Discrimination ..is alive and doing well

Post by **Khun Paul** » April 30, 2009, 11:04 pm

We have recently heard of the increase in the fees ofr ATM using a non-Thai card, we all know of the stupid increases in charges for farangs at many public places and even places where everyone pays, this is open discrimination and should be fought, how I am not sure, but just a short note.
I recently spoke to my accountant about putting up a new sign over the Grage, now this si interesting.
If Thai language only 3 baht per 50 cms.
If Thai language over a farang language ( mainly english ) ....20 baht per 50 cms.
If English language with Thai underneath....50 baht per 50 cms.

When she told me I snorted and ordered the english with Thai underneath, but did ask her to ring them back and say why the discrimination, I wait with bated breath for the reply,
This is becoming scandalous, reminds me of de Gaul who complained bitterly about English being used in the Common Market or even Mitterand who walked out when his staff used English.

Something has to be done any ideas.

Post by **Footy1966** » April 30, 2009, 11:12 pm

You could always move back to the UK where it is p#ssing down with rain at the moment and come and join the dole queue with me

Post by **LoongLee** » May 1, 2009, 12:55 am

What I don't understand about this whole double pricing issue is,,,,,,,,,, why don't the farangs or expats who are "part owners" of bars/restaurants etc, charge 3 times more for any item they sell to Thais, even put it on the menus etc.?? Why doesn't the Udonmap charge Thai businesses 3 times the price for adverts etc? Why don't expats who sell their items,,, autos, motorcycles, household goods advertize 3 times more for Thais?? When people complain, tell them why.

Post by **gulfman** » May 1, 2009, 2:57 am

Is this really discrimination? For example, let us say the the price of an item is 50 baht, and this represents one day's work for a Thai worker. Should not the falang also pay for the same item with one day's work? But in this case it becomes 2,500 baht. If the Thai, or the falang does not consider the item to be worth one day's work then they don't have to purchase.

Money is only a convenient intermediary in the barter for goods and services.

Post by **trubrit** » May 1, 2009, 3:14 am

Khun Paul wrote:We have recently heard of the increase in the fees ofr ATM using a non-Thai card, we all know of the stupid increases in charges for farangs at many public places and even places where everyone pays, this is open discrimination and should be fought, how I am not sure, but just a short note.
I recently spoke to my accountant about putting up a new sign over the Grage, now this si interesting.
If Thai language only 3 baht per 50 cms.
If Thai language over a farang language ( mainly english ) ....20 baht per 50 cms.
If English language with Thai underneath....50 baht per 50 cms.

When she told me I snorted and ordered the english with Thai underneath, but did ask her to ring them back and say why the discrimination, I wait with bated breath for the reply,
This is becoming scandalous, reminds me of de Gaul who complained bitterly about English being used in the Common Market or even Mitterand who walked out when his staff used English.

Something has to be done any ideas.

I have news for you Paul. Which ever of the language options you choose will also determine the amount of business tax you pay on it. With English only carrying a 500% premium over Thai only.

Post by **BKKSTAN** » May 1, 2009, 7:33 am

Footy1966 wrote:You could always move back to the UK where it is p#ssing down with rain at the moment and come and join the dole queue with me

Is this a love or leave it response???

Why is it when someone complains about something in Thailand,there are those quick to compare Thailand to somewhere else as if to negate the expression of the posters feelings?

Post by **WBU ALUM** » May 1, 2009, 7:57 am

I suppose one could choose to shop where discrimination is not practiced.

Post by **mortiboy** » May 1, 2009, 8:12 am

BKKSTAN wrote:
Footy1966 wrote:You could always move back to the UK where it is p#ssing down with rain at the moment and come and join the dole queue with me
Is this a love or leave it response???

Why is it when someone complains about something in Thailand,there are those quick to compare Thailand to somewhere else as if to negate the expression of the posters feelings?

Stan, you so right! It seems one is FORBIDDEN to mention anything negative living here.This is a great place to live. Even though times are a bit tough at this time.Nothing can be perfect.
How many times someone quips up(saying it politely)..If you dont like it here,"go off" back to your own country!
Even said by people not even live here!

Post by **jackspratt** » May 1, 2009, 8:48 am

Of course Thailand doesn't have a monopoly on discrimination.

If a Thai wants to study at an Australian tertiary education institution, it will cost them far in excess of what an Australian would pay in fees for the same course.

