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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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?

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

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!

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

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 .!!!!!!

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

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.

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!

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.

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.