Beetlejuice

But the fact is, it hasn`t, and Thailand has still to embrace the concept of living in a cashless society, so therefore those living here have a learn to adapt accordingly.

Firstly , I don`t have or want a credit card, for what purpose? I guess the most users are those who are living on strict budgets and need to pay upfront first on their credit cards because they don`t have the cash at hand. Otherwise their first choice would be debit cards not credit cards.

I have debit cards pertaining to all my foreign bank accounts that I keep locked in my safe, or should say; in case of emergency, break glass. Had them for 3 years now never used them yet. I have 1 debit card for only 1 of my Thai savings bank accounts. Again mostly in a case of an emergency or for making purchases online. I only keep 10000 baht balance on my card, so if the worse should happen that`s all I have to lose.

It is extremely easy to draw cash using a Thai bank debit or ATM card from the always available ATM machines located outside the large stores. Just draw the cash and pay by cash for purchases made inside the stores.

The problem is that there are those who plonk themselves in Thailand still expecting that facilities and services is going to be just like things were at home, and then become flummoxed, bewildered and frustrated when it hits them that Thailand hasn`t quite caught up yet and find this difficult to except.

The solutions are simple; learn to adapt and change your methods of doing business and making transactions here. But the main problems for some, is that old habits die hard, the long and suffering moaners and whingers.

Beetlejuice, I guess you didn't read my post about how the only people who received refunds with the CMU Language Institute debacle were those who paid with foreign-issued credit cards. Anyone who paid for their full year of study with cash (or a Thai-issued credit or debit card) simply lost their money when CMU pulled the plug.

For this reason alone, it makes sense to use a foreign-issued credit card when asked to pay for goods or services that will be delivered in the future or for something that is a subscription-type service. You have recourse in case the merchant doesn't deliver as promised.

That does not pertain to using a credit card for purchases in supermarkets and general stores, as in the case of the OP. Your situation is completely unrelated.

It exactly pertains to the situation in the OP as it relates to the consumer protection that is offered by the credit card company to its customers. OP is worried his card will be used fraudulently....if CMU Language Institute had charged for services not provided, that's also fraud.

Credit cards are almost always preferable to debit cards because of the fraud protection. If someone cleans out your bank account because they obtained your debit card or the number, good luck getting that money back from the bank. If you lose cash, good luck getting it back. Credit card companies generally do not charge customers for fraudulent use of their credit cards. (I would never use a debit card to make an online purchase especially.)

No one really cares if you need or want a credit card (or even if you understand why you'd want to have one) and since you don't, you don't really have much credibility on the issue.

Then pay by cash in stores as I explained in my first post. Problem solved.

They are still 50 years behind when it comes to card matters. Back in December i had a double charge on my card at Tesco on 108 although the girl insisted that she had only put it through once. I went to customer services who were completely 'out of it' and knew nothing so i asked for a Manager. After 35 minutes waiting around a Female Manager turned up looking annoyed and telling the Mrs she was 'extremely busy'. After ten more minutes of her running around and being very vexed in her approach to other staff she finally agreed that i had been charged twice and said it would take 45 days for me to receive a refund ! I let her know calmly what i thought of the service both at till and management level and then left the store.

Upon return home i sent my card issuer an email explaining what had happened and they gave me an immediate credit for the double charge. I also sent Tesco Thailand an email with a copy to Tesco UK. I had an apologetic reply from England but no response from Thailand (nothing abnormal there then !).

They don't have a clue what they are doing with card transactions and even in the few places like Tops and Home-Pro where they actually use 'chip&pin' they still expect you to sign pieces of paper which is not required.

Of course we will get all those Thai apologists coming on saying it's a cash society and so on but the fact is that Thailand needs to try and remove itself from the late 19th century and move on !

But the fact is, it hasn`t, and Thailand has still to embrace the concept of living in a cashless society, so therefore those living here have a learn to adapt accordingly.

Firstly , I don`t have or want a credit card, for what purpose? I guess the most users are those who are living on strict budgets and need to pay upfront first on their credit cards because they don`t have the cash at hand. Otherwise their first choice would be debit cards not credit cards.

I have debit cards pertaining to all my foreign bank accounts that I keep locked in my safe, or should say; in case of emergency, break glass. Had them for 3 years now never used them yet. I have 1 debit card for only 1 of my Thai savings bank accounts. Again mostly in a case of an emergency or for making purchases online. I only keep 10000 baht balance on my card, so if the worse should happen that`s all I have to lose.

It is extremely easy to draw cash using a Thai bank debit or ATM card from the always available ATM machines located outside the large stores. Just draw the cash and pay by cash for purchases made inside the stores.

