Those purple boxes?

Chas · Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 9:55 am Post subject: Those purple boxes?

Anyone know what those little purple boxes are all about? They seem to have affixed one to every house. I initially though it might be just here, but I saw some in town last night.

When the guy put ours up, I asked him but only understood that something began in January. ( My Thai is limited) And others I have asked ( Thai) dont know what they are either, though I get the idea they are somehow connected to electricity.

To describe them further, they are actually kinda whitish/buff in color, purple trim, orange logo, 3 x 6 in or so in size with a door. It looks like something can be put inside. . . like a bill or notice.

KelpieKiss · Specialist Joined: 17 Oct 2007 Posts: 223

Does it dangle on string and you can flip it open? If so it's where your electric bill gets delivered.

HHTel · Professional Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Posts: 300

Jeez, Chas. You must be the last to have one. Most of them were put up some 2 years ago!!

Terry · Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 10:27 am Post subject:

We've already 'lost' ours!!!!!!! Mr. Green

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niggle · Professional Joined: 27 Nov 2006 Posts: 403

For electricity bill to be put in
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sandman67 · Guru Joined: 11 Jul 2007 Posts: 636 Location: Hua Hin

theres also a number on it for the leccy company emergency line - good for when the power goes off.
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Chas · Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 7:28 pm Post subject: But we pay the village

Well I checked the little box and there is nothing in it.

We pay the water, security, gardening etc and electric bill every month to the "village" because this is a "gated" community.

Does anybody get their electric bill this way? Retrieving it from the box?

And what if your box IS "lost" . . . .free electricity?

niggle · Professional Joined: 27 Nov 2006 Posts: 403

In oyur dreams !
I think they only use them when no 'community' mailing office. All our mail is delivered to the office then brought to us as well. Guess leccy man and postman cannot be arsed to deliver to each house
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HHTel · Professional Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Posts: 300

For two years or so, I've paid my leccy bill from the slip placed in the 'purple box'. Unless you catch the leccy man delivering the bills and then you pay direct to him. Losing the box just forces them to put it in your mailbox or as a last resort, selotaping it to your gate. You will never get away with it. A short while later, if the bill hasn't been paid, then your meter does a vanishing act and you have no power!

lomuamart · Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 11:01 pm Post subject:

As has been said by others, these boxes have been around for some time. If I remember correctly, they appeared at roughly the same time as the billing system changed.
By that, I mean that previously the meter was read. That would go back to be processed into bills and then delivered back to the address. From date of delivery, you has a week to pay.
As the bills, at least at our home, are done by calendar month, you could have until the 15/16th of the month to pay. Now they come round with one of those hand held things that prints the bill off immediately. Bill to be paid on the 1st or 7 days thereafter. The electricity company are getting their dosh a week earlier than before.
So, after a while, the sense was knocked into me to pay at the 7/11 around the corner on the 1st. They charge an additional 10 Baht for the transaction and it's done. 7/11 won't accept payment after the due date.
However, on two occasions, I've luckily been sitting at home when the people come round to disconnect us. I walk out with the bill and they just say "Ah, 7/11 - good". The fact is they obviously didn't know that we'd paid and that would have been little consolation if we'd got back late, especially over a weekend, and the office was closed.
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huahindolly · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 9:16 pm Post subject: Auto-pay

There's also an option to automatically have the electric bill deducted from your bank account. When I went to apply for our electric meter, I was directed to first go to my bank and set up auto-pay. No option, just do it. So I did. Eight months later, the little paper still shows up in the purple box and off we march to the electricity office to pay. No idea what the auto-pay dance was about.

HHD