wat

What do you all think happened with that African family that was all set to fly out but was not allowed? Is it absolutely required to fly back to the country your passport is issued? The family was set to move on to Europe if I remember correctly, so that may have been the issue. It sounds like they had enough money to handle all the flights and the fines. But them not being allowed to leave seems to go against the generally known policy of letting people leave when they come to pay (assuming destination isn't a factor since after you leave it's not their problem any longer, especially when you're banned from coming back anyway.). 

7 hours ago, stevenl said:

In Thailand this is quite standard. Other places in the world would depend a lot on the country in question, in some countries healt care insurance is mandatory or free, so no issues there, in others there would be issues.

 

Now in this case, with apparently many tests already done 4 months before the diagnosis, it would seem the health issues were there already for some time, so it could even be considered a pre-existing condition. That would mean the tests done would have to be declared on the medical questionaire on application.

The tests back then were to get a doctor's 'fit for work' letter and unrelated to anything recent. 

The 6 month rule sounds pretty cut and dry in this case. But as far as 'pre-existing' goes that really depends on how they define that. In this case it may have been pre-existing for some amount of time without anyone's knowledge, which could definitely fall under a definition of pre-existing. But I wonder how far they go with that since it's all just speculation and estimates. Obviously the insurance companies are going to design their own plans in their best interests and such and word them in a way that favours their own judgement. But I can't help feel like there's a lot of people out there who think they're much more protected by their insurance than they actually are.

If it's not covered, it's not covered and that's fine. 

The person is question had a full range of tests done at Bangkok Hospital two months before this new plan was started and there certainly wasn't any indication there. Was only just diagnosed now after many, many, scans, tests, biopsies ect over the past weeks.

Out of curiosity, is this more of a case of choosing the wrong plan or wrong provider, or would this clause be considered completely standard among providers in Thailand(or the world?)?

I'm enquiring on behalf of another.

Here's a copy and pasted list from Bupa's website about their exclusions: 

Quote

Specific exclusions from the coverage are specified in the health insurance policy. Examples of exclusions, which Bupa Health Insurance shall reserve its right not to pay out benefits, are described below:

• Pre-existing conditions or any medical expenses for a sickness that happens in the course of 30 days from the initial effective date of the insurance policy
• Treatment or correction of surgery for congenital anomalies or development disorders
• Medical expenses incurred from the treatment for attempted suicide or self-inflicted injury
• Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) including a complication or sexually transmitted diseases
• Any medical treatment that is not conventional treatment, including alternative treatments
• Health check-up or a hospital confinement or a request for surgery, convalescence which is not under medical necessity or medical standard
• Pregnancy, childbirth, miscarriage (unless the insuring agreement for maternity is purchased), contraception, sterilization
• Visual acuity, laser eye treatment, LASIK, dental treatment and aesthetics treatment such as acne, blemish
• Sickness or diseases which happens within 6 months from the first day the Insurance Policy becomes effective including Tumors or Cancers, Polyps or Cysts, Hemorrhoids, Hernias, Pterygium, Pinguecula or Cataract, Tonsillectomy or Adenoidectomy, Stones, Endometriosis, Varicose Veins, Hallux Valgus, Ganglions

https://www.bupa.co.th/en/individuals/health-insurance/individual/detail.aspx?iid=1&ifid=13#tab

The first point makes me think it would be fine, as it's been over 30 days. But then the last point specifically mentions cancer with a 6 month window from the first day. That sounds insane to me that half of the year on a yearly insurance plan wouldn't cover all of those issues list there. Am I missing something here? Pre-existing conditions I understand, but a new diagnosis won't be covered?

To people saying that it's oxycodone, there's pretty much no way that's true. Oxycodone isn't available in Thailand in general. Maybe specifically at some hospitals, but absolutely not common or even commonly prescribed. I've read that it's just not available at all at many hospitals too, so I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't available at all period. I've also read on here that even at somewhere like Bumrungrad someone with a prescription for it was told that it wasn't available and instead was given the option of the less effective morphine tablets.

OP, sleeping pills can mean a lot of different things. Do you happen to know exactly what the substance is that they're drinking? Also, the fact that they're mixing with coca-cola is pretty much irrelevant and just a placebo if anything. The actual drug itself is what would be causing any sort of effect. At best coca-cola has a small amount of caffeine, so other than that it would add absolutely nothing.

Only the finest Cambodian breast milk eh?

