Farang-Jono

4 minutes ago, Derek Dangleberries said:

Ahhhh. I see the miscomprehensions now!!

It should say "the outstanding utilities" at the end of contract and it should also say that you pay rent and utilities each month not just rent.

You should clarify with them directly ASAP... You don't mention the subjects but if they are a TEFL agent then they are shockingly lacking in English skills!

There just seems to be too many holes in that contract to be able to help you out ..

Since paying paying for the internship, I've been juggled across two other companies and then being told that the internship is either 3 months or 8 months – all their websites say the internship is 5 months. I only signed up with them as I could have had an easier time with the visa paperwork, airport transfers, accom assistance ect. But I think I'm better off doing on my own in conjunction with a school.

14 minutes ago, Smiler said:

Yes that’s it, quite simple really.

The owners of the place you are renting clearly state you will be paying 10 baht per unit of electricity. So they don’t need to wait for the electric co to send a bill, they take a monthly reading of your meter and charge you accordingly. I am guessing on a monthly basis, but could even be weekly or at the end of a fixed term contract.

My girl pays (or rather I pay 👀) 4k a month for her room near her Uni in Bangkok. The electric averages out around 600, obviously this time of year  it will be considerably more.

It was a useful lesson in budgeting for her during her first year there. The electric was paid monthly by the way.

At the end of April we will be clearing the place because she has finished her degree. I paid a month in advance and a months deposit 3 years ago so I am hopeful of at least 3k of the deposit being returned as she will only have spent around 10 nights there in April.

I'm glad I understand it better now. The way the internship worded things above sounded like for a 12-month lease, they'd take 12months worth of electricity usage from you despite already paying it to the government in the first place. Though I have been given other red flags from them, so I may just get the refund and apply to a school myself.

9 minutes ago, Painter said:

That's always been the case in the condos I've rented. I've always rented through the juristic office in the complex.

Move in, pay months rent and a month's deposit.

On moving out, the condo management read the meters, and check condition of the condo. My deposit has always been returned, less the electricity (in my case last March was at 6.5b per unit) and water, and a cleanaing charge. Presumably if there was any damage we would argue over the cost 😀

I make sure the office know at least a week in advance of when I am leaving, and remind them regularly in the last week. 

During my stay I'm issued with a monthly government bill for electricity used, and pay that at a 7-11. This bill is given to me by the management office, but is an official government slip. Obviously if I'm moving out on the 20th, and the government bill doesn't come until the 28th, keeping money from my deposit means the management can pay the bill on my/the owners behalf when it arrives.

I'm happy for them to take the required amount from my deposit... means I don't have to have funds available on the last day of my trip

Ah, I think I understand now. So if you move out before the utilities are due in the same month, the deposit is used to pay these utilities instead of you yourself paying them elsewhere. Is this correct?

6 minutes ago, Derek Dangleberries said:

I see nothing wrong with paying everything that they have listed at the time of checkout and would be happy for it to be deducted from the deposit with the remainder given back there and then cash in hand.

The problem arises from the rental facility not your agent nor the school (unless they are in cahoots of course) and they try to delay the deposit repayment on the spot knowing that you are itching to get on the silver bird ASAP.

Plan to move out from the long term accommodation 2 weeks before end of contract and stay in a local cheap hotel.

But everything depends on the length of your contract ...

I'd imagine gas, electric and water is paid monthly to the utility company anyway. So how can the deposit be used to pay utilities that some pays monthly?

By the end of the lease, it's highly probable the utility costs outweigh the cost of the deposit over the months. can you explain how this is supposed to make sense?

Hi all,

I signed up to do a teaching internship in Thailand. they help to arrange accommodation and you will pay the deposit and the rent each month. However in their info, they have written: "All monthly accommodations in Thailand require a deposit to cover any damages and the cost of electricity. When you check out at the end of your stay, your deposit will be returned to you minus any damages and minus the amount of water and electricity usage. Electricity is charged at 10 Baht per unit and participants using a moderate amount electricity can expect to spend 1,000 – 1,500 Baht per person (based on a shared room). There is also a 250 Baht cleaning fee that will be removed from the deposit to cover cleaning services.

Your deposit return will be greatest if you do not use your air conditioner and remember to turn off all electricity when not in use. You will be informed about your specific cost before you arrive in Thailand. You will need to pay the deposit when you check in to your accommodation on Monday. All participants are subject to a deposit."

When renting in Thailand, is it really commonplace to have utilities deducted from a deposit, or is this just some warped logic created by the internship company? I'll be ready to cancel immediately if this is not at all commonplace across Thailand. I also find it odd that they'll place you in an apartment with an air conditioner and then tell you not to use it. I understand and accept damages and cleaning, but for utilities seem to be a bit bizarre to me.

27 minutes ago, Lemondropkid said:

I've been doing beginners courses based on transliteration.

This seems to be precisely what you don't need.

If in the past you've been able to learn the Thai alphabet, I think you'll figure out the best way yourself.

 

I find transliteration quite unhelpful too as it seems very academically and linguistically inclined - depending on the transliteration system. The fact that there are several transliteration systems makes them defunct right away in my opinion.

Hi all,

I will be emigrating to Thailand in the next 6 months or so. I am a natural Polyglot (English, Welsh, Gaeilge, Argentine Spanish, German & Hindustani), I did have Mandarin under my belt, but lost the spark for it over the years. Yet, since I'm relocating to Thailand forever, Thai needs to be added to the collection. Online searches come up blank about any proficiency tests for Thai, so it is unlikely that one exists? It is a huge shame if there isn't yet!

If there are no official proficiency tests, what would you think is the next best thing  is? I'm hoping to be based in and around Chiang Mai (Bangkok as a back-up) if location is important. I learned the alphabet and survival phrases back in 2016 when I last lived in Thailand, but naturally it has been exterminated from my memory (don't use it...lose it!). But I would rather start from the beginning after I have arrived rather than cramming in non-natural textbook vocabulary weeks/months before the flight. I want to learn the real, natural Thai spoken everyday from the very start.

With textbooks in mind, are there any that would be useful to purchase before flying out? I'm currently based in the UK. Maybe it is a better idea to buy them once in Thailand though? I would love to read some recommendations!  

Distant future*

Hi, my name is Jono (Most likely to be Khru Jono), and I am emigrating to Thailand from the UK either this June or October. I lived in Thailand once before in 2016 (Kanchanaburi Province) but been busy graduating from uni sicne then. I'm ready to go back for the long-run as a serious and dedicated English teacher. If a farang is able in Thailand, maybe cross over into education management in the distance future.

I'll be using this forum to seek advice from time to time (I often get myself into bizarre and obscure situations that common knowledge cannot usually solve).