The problem is that there are those who plonk themselves in Thailand still expecting that facilities and services is going to be just like things were at home, and then become flummoxed, bewildered and frustrated when it hits them that Thailand hasn`t quite caught up yet and find this difficult to except.

The solutions are simple; learn to adapt and change your methods of doing business and making transactions here. But the main problems for some, is that old habits die hard, the long and suffering moaners and whingers.

Beetlejuice, I guess you didn't read my post about how the only people who received refunds with the CMU Language Institute debacle were those who paid with foreign-issued credit cards. Anyone who paid for their full year of study with cash (or a Thai-issued credit or debit card) simply lost their money when CMU pulled the plug.

For this reason alone, it makes sense to use a foreign-issued credit card when asked to pay for goods or services that will be delivered in the future or for something that is a subscription-type service. You have recourse in case the merchant doesn't deliver as promised.

That does not pertain to using a credit card for purchases in supermarkets and general stores, as in the case of the OP. Your situation is completely unrelated.

damn harden up and. Grab a drink

Perhaps this is the problem? That some of these old groaners are no longer physically capable or hardening up for anything and therefore are bitter and frustrated, irritated by everyone and everything going on around them.

They are still 50 years behind when it comes to card matters. Back in December i had a double charge on my card at Tesco on 108 although the girl insisted that she had only put it through once. I went to customer services who were completely 'out of it' and knew nothing so i asked for a Manager. After 35 minutes waiting around a Female Manager turned up looking annoyed and telling the Mrs she was 'extremely busy'. After ten more minutes of her running around and being very vexed in her approach to other staff she finally agreed that i had been charged twice and said it would take 45 days for me to receive a refund ! I let her know calmly what i thought of the service both at till and management level and then left the store.

Upon return home i sent my card issuer an email explaining what had happened and they gave me an immediate credit for the double charge. I also sent Tesco Thailand an email with a copy to Tesco UK. I had an apologetic reply from England but no response from Thailand (nothing abnormal there then !).

They don't have a clue what they are doing with card transactions and even in the few places like Tops and Home-Pro where they actually use 'chip&pin' they still expect you to sign pieces of paper which is not required.

Of course we will get all those Thai apologists coming on saying it's a cash society and so on but the fact is that Thailand needs to try and remove itself from the late 19th century and move on !

But the fact is, it hasn`t, and Thailand has still to embrace the concept of living in a cashless society, so therefore those living here have a learn to adapt accordingly.

Firstly , I don`t have or want a credit card, for what purpose? I guess the most users are those who are living on strict budgets and need to pay upfront first on their credit cards because they don`t have the cash at hand. Otherwise their first choice would be debit cards not credit cards.

I have debit cards pertaining to all my foreign bank accounts that I keep locked in my safe, or should say; in case of emergency, break glass. Had them for 3 years now never used them yet. I have 1 debit card for only 1 of my Thai savings bank accounts. Again mostly in a case of an emergency or for making purchases online. I only keep 10000 baht balance on my card, so if the worse should happen that`s all I have to lose.

It is extremely easy to draw cash using a Thai bank debit or ATM card from the always available ATM machines located outside the large stores. Just draw the cash and pay by cash for purchases made inside the stores.

The problem is that there are those who plonk themselves in Thailand still expecting that facilities and services is going to be just like things were at home, and then become flummoxed, bewildered and frustrated when it hits them that Thailand hasn`t quite caught up yet and find this difficult to except.

The solutions are simple; learn to adapt and change your methods of doing business and making transactions here. But the main problems for some, is that old habits die hard, the long and suffering moaners and whingers.

No member has answered me question yet!

can i do it eh?

I can ride real fast like the wind! I dont care about no road rule! I speakee English and Tinglish!

I was a professional rider in London. I made my living doing motorcycle deliveries.

I have the mad skills!

Anyone know? cani do it? Where do i apply?

How about vests eh? Where can a geezer get the best price riding bling?

You smoke dope, a chain smoking accident prone alcoholic. The bad news is that you could never meet the high expectations for being a motorbike taxi rider in Thailand, but the good news is, you certainly have all the right qualifications for being a bus or coach driver here. But my advice is; don`t include that you smoke dope in your bus driver work application, otherwise they`ll consider you too qualified for the job.

There are no doubts that the Thailand adult entertainments establishments have been eroded over the years. Mr Thaksin in all his glory vowed to clean up Thailand`s image as being the sex capital of the world and the powers that be have since lived up to that promise.

Thailand is no longer the adult playground of the world and for what`s left has got attitude and become expensive. I doubt that the warnings of further clamp downs on the countries sex industry is just idle threats, this time I believe them.

and a million sexpats cried out in horror..

