Anon999

Has the uk stopped your pension yearly increases since you are a overseas resident and not in a country that allows the yearly increase

Has the uk stopped your pension yearly increases since you are a overseas resident and not in a country that allows the yearly increase

Anyone who is out of the uk for more than 6 months a year is classed as a non resident and not entitled to pension increases

I believe that for the first two years of your absence the increase is paid.

I have my UK state pension paid direct to my Thai bank account every 4 weeks. No charges or commissions deducted. I check the exchange rate on Forex the day before the pension is due, and it is correct to a few baht either way. 2 small pensions in the UK paid into my UK bank account, and the dear UK tax man has given me a code number for each pension provider so that everything is paid to me tax free. I don't bother to transfer money from the UK bank to Thailand, but use that account for shopping on the internet, as most British or American companies will not accept a Thai debit card.

The only tax I pay now is Thai tax on the interest paid by the Thai bank, which is deducted automatically by the bank.

You would not be paying tax on a UK state pension at the current rate of allowances if paid into a UK bank.

UK MPs are not paid nearly enough. Can not buy a decent house!

I would like to see fewer MPs paid much more and have gained experience outside of parliament

£67,060 basic, not counting fiddles expenses free postal/stationary, turn up for work when their pay rise is due. Yeah I'd like some of that.

Not paid enough!!!!! Crap

Tell them to live on the wage of a state pensioner.

My State pension is £8,312.52 per year and I paid for that with 44 years of NI contributions.

Yet Grouse says they don't get paid enough at £67,060 basic plus. If that isn't enough tell them the get off their fat lazy rrrrrrrrrrrrs, quit politics and get a zero hours contract job in McDonalds and then see what life is like for real people.

Try checking out how much the drivers on the London Underground get paid and what hours they work as one example, then post it on here!

Real people work in Union controlled jobs, as you must remember!

One more time: USUFRUCT means having the right to use land. house or existing business. This means, some gainful commercial activity must be part of it. Just to sit at the house, twiddling your thumbs will not satisfy the conditions of a USUFRUCT.

Remedy: Have "your" land worked by someone, with the clear intent of commercial use. If you do it by yourself, you will need a work permit. OR: For example, rent out one room of the house to seamstresses or whatever, to fulfill the requirement of "making use".

By not doing any of the above, your "USUFRUCT" is worthless and will not hold water in any court of law in Thailand. The fact, that the lawyers you consulted, were "unaware" of the term USUFRUCT is strictly self-protection with the goal not getting involved in any future legal matters, that the current government would classify as "Misrepresentation".

With or without USUFRUCT. If wife should die before Farang, it will be the moment of truth. If Thai-family has accepted the "long-nose" for whatever reasons, fine! If not, the Family will find very effective ways and means to get rid of the Farang.

THERE IS NO GOLDEN PARACHUTE FOR A FARANG IN THAILAND. With or without lawyer.

Cheers.

Disagree with you on all 4 points and I have had a 30 year Usufruct for a number of years. It was made prior to having my house built. However, as I wanted it written in English and Thai I had a lawyer write it for me so it is a legal document. Obviously it cost more that 75 baht but it wasn't expensive.

Don't have any security bars on the windows as I hate the look of them and how do you get out in an emergency? Do have uPVC frames and double glazing, however, it is only 12mm thick and uses 3mm glass! The doors have toughened glass. An automatic day/night security light would be a help and security lights around the house, with sensors.

How many farang TOURISTS have ever been made to pay this tax? If you counted laptops, phones, cameras, watches etc. nearly all tourists would be over 10,000 baht worth but i have never met anyone who has been stopped arriving in Bangkok and asked to pay. It is not a farang rip off scheme (yet). The issue is more the ambiguous nature of what counts.

On the other hand, unaccompanied baggage, imports of personal affects and parcels are jumped on quite harshly.

Imported a 20 foot container full of personal effects including a host of electrical and electronic items and was charged a nominal amount.

Many Thais coming back from overseas trips are met at the airport by their friends and family who just happen to be wearing their police/military/civil service uniforms so their goods are not subject to import duty.

How would that work Briggsy---you do not see any of the public (or them see you) until after you have cleared the customs station........Are you fantasizing again...??

Not true, you see many people who obviously have "friends" in high places, in the baggage collection area meeting friends and/or family, so Briggsy is spot on with his comment!

Remember, all these government employees, customs, police, immigration are as corrupt as they come and as thick as thieves!

Don't tar everyone with the same brush. Furthermore you have no evidence to support your claim whereas I have evidence to prove you are wrong.

These people are deluded! It's pretty obvious who was in the streets blockading the election shooting guns hidden in popcorn bags and who was sat in their barracks not doing a single thing and that the Electoral Commmission was clearly in cahoots with the plotters and which political party boycotted the election. We have truly crossed over into Alice in Wonderland territory here, where the leadership of a country can publicly spout such nonsense and nobody points out the obvious! Absurd beyond all belief.

