Double pricing reaches high levels

Dear Sir,

It was recently brought to my attention that some foreigners in Pattaya believe the double standard is now being applied in an even more insidious manner than usual - namely, to interest rates on passbook savings accounts with certain local banks.

For your readers’ interest (if you’ll pardon the pun), I have checked with some of the local banks and had it confirmed that while resident depositors - including foreign residents such as those of us with retirement visas or work permits - will continue to enjoy 4% p.a. interest on passbook-savings deposits, non-residents (i.e., those foreigners living overseas or temporary visitors on tourist visas) will henceforth receive only 1%. The government withholding tax of 15% will still apply to this, however. This move was reportedly approved three months ago by the Central Bank of Thailand, but has not yet been implemented by all banks.

Of course, most people will not be aware of this rather significant moving of the goalposts, since it has not been widely publicised in the press. (Why am I not surprised?) Nor would most depositors find out until the start of the new millennium, when the next tranche of interest is credited to their passbook savings accounts (calculated on average daily balance but paid only biannually at the end of June and December.)

Fixed-term deposits are presently unaffected, inasmuch as the contracted interest rate - typically 4.5%-5% - will still apply up until the next maturity date. However, it is worth noting that unlike most other countries where a fixed-term deposit automatically rolls over unless withdrawn, in Thailand one must visit the bank on each maturity date to update one’s time-deposit passbook and renew the term deposit (and renegotiate the rate which will apply for the coming term). Otherwise, after reaching that maturity date, ‘standard’ passbook rates apply - which henceforth will be only 1% if you are a non-resident - until and unless you update your time-deposit passbook.

It is curious that almost every day we read of local banks continuing to experience difficulty in raising sufficient capital to cover their non-performing loans (very few if any of which are owed by foreigners, I would guess), and reports of the likelihood of the government having to take over several more ailing banks if they are unable to find amenable foreign partners, yet it seems some banks in their wisdom are choosing to discourage foreign investors from keeping their money on deposit here. Perhaps the aggregate amounts those deposits represent are not significant enough to concern these bankers; but if that is so, why then does it take 4-6 weeks to obtain Central Bank approval to remit capital sums in foreign currency overseas again?

One wonders if this is merely the latest application of the much-resented double standard, or just another example of the local convoluted logic that makes Thailand truly Amazing?

Sincerely,
Leslie Wright

Goodbye big guy, we’ll all miss you

Editor;

I am writing to express my loss ... of a dear friend Wayne Tischbern.

Wayne had been a good friend for many years and I considered him a good will ambassador for Pattaya as well as Thailand. All my trips would start and end at “Wayne’s Place,” whether it was Nacho Nois, the Wild Chicken or the Hare House.

He was always the same, congenial, humorous, and extremely helpful. I had the pleasure of going places with his ex-wife Noi and her girlfriend Mao, and these trips were light and a lot of fun, as Wayne always was. Whether it was the old day boat trip, or just to dinner, Wayne always knew the “right” place at the “right price.”

If it rained we would sit for endless hours watching all the traffic on Soi Post Office where Wayne knew everything and everybody. I’ll miss those enlightening moments as I’m sure a lot of people will. I’m sure Pattaya will miss him more than it knows.

Goodbye big guy, we’ll all miss you.

Fred Huff
Los Angeles

Trash & dogs

Dear editor,

I fully agree with the comments by Mr. John P. about the beach trash and dog problem. And indeed in the same issue of the Pattaya Mail we can once again read about the planned beautification of the roads “to present a pleasant appearance for those entering and departing Pattaya”. As their coach speeds along Sukhumvit Road visitors will be lucky just to catch a glimpse of these renovated center islands whereas the dirty beaches are a constant eyesore during their stay.

It is too bad that even if Mr. John’s suggestions are tried they will not solve much of the problems in the long run. When I moved to Naklua last year I could not understand why there was so much junk on the beach with hardly any visitors coming to the small bay where we are staying. Also I found it strange to find things such as toothpaste, brushes, empty detergent & shampoo bottles, etc., amongst the litter. These are not really items one would bring along to a picnic on the beach.