Last night i saw what looked like a SWATteam. at NANAplaza.

This is probably a new way of attracting more customers, dominatrix bargirls in uniform.

Love to see how RTP will clean up Ratchada. Many powerful backers behind the venues. Or, it's just another slogan. The big fish will still be in tact whereas the small fish get the frying pan.

This is exactly what I think will happen.

Thailand`s sex industry will fall under the control of the so-called up market establishments, ultra expensive prices way out of the leagues of the average clientele, whereas the small fry will be thrown out of the competition. Then it becomes a case of less supply and increased demand. Chiang Mai began this policy several years ago.

For those who enjoy some wine, women and song, the party`s over folks.

Nice words, well phrased and appropriate, BUT wont stop you getting suspended or even banned if you are naughty!, Nice try though....

Why is that?

I assume the OP was showing his appreciation to those who run and help run Thai visa, a thread created as a form of gratitude not because he is slyly trying to gain himself favour and special privileges from admin. Most of us are well aware of the rules and know our limits here on the forums.

Strange how cynical some people can be.

I find it hilarious that either one of you think you have any control of what happens in Oz!! lol

My condolences that you have never lived in a democracy.

You cannot equate the ruling systems of Thailand with western countries.

Thailand is not a democracy in the true sense as compared to the west. The country is not what I would describe as an absolute dictatorship ruled with an iron hand nor is it a democracy, but probably somewhere in-between.

But there are many of us here, including me, who prefer it this way.

Is it really cheaper to live in canada? i can't really believe that. Can you buy a detached house for $100,000? My costs living here in LoS are far below what i would pay in the UK.

Can't say about Canada but in the US, yes. LINK

In the UK that wouldn't even buy you an outside toilet. Minimum in London @$700,000 in some Muslim ghetto.

There are plenty of places in the UK where £35k buys you a house such as this end terrace in Hull.

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-48184627.html

Maybe not Mayfair but you can own it outright and not worry about visa runs. Some may say they would not want to live in the north of England but in my opinion better than eking out a life in a dirt poor Thai village.

Food and cars are also much cheaper in the UK. A decent little mid sized car can be bought for under a £1,000.

I see a lot of Farangs just wasting their days sitting in expat bars.

Everywhere is nice while you have money.

Sorry but you are talking rubbish.

I too owned my own home in England. It wasn`t so much the cost of food but the home bills were crippling. We had council tax, water rates, massive electric and gas bills, telephone bills, a license required just to watch TV, the constant need to maintain the house otherwise not possible to sell later on plus a mortgage. The monthly expenditure just for the pleasure of living in our own home, excluding food and other sundries came to more than I spent in 5 months living in Thailand. The United States was cheaper but still way more expensive than living in Thailand.

It is still possible to live cheaply in Thailand, just depends on what sort of lifestyles ex-pats expect to lead. My wife and I can still live comfortably on 30000 baht per month and we are not skimping on that amount. That`s about £610 per month and there is no way we could expect to live the same standard of living on that amount in the UK. These days it wouldn`t even cover a months rent.

Whoever believes that their money can go further in the UK or the states than in Thailand are living in cloud cuckoo land.

Money isn't everything. Go wherever makes you happiest.

Perhaps in your world, but not in the real world. In the end it all boils down to money. Nice words and happy thoughts won`t provide a roof over the head or put meals on the table.

Firstly the OP has to financially evaluate his situation. If he is not able to support himself long term in Thailand then he has no choice but to either return to his home country or elsewhere where he can work and make a living.

If the OP has no job or tangible assets in his own country, than bringing his girlfriend or future wife back with him is also going to be out of the question. Only option is that he and his now present girlfriend decide on where they actually want to be for their futures and then work at it. Meaning working hard to acquire a home and assets and if that will take several years, than so be it, otherwise if one partner or the other is not prepared to wait until their situations become applicable for marriage, then the relationship cannot be viable and is doomed from the start.

That`s the reality of the situation.

No we both work and he is a very hard worker.

How old are you and how old is your boyfriend? What do you do in Thailand? And what work does your boyfriend do?

I am asking these questions in order to establish the reasons why his parents may disapprove of this relationship. many young farangs have relationships with Thais that are sometimes no more than a big adventure although they may not realise this at the time. Also if you did marry this guy, is he able to support you in Thailand or would it be possible for him to live with you in your home country. If you stay in Thailand and decide to make home here, how about your visa status, could you remain here long term.

Perhaps his parents have also considered what I have mentioned above. All very nice, romantic and the dream of starting a family and living happily ever after, but are you being realistic to yourself or living in a fantasy that this so-call romance has a future?

Sandy you know it's against the rules to open a second account....