You have been a busy boy since becoming a member of TVF yesterday. I do wonder exactly how much knowledge you have of the whole situation?

you can't get a haircut for 50 baht in Bkk these days, it's 60 baht, bloody outrageous

. My hair cut 30baht,always has been for last12 years.UK £6/300baht.

The real difference between a haircut done here and one done in the UK is that the UK one doesnt make you look as though a blind man did it. So I would say GBP6 in the UK is money well spent.

Thai barbers I have used have absolutely no idea at all of how to cut hair; they only know how to manipulate an electric trimmer very badly. Filipino barbers cost no more than here but they actually know how to use scissors.

My haircut in the UK was £10 some 10-12 years ago and here it is now 200 baht, however, as it is mainly a ladies hairdresser she knows how to use a pair of scissors.

groceries can be VERY expensive in Thailand if you want something that is not part of the basic needs of Thai people. And I am not talking about imported goods, I am talking about products made in Thailand. one example, a 225 gr block of (local) butter costs double of what I would pay in my home country. And yes, sorry, while I do eat Thai food too, butter is still part of MY daily basic needs. A tiny cup of (locally made !) cottage cheese costs 4 times as much as in my home country. On the other hand, I don't get a 1$/ lunch in my home country when eating out....

A lot of people here don't like Thai $1 food, but at that price they learn to love it.

Because someone lives in Thailand doesn't mean they should eat Thai food if they don't like it.

Go abroad and see how many Thai's eat the local foods.

I know many Thais in the UK and most tend to eat Thai food most of the time. There are exceptions, those who have a full time job may well go to the pub for lunch or buy something from a bakers shop. Depends on your circumstances. Personally we eat both Thai and western food both at home in Isaan and at restaurants and we don't eat street food with few exceptions like fried bananas.

We have 4 bed and 3 bath. Providing my wife doesn't use the mains water for the garden the bill is 120 baht/mth and 200-240 baht if used for the garden too. Electricity 2,500 to 3,000/mth but that's down to all the electrical appliances, mainly the oven/grill. However, 7 a/c's 2 fridge freezers, 2 front loading washers, dishwasher and extractor fan are the main items but have many other small appliances too.

Many on here are denigrating all Thai workers without thought to those employed in hospitals for instance, there are other examples but generalisations are never a good thing. If they have specific sectors in mind then say so. However, the main criticism must surely be aimed at management?

For a reliable insight into the order of reliability and customer satisfaction reference to the JDPower surveys is a good place to start. Although a large majority identify with Japanese quality and reliability it transpires that Skoda to the list. As far as Ford's are concerned their overall longevity is not a strong point and furthermore car manufacturers profit comes from spares and repairs not selling their cars.

Cars are also designed, like everything else, to have a 'life' and individual components too. Typically in Europe it was about 60,000 miles/100,000 kms (the duration of the warranty period) but that has increased over the years, before components start to fail. However, everything is not exactly the same so some items do not last as long as their design life while others go on far longer.

The OP was talking about a car not a truck so all comparisons with them are irrelevant.

A friend has a Ford Feista only 2 years old

It was shuddering when driving

Went to Ford dealer Told has to have a seal replaced

Under warranty as part was faulty Maybe made in Turkey

The service lady say fix under warranty

Had a friend go to pick it up after repair under warranty

Was told 800 baht

Friend had to go to see then then told service manger

Part fixed under warranty

He gave in and gave her the car with no payment

Typical of any service manager

Try to get you to pay Under Warranty

This is Thai Style

Not true. Don't tar every dealer with the same brush.

Doesn't sound unusual to me. Even in offices the furniture tends to get rearranged from time to time.

My report was due 12 January 2015 at Nakhon Pathom. Sent copies of required documents plus original TM47 receipt EMS, 24 December.

Thailand Post online tracking system showed "success" delivery before lunch on 26 December (more than 15 days before due date).

I printed Thailand Post tracking record, and kept it (just in case what has happened, happened.)

Also kept original and photocopy of EMS receipt from date of posting, copy of original TM47, and copy of original TM47 receipt.

Phoned Nakhon Pathjom Immigratation Office (5 times on different days over last 2 weeks) always busy, or someone just hangs up.

E-mailed them. E-mail returned, failed delivery. (Address taken from Immigration Main Web-site).

So, I am going to:

Wait until next report due (12 April). As this is slap-bang in Songkran, will go in person 15 days before this date, (around end of March).

Present them with new TM47 for new 90 day report, copy of my letter to them, and photocopies of all of the above, plus print-out of returned e-mail,

and tell them smilingly, "TM47 bai-set m'ai rap, khrap". Will report here what happens.

I had a TM47 lost internally in an Immigration office. Sent a copy of the Thailand Post tracking record with a new form by email which resolved the problem. However, in your case send them by EMS as all else has failed.

