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Suggest you do the same. My posts are accurate in regard to what I have experienced.

Whatever. Other benefits? I've never received anything more than my entitlement and I've never suggested I have received more than my entitlements.

K.Heinkn has mentioned previously that he doesn't receive the OAP or any other C'link benefits. So that seems to indicate that he doesn't have a C'link CRN (customer reference number). So I doubt that he's 'qualified' to discuss C'link policies and / or discuss centrelink interactions if he doesn't have a CRN.

I've just been reading some later posts. Further to the my post above (repeated from 14 June 05:30 am) calls using 001 800 611 4136 are toll free. As I mentioned I've used this toll free number many times from Thailand. It's always connected quickly and answered quickly. I've never ever encountered rudeness from any Centrelink officer (on the phone or when I did a couple of times initially visit the local big C'link office near Narrabeen just above Sydney), always good listeners, always pleasant, and always focused on the subject of my call. At least twice the officer on the phone has said 'please hold the line just 1 or 2 minutes so I can get some advice on this from my supervisor on this point'. Calls never went dead, officer was back on the line quickly with a clear focused answer. Always ended the calls with a clear and fully focused response to my question. We seem to have some members who love to have difficulties / drama with C'link.

I don't accept / believe everything I hear, neither does my son. Given the number of times a day / time taken, i've always believed that electricity consumption would be very small. let's be honest many folks aren't lucky enough to have background knowledge on many subjects. And there's no need to be rude and call them black sheep. My farang cousin is convinced there a multi part mechanical set up inside of every light switch. On the other hand he's a qualified and clever economist. Our focus is to get 2 or 3 new remote controls in operation.

Interesting, using mobile phone app sounds like a good move, can you please share some details of the app on your wife's / niece phone. Much appreciated.

I hope the information following is useful: It's a typical steel frame sliding gate, about twice the width of a medium size sedan car. The frame is steel, there's several lengths of conwood across the gate, that's all. When the installation team came they lifted the gate up onto wood blocks then looked at the rollers fitted to the bottom of the gate and said they were very poor quality and showed my son that they didn't roll smoothly and it was a bit of a task to make them spin even a little bit. They suggested they be replaced immediately with good quality Hafele rollers, available within 30 minutes, we did that cost of new Hafele roller set and installation 1,000Baht, all fitted in 15 minutes. Before changing the rollers it was quite a manual task to make the gate roll, after fitting Hafele very easy to make the gate move, and smooth and way less noisy. Hope that helps.

Thank you for sharing. Re the last 2 line paragraph can someone give more details where to buy / what specs to look for etc re 'programmable remote controls'. Thanks again.

Yes, very helpful and yes I can now sleep well. Thanks. This came up because a farang moved into our moo bahn and has been telling many people it will cost around 1,000Baht a month for electronic for sliding remote gates. Result many families now leave their gates open permanently. On a linked point, our gate motor is PAT brand, bought at Thai Watsadu Chiang Mai around 8 years ago, never ever failed and not too noisy. Came with 3 small remote controls, the batteries have been replaced a couple of times but just recently 2 remotes totally failed. My Thai son (it's his house) has checked around but can't find new PAT remotes. Thai Watsadu no longer sell this brand. Several shops have offered a substitute brand remote from 800 to 1,000Bant plus fitting charge. Son believes this is a scam. Most shops my son has contacted in person or sell online say there's many brands which can be an instant substitute for the original PAT units and not expensive. We can't find them. Any suggestions much appreciated, thanks.

From Chiang Mai and from Bangkok I've call the Centrelink toll free number number many times over the last approx. 8 years. The number I call is 001 800 611 4136 I always use my mobile to call, my provider in LOS is AIS post pay. Always connects, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Oz time. Never been charged. The above is from a Services Australia online document https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/phone-us?context=64107

As per the title, any members have info about the electricity usage / costs. Please share. Thanks.

From above: "The issue is proving you intend to stay once you apply - meaning nMyot giving the impression you do intend to leave." Agree. As soon as I lodge my application for the OAP I got an e.mail from Centrelink asking about 3 questions: 1. do you have any travel plans to go abroad in the near future. At the local C'link office later that day. I showed the letter to the C'link officer. She giggled and said: - Standard letter - Suggest you reply 'I have no such plans at all'. And I did give that reply. The other 2 questions I forget. C'link never contacted me again on this subject.

The boat people (refugees) came from Vietnam. They certainly didn't refuse to work or assimilate. Gov't data on these points clearly proves the oposite. Vietnam is not in the middle east.

Well yes but when you apply for the OAP you have to physically be in Australia. You also have to prove you are living in Australia by: - Proving ownership of residential property plus proof you are paying: annual council taxes and electricity bills etc., - Or, provide proof you are renting by showing a completed rental agreement. - And proof of residential address recorded with 2 banks or similar.

And that's true, e.g. I got posted to Thailand about 33 years ago. About 27 years ago I applied for Thai Permanent Residence and got it. In the years after I arrive here I of course had regular contact with immigration to do the annual renewal of my visa linked to my work permit. Sometimes very pleasant interaction with immigration folks, sometimes not. As above I got lifetime PR about 27 years ago therefore no annual contact with immigration. But several times my PR book was full (full of departing / arriving passport stamps; the PR book and the actual passport are stamped with the departure / arrival stamps). PR book full, so off to immigration to get a replacement PR book. PR status is not part of this exercise, just a simple quick administration exercise to issue a new book. But the last time I went to CW to get a replacement PR book I arrived at that small section*, in my wheelchair about 11:10 am and was greeted with "you have been here before, why don't you come early so you don't interfere with the immigration officers lunch break, come back after lunch'. (* This is a small Immigration section, 2 officers who have very little work to do, never customers waiting.)