Life imitates art...

OMG. Why would anybody want to order anything from China? I remember a guy who'd done that and was completely in the rain. Neither did the "good looking phone work nor did he get a replacement.

These days you'll find Advice computer shops all over Thailand, at least one shop in a province. Why don't you go there, make your order, do not worry about DHL, or how to get that thing in?

They can order anything you want and you'll have warranty. If there's something wrong within 7 days just give it back and get a new one.

There's a sticker on all machines and parts where you can check in English if the thingy still has warranty. I was positively surprised when I found out that my Dell laptop battery still had warranty after 11 months. Went to the shop, they ordered a new one and I got a brand new and full functioning battery now with another year of warranty.

I've got a program that can read the battery wear. The former battery came with a 34 % worn out message, the new one shows zero.

Please see: ( comes in English and Thai) https://www.advice.co.th/product

This tablet is a brand new product just starting to ship with some killer specs for the price. And the company that makes it has made similar products that have been well reviewed. It isn't available in Thailand yet, but if it was I probably would have just bought it here. It has a 1 year warranty and I get 45 days to return it so I'm not too worried.

Title says it all really. I found a good deal on a tablet from China, total came to 7k THB shipped. And I had the choice of free standard shipping, or expedited shipping which I believe will be DHL, also for free. Standard shipping was estimated to take much longer so I chose the expedited shipping. I totally forgot though that DHL has a reputation here for charging the full amount of taxes/duty on every single package.

Possibly relevant point: I did not ship it under my (foreign) name, addressed it to a Thai national.

I might still be able to contact the site and get them to change the shipping method. Quick googling resulted in lots of different numbers, 40%, 80% were mentioned which is why I'm making the post. If it's going to be like 500 baht or something, I'm not too concerned. But I don't want to end up paying thousands of baht more than this thing is worth.

The only personal experience I have is a friend who ordered some expensive headphones online, which were worth over $300, and he got hit with around 500 baht. Which is fine, but I suspect that they had no idea how much the headphones were actually worth.

Looks like the police chief forgot to juke the stats.

Too bad he didn't have Snoop and Chris hiding bodies in the abandoned houses to lower the homicide rate.

I have a Thailand Elite Card and a work permit linked to my Thailand Elite Visa.

This allows me to travel as frequently as I want and to work legally in Thailand.

you really have a Elite Card? 1. there is no Thailand Elite Visa, 2.. if you really have a WP you dont need any Elite Card,

you can travel how often you want, only thing ist to have reentry permit,

many times I asked the big guys who claimed to have a elite Card (5 times more peopel claim to have one than been sold in Thailand the last 5 years) come on and post a picture of your visa, you can blacklist your personal data, but come on all your elite Card members, show that you are not talking bullshit

What are you talking about? You do get a Thailand Elite Visa. And people have posted pictures of them. Quite a few people have purchased them on here.

There are lots of people who work online and choose Thailand as their base of operations. Now that immigration seems to be against people staying longer than a few months, is it even possible for a freelancer to live in Thailand now?

In Chiang Mai a couple of years ago they had an event at the hotel run by immigration where the commanding officer was asked about people who work online but their work has no connection to Thailand whatsoever, and his answer was it was fine to work online as long as you're not doing any sort of work that deals with Thailand.

So at this point what are the options for someone who has been living here for years already and has built a life here?

I'm going to go get another tourist visa in Cambodia and hopefully that will be alright for the short term. But after that what is there? ED visa?

Their intention is to stop people working illegally in Thailand in jobs such as tour guides and such where Thais could potentially have a job, but in this case it's individuals supporting themselves in a situation that only adds money to the Thai economy and does not take away any jobs at all.

Are they just going to start telling me 'no you can't come back' since I've been living here a long time already?

There are lots and lots of people just like me who aren't doing anything wrong and contribute to the Thai economy by living here. It doesn't sound like we're not welcome, but we're being painted with the same brush as others and it's going to affect a very large amount of people.

I don't see the problem. Start a company, pay tax and social security for you and 4 Thais and get a work permit and extension of stay based on employment. Then you contribute more than buying subsidized rice, eating subsidized food, fueling your car/motorbike with subsidized fuel and using subsidized electricity.

Yes I know that 80% of Thai people also don't pay much tax, but it is their country. Thailand expects foreigners to contribute at least 100,000 baht annually in order to be welcome. Be that via taxes or a PE elite visa they don't care.

