daiwill60

i went into a local car tent recently, to see if they would excahnge my car for a newer second hand car, i was told ( or rather the missus was) that there are so many second hand cars on the market now, becuase people who bought on the Government 100,000 bht scheme are finding they cannot repay the loans, so the banks / loan companies are selling them off through the car tents in order to recoup their losses.

MSU Mahasarakham doing the same this year, my niece is bored shitless at the thought of her 6 month break she is now enduring.

Hi celso.

Just curious, what did you use from Table A "supporting documents" to prove residential address?

I went up today to the British Embassy hoping they would provide a Proof of residential address form, to accompany the Passport renewal applications for 1 child and one adult (age 16), the Embassy declined as the officer in Consular services said that letter was only for use in Thailand and thus no good to go in with a PP renewal, as both applicants have dual Nationality, the Consular official suggested a Certified copy, translated to English of the Household Book showing both boys Thai residential address, along with a Certified translation of their Thai ID cards "should" be suffice to verify residential address. I guess we will see on Friday as we have an appointment at Trendy. That by the way is over 8K Baht for Translations, Certification and Notary stamps.

What a shambles indeed. Most of the documents suggested in Table "A" are totally irrelevant for most of us living in Thailand. After phone calls to the Embassy" refer to website", E-Mails to VFS Bangkok, and the UK no answers.

I am fortunate as I hold dual Nationality also, ie British and Australian, I will not be renewing my British Passport anymore as the Aussie one is a breeze to renew with extremely helpful consular staff. The British Embassy is an Embarrassment not an Embassy.

Thanks "rant over" BW.

Hi there, my work wrote a letter confirming my address on headed company paper.

'This letter is to confirm x is an employer of us, and lives at the address y.'

Wrote in English, and I made sure my address on the application exactly matched what my employer had wrote. All quite pointless considering the passport gets delivered to Trendy office, not my address.

Dawill60: I used a kasikorn online shopping card, linked to my debit account.

I did the same re the confirmation of address.

In addition to bank card payments problems, yesterday I responded to the e-mail i had received from the passport office regarding the fact that they could not take payment from my account.

So, i went to bank in BanChang, where after a bit of a fiasco, i was informed i would have to go to the bank i originally opened the account at, some 60 kms away. Ok off i went, there, after some jiggery pokery on a computer, the lady at the bank managed to register my Visa debit card with Visa, ( why was this never done when issued the card? i asked, oh you have to do it your self , "but i have been using the card for over a year paying for many things", shrugged shoulder response received. I also had a similar experience when trying to book an online flight with Aeon Card some time ago, which was sorted out with a phone call to Aeon, and i was immediately able to use my card to make that payment, within a few minutes). Anyway, after my card was registered i tried and eventually got through to someone in Liverpool, (before i left the bank), who still could not process the payment, so in the end i gave my Aeon credit card details over the phone and hey!!!! Bingo , job done.

Now here is an important part the woman in Liverpool mentioned, while asking for alternative payment methods, she asked me if I had any friends or relatives in the UK who could make the payment on my behalf. Why is this facility not mentioned on your website I asked, oh because you would not have the reference number that you got with your e-mail we sent you???? So why can i not use Paypal or something similar? Oh because the Thai banks would make a hefty charge for transferring the funds she answered , we do not offer this as it would cost you too much , we are saving you money . We are always having many problems with payments from Thai accounts.

Could this possibly be because many Thai Debit cards are not registered with the likes of VISA when they are issued??? One for all concerned to check there methinks , before you all use Thai Debit accounts to make payment.

She had hung up before i got the chance to ask how long the process would now take , since making the payment to start the renewal application process .

I hope they do not throw a spanner in the works now , with the fact my facial photo is 1mm undersized from crown to lower jaw line. How does that work if you have a good mop on top and a big bushy beard under your jaw line ???

Hi Guys ,

An addition to my saga with passport renewal.

I handed my stuff over to VFS in Trendy Wendy House on the friday before the Son Kran break.

