Cheated by a friend

5
1252

Dear Hillary,

I am so disappointed, angry and revenge thirsty!  When I on my vacation suddenly had the opportunity to move to Thailand, I had to quickly find a home.  A good Thai friend, who worked at the guest house I lived in, would love to help.  We also found a house, a bit expensive but ok.  I would like to have a small Buddha statue to the house, and would my Thai friend also buy for me.  He said it cost 2000 B.  Well, I moved into.  As the newly purchased Buddha was placed, so I at the back, it only had cost 399 B, then had my “friend” cheated me of 1601 B.  In the new house I lived alone, but had company in 1000 some of the ants, which I could not get rid of, even though I spent a lot of poison.  Many things were broken in the house, so I looked around for another house.  Therefore I resigned the lease.  There were interested to see the house, and they could tell that they had to pay 12,000 B in rent, while I paid 14,000 B.  Now I was really worried about my “friend’s” honesty.  And sure enough, when I should have my deposit back, get the owner to confirm that my so-called friend got 2,000 B every month in commission.  As termination salute, the owner demanded 3,500 B for cleaning including air-con 500 B which had never been used, cleaning the house 1,000 B (I took a dirty house), etc.  What would you advise me to do?  Make the “paradise” hot for them, or just forget it all and do not care that probably comes several they cheat?

Benjamin

Dear Benjamin,

What rock have you been hiding under?  What on earth made you think that everyone in Thailand is “honest”?  For that matter, are people anywhere “honest”?  If an opportunity arises to make some money on the side, then it will happen.  What to do?  Take the Buddha statue with you (after all you paid over the odds for it) and try to see the good in people.  Revenge is not an honorable emotion.  Put it all behind you and chalk it up to experience.