That's fine if that's the case. 500,000 baht up front for 5 years of the elite card works out to a somewhat reasonable amount like you mentioned but having to pay 5 years in advance is quite the commitment when that money could be put to other uses.

If the official stance is everyone must either start a company or get the elite card then like I said that's fine if they feel that is the best course of action. But the rhetoric over the years and what they say publically now doesn't make it sound like they don't want the average person making a decent wage working for themselves or a foreign company online, it sounds like they don't want people taking reserved jobs for Thais.

As nice as Thailand is 2 million baht reserved capital and 4 salaried Thais doing what would amount to nothing but being names on an application is a pretty steep price to pay for someone who can just go and live in another country. I just don't think that is their intention with these changes, but I could be wrong of course and like you said they want everyone to start a company.

Paying tax would not be a problem and having a way to pay tax and get a legitimate visa would be nice. If they wanted to set a limit of 100,000 baht contributed via taxes that would fine too. Anything would be better than the current gap in the visa system for the large amount of tourists and long term stayers who make a living via the internet(it's just going to be a larger and larger number as time goes on as well).

Urban myths are great aren't they.

What urban myth? That Thailand wants unmarried people under 50 to stay in Thailand?

There are lots of people who work online and choose Thailand as their base of operations. Now that immigration seems to be against people staying longer than a few months, is it even possible for a freelancer to live in Thailand now?

In Chiang Mai a couple of years ago they had an event at the hotel run by immigration where the commanding officer was asked about people who work online but their work has no connection to Thailand whatsoever, and his answer was it was fine to work online as long as you're not doing any sort of work that deals with Thailand.

So at this point what are the options for someone who has been living here for years already and has built a life here?

I'm going to go get another tourist visa in Cambodia and hopefully that will be alright for the short term. But after that what is there? ED visa?

Their intention is to stop people working illegally in Thailand in jobs such as tour guides and such where Thais could potentially have a job, but in this case it's individuals supporting themselves in a situation that only adds money to the Thai economy and does not take away any jobs at all.

Are they just going to start telling me 'no you can't come back' since I've been living here a long time already?

There are lots and lots of people just like me who aren't doing anything wrong and contribute to the Thai economy by living here. It doesn't sound like we're not welcome, but we're being painted with the same brush as others and it's going to affect a very large amount of people.

Cats are vermon

That's a funny thing to read when there is a pile of kittens sleeping beside your computer.

oh cute! So what is the coloring of the fifth kitten? Obviously a real adventurer who doesn't hang with the crowd!

The fifth one is actually the first pic there on the left. It was taken when he was a lot younger though. His colouring is mainly black and grey now. If I can get a newer pic of him I'll put it up.

Where are you based Wat?

I'm about a kilometer away from the Tesco Lotus near the airport.

They look like good ones. Is their mother a hunter? They may grow up to be good pest control cats.

Yes, their mother loves hunting and I'm sure the kittens will as well. She was recently hit by a car though, so that has slowed her down a bit. But she is doing well now thanks to the vet.

Now take your cat to the vet and get her snipped.

Will be doing this very shortly.

She turned out to be pregnant when we adopted her

Hi,

We have 5 almost 10 week old kittens seeking a good home.

If you or anyone you know are interested in adopting one or more please send me a message or post here.

I'll try to get some pics here as soon as I can!

Thanks

I can't see how it possible for anyone to do even the most basic research on the subject of food borne illness and come to the conclusion that the majority of cases in Thailand are viral.

Why do people post on subjects they know nothing about implying they actually do? And when someone who actually knows what they are talking about they argue and make themselves look even worse?

The reputation system would be good if it were used properly. This thread is a good example people contributing negatively, and it would be nice to see something on the forum where people would think twice(or just google...) before posting.

I mean if someone had posted that "I think maybe most times people get sick from food here are from viruses, but I'm not really sure". Someone like Forethat can just correct them and it wouldn't have to become an issue.

I don't post here, but I lurk a lot, and I had to just grit my teeth while I was reading the virus posts. I was hoping someone who knew what they were talking about would correct them. And seeing people react this way just made me want to post, it's absurd really. I wouldn't be surprised if some of these posters are just trolling people here.

I play. No cards or anything here though. I haven't really played since the mid 90's though, lol.

Although I recently got back on MTGO and have been fooling around a bit on that.

I'm guessing you can't buy cards here. How to you play? Proxies?