But it does give all us grumpy old expats a good excuse to whinge, doesn't it

Post by **saint** » May 1, 2009, 9:43 am

WBU ALUM wrote:I suppose one could choose to shop where discrimination is not practiced.

thats the most sensible option , the original poster was in my veiw just venting , he says a sign , but gives no discription of the sign , but because he is charged more for english , he assumes hes being ripped off . maybe the signmaker has to reprogram his computer , or needs to reset his machines to provide the english language . we , just like him do not know . buts its all a bit too easy to scream discrimination !!!!!!! if i ever suspect im getting ripped off because im falang i take my business elsewhere . i do not worry about it ,or play the im persecuted because im a farang card . thais rip off thais more than they do us . farangs rip off farangs just as much . its all part and parcel of life on this planet . you always have a choice .!!!!!!

Post by **Footy1966** » May 1, 2009, 2:49 pm

Well said Saint. It makes me laugh when some of the expats who have been lucky enough to live in Thailand moan non-stop about doing so

Post by **Khun Paul** » May 1, 2009, 3:20 pm

No I am sorry I was not venting, just making a point, too often we hear about discrimination, and yes it is easier to shop elsewhere, but this is a Govt Institution which is discriminating, no option but to pay, as for shops normally, I do not experience any discrimination just because I am a farang for anything I buy to sell or for that matter anything I buy.
Thailand has a problem now with investment and tourists, this situation cannot be made any better by the open discrimination that applies to many many Govt Institutions including the Tourtism, but so opften they ignore our comments then ask months later why tourists do not visit siteds and the like.
You call it venting or whatever you wish, but we all know Thais do read this, so sometimes a little venting could change some people's perception ......one hopes.

Post by **Brian Davis** » May 1, 2009, 4:54 pm

I'm certainly not afraid to look elsewhere, if I think I'm being ripped off and it's not a critical situation. It pays to shop around anyway, if you've the time. Only yesterday, in a fixed price large homecare shop, a large can of primer was priced at nearly 4,000 baht, when I knew I could get it elsewhere for just over 2,000. That's a serious difference.
It would appear some Thai are not adverse to ripping off their own, if my wife has understood a Thai friend of ours living in Loei, when the opportunity arises. Being charged well over the top for land cultivation and paying 9,000 baht for a second-hand strimmer. I bought a new one for 8,000!

Post by **Bertie_Wooster** » May 1, 2009, 6:15 pm

Usually on any of the Thai related boards when this topic comes up, posters throw out the fact that non-residents in other countries pay more for taxpayer supported services(education is the usual example). This is fluff and usually used when they have no argument.

Additionally, they will say something like... well in Hawaii, Las Vegas, Miami etc non-residents pay more for goods and services. I really don't have a problem with that. These are tourist areas which have the argument that prices have been driven up because of tourism and it does not matter where you are originally from as long as you have residency. Prove residency by the proper standard (I presume a driver's license) and you get the local price. I am not sure of the percentage difference in prices around the states, but I did check on the SF Zoo:

Non-Residents/Residents
Adults 15-64 $15.00/$12.00
Seniors 65+ $12.00/$7.50
Children 4-14 $9.00/$5.50
Children 3 & under Free/Free

Finally, the absolute weakest comment made on most of the boards is... wait for it.... If you don't like it leave.... Talk about an unnecessary comment

Thailand is nice, fun and interesting. And yes, it does love the dual pricing practices and also loves the fact that so many non-Thais co-sign to the policy and actually defend it.

Talk about losing yourself...

I do not like dual pricing, but for taxpayer funded enterprises I am somewhat flexible. Unless they get greedy and charge Thais 30B and want to charge non-Thais 300B. Then I pass on their services as I consider it a rip-off.

For private businesses who just say... You are not Thai, pay me more... Those are the places I try to avoid.

Post by **Iceman** » May 1, 2009, 6:38 pm

IMHO it does no good to complain. The only effective course of action is to refuse the goods or services and emphasis the reason. If falangs are not a significant portion of their business they probably won't care what we think or do. Realistically we can probably only make a difference with businesses that do a significant trade with falangs.

Post by **jackspratt** » May 1, 2009, 7:45 pm

Bertie_Wooster wrote:Usually on any of the Thai related boards when this topic comes up, posters throw out the fact that non-residents in other countries pay more for taxpayer supported services(education is the usual example). This is fluff and usually used when they have no argument.

<snip>

I do not like dual pricing, but for taxpayer funded enterprises I am somewhat flexible. Unless they get greedy and charge Thais 30B and want to charge non-Thais 300B. Then I pass on their services as I consider it a rip-off.

