RickBlaine

Hello guys. I live near Sakon Nakhon in the north east. I've decided to restart an old hobby - model aircraft flying, and have just built my first balsa model in 50 years. I don't think there are any expat modellers or flyers in my area, unless anyone knows differently? There is an active Thai group here, the one guy I met spoke English and seemed helpful. There's a model shop in Udon Thani (ready built models with RC), but otherwise I'll be buying online. I'm struggling to find model aircraft suppliers (plans, kits, balsa, tissue etc) in Thailand. Online searching just brings up toy shops or ready built aircraft or plastic models - and that's fine but it's not what I'm after right now. The kit I've just built I brought back from my last UK visit - that would be an expensive way to buy them! Thanks for any help.

Sad but true. I checked Google translate; Debt is 'nee' - can't tell if it's high or falling tone. Run away is 'wing nee' (run is 'wing' in Thai). Someone had a sense of humour when they invented Thai.

Too late for that. There's a lesson there somewhere.

Originally I thought the finance co will go after the car first, not the guarantors (they must have a whole department of investigators). But it's whatever's cheapest and quickest. And your point about people turning up, I wonder how many times money changes hands to 'forget' finding a vehicle.

I can't say too much, but yes, all possibilities are being looked at.

I did wonder what the law is on making a family homeless, whether the finance co can only put a charge against the property (payable when/if it's sold). But if even the police can lose their house, that's a worry.

The bank can 'demand' all they like, the problem is firstly to find her and the car.

Do you know if that's always done? If so, it suggests she's not taxing it, or the company would have her. We need to talk to a lawyer about options.

When we've had cars on finance, we had a photocopy of the owners book so we could get tax (the finance co kept the book till the final payment). I hope she's taxing the car, so she doesn't get stopped at every checkpoint, as it should make it easier to narrow it down to a province. I did wonder why the finance co haven't already looked for the car (maybe they have). I guess it's cheaper and easier to go after the guarantors.

'rich farang' Ha ha, someone's going to be disappointed.

Yes. 'Doubt she had the income...' The borrower has to be responsible for their actions, but ideally the finance company would also get it in the neck from the Financial Ombudsman for irresponsible lending. No one's holding their breath.

Too late for that. Rightly or wrongly we're all 'coming together' to try and help.

Thank you. That final suggestion is an interesting one, and possibly cheaper than going through a lawyer. Police will have access to more information than lawyers. We often complain that the police won't do anything without a reward - but maybe, on this occasion...

I know, but these (guarantors) are decent people, just trying to help a friend.

Not a pleasant thought. I haven't got all the contract details, and I would need wifey to translate Thai legalise.

Good idea, lovely irony if I were able to befriend her. Unfortunately it will all be in Thai, but I'll suggest it to the family.

My Thai sister-in-law stood guarantor for a 'good friend' (as she thought). There were 2 other guarantors, for a 1.2M baht SUV. Unfortunately said 'friend' has stopped making payments and done a runner, they think with the vehicle and boyfriend. They all hoped the problem would go away, but the 3 guarantors are liable for about 400K each, and the finance company are now threatening to take their homes. I think they just want the easiest way out, and will try to scrape the money together, but this cannot be right. 'Madame' is swanning around somewhere in a nearly-new SUV with no intention of paying for it or even returning it. I can't believe she would do that to her friends. My idea is to engage a lawyer/private investigator to find her, take the vehicle and hand it to the finance company or Police. They will sell it at a loss at auction, and there will be fees of course, but it should reduce the bill. As a foreigner (Brit) my only involvement can be to find/finance a lawyer - I presume the lawyers can recommend private investigators? Any thoughts, anyone been involved in something like this before? Thanks. Mods - I couldn't find a Legal Forum, so I hope this is the right place.

Thanks for detailing that experience, had no idea about the 60 day rule. I didn't think we would have to enter visa details, but presumably the visa end date is on the passport database, an easy check for their system to make. Still, let's not give anyone ideas, if it works I'm not complaining.

Thanks. I've been looking in the Covid forum, should have looked here (and posted here!).

Yes, Kuala Lumpur. I thought a flight out in March ie leaving say 20 days after returning from UK, would mean 30 days insurance cover would be okay, rather than 140 days to my end-of-extension in July. It's quite a price difference, but I don't know if it even matters/gets checked.

Due to a family problem, I'm trying to organise a quick trip to UK, mid/late February if I can get the flights. I think I'll be okay getting into UK, but getting back; Can I do all the Test & Go application before I leave Thailand? The T&G website says allow 7 days for approval, but I won't have 7 days if I wait till I'm in UK. Looking at the requirements, I don't see anything I can't book and pay for while I'm still here. Also, I'm on a marriage extension, ends early July. The covid insurance is supposed to cover till end of visa/extension, which would cost 13K! (Axa quote). If I bought 30 day insurance, and a cheap flight out, to say KL in March, and uploaded both, will they still insist the insurance runs till end-of-visa? Thanks to all.

I don't know who he'll fly with, but looking at (for example) Qatar Airways website, they say they will take a paper copy from passengers for their records, and so to bring 'multiple copies'. How many? doesn't say. Also Thai embassy website, London specifically says to download the Morchana app, which your friend can't do. I'm not disputing the experience of travellers who got in without their phone being checked.

Final edit: Thanks to everyone who's replied, lots of options. I had to apply/register my Kasikorn debit card at an ATM (not sure which option, staff did it), but it works online now. Speed reading this forum it seems mobile apps get blocked less than traditional online banking. I'll download the K-app and that'll be my first choice from now on (and I can go into a bank and talk to someone if it fails!). Next time I'm in the UK I'll download the NatWest app, and apply for Wise debit card. I'll keep the NatWest credit card as a last resort. Cheers.

The Clarity card is mentioned on the MoneySavingsExpert comparison website. Probably easiest to apply when I'm in UK next year. I presume it needs an account, then online access, then credit card approval.

Done that. Each time they assured me it was 'on record', but also admitted there were no guarantees - it's automated.