MartinL

In my complaint to HMRC (see earlier in this thread and its subsequent reply), I specifically mentioned that I didn't believe it was a DWP error because there was no move on DWP's part to increase my (frozen) pension every year. They didn't contradict that statement in their reply. I just don't believe they'd freeze a pension on the one hand and tell HMRC it's had a CoL increase on the other - it defies logic. Thinking about it, I must be daft to expect logic from civil servants.

I'm resurrecting this thread, rather than make a new one, because my query is a follow-on from 3 years ago. I think I might have a skin cancer and am looking for treatment centres in Khon Kaen - I live 80 km from the city. Is the information given in this thread still current or have new centres cropped-up, new recommended doctors come to town? My wife's civil service health scheme is tied to Srinagarind Hospital and I'm registered there, but never used it in 15 years, so that'd be the obvious place to go but other suggestions most welcome. Thanks.

I rescued a budgie during a very heavy rainstorm some years ago. It obviously was on its last legs and would have died in those conditions but recovered and stayed with us a further 6 years. I might well be very wrong but I doubt they can survive here, especially alone as they're birds that live as a flock. Of course, our bird needed a companion so I bought another budgie. The first budgie died after 6 years so I bought a young companion for the survivor ......... looks like it'll be a continuing saga 🙂 🙂. But I like having them around - they're a reminder of my grandad who was a keen budgie keeper.

The pension rate for deferral is 1%/9 weeks, NOT 4%. https://www.gov.uk/deferring-state-pension/what-you-get I did this calc. for my brother who works in China and he was considering deferral until 70 which would result in a 23% increase in his SP. In his case, taking his pension ASAP would have been financially more advantageous than deferring. Screenshot of calc. attached although yours would be different, of course, but deferral would result in a lower cumulative pension over the years. Although not shown in the screenshot, the crossover point, at which cumulative deferred pension becomes greater than cumulative pension taken at 66, would be 87 y.o. He's decided to take at 66, later this year. Whether he'll then live in a 'frozen' country he's not yet decided but he won't stay in China.

Of course, all this is moot if the vehicles don't show their indicators until they actually start to make their turn or have actually started to turn, which is all too common here.

The interest on the 800,000 ฿ in a savings account will be taxable but if it's in a Thai savings account, the 15% withholding tax will already have been debited and your bank book will prove that. In fact, you'll likely be due a refund on at least some of that WHT since your 299,000 ฿ won't bring you into the 15% tax band even in the worst case. Looks like another clueless local official.

Twenty or so years ago, my friend built a huge house in a tiny village in KK province. Pool, a small house for his wife's mother, large grounds, the works. It now lies apparently abandoned after he, his wife and son moved to UK for the lad's education. They are very unlikely to come back to Thailand as a complete family. It seems he's too sick for that now, too skint (even before he left, he had trouble meeting financials for an extension of stay) and the family seem very happy in the new home. In that location, it seems totally unsaleable except very cheaply as a demolition project and a return to the rice paddy that surrounds it. The house was always FAR too big for the 3 of them - I think it was a vanity project in the days when he had plenty of money, built without serious thought to what they really needed. I agree with hotsun's comment - I'd feel really uncomfortable in that situation

Are the police sure he's a foreigner? If he is, he's learnt Thai driving habits to perfection.

Deleted by author.

Shouldn't that be R43?

On the strength of this post, I got in touch with my deceased mate's widow and asked if she'd received any paperwork from the Scottish Police pension people - she had. The tax code allocated to her on the payment advice slips was 1257 so it looks as though a tax code application mightn't be necessary. The very first payment she received included a back payment and deduction of £500 in tax. Since the widow's pension is FAR below £12,570, I'd expect that to be refunded in the 25/26 tax year and I'll be looking to see whether the 1257 code continues.

I've just had a response to my complaint - about 3 weeks later which isn't bad. They've apparently put a 'marker' on my tax account so that the automatic assumption of an annual CoL upgrade no longer applies. If you're also fed-up with the annual tax code shenanigans, it looks like you can get a positive result. It's just a pity it took a complaint rather than a simple phone request to achieve this. The text of the response is this:- Thank you for your complaint which we received on 3rd February 2025. Your customer reference is xxxxxxx .Your online submission reference is xxxxxxxxxx. I am sorry you have had to contact us regarding your tax affairs. I have been in contact with a specialist team who have confirmed they have set a specialist indicator to account for the frozen state pension and stop the automatic increase affecting your tax code. Once again please accept my apologies, I do hope your future dealings with us run more smoothly. I look forward to not having this problem in the future - but will have to wait a year to see if they can live up to their words.

Excuse my ignorance of the USA political scene but ... I often see this stated; "... registered (party xyz) ... " in US-related reports. Is it REALLY necessary to 'register' as a particular party's voter or is it a choice whether or not to do so? Does it then mean you can't change your mind spontaneously, without re-registering for another party? To officially 'register' seems an odd thing to do, in my view. Please explain.

All of the cost savings you mention were presented in a 2011 Report:- http://frozenbritishpensions.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Oxford-Economics.pdf but the findings and conclusions were rejected. It would seem that successive UK governments of all colours would prefer to make a political statement rather than save taxpayers' money.

This is mine, sent 3/2/25 ............