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What can I do about a rental contract I didn't sign and issues obtaining a TM30 in Thailand?

Rental AgreementDeposit IssuesTM30 RegistrationVisa AssistanceImmigration in ThailandExpat ExperiencesUdon Thani
Jun 13, 2024
8 months ago
RobD****
ORIGINAL POSTER
So I arrived on the 20th April up in Udon Thani. The place I am staying at required a deposit when I booked the room. Then when I arrived at the place I Said I would be staying definitely 2 months possibly 3. They gave me a 500baht discount on the room. Once in the room the lady from front desk shows up with a piece of paper written in thai and my friend with me signed it as she is thai. I stayed 28 days and went to Vietnam for 5days come back pay my next months rent but decided that while in Vietnam I would only stay until my quick trip to Japan on the 20th of this month due to the fact im being eaten alive with all the mosquitoat the property. I told my friend who then told me I had signed up for 3 months and if I leave my deposit is gone. During this time I have asked for a tm30 two times as need it to get a drivers license. They say they won't do a tm30 for me at all but can write a letter on letterhead saying I've been stating there since the 29.4.24.

So I can't get a drivers license I'm being eaten by mosquitos and apparently I have a 3monrh contract I didn't sign. Property owner won't buge and I'm ready to say F it and report them to immigration. Not my style of doing things but what else is there to do??
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TLDR : Answer Summary
An expat in Udon Thani shared their frustration regarding an unintentional 3-month rental contract that they did not sign, as their Thai friend signed it on their behalf. This situation has complicated their stay, as they need a TM30 registration, which the property owner refuses to provide, and the mosquitoes at the property are causing discomfort. They are considering reporting the issue to immigration but are unsure if it will be effective. The community offers various insights, suggesting that immigration might not assist and that the deposit may likely be lost.
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Jon **********
8 months ago
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Vera **************
Some people are just drama queens. You asked to stay 3 months and got a discount. Signed or not, you yourself confirmed you had an agreement.Now you changed your mind and why should business lose money ? They are not breeding mosquitos to eat you alive. Simple solution buy the electric plug, 100 baht and mosquito problem solved. They offered you a letter, but for whatever reason you do not like it , again your problem not theirs
8 months ago
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RobD****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Vera *************
 its the people where they issue the drivers license thar won't except the letter. I also said I would definitely stay 2 months not 3. I've offered them the 1000baht to negate the discount given but they not interested in that. The issue is lack of tm30.
8 months ago
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RobD****
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Juls ******
Im surprised a little, no one else than the immigration can provide a tm30. The hostel, the landlord, have to fill a paper/app/ go with you to immigration, yes, but the tm30 come from immigration.
8 months ago
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RobD****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Juls *****
 the property owner can jump on an app and have it all done within 2mins. Like the are ment to
8 months ago
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Juls ******
@RobD****
 yes, my point. But once register, he still have to go to immigratio if he need the tm30. The tm30 dont come from landlord or hostel.
8 months ago
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Brandon ************
@Juls *****
 this is what a TM30 receipt looks like printed from the online system within 7 days of filing.
8 months ago
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Juls ******
@Brandon ***********
 but, no stamp of immigration like the old one. Have it the same value, or need to be stamped ?
8 months ago
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Brandon ************
@Juls *****
 TM30 is not a stamp and has never been a stamp. It's a slip of paper. You used to just screenshot the entry in the system. A few immigration offices (I believe Pattaya was one, and possibly Chiang Mai) would make you go to their TM30 office and still get a copy from them after you showed the proof. But now that the system itself generates the proof, that should no longer be necessary.
8 months ago
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Brandon ************
@Juls *****
 you print the proof of TM30 directly from the website. It generates a pdf document. That IS the TM30
8 months ago
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Brandon ************
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Manfred **********
On the bright side, your girl can still enjoy the aircon until the 3 months are up.

Aside from that, Baygon helps against mosquitoes in your room, and yes, you violated your contract by trying to move out earlier than committed.

The TM30 issue might be a non-registered-business issue or just a failure to navigate a government website. In many cases, Immigration will accept the confirmation of stay that you mentioned they are willing to provide in lieu of a formal TM30
8 months ago
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Nika ********
Your thai friend signed for you or did you sign?

They must give you a TM30 if they dont want to.do.it go and speak to tourist police..many small businesses do not understand this is N obligation..also get copy of your lease and have it interpreted by a reputable friend.
8 months ago
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Baz ******
And btw, your Thai friend is not much of a friend to let this happen
8 months ago
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Rene ********
@Baz *****
 the deposit is standard practice if one splits happened to me you pay 3 months of front they take a month's rent and they don't return it now if they didn't give you a TM that means they've got some problems and something's wrong so that's your bargaining chip you might get the deposit back from them if you say you're going to go and make inquiries about the TM at immigration. That is an obligation for them.
8 months ago
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Rene ********
Next time better ask in advance if they give it to him before you book in
8 months ago
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Rene ********
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Baz ******
Immigration will do nothing for you regarding your property
8 months ago
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Phil ********
So let's get this straight.

You paid the deposit?

Your Thai lady friend signed the contract?

You want to leave but you'll lose the deposit you paid for your Thai lady friend's contract?
8 months ago
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RobD****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Phil *******
 assumptions and more assumptions. Just a friend and not what you are implying at all. Room was for me and not my friend. Contract was signed without me knowing what was being signed for and not by me.
8 months ago
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Phil ********
@RobD****
 Assumptions? They were questions, they have a ? mark after them.