Today i had a phone call from a lady in Liverpool who works for the finance team to tell me they have sent an e-mail explaining that my payment has been blocked by Khrun Thai bank , probably because it is an overseas transaction., and that i should now contact my bank and tell them to authorise it . Below is the e-mail i have received today, it also includes some phone numbers that some may find useful in their dealings with problems. Again as mentioned in previous posts this does highlight a need for a better payment system to be implemented , ie Paypal or something similar could be an option. you send your forms they reply with a reference number which you then use to make the payment or pay at VFS by card or cash, get receipt, then they pay to UK PP agency from their account, that was how we did it for the wife's Uk visa with VFS 2 years ago. SIMPLES !!!

Reference: LOC-DWILLIAMSXXXXXX

Dear Mr. D Williams

Please see the attached letter in reference to your recent passport application. We have been unable to process payment for £106.01, so would be grateful if you could contact us on the direct number +44 151 471 4302 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +44 151 471 4302 FREE end_of_the_skype_highlighting (Monday to Friday, 8am to 4:00pm (UK time)) at your earliest convenience, quoting the reference given above.

<<Overseas payment letter LOCS.pdf>>

**Please note that payment is taken in the UK, so we would advise you to check with your card provider that the card you intend to pay with is valid for international transactions**

Please note that payment for your passport is the first stage of the application process. To avoid unnecessary delays to your application, please could you contact us as soon as possible.

If, once the attached query has been resolved, you have any further queries, please call our helpline on +44 300 222 0000 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +44 300 222 0000 FREE end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

Kind regards

GRO Transactional Finance Team

Just noticed , are these numbers free if you dial from your mobile in thailand or do you need to use skype , as skype also requires crdit to be made to your skype account to make calls, so is therefore not free really, is it????

I handed in my application on 16th April (no appointment, just walked in).

The card was charged on the 23rd April.

So seven days later. Registered post takes 4 or 5 days to get to the UK, and giving 1 day for sorting/allocation... I would assume that charging the card is the very first stage of the application.

yes it is the first stage (see my latest post), if you think about it they will not start the process until they know that payment is secure, or there will be wasted man hours. Also i would be interested to know , did you use a thai bank account card or a UK bank account card ??? my thai bank account VISA card payment has been blocked at the moment , probably due to the fact it is an overseas transaction. ?????????? &lt;deleted&gt;

I handed in my application on 16th April (no appointment, just walked in).

The card was charged on the 23rd April.

So seven days later. Registered post takes 4 or 5 days to get to the UK, and giving 1 day for sorting/allocation... I would assume that charging the card is the very first stage of the application.

Not a criticism of you but it makes a mockery of an appointment booking system when you can you can just stroll in.

Yes, its a complete mess.

I tried three times to email and get an appointment. The first two times I got ignored - no response at all. The last time I was offered an appointment - for 14th of May!!

So on the 16th I thought screw it I'll just turn up,.. I'm glad I did because nobody else was even waiting! This was midday and I thought it would be busy but nope, I got called to the counter immediately. In and out in ten minutes and didn't see any other british citizens while I was there.

I peeped at the appointment list for that day and there was 8 people total! They're either being very cautious about overbooking (1 appointment per hour), or whoever is organising the appointments is just clueless.

according to the lovely miss friendly at VFS counter 9, it is the British embassy who are compiling the appointment lists , she told me . ???

Hi Guys ,

An addition to my saga with passport renewal.

I handed my stuff over to VFS in Trendy Wendy House on the friday before the Son Kran break.

Today i had a phone call from a lady in Liverpool who works for the finance team to tell me they have sent an e-mail explaining that my payment has been blocked by Khrun Thai bank , probably because it is an overseas transaction., and that i should now contact my bank and tell them to authorise it . Below is the e-mail i have received today, it also includes some phone numbers that some may find useful in their dealings with problems. Again as mentioned in previous posts this does highlight a need for a better payment system to be implemented , ie Paypal or something similar could be an option. you send your forms they reply with a reference number which you then use to make the payment. SIMPLES !!!

Reference: LOC-DWILLIAMSXXXXXX

Dear Mr. D Williams

Please see the attached letter in reference to your recent passport application. We have been unable to process payment for £106.01, so would be grateful if you could contact us on the direct number +44 151 471 4302 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +44 151 471 4302 FREE end_of_the_skype_highlighting (Monday to Friday, 8am to 4:00pm (UK time)) at your earliest convenience, quoting the reference given above.