The real problem is that most of the trash is floating around the sea already and gets washed ashore. And this is not only here in Pattaya but all over Amazing Thailand. A friend of mine took an early morning stroll on Koh Samet before the cleaning team of the resort had cleared the beach and he was shocked by the amount of rubbish that had accumulated overnight.

Further, I can already foresee what will happen when fines are imposed for littering: the farang tourists will have to pay hefty fines for dropping a cigarette butt whilst at the same time locals who are not willing to pay for garbage collection dump containers full into the ocean at night and get away with it!

The only way to clear up this mess is to take radical measures at a national level. In most western countries garbage collection is paid for through compulsory community taxes or one way or another the charge is incorporated in the rent or property tax you pay. In Thailand if you don’t want to pay for collection you just throw it over the fence or dump it in the sea. Who cares as long as it is not on your own property?

Next, something should be done about the fact that every item you buy is wrapped in a plastic bag. In Holland you have to bring your own shopping bag to the supermarket or else buy a one from a dispenser for 10 Baht. Also each bottle you buy has a refund price included (5-10 Baht for glass ones up to 20 Baht for big plastic bottles!)

Talking of which: judging by the number of empty Lipo and other energy drink bottles on the beach (a real hazard if they are broken) you would think that this is the only beverage consumed in Thailand! But of course this is not true, these small bottles have no value at all and therefore get thrown away. It would be naive to believe that one supermarket chain or beverage producer alone would consider taking the initiative to introduce these measures so it should be imposed by the government.

The dog problem: John mentions that he hates the idea of killing an animal but as a resident he should know that Thais hate it even more. There are a few Thai vets who are prepared to put a lost case to sleep but the owner will simply not bring the dog. Also, even though many of these dogs are fed by Thai people they do not consider themselves to be the owner and will not take any further responsibility for them. Certainly they do not wish to be the person who decided to end the dog’s life by taking it to the vet. Having to pay for it is another issue. I have read about free rabies injections being given, but how to get all those dogs there? Taking one dog by car is already an almost impossible mission but can you imagine Thai people taking their dog, let alone a bunch of strays to the vet by motorbike?

The only solution is that a campaign is organized whereby vets visit the various compounds and areas to administer rabies vaccinations and contraceptive shots on the spot.

With best regards,
Mr. Jan Abbink

Seaside Villa
Naklua

Angry Farang... Not!

Sirs,

I recently returned from a one-month visit to Thailand, and wanted to compliment Pattaya on its recently improved looks and general disposition. Despite the many years of bad news and critical reportage from the international press, it looks that Pattaya is finally cleaning up its act and ending most of the obvious problems which once plagued the resort.

The beaches appeared reasonably clean (well, Jomtien still needs some work), the Baht Buses were almost honest (the A.B.B. syndrome or Amazing B.B.), and your “Walking Street” remains among the most entertaining and friendly destinations in all of Thailand.

But the Most Amazing surprise was that Beach Road was actually paved! Yep, it took almost 20 years but this is very, very good news and points out that Later is Better than Never (check out Beach Road on Chaweng). This American travel writer, along with my buddy, Bill Dalton, had a great time in Pattaya and wish to thanks everyone for a fabulous holiday.

Keep up the good work and it’s fine for your newspaper to print my email address as [email protected]. The 3rd edition of my Thailand Handbook and 1st edition of my Bangkok Handbook (including Pattaya) will be published by Moon Travel Handbooks (Moon Publications) by the end of this year. Pattaya will receive positive coverage in books, as well as in my Southeast Asia Handbook.

Hope to hear from you soon!

Carl Parkes
Travel Writer
Moon Publications

Copyright 1998 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20260, Thailand 
Tel.66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax:66-38 427 596; e-mail: [email protected]
Updated by Chinnaporn Sangwanlek.