samtam
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Posts posted by samtam
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7 minutes ago, couchpotato said:
As it is not costing the Condo tenants any extra money, then personally I would just leave well enough alone. if you go to the Committee with this, and it turns out one or more of them is in on it, then you are just opening a can of worms. Incidentally most contractors are familiar with this type of "extras" so just leave it alone.
I hear what you are saying about leaving well alone, but the contractor's bribe comes from somewhere, and I think it's pretty adjacent to the contract fee.
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I think I can be certain, (if that isn't a contradictory way of putting it), that it does not involve any other committee members. I will be speaking to them privately.
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When is the OP travelling? (See below). Taking it out of Thailand in hand luggage would be the problem, if over 100ml per item.
QuoteWhat are the liquid restrictions at the UK airport?The government confirmed in December 2022 that airports will have until June 2024 to upgrade their screening equipment and processes, meaning the 100ml liquid rule would be changed to two litres. In addition, the requirement to remove laptops from hand luggage would also be scrapped. -
I suppose I am being totally naive, and should not have expected any thing less. As a committee member for our condo, which is managed by one of the so-called top building management companies, I was rather taken aback today when I was informed by one of our contractors that he was asked for a payment to the building manager for a contract awarded by the board. He also showed me proof that the subcontractor carrying out the renovation was asked for a similar bribe. For another simultaneous project by the same contractor and another subcontractor, they have to pay a fee to some/several (as yet undefined) of our management or juristic team to have the quality control approved.
As it's Thailand, it is possible that this practice is the norm, and I should turn a blind eye to it. It does however absolutely disgust me, knowing what potential adverse impact there might be on the quality of the work, aswell as the ultimate cost to owners. It also goes against the very fibre of my being. The contractor whistleblower is not Thai, so he obviously felt comfortable telling me of his experience, otherwise I would doubtless never have heard about it.
Anyone have any experience of this, and advice. Is it just "When in Rome..."?
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7 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:
Just coming back with my new "6 year" license.
The majority of people did not have the QR code from the elearning. They had to spent time watching video and/or tutoring.
I was out at 9:30 (office opens 8:30 and just walked in).
Spent some time waiting for the documents entered to the IT and start of eye/reaction test.
This was not at a Bangkok office.
But quite obvious you can save time at the office by having the QR code.
Just completed the course and received my certificate with QR code.
The date is completely wrong....says completed Private Driving Licence on 19 September 2023.
I will be going on 19 March which is exactly 6 months, and it states *results of training are valid for 6 months from completed training date.
Hope it works. Maybe the QR code says something else?
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47 minutes ago, Woof999 said:
I feel your pain.
If a job can be f'ed up in any way possible, or in quite a few ways that we would think are impossible), it will be f'ed up good and proper.
Sometimes I feel pity that the average daily wage here is so low. Some other times I think it is way too high.
I agree, sadly. It is not surprising given the very different ways we live our lives, but respect for property amongst those who don't own anything of (high value), is quite strange. But I suppose there are other priorities.
The last time I had my aircons cleaned I moved everything out of the range of the machines as they were cleaning them, (as per usual), including the pieces of silver and bronzes on top of a George III piecrust table. Sometime later, because it was almost in my eyeline, I noticed one of their wet cleaning cloths hanging from the side of it. It must have been there for several minutes, and it of course left a water stain, which I am still trying to remove with a antique oil designed for such purposes. Still, I suppose it's seen a few things in its life, and this just adds to its rich tapestry, almost literally. And besides, it's barely noticeable in the dim lighting I use at night; even better when the lights are off.
I literally supervise all activity in my flat like a hawk, so that micromanaging is par for the course.
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9 minutes ago, Snackbar said:
Did the gas bottle have some yellow residue aswell? A decent carpet shampoo should get it all out.
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17 minutes ago, superal said:
Had both eyes done for cataracts in the UK and was given eye drops as an anesthetic . But an injection into the eye would not be for me . Is that only done in Thailand ? Both my ops were done in private eye hospitals that treated only eyes . Including pre-op preparation , I was there both times for 3 hours and then on my way home in a taxi . There after , eye drops 3 times a day for 2 weeks and also a plastic eye patch that was worn at nights to stop any rubbing on the eye . Check up after 1 month .
Thai guy in Bangkok had the cataract op and said he stayed in for one night and home the next day but had no eye drops . My local Thai government hospital does about 14 cataract operations a day , carried out by a lady eye surgeon . Free for Thai but farangs 25,000 baht per eye , including an overnight stay in a non V.I.P. room
I did not really expect the anesthetic to be administered by a needle, and only realised as I was on the gurney. It is possible the doctor told me in one of the multitudinous (Rutnin has a very belaboured process) pre-op consultations, but I did not remember it. Stopping the hemorrhaging was a rather terrifying experience, and my eye looked a mess (as if I'd been in at least one round with Mike Tyson), for a month or more. Luckily the operation was successful, (performed after the hemorrhaging), and my beauty 🫣 restored.
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2 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:
Just coming back with my new "6 year" license.
The majority of people did not have the QR code from the elearning. They had to spent time watching video and/or tutoring.
I was out at 9:30 (office opens 8:30 and just walked in).
Spent some time waiting for the documents entered to the IT and start of eye/reaction test.
This was not at a Bangkok office.
But quite obvious you can save time at the office by having the QR code.
Thank you. Very helpful. Having received my Certificate of Residence this morning, I will go off to Chatuchak (one of Bangkok's DLT centres) next week, and watch the vdo and get the QR code. Appreciate your input!
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1 minute ago, Dolf said:
So you don't tip then. Worrying about 2 baht is pretty sad.
I do tip, rather too generously for everything in Thailand.