<<Overseas payment letter LOCS.pdf>>

**Please note that payment is taken in the UK, so we would advise you to check with your card provider that the card you intend to pay with is valid for international transactions**

Please note that payment for your passport is the first stage of the application process. To avoid unnecessary delays to your application, please could you contact us as soon as possible.

If, once the attached query has been resolved, you have any further queries, please call our helpline on +44 300 222 0000 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +44 300 222 0000 FREE end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

Kind regards

GRO Transactional Finance Team

As some on here have highlighted the Thai AA groups, they have also highlighted Wat Tamkrabok in or near the Korat region ( i may be mistaken , but it is up north of BKK somehwere) where, in addition to primary treatment carried out there, you can go on to The New Life Foundation, who are a voluntary organisation , that can provide an alternative additional support and also provide advice etc in changing your life, where it is now and where and what you can do with it in the future. In other words it will help you find ways to fill the void that you can feel in your life when you stop drinking. This place started as a result of successful treatments gained in Wat Tamkrabok.

http://www.newlifethaifoundation.com/

Hope you find the right path out of this situation Mate .

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He must have been very drunk if he was worried about the state of his car,as it is an obvious write off,i guess he will be fined,pay compo and that will be it.

Wow i did not realise that they write cars off in Thailand. I was once in a smash in car my friend was driving , severe damage side impact and two broken ribs, the car is now in immacualte condition and has been returned for other family memebers to drive. Yes, in the UK the car would have been a write off, as mine once was with a broken head light wing and bumber after another car slid into it one snowy morning, but in Thailand it would take a real mangle to write it off, and i do not think this damage is enough in Thailand, going by past experience .

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How do you get used bunker oil? Like this:

Let me try and explain. Bunker oil is fuel oil. That means it goes through the engine/boilers. The only way 'USED' bunker oil leaves a vessel is up the funnel as a combination of gases and particulates. The most common cause of what you see in that photograph is some idiot pumping their bilges or pumping another tank out after cleaning.

Source: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644095-oil-spill-virgin-coast-koh-samui/

yes my thoughts exactly , someone is trying desparately to redirect the fault here , as it may create more headaches and less tea money being made available if the truth really came out .

How do you get used bunker oil? Like this:

Let me try and explain. Bunker oil is fuel oil. That means it goes through the engine/boilers. The only way 'USED' bunker oil leaves a vessel is up the funnel as a combination of gases and particulates. The most common cause of what you see in that photograph is some idiot pumping their bilges or pumping another tank out after cleaning.

Source: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644095-oil-spill-virgin-coast-koh-samui/

Huh , sorry i just dont get the fact that a boat that uses expensive unused oil to power a boat would want to dump it it ( unused ) into the sea ?

Used engine oil or maybe whinch motor oil maybe , but in this sort of quantity, mmmm smells of denial of a bigger more powerful culprit that shall not be blamed to me, because the backhand provider may suffer more -ve feedback than they want at the moemnt following Koh Samet incident recently.

Plenty of cheap places to stay in Ban Phe , depending what you are looking for there for one night ? and how much you wanna spend ? quite a few along the prom as it were, close to the pier to catch ferries across to Samed .

try Agoda. com for cheap places and availability on Samed

i have one who just fixed my water system , great bloke, no messing came here, identified problem , next day came with stuff, got problem fixed next morning . lives west side of rayong

Pm me for more details

everyone in vietnam wears a helmet religiously when riding a bike or a passenger on a bike

very good one here in maptaphut

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Central coming to Rayong. English speaking cinema and Tops. It's the little things.

Yes Great News. Any idea of expected completion date ??

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I am in Klaeng, it is ok but not a lot to do . Near to Laem Mae phim though , so that is ok. Would rather be in Rayong though.

Understand there was a big fire that took a few restaurants out in Laem Mae Phim over the last Loy Krathong celebration. Have not been able to get down that way since Loy Krathong. Any knowledge what the area is like now? Rebuilding?

Yeah it took out the first 10 or so restaurants as you come around the corner onto the beach road. hasn't affected anything elsr too much though.

