Another expat victim
Every so often, in letters to the editor and posts on forums, you come across people who have “lost their shirt” in Bali.
Here is one such person in a letter to the editor in the Jakarta Post:
I am an American who has been living in Bali full-time for the past three-and-a-half years. I first came to Bali in 1997 and, like many other visitors, fell in love with the natural beauty of Bali and the seemingly simple way of life.
From 1997 to 2006 I visited Bali on a regular basis and over the years, with my local partner, I gave him money for land as well as for bungalows, a restaurant and various other things.
In 2006 I was able to come here to live (which had been my dream since I first stepped foot on this island) and I built a house for myself adjacent to the bungalows in East Bali. Being naive and trusting, I did not get the proper paperwork from the notary – not that that would have mattered from what I’ve experienced over recent years.
Just a little bit of background to explain my present situation is necessary but what it boils down to is that I want to live in Bali and my partner does not want me here. This story is all too common in Bali – a foreigner comes here, is told about the great investment opportunities.
The foreigner, usually not knowing the language or the laws and having to trust on the information supplied by a partner, spends money and then finds him or herself confronted by endless problems and is sent packing by an unscrupulous partner – the much poorer, sadder and wiser.
To be fair, I know that not all foreigner/local relationships are like this. I have also heard of successful partnerships, however, I can only speak from my own experience.
To date, I have made two agreements with my partner and have already given him more than half of everything I have in an effort to resolve this situation. I made these agreements in good faith yet I continue to have problems. I have been to many lawyers and notaries and have asked for help from the Bali Police (Polda) but from what I can see, the problem only gets worse.
On one hand I have sympathy for people like this, but on the other hand it is difficult to comprehend how someone would invest their life savings in a business without getting the proper legal advice and protection.
If you are planning on investing in any country, even if it is your own, it is important to understand the laws and how they pertain to your own situation. Not understanding the language is also a poor excuse. If you are not fluent in the language, you should get all legal documents translated by an independent translator into your own language.
Legal fees are relatively inexpensive in Indonesia and it is a good idea to speak to a few different notaries or lawyers until you can find someone you like and are comfortable working with.
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Hello There
My name is Damien and I am British, living and working in England. I am about to return to Bali for another holiday, and to marry my future wife on the beach in Tanjung Benoa. My family have been to Bali many times in the past and we all love it there. In fact, My father has regularly talked about semi-retiring in Bali during the cold british winter months. However, at the age of 28 and still working hard to pay the mortgage, I am a long way from retiring myself.
However, my family have made many local friends in Bali, and we are always in touch with them via email and phone. One of my friends out there, Rio, is similar age to me and we get on extremely well. We have known each other for about 5 years now. We have talked about opening a business together, so that his family can benefit from a slightly improved quality of living should it be successful. I really would like to open a little bar/restaurant in Tanjung Benoa, that Rio and his family can run, along with my input from back home. I myself work in the world of IT, but I was born and raised in Pubs with my family who ran their own business, so for me, running a small bar/restaurant is not a problem. Should the business be successful, then I have thought of opening others in the future, should it be possible.
My concern, is how I go about finding the right people for the legal side of things, finding a lease property, food and drink suppliers, restaurant supplies such as tables chairs etc etc.
I am currently learning Bahasa Indonesia and my knowledge of the language is slow but progressive. If anyone can help me, then please drop me a line at damien.english@hotmail.co.uk
Thank you in advance.
Damien
As I am sure you can imagine that it’s not easy trying to run a business remotely. Friends don’t always make the best business partners either. Only a few bars and restaurants are successful, even with the increase in tourism. I am not saying don’t go ahead with your plan, but you need to take these things into consideration. Maybe you could try to come up with an idea that is a little more unique – just a suggestion.