For private businesses who just say... You are not Thai, pay me more... Those are the places I try to avoid.

What are you on about Bertie?

I gave an example of where price "discrimination" exists in a country other than Thailand, and you dismiss it as fluff and without argument - conveniently not offering any argument or rebuttal on this point yourself.

So I guess we can dismiss your post as fluff then. =D>

The OP offered two examples.

The first relating to banks (ie private enterprise) which are clearly NOT discriminating or dual pricing. As I said in an earlier post, I am not aware that they (the banks) are offering rebates of the ATM fees to Thais who conduct international transactions, so the charge is the same for farangs and Thais.

The second relates to dual (or triple) pricing on signs - which is a tax, and imposed by the government. It is also imposed equally on a Thai or a farang, given that they have the same type of sign - so again, is not discriminatory.

Post by **Michael C** » May 1, 2009, 9:22 pm

Is this truly discrimination if it is based on the menu language??? I think not. I am sure that the Thais would love to have ATMs in the EU or America that are Thai language. Is it discriminatory that they do not have Thai menus for Thais that reside in the EU or America, to include Los Angeles, where there are currently 100,000 Thais residing? I believe that number is many times higher than the number of foreigners in Udon Thani!

Here is what you do if this is really bothering you so very much:
1) Go to a Thai Farmer's Bank ATM (The green ATM machine) and insert your ATM card.
2) Enter Code and hit enter button.
3) Press upper right item on the menu (which is 'withdraw' in Thai).
4) Push the amount that you wish to withdraw (the word after the numbers means 'Baht'). If you want to enter your own amount, push the lower right choice that does not have a number with it- enter the amount you want and push enter).
5) Take your money and receipt and don't forget your ATM card.

Is it really that difficult and worth getting so upset about??? I am constantly amazed by the amount of whining and complaining that goes on in this forum about everything imaginable in Thailand. On the other hand, there appear to be so few posts about how great things are here in Thailand, which is possibly why so many of us are here in the first place! Maybe I should start bombarding the various subfora of Udon Map with those topics.

Post by **Footy1966** » May 1, 2009, 9:54 pm

A few of the more regular forum members who reside in Udon don't seem to have much to do except moan and worry about how much pension they're going to receive each month with the poor exchange rate.

I'm just glad that when i visited Udon last month, i decided against going to the Night market just in case i inadvertently bumped into any of the moaning tw#ts that think they can change the way Thailand is, just to suit themselves.

And Mortiboy, you,re right, i don't live in Thailand (as one of your previous post suggests) but i have done and i loved every minute of it, probably because i rarely came into contact with some of the wallys that have chosen to make Thailand their home.

laphanphon · Post by **laphanphon** » May 1, 2009, 11:38 pm

Thai Farmer's Bank

i did take notice to that missing on the bank ass. list. and probably, i was thinking anyway, possibly a better rate.......maybe in couple weeks, i'll get that atm back and give it a run thru. used them before for cash advance, decent customer service, tho i forget where now, maybe between clock circle and nk rd/ring rd.

Post by **RALPHCUSENS** » May 2, 2009, 12:04 am

Footy1966 wrote:A few of the more regular forum members who reside in Udon don't seem to have much to do except moan and worry about how much pension they're going to receive each month with the poor exchange rate.

I'm just glad that when i visited Udon last month, i decided against going to the Night market just in case i inadvertently bumped into any of the moaning tw#ts that think they can change the way Thailand is, just to suit themselves.

And Mortiboy, you,re right, i don't live in Thailand (as one of your previous post suggests) but i have done and i loved every minute of it, probably because i rarely came into contact with some of the wallys that have chosen to make Thailand their home.

Footy,

It would appear to me that you have a severe dose of jealousy because you are not living here, I am one of the more regular forum members, who reside in Udon, however, I don't very often moan on the forum about how much pension I'm going to receive each month. I do however in private!

I would ask you to consider how you would feel if you were to lose 30% of your dole money, would that not make you worry about your finances?

(to quote you):

Re: Discrimination ..is alive and doing well
by Footy1966 on April 30, 2009, 10:12 pm

"You could always move back to the UK where it is p#ssing down with rain at the moment and come and join the dole queue with me."

I am a regular at the NM meeting, and have never met any " moaning twits" and certainly not anyone who thinks that they can change Thailand.

(Mods, sorry about going off at a tangent}