Sorry took so long to reply to this but yes more than 1 year ago, there was a fire that took out 5-6 retaurants that will not be replaced . part of the beach redevelopment , no more new caffs or restaurants on beach side of the coast road.

I now live in Maptaphut, since november last year. Anyone else on here nearby ???

Continuing from my post above - over beers at a corner shop tonight, the Thai old timers here in Pala inform me that Songkran in this area will be celebrated on:

17th in Ban Chang town

17th in Payoon (was some discussion about 18th, but consensus is 17th)

19th in Pala

20th in Maptaphut

25th in Rayong City

.... so one can have fun (or avoid same) throughout the latter part of April in general.

Rayong City was on Sunday 13th, i was there , so i would not put too much faith in the other dates

^Apparently based on the supportive posts above they aren't having problems "effectively interfacing with the public" just you... Probably don't have THAT many farangs to warrant the cost of an English translated website. Ever heard of Google translate??

Have you ever tried Google translate? thanks for the more than helpful advice.

I work for a company based in Pattaya Chonburi province, but actually work for them in Rayong. my recent non B, WP and Extn visa were all applied for and issued in Chonburi province, but I live and work in Rayong province, just 2kms from the local Immigration office. can i go there legitimately to get my 90 day report issued and not have to go all the way to Chonburi for this ??????

No. The only passport available directly from a Consulate/Embassy would be one year type - normal UK passports are only issued in the UK.

As of March 26th 2014 the following new rules apply for passport renewal application . Look forward to 2 trips to Bangkok - one to apply and another to pick it up when it arrives. What a masterstroke by the passport office - the changes will cause extra expense, travel and time for all applicants unless they live in Bangkok. Even then its not as easy as it was filling in the forms and sending by DHL as before this change in process. This is not a joke - check the goverments website from which this extract was taken. https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports/y/thailand/renewing_new/adult

Making your application

You must apply in person. You must bring photo ID with you.

Bring original supporting documents and a photocopy of each one. The original documents will be returned to you.

You must also bring your current passport with you when you apply, and a full colour photocopy of the entire passport (every page including blank pages). You can’t travel with it after you’ve applied for a new one - but you will be able to keep your existing passport for ID purposes.

You’ll need to book an appointment by email. Include your first name and last name and 3 alternative dates and times. You will receive an email confirming your appointment.

UK Visa Application Centre

The Trendy Office Building,

28th Floor,

Sukhumvit Soi13,

Klongtoey-Nua,

Wattana,

Bangkok

10110,

Thailand

Email: [email protected]

Getting your passport

Your passport will be delivered to the UK Visa Application Centre where you applied - you must collect it in person.

They will contact you - using the details on your application form - when your passport is ready to collect.

You must bring your existing passport as photo ID.

Contact the Passport Adviceline

Telephone: +44 (0) 300 222 0000

Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm (UK time)

Saturday, Sunday and public holidays, 9am to 5:30pm (UK time)

Yes just one slight problem with this new system , you cannot send an e-mail to make the appointment at the moment. I have been trying to send an e-mail since the above date and they come back to me as undeliverable time and again. There is no local office phone number to contact so a call to the UK will be rather expensive. I had one reply to an enquiry asking what the hell I am supposed to do , and it said Newport passport office will conntact me within 3 workng days ??? still waiting!!! Got a good mind to go there directly and just walk through the door , if that can be done. I also want to know if i still have to pay by banker draft or can i pay cash there or by CC or Debit card, before i go there. IS ANYONE ELSE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM ???

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They shag camels in Saudi Arabia why not cows in Thailand.? BTW RIP.

Are we sure the man wasnt a Welshman who had lost his sheep.. ? width=20 alt=rolleyes.gif>

Yes where are all the sheep in Thailand? A visit to Swiss farm for me is well overdue , you cheeky sod

I was just wondering after having a flat tyre the other night, what happens in Thailand if I have a breakdown at any time of day or night?

Is there any sort of national network or organisation like RAC or AA as there is back home, as I often find myself travelling large distances day and night, or is this a stupid question ?

So, what I am asking is what is there out there ?????

Thanks for any helpful suggestions guys.