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Mail Bag |
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Re: No refund
for noisy condo
Dear Editor,
Judging by the enormous response to the online version of
my letter you published two weeks ago: ‘No refund for noisy condo’, over
3,000 reads so far, I’d say that the issue of noisy condos was of major
concern to many people who’ve either moved to Thailand, or are thinking of
doing so. If nothing else my letter might have alerted people to the
expression, ‘Buyer beware.’ And to that I’d like to add, ‘Apartment block
owners and landlords in Thailand in general, beware, in this extremely
competitive climate for foreign income from renting or buying accommodation
to use either as a holiday or retirement home, the world is the
buyers/renters oyster,’ and they’re exercising that prerogative more and
more, especially now the exchange rate’s dropped so dramatically.
As I stated in my previous letter, renting the condo in
question was my last attempt to stay in Thailand as a winter holiday home,
hoping to spend up to 6 months of the year there, putting money into the
local economy. That dream has obviously turned sour, I’m now over ฃ4500
(4644 GBP) out of pocket with no sign of any recompense.
If I didn’t have important personal belongings left in
the condo I’d write Thailand off as a bad job, but I will have to return
near the time that my 12-month lease is due to expire to retrieve them; I
only intend to make it a short visit. The agent only hopes that they’ll
still be there, and after being robbed twice at my previous address, so do
I.
Mr Philip Fletcher
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Many dogs in dire straights on South Pattaya Road
Editor:
People are outraged over the treatment of elephants at
Sarakham Temple where three elephants were butchered and the skulls, meat,
and tusks were sold for two million baht. Seven more elephants are waiting
in the wings and they seem to be suffering from malnutrition. Now, they say
a law is needed to protect these elephants. I would hope that if they pass
this law it will be extended to also protect dogs and cats and other
animals.
There are many dogs in dire straights on South Pattaya
Road. They are found dirty and flea bitten. They sleep in the gutter and
under cars. They attempt to cross the road in all the miserable traffic.
Many are abandoned in Wat Chaimongkol.
The cats migrate to the parking lot at Center Condotel.
Those living there are not much better off than the dogs living on the road
or in the temple, but all of them are much better off than being thrown into
some vile storage tank. The cats are given good food by animal lovers at the
condo, and they are taken to see a vet if they are sick or disabled.
Is this a pretty picture? I shouldn’t think so. 1337 at
one time had information on how to deal with strays. Perhaps they still have
this program. If not people can volunteer to adopt some of these animals.
They wouldn’t be able to deal with an elephant, but they can certainly help
out with a dog or cat. They can also notify the police or City Hall if they
see any animal mistreated. There is too much of this going on.
Ray Standiford
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ATM victim
Dear Editor,
I am also a victim of the ATM scam. I don’t know how it
happened as nobody had my card in his hands. Saturday, Jan. 8, was my last
day in Pattaya and I wanted to withdraw a certain amount. As this amount was
not shown on the board, I entered it but did not get the money. The machine
only wanted to give me 2,200 baht. At this moment a man, looking like a
Middle Easterner, offered his help. I was angry and told him to get away
quickly. He went off; I cancelled the withdrawal and went to another ATM.
Here the same happened again. Furthermore he tried to get
my card when it slipped out of the machine, but did not get it. I was
quicker! I am sure that nobody could see my pin. When I entered it, nobody
was close to me and I hold one hand above the other. I was very angry with
that man!
Then I went to a bank where I felt safe and got my money
there. The next day I arrived at home. Some days later I noticed that my
account was empty! 1000 euros were taken from several ATMs in Pattaya. Of
course I went to the German police, who told me that they will not contact
the Thai police!
This morning I read in the Pattaya Mail the
article on the Frenchman Mohammad Belkelouat who had tried to rob the card
of the British man Mr. Singer. He looks very similar to the man who tried to
“help” me last week.
For me it is a miracle how the money could be transferred
from my account. But it is obvious that this man played a role in it.
Signed,
A disappointed German female tourist on her 27th holidays in Thailand
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HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]
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Re: No refund for noisy condo
Many dogs in dire straights on South Pattaya Road
ATM victim
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Letters published in the Mailbag
of Pattaya Mail
are also published here.
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It is noticed that the letters herein in no way reflect the opinions of the editor or writers for Pattaya Mail, but are unsolicited letters from our readers, expressing their own opinions. No anonymous letters or those without genuine addresses are printed, and, whilst we do not object to the use of a nom de plume, preference will be
given to those signed.
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