doctormann

Mobile data is off. Wifi still works as I can connect to the internet with no problems.

Bit of a mystery. I have a new Samsung A23 Android phone. I cannot get it to communicate with my LAN - can't even PING it from my Linux laptop. This used to work perfectly with my previous A12 phone. Laptop and phone are on the same network and battery saving on the phone is not enabled (I know that this can cause problems). I thought that it might be a firewall issue but disabling the firewall on the laptop makes no difference. PINGing the phone from the laptop just results in 100% packet loss so it seems that the phone is not being detected. There is some discussion about this on the internet but nothing useful. The phone works normally in all other respects - can access the internet with no problems. Any ideas?

One Time PIN - works only once and is time limited.

There may be a better way. GiffGaff will happily send you a SIM with a UK phone number. Your bank can then use this number to send you OTPs, which you can access in Thailand, using your mobile phone. It helps if you have a dual SIM phone. GiffGaff is quick and easy to set up. Put 10GBP credit on the SIM and send an SMS or make a call every so often to keep the number active. <https://www.giffgaff.com/>

Stick 'em with the pointy end!

I'm not sure that removal of the 15-year limit will actually help when it comes to voting from overseas. I can only state what happened when I tried to vote in the BREXIT referendum so YMMV, as they say. The postal voting papers were sent out by snail mail and arrived in my mail box exactly one day before the voting deadline. Not even enough time to return by EMS - absolutely useless!

Thanks for all the responses. Looks as though I have a few things to try.

A bit of a puzzle. Using NORDVPN to access the BBC iPlayer works perfectly on my Linux notebook PC, running the Brave browser. Trying the same thing on my Android phone I just get the 'iPlayer only works in the UK' message. Why would this be? Same browser, same VPN server. Different hardware, of course but all else is basically the same. Any thoughts?

Oh dear, I hadn't realised that they have closed. Another COVID victim I suppose.

I went to AUA for a whole year but, sadly, didn't make a lot of progress. I just can't differentiate the tones. I would say that learning to read/write the Thai script is absolutely essential to getting a grasp on the language. Anyway, I can do the basics but as for holding a conversation, no chance! AUA Pattaya are now located here <https://vymaps.com/TH/Aua-Language-Center-Pattaya-487642217994144/>

Is this the same petition that I already signed - several months ago - or is this a new one?

The problem that I was having with the lack of English language support on the TTB help line has been resolved. To get English you have to press 9 but there seems to be a glitch. If you wait until you get the 'for English. press 9' prompt then you don't get English. However, if you press 9 as soon as the line connects, you do. Very odd!

Well, I received an SMS to tell me that the subscription has been successfully cancelled so maybe it has. I'll find out in a month's time I guess. I agree with your sentiments regarding Apple. I have no Apple products and have no intention of getting any. In my view, there are better options.

Sorted! Hiding in the MyAIS app is the ability to cancel subscriptions that were initiated through AIS. I'll have to pay for full month to end the subscription but that's OK.

No, I don't have an iPhone and my PC runs Linux. I think that I'll try to let AIS sort it, if they will. Thanks for the suggestions anyway.

I have an Apple Music subscription that was set up via AIS so the monthly payments are deducted from my AIS credit. I really have no use for Apple Music and want to terminate the subscription. I can find no way of doing this, either on the Apple website or on their app. Maybe I have to get AIS to do it? Anyone manged to do this?

Tried turning on NFC and enabling card for PayWave and online purchases but still no joy. I'll talk to my bank at some stage. No urgency, it's just that we seem to getting pushed into making electronic payments, these days. ATMs seem to be disappearing as well so getting actual cash may become less easy in future. Some would say that this is progress. I say that it's more like a PITA!

I would not have thought that NFC would be necessary for registering a card but maybe it is. Obviously, it needs to be enabled to actually use the wallet app. Probably also have to enable PayWave on the card and maybe also enable online purchasing. I'll give it a try anyway.

Yes - do I need this enabled when adding a card?

Does Google Wallet work in Thailand? I have their app on my Android phone but seem unable to add a debit card.

+1 for Invade IT - used them for years and never a problem.

I'm surprised that you were given no notice of the impending closure of your accounts. Barclays have closed my current and savings accounts but I was given about three months notice that this was going to happen. I was informed by letter - to my Thai address - and also by a notification to my phone that there was a communication waiting for me on their online banking site, which was exactly the same letter as I received by post. I was requested to reduce the balances to zero by 31 August and then to close the accounts. Fortunately, I also have an IoM International Account with them, so transferred the balances to that account which, allegedly, I am able to retain, albeit at a cost of 40 GBP per month!! Trying to close the accounts was farcical - I spent a very long time on the phone, being passed around various departments. No-one seemed to know what to do. I succeeded in the end but it would probably have been easier to do nothing as they would have closed the accounts anyway. As to the question of where your money is now, they will keep it until you can provide details of somewhere that it can be transferred to. Or, they will send you a cheque through the post - which you might actually receive but will likely be useless unless you have a Thai bank that will accept it. Obviously, you need to talk to them - and good luck with that!

Trying that as we speak. Very interesting noises!

A few years ago, I tried the oil trick - used olive oil - as this was recommended by Dr. Google. Didn't work so I ended up going to a clinic anyway. The nurse there gave me a right b*llo*king for daring to put oil in my ear. Don't know why! Anyway, got the H2O2 and vacuum treatment, which worked right away. Unfortunately, that particular clinic has disappeared so I shall need to go somewhere else. I have a couple of recommendations from board members so, if the problem persists after a couple of days, off I shall go.

I believe that there is also a tax treaty between UK and Thailand.