue normally.
The practice of imposing nominal daily fines on businesses that do not comply must be a thing of the past. Random unannounced inspections must be carried out regularly, and where doors are found to be permanently locked or blocked, or inspection refused, the business (hotel, club or whatever) should be closed down permanently. No excuses accepted. Life is too precious.
The cost of enforcement would only amount to a few thousand baht a month (and don’t believe otherwise); an insignificant amount when compared to the millions made available for the various festivals and beautifying Pattaya!
Isan Nick
Buriram

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