You should contact them about the report (sorry I cannot help with phone number) they got it and processed the report they will have a record of it.

Not having the tracking number for the EMS to show proof of delivery will make it it difficult to prove you sent it if they say they did not get.it. You would then have to pay a 2000 baht fine for late reporting.

The problem might be that you sent it to late. According to this topic on the CM forum they want it to be sent 15 days before the report date. http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/557382-90-day-report-procedures/

If you have tracked any post that you still have a slip for or remember the number, all recent tracking numbers will be shown in a drop down window when you start to enter the details.

This is the same political party who refused, threatened, and coerced any opposition from speaking the truths about them or from completing a job that went against them. I think they dont have room to talk about this to anyone.... They used it all burning coffins and blocking the justices and threatening judges and other very very bad things. They would not know what reconciliation was unless it freed them from the responsibility of facing criminal charges against them for their actions.

funny... just like the yellow thugs taking the airport? blocking elections? AHF (Amazing Hypocritical Farangs) who come from democracies yet support a junta and decry anyone who tried to find a pathway to peace and reconciliation

you think it can be achieved by controlling the majority of Thai's who vote again and again and again for what THEY want? and what THEY want is not what AHF's want

you think ignoring the majority, in the long run, will bring 'happiness' to the people? dream on

"Attendee Sukanya Kena-uppara said reviving local culture would help create harmony and cut down on political conflicts.

"Ill feelings among people from different political colours has subsided with time. People in the villages have stopped talking about politics, and are instead living in peace and helping one another," she said."

The most important quote of the whole article is that above. It shows that people are at last beginning to realise that politics are not the be all and end all and are once again living as villages should do. Given more time they will realise the criminals that have no other interest than to create trouble, conflict and divisiveness amongst the poor are not worth the time of day, if they have not realised that already.

Thanks gentlemen, guess I am off to immigration and see what happens. Wish me luck!

Anything you do in Thailand with regard to a vehicle, either buy or sell, either a car or a motorbike...requires a RESIDENT CERTIFICATE from immigration. This includes adding or deleting a name from the owner books.

I have bought new cars from dealers here and have not had to have a residents cert.

I find the article heading humorous. I think democracy eroded along time ago and that is why the military was able to took over.

The article is hardly any kind of an analysis but more of a generalization about any situation. Sure it will affect something in the long term negatively, but it will affect other things in a positive way. Depending which business you are in. So we have to weigh the out come. I don't know what other junta have this much autonomy to the people.

The only thing that I see affected are the very people who created this mess and caused the military to take over, The politicians.

Indeed, I don't see anyone anywhere I go that is affected by martial law, but then I don't associate with politicians or trouble makers.

The OP says there are 20 people detained......Out of 65 million.

While the other 64.9999, whatever million go about their normal business.

and 64.999999999999 cannot vote .000000000000000001 are 'given' their posts by the Junta but you are not a fan of democracy as it's not 'your country' Thais I know are downcast and 'waiting' because they ALL know this is about something we cannot discuss here

Downcast and 'waiting'? Living in Isaan and knowing many Thais none of which fall into your category as quoted. Thais you know are obviously in the minority, but that's your choice.

Roi Et is an extremely small place and no functioning airport.

If you don't know then don't post. Obviously you're not a resident, as to my knowledge the airport has been functioning for the vast majority of the time for over 11 years.

YES BKK bank have them in various currencies: http://www.bangkokbank.com/BangkokBank/PersonalBanking/DailyBanking/Accounts/ForeignCurrencyAccount/Pages/Default.aspx

They will use the exchange rate for the date you submit your application. Most offices now use the exchange rates posted on bank websites.

For US dollars they use the rate for changing $100 bills.

Edit: The exchange rate shown on Bangkok banks website is 32.17. http://www.bangkokbank.com/BangkokBank/WebServices/Rates/Pages/FX_Rates.aspx

For Friday the 16th the telex transfer (TT) rate was 32.59 today it is 32.42.

The Imm Office I use for my extension always ask me, "What is the rate today?"

Not sure where you're intending to use one? However, you do not need an IDP for the UK if you have a 5 year Thai drivers licence but as it's valid for 1 year there the Thai licence must have a minimum of one year until expiration on entry or it's no good!

The problem with gasohol is it goes bad if not used. So if you are going to a gas station that does not do a lot of business their gas may be stale. Also if you fill up your tank and do not drive much than the fuel will go bad (get stale). Just fill the tank to half instead of full if you do not drive a lot. I had my Cerfiro for 18 years and exclusively used gasohol 95 and never had a fuel system problem.

I have a mid 2006 Mitsu Lancer Ralliart that has completed 93,000 kms = 11,000 kms/yr. Originally run on 95 benzine until it was phased out in this area some years ago and I always fill the tank up to the brim. Never had a problem either with the fuel system or anything else for that matter. Just regular dealer services.