My point was simply the "it's not a lot of money" argument works for both sides. If it's such a tiny amount for both parties, why bother?
My point about having change, is do I always have to have the smaller notes (less than THB500 or THB1000) available? I used to always for taxis, as they could never even change a THB100 bill, but now I give them THB100 if it's within 25% of that.
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On 1/19/2024 at 10:13 AM, FritsSikkink said:
Pay cash
I'm sure a cash payment is as much of a pain in the derriere for the driver as it is for me. And will the driver have no have change, (like a taxi driver)?
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1 minute ago, Dolf said:
2 baht isn't a lot of money you realise.
Yup, not a lot of money. But I'd rather have it than Grab. Their new add on charges are costing them a lot more in reputational cost than the credit card fee and the "platform fee", (which seemed to only be effected 2 times).
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On 1/19/2024 at 8:38 PM, reefsurfah said:
It’s a scam but not much can be done if not regulated. Basically they are trying to recover the 3% visa and Mastercard are charging them.
....which I thought these card companies specifically discouraged.
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55 minutes ago, Gee Bangkok said:
I think you will need 2 letters of residency. Interesting if you can use twice.
Doubtless. My thinking was too logical.
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3 hours ago, Gee Bangkok said:
No need for pictures they take.
Yes return old DL.
Went today very quick and easy.... I watched the video before hand... Showed the QR code which I saved on my phone.
4 little tests, color of traffic lights, depth of perception, and peripheral vision, and brake test.
505THB 5 years
Done in less than 2 hours. 👍
Thanks to you and Kh Benq. Will watch the vdo and get the QR code.
The other question that sprang to mind today is whether I can use my certificate of residency from IMM for both Thai DL renewal and International Driving Permit (IDP), if I apply for both on the same day. I only have 1 original, but wonder whether it would work for 2 things. IDP also seems to require an original letter/certificate. Sounds too simple and logical, but I might try and do it that way. (I'm going to Japan in May and want to drive, but Thai DL requires IDP.)
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3 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:
I will report back on the 13th.
Thanks! I just asked a Thai staff member here. He says for renewal before expiry of 5 year DL, (which I am), no need for oral question. Also he said no need for form completion, just return old (existing) DL.
(But this may only be for Thais.)
Anyway, I await your report. I was planning on going tomorrow, but my Certificate of Residence will not be available until Wednesday; I already have the Medical Certificate.
As far as I understand it, we only have to do the nonsensical antediluvian tests with wooden sticks etc.
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As others have stated, cataract surgery does not require an overnight stay. However, having had both mine done, first at Rutnin Eye (Bangkok) where the anesthetic procedure caused hemorrhaging, (needle into the eye), I still went home to recover the same day, and administered the requisite drops until I went for a follow up the next week. Given my experience I then had the second eye surgery performed at Samitivej Hospital (Bangkok) with drops anesthetic and went home afterwards. I was picked up by my partner both times, and managed the washing (shower) without getting water anywhere near my eyes. The prices you are quoted seem very reasonable. Rutnin was around THB140,000 and Samitivej around THB75,000 (both eyes normal lenses).
My straightforward experience at Samitivej is the norm for these procedures, (as everyone kept telling me before the horror show at the first surgery).
Happily everything is OK in both eyes now, and the difference in my sight is dramatically better; I no longer need long distance glasses.
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16 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:
I will know in three days. The English website of DLT does not help much.
Daughter (Thai) had confirmed I needed it.
If you could let me know, I'd appreciate it. I started to watch the vdo and there was a question about brake distance depending on speed, but the answer only came subsequently, and I got it wrong, so will have to have another go. It is rather protracted and unfocused, but I suppose if required, better to watch it at home, rather than at DLT.
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On 3/4/2024 at 12:50 PM, KhunBENQ said:
I suggest you do that e-Learning procedure at home and get a QR code.
Can save you sitting at the office and watch some video there.
https://www.dlt-elearning.com/
Quite boring and some very simple questions.
I have just done that in preparation for my 5yr/5yr extension next week.
The page in the URL for private cars says not required for Driving Licence renewal...I think:
It does not apply to obtaining a new driver's license and driving license renewal
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Do you need photos for a renewal?
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54 minutes ago, MRtommyR said:
Don't understand their reply but unless I'm mistaken the platform fee is not new and applies only to GrabTaxi. This is Grab's fee on top of the metered fare. For other ride types the fee is wrapped up inside the fixed price that you are quoted.
It was Grab Car Premium on both occasions.
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Here's a clue about slow fulfillment:
...how many days has Srettha been behind his desk in Bangkok, or in Thailand, as opposed to abroad, drumming up so-called intangible "business" or non specific invitations to other countries' heads of state or government?
...who is actually running the government?
...why doesn't the foreign minister go off gallivanting?
...why doesn't the transport minister sort out immigration delays at Suvarnabhumi?
...why doesn't the interior minister go to the "Deep South", or to visit Issan, or other photo ops up and down the country?
Perhaps the coalition is so fragile it cannot progress one item on the election promises agenda, and Srettha is just keeping the seat warm for the chosen one, and until MFP have been eliminated, before the next general election.
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They also added another new fee "platform fee" of THB20 per ride. But since questioning it, they see to have stopped. Their answer was a complete word salad:
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2 hours ago, Thingamabob said:
Good question. I think it was a case of her being too popular.
It's practically a capital offence, as Pita will find out soon enough.
Kick backs for condo renovations
in Real Estate, Housing, House and Land Ownership
Posted
You're assuming too much right now. I wanted to hear a few opinions, and yours is certainly helpful. I am aware it is how the country runs, but there are obviously specific circumstances which I have chosen not to disclose, such as the history with the management company etc.