Having issues getting money back from a Law Firm

Sending money to a Thai lawfirm while you're in the UK was a big mistake. You should also have done a bank to bank transfer instead of using Wise because the transfer would have been easier to trace if you need to show proper proof of the transfer. They can do a simple swift bank to bank transfer if they want and you'll have the money in 3 days.  You can't do much from the UK. Hiring another lawfirm is an option but how to find one you can trust?

@Leeds forever! yea thats another issue.

no idea how to check for a legitimate firms

I would make contact with Integrity Legal in Bangkok and go from there. The owner is American but he is a good guy and easy going - check out his Youtube site  (https://www.youtube.com/@IntegrityLegalThailand).

Obviously there are reasons for you are seeking help not mentioned - talk to them before deciding what to do - and it is probably best you actually come to Thailand and face to face everything.

@InNeedofHelp my name is jack, and I actually own a Thailand Law firm and business consultancy, and I will talk to you about getting money back from the law firm.

It is like drawing blood from a stone, not only in Thailand, but around the world.

Basically, you need another Law firm to get money back from the first law firm. Otherwise you have no chance.

Also, stop writing emails and start writing letters, return receipt requested or certified mail. Emails have no legal weight not just in Thailand but pretty much all over the world. They can be ignored...

Moreover, Thailand loves documents as evidence. They dislike witness testimony much more so than in the West. Basically, they don't trust people to tell the truth, which is probably a pretty smart thing in Thailand.

My advice is to start sending letters, every couple of weeks. Post on the letter which number it is. One page is fine. You don't have to describe the entire incident just enough to refer to it.

And then hire a lawyer to talk to the original Law firm. You can hire us! If it's worth it! That's the other issue. I don't know what the bail was, but the legal fees may take such a huge chunk or exceed the bail. If the process goes on, it will most certainly heat up most of the bail. But it's worth one phone call and one letter from a law firm in Thailand to the law firm that hasn't returned your bail money.

We have no love for all-Thailand law firms, and we will bang them out if we have to...

@InNeedofHelp my name is jack, and I actually own a Thailand Law firm and business consultancy, and I will talk to you about getting money back from the law firm.
It is like drawing blood from a stone, not only in Thailand, but around the world.

Also, in Thailand you must make the distinction between a true law firm and a Visa agency. Also specializing immigration law firms, which are also really Visa agencies. They also set up corporations they basically lie about their
-@JacktheLawyer

What are you rambling about?

"Also, in Thailand you must make the distinction between a true law firm and a Visa agency."

A visa agency is not same as a lawfirm and a visa agency doesn't even need to have an official lawyer. A proper lawfirm in Thailand has nothing to do with visas and extensions within the country.

Law firms do visas here.

And law firms do have much to do with Visa extensions. Personally, our firm does extensions for marriage and retirement visas, only.

We also do substantial work and permanent residency and LTR visas.

This is what I'm rambling on about. Don't talk about things you don't understand. You don't have a law degree, nor do you have a visa agency. Because you've been here a long time does not mean that you understand the process. It just means that you confuse newer people.

One of the worst things you can do in Thailand is listen to the older people about laws and Thailand regs. Because they're still laws, and drinking at Soi Cowboy does not give you any insight into legal interpretation.

If you have legal questions, if you have Visa questions, contact the professional. Don't talk to the drunks.

Sending money to a Thai lawfirm while you're in the UK was a big mistake. You should also have done a bank to bank transfer instead of using Wise because the transfer would have been easier to trace if you need to show proper proof of the transfer. They can do a simple swift bank to bank transfer if they want and you'll have the money in 3 days. Y
-@Leeds forever!

But Wise uses Community Federal Savings Bank's swift code for transfer. My guess is that would be same as any bank transfer. It is different from say Paypal or Western Union that do not use a bank/swift code

InNeedofHelp, I would suggest you file a complaint with Thailand's Law Society before throwing good money after bad by "lawyering up". Watch your time limit.

"Section 64 An injured party (i.e. InNeedofHelp) OR a Lawyer may bring an allegation against another Lawyer on account of a breach of Lawyers conduct. The allegation must be made in writing to the Chairman of the Lawyers Conduct Committee.The right to bring an allegation under paragraph one shall be extinguished upon the lapse of one year after becoming aware of the breach and the alleged offender has become known to the person entitled to such right, but no later than 3 years after the date of commission of the breach. A withdrawal of the allegation brought under the first paragraph shall terminate the case of breach of Lawyers conduct only if such withdrawal is permitted by the Committee's resolution passed by affirmative votes of no less than one half of the total number of the Committee members."(source: here, see sections 63, 64 and others)

"Generally, when a charge of professional misconduct is filed against any particular lawyer, the Committee on Professional Ethics will appoint an investigation team consisting of not less than 3 lawyers to investigate the case, and if they decide that the charge is a valid one, the case will be sent before the Disciplinary Committee consisting of at least 9 of its members. If the Disciplinary Committee decides that the facts established constitute unethical conduct, the Disciplinary Committee, with an order from the Board of Governors of the Law Society of Thailand, is empowered to decide and order according to the gravity of the offence, parole, suspension of practice for not more than 3 years, or deletion of name from register."

(source: here at bottom of page)

InNeedofHelp, I would suggest you file a complaint with Thailand's Law Society before throwing good money after bad by "lawyering up". Watch your time limit.
"Section 64 An injured party (i.e. InNeedofHelp) OR a Lawyer may bring an allegation against another Lawyer on account of a breach of Lawyers conduct. The allegation must be made in writing to the Chairman of the Lawyers Conduct Committee.The right to bring an allegation under paragraph one shall be extinguished upon the lapse of one year after becoming aware of the breach and the alleged offender has become known to the person entitled to such right, but no later than 3 years after the date of commission of the breach. A withdrawal of the allegation brought under the first paragraph shall terminate the case of breach of Lawyers conduct only if such withdrawal is permitted by the Committee's resolution passed by affirmative votes of no less than one half of the total number of the Committee members."(source: here, see sections 63, 64 and others)

"Generally, when a charge of professional misconduct is filed against any particular lawyer, the Committee on Professional Ethics will appoint an investigation team consisting of not less than 3 lawyers to investigate the case, and if they decide that the charge is a valid one, the case will be sent before the Disciplinary Committee consisting of at least 9 of its members. If the Disciplinary Committee decides that the facts established constitute unethical conduct, the Disciplinary Committee, with an order from the Board of Governors of the Law Society of Thailand, is empowered to decide and order according to the gravity of the offence, parole, suspension of practice for not more than 3 years, or deletion of name from register."
(source: here at bottom of page)
-@Aidan in HCMC

Good luck with that.

thank you so much for the replies.

for some reason I did not get an notification for this so wasn't aware anyone had replied.

I am willing to post the law firm name and bail amount if its not against forum rules.

is it possible to confirm this with a mod please?

thank you so much for the replies.
for some reason I did not get an notification for this so wasn't aware anyone had replied.

I am willing to post the law firm name and bail amount if its not against forum rules.

is it possible to confirm this with a mod please?
-@InNeedofHelp

I've asked admin to respond.

My advice is to not name the firm here. Lawyers, by their training have a very litigious nature, and may use your post to lessen their exposure to compensate you.

I'm inclined to follow the words of the great bard himself.

thank you so much for the replies.
for some reason I did not get an notification for this so wasn't aware anyone had replied.

I am willing to post the law firm name and bail amount if its not against forum rules.

is it possible to confirm this with a mod please?
-@InNeedofHelp

Hello and hope you're well

If it is relevant, you can put the name of this firm (just the name)

Have a nice day,

Mickael

Expat.com Team