Certainly appears to be the case?

So you think pizza is puke on a pastry so EVEN the puke was better in the good old days? Same as Chau Mein which simply means fried noodles so what is inauthentic about chau mein(g) ?

Will have to try Hand made pizza, haven't gotten around to it yet....

Going back to the Jurassic period in Chiang Mai, there was an arcade by the moat not far from John`s Place. I can remember the Wild Orchid bar in there. Also in the Arcade was a pizza bar, sold drinks and they hand made all their pizzas. A massive home made pizza that filled a huge dinner plate for 100 baht. They were beautiful, never tasted pizzas so good before or since. All long gone now of course Does anyone else remember that place? Also not far from there was the Smiling Monkey restaurant, they too made wonderful pizzas. That`s now gone as well.

Now days all the rest are standard mass produced pizzas, try one, you`ve tried them all.

New York hands down..

20130301_111817.jpg

Best pizza I ever had was in Genoa, Italy. Dukes is generally really good, though the last one we had there (original rest') wasn't quite up to par.

Interesting. The worst pizza I ever had was in Italy, around 1987. I probably bought it from some sort of tourist trap place.

The pizzas we see today are an Americanization of something similar that was brought over to the States by Italian immigrants, that actually originated in the middle east. The same as Chow Mein, an American manipulation of what is suppose to be authentic Chinese food.

I very much doubt that modern day pizzas are anything like or as good as the original versions from times past.

I think considering that the OP has only received 3 replies to his post since yesterday, says a lot about what there is to do in Chiang Mai.

Try this site here:

http://www.chiangmailocator.com/

It may help.

THere are a LOT of great things to do in Chiang Mai (which DON'T involve alchohol or girls)...and a hundred and one tourism websites that tell us what the possibilities are...

....all you need to do is READ THEM! That way, you don't get loads of sarcastic comments when you raise the subject!

No point in getting the huff with me, it`s the OP`s inquiries you should be addressing.

So please help the OP out and explain to him where he can find the hidden wonders of Chiang Mai. I would also like to know myself?

I think considering that the OP has only received 3 replies to his post since yesterday, says a lot about what there is to do in Chiang Mai.

Try this site here:

http://www.chiangmailocator.com/

It may help.

O come on ... been going on for years. I personally know two people who do this ...one pays 20000 thb ... even his 90 day reports are done for him and the other 28000thb.

Another also did it untill I told him he can mix pension and savings ... his visa company didn't tell him that.

It doesn't take much brain power to work out who is on the take ....

thing is if you engage in this stuff you set yourself up to be extorted, and every one knows how accomplished certain thai segements are in this field. if you are willing to tread that very hazardous route then by all means go for it. ok i understand that some of you are at the near end of life and dont have a great deal to lose anyhow.

not saying i am any different, just havent seen the need or reason to cross that line.

.

Visiting Chiang Mai Immigration on any day at any time, on whatever kinds of business and how long it takes to get served has become a matter of pop luck. It`s like the famous Clint Eastwood line from the Dirty Harry movies; uh uhhh, first you have to ask yourself a question; do I feel lucky, well, do ya punk?

The most irritating problem I find in there is with morons pushing in the queue. They discretely slide up to the front of a queue, pretending to be naive and oblivious and craftily handing their papers over the counter hoping no one will notice..9 times out of 10, especially if the moron is elderly, the officer will accept their paperwork without question leaving the rest of us peasants standing there like spare one`s at a wedding. I am sure that one day tempers are going to explode in there and all hell will break loose.

For my next 90-day fiasco I intend to use the post option for the first time. Considering that many wise and learned Thai visa members have recommended this option, than surely it can`t go wrong?

All I can think of that it maybe some kind of loan company, where they lend visa applicants the amounts required to obtain their visas or visa extensions then has to be paid back in full once the passport is stamped with interest.

wasn't it this type of scheme that brought down a deputy immigration head not long ago? and here it is being advertised on thaivisa .

.

cant see whats so good about retirement visas anyhow, seems that many are these days doing border visa runs just as if they didnt have one instead of doing 90 day reports. read all about it in the visa section on here.

As I said; all I can do is make an educated guess, do not know for sure.

These ads are not being advertised as part of Thai visa, but are Google ads infiltrating the system. It is possible to either block these ads or just ignore them.

I would think that any person or so-called company claiming it can obtain visas or visa extensions for those who are unable to fulfil the requirements, methods must be questionable.

To conclude, all I can say is that anyone who considers using these services, do so at their own risk and discretion.

All I can think of that it maybe some kind of loan company, where they lend visa applicants the amounts required to obtain their visas or visa extensions then has to be paid back in full once the passport is stamped with interest.