I think you have learned a valuable lesson here. You've lost your deposit so just pack up and move on to another place.
8 months ago
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Phil ********
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Carl *********
Immigration won't care, police won't care. They will tell you to get a lawyer, who will care for a few hundred thousand, but you won't win. A deposit on what sounds like a dive can't be that much, put it down to experience and move on. Even if you stayed the 3 months been a model Tennant, there would have been an excuse keep the deposit, but you booked for 3 months and defaulted always check terms of contracts. Also the hotel owner blocked that room for you for 3 months they would be out if pocket you just cancelling
8 months ago
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RobD****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Carl ********
 I originally only booked for a month. When I turned up I said I'd stay definitely 2 months possibly 3. I'm not to fussed about the deposit to be honest but would of been good to get it back. It's just I wanted to get my thai license and after ticking all the boxes the one thing that's stopping me us a tm30. I have considered getting a hotel room for the night that will issue a tm30 but not sure if they will accept a tm30 with a one day stay on it.
8 months ago
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Carl *********
@RobD****
 The hotel owner will have blocked that room off for 3 months for you and probably your freind didn't explain correctly the possibly bit. Has for tm30 didn't they say they could write you something on headed paper I'm pretty sure that's enough for a licence.
8 months ago
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RobD****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Carl ********
 considering there's still more than 8rooms available and this place is more setup as longterm residents they are not out if pocket in any way. I did try the letter on letterhead paper and after waiting 3hrs was told it has to be a tm30. Got same issue when trying to open bank account no tm30 no can do.
8 months ago
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Carl *********
@RobD****
 They are they gave you a discount based on 3 months so they are out of pocket. And the other 8 rooms could have been someone else booking and not showing up. Who knows, but fact is you booked 3 months and defaulted so there in there rights to keep your deposit. Has for the TM30 loads of places don't register or don't understand it and it's not massively enforced. I would just forget about it and move on your on to a loser. What visa you on I'm sure when I did mine I got a form from immigration about where I'm staying. Good luck with driving test it's so easy its stupidly hard 🤣😅
8 months ago
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Carl *********
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Frank **********
Lesson learned.
8 months ago
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Rikki ********
It's a common Thai scam...... You must report them if they have not done your TM 30
8 months ago
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Garrett ***********
@Rikki *******
 Whats the scam?
8 months ago
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Rikki ********
Stealing deposits
8 months ago
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Rikki ********
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David ********
Don't be Kaz where are you again
8 months ago
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Peter ********
Immigration won't help
8 months ago
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Kev **********
@Peter *******
 immigration in Udon Thani have always been helpful to me and many others I know. Go to the desk and tell them your issues.
8 months ago
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Peter ********
@Kev *********
 not concerned about thai government, the aussie government concerns me
8 months ago
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Kev **********
@Peter *******
 and the Brit government concerns me.
8 months ago
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Kev **********
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Kitty *******
They are obliged to give you the TM30.

You haven’t signed the paperwork so technically it’s not your responsibility, but your friend’s but I’m sure that doesn’t help.

It depends how much the deposit was, but if significant I’d go to the tourist police, at least to get the TM30 sorted.
8 months ago
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Ruth *******
@Kitty ******
 as I read it, he put down a deposit on accommodations for his friend. That wasn’t his intent, but all he did was put down cash and his friend signed the lease. He has no standing. He will lose his deposit if he walks away. Nothing else will happen and tourist police can’t help.
8 months ago
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Kitty *******
@Ruth ******
 as I mentioned, they are obliged to provide the TM30 which is what I was referring to
8 months ago
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Kitty *******
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Chuck *********
I can answer part of the question.

I stayed at a hotel in pattaya and they claimed they could not give me a TM30. They gave me a letter which I took to immigration. Immigration checked on their computer that the hotel had registered me and they gave me a piece of paper for my passport to show I was registered.
8 months ago
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Rene ********
Yep, it's common not to get deposits back
8 months ago
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Kev **********
@Rene *******
 always had mine returned in Thailand
8 months ago
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Dawn **********
@Rene *******
 I’ve gotten every deposit back here in Thailand. Follow the contract rules.
8 months ago
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Rene ********
It's a numbers game in hotels. They rent it out again the second you leave
8 months ago
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Rene ********
@Dawn *********
 the rules are whatever they make up.
8 months ago
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Dawn **********
@Rene *******
 a contract is in writing. You can ignore all the other nonsense that they spew.
8 months ago
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Rene ********
@Dawn *********
 plans change , things come up when on short stays
8 months ago
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Rene ********
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Phil ********
@Rene *******
 Yes very common to those who break contracts.
8 months ago
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Rene ********
@Phil *******
 , one shouldn't commit to a long time unless one really knows the place
8 months ago
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Rene ********
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Alma ***************
Why your Thai friend did not tell you about the paper you signed and the deposit rules?
8 months ago
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Brandon ************
The chances of immigration caring is about 0.5%

You're better off just marking the deposit down as a loss and leaving. If you need a TM30 check into a hotel and ask for one on your way to do what you need with one.
8 months ago
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Steve *******
@Brandon ***********
 0.5%? That much?
8 months ago
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Jim ********
@Brandon ***********
 Do you put it as high as 0.5%. I have to say you're an optimist!
8 months ago
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Jim ********
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