Jeffrey346

My March, April and May bills were discounted. My bill that arrived this week was my usual bill amount less 3%.

Looks like the deep discounts are over.

^{Just moved in to my custom built home on land we owned for quite some time.  I asked my builder to cost out a small guest house.. about 30sqm. He said he can do it for B300,000.}

Just put a new 12,000 btu Daikin in my 18sm bedroom. Daikin insisted I need a 15,000 btu unit.  The 12,000 does a great job cools quickly without a struggle.

5 hours ago, asiaexpat said:

The government owned interprovincial bus company states that all customers must use Thai ID to travel so they can track them should it be necessary. Many foreigners, myself included, have Pink ID cards that provide a ID number within the Thailand registry, so has anyone with a Pink ID tried to use the bus service?

The Wat Po exclusion is simply xenophobia and not very Buddhist in my opinion. 

The Pink ID Card has NO CHIP. They can not scan it.. They are not going to manually write down your ID number while boarding a bus.

I just moved to my new home. Went to Immigration and made the change. I asked if I could have waited, the answer was NO. 

I checked my payment status and got a message stating the IRS can not determine my eligibility. 

There is nothing on the IRS website to tell you what the problem is or how to resolve it. 

4 hours ago, Siameaze said:

I have US Social Security direct deposited to Bangkok Bank. However Direct Deposit accounts require a branch visit for withdrawal. I have asked Bangkok Bank to change this but have little hope for a fast, positive result. I will probably return to international transfer after SS deposit to my US bank. Will wait until I complete my Retirement extension of stay expiring 26 May

I changed my DD to SCB. No need to go to the bank it's there ready to use. I get the transfer on the 3rd of each month at 9AM... NOT 2pm or the next day as BKK bank loves to hold your money.

Send an email to Manila for the forms..  

In what grapevine did you hear this?

19 hours ago, realenglish1 said:

CNN has about 500,000 audience Fox has over 3 million Seems the majority Trust Fox more than CNN

CNN has 972,000 viewers per night according to Nielsen. 

1 hour ago, Pdavies99 said:

I think you will find that the issue of the TV turning off is in the settings, ie many new tV's have a timer whereby if the TV is not changed ie volume , channel etc it will turn off! This can be changed in the settings, not to happen.

 

As to the TVs, well the LG models that are made in Thailand are very good and well priced!

 

I find it hard to belive the TV is the cause of Audio delay etc, this is usually a network issue.

 

Best Paul

 

 

A TV can cause an audio sync issue. My LG has a sync +and - in the setting area.

10 hours ago, giddyup said:

Numchai don't make the TV's they only sell them. I have bought other TV's as well as Hifi, fridges, etc without any problems, so your comment is ridiculous.

Perhaps they are selling factory refurbs as new. If so I can understand the issues people are having..

On 2/5/2020 at 5:40 PM, Just Weird said:

It's fairly easy to deduce that it's because you were using your Big C membership card, that they want ID for, and, presumably, you get some benefit from.  Big C do not ask for passports for a straightforward cash purchase.

 

No, they're not for ordinary cash purchases.

I went to Bic C twice this week, paid with my bankcard and was not asked for may passport.

I just did my extension based on marriage at Khon Kaen Img.  My paperwork and income requirements were 100% and it took 30 days to get my stamp.

On 1/30/2020 at 12:08 PM, NanLaew said:

I do recall asking them about their services a couple of years ago where I was seeking a particular type of offshore work enabling Vietnam visa. I did get a standard response that didn't address my specific needs beyond suggesting if I had further questions, I should speak to their 'horses mouth' in Bangkok. I reckon their Consulate in KK is primarily to support the large Vietnamese community in Isaan and not so much the itinerant foreigner.

 

The blow back from Tet tends to extend beyond the official start and end dates. For a Vietnamese government entity outside of Vietnam and out in the provinces, I would give them another 10 days.

I'm in KK 12 yrs now. Never knew there is a large Vietnamese community here. Where are they hiding?

7 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

A. That seems to be a little over top and I can't understand why they would want it.

B.  Would be a updated Kor Ror 2 marriage registry.

I have been having my wife to get a new one for about 7 years now since they first asked for one.

I'll tell you about over the top.

I went to KK IM 3 weeks ago for my marriage ext. Had everything ready including a Kor Ror 2.

The IO accepted everything and gave me a date 30 days out to return.

2 days later my wife got a call from IO. Said he was not going to visit and to bring 2 witnesses to the IO office. 

My wife did so the same day. The IO rejected the 2 saying they did not both live in the same tambon. My wife called another friend who was kind enough to come right down to IMM that did live in the same Tambon.

3 days later another call. IO said we don't live at the same address as my yellow book. I said I am not aware of a rules that requires it. He said go to our other address and take a picture. We did so.

2 Days later I was asked to bring in my bank book. Did so and had to copy all pages.

1 day later I was asked for proof of where I get my income from. Told her it is in the original papers that I gave her. She said it is not I said check again she said sorry.

I'm still waiting for my extension.

14 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Any bank manager could sign it. But the problem is they might not understand what it is for.

An explanation would be that it is only to confirm the information completed by the bank in section 3.

SCB signed mine.. no questions or issues.

I had a problem with 2 clogged injectors. It was suggested to use V Power. After 2/3 tank fulls my 2008 Vigo was running like new.

I have much more power and better mileage.

The extra few baht is well worth it.

18 hours ago, Aforek said:

Retirement non O visa ? For the embassy paper, what did you give ?  

 

I was there two months ago, hundreds of farangs ; and you say it was quite ? 

I was there 3 months ago, wasn't very busy.

On 1/5/2020 at 10:18 AM, Pib said:

Although SSA can technically accept direct deposit information via phone call, fax, email, letter, or direct deposit form, it's purely up to each office which method they will accept depending on the individual/situation.  For ACH DD signup they will usually accept the info via phone call....remember, ACH would be if using the Bangkok Bank NY routing number or some other US bank routing number.  But IDD does not use ACH; it uses the SWIFT funds transfer system.

 

The surest way (and what I recommend) is to provide a completed DD deposit which would be the IDD Direct for Thailand form below.  Complete the form and then mail....or scan & email to Manila.

 

Now, you may go to your Thai bank, especially if not a Bangkok Bank branch, and say I want this SAA-1199-OP107 for Thailand direct deposit form completed and they would give you a blank stare or a no-can-do response.  Remember, up until IDD for Thailand started last year Bangkok Bank was the only Thai bank for decades that could receive US govt payments like SSA, VA, etc.. via their NY branch routing number.  No other Thai banks like SCB, K-bank, Krungsri, etc., could receive US govt payments.

 

Heck, even if going to your Bangkok Bank branch where you had your US govt payment going to for many years to your restricted direct deposit acct and who may even had completed an ACH DD deposit form for you many years may give you a blank stare or no-can-do response when asking to to complete the IDD DD form for Thailand...but they'll say they can complete the regular ACH DD form (two completely different forms as one is for ACH and the other is for IDD).   Some Bangkok Bank branches may simply not know about IDD nor have the IDD form below loaded in their system.   

 

Now for my family member's IDD form, her Bangkok Bank bank branch which is the main branch in the HQ Bangkok Bank building on Silom Rd in Bangkok had no problem signing the form as they are aware of the form.  

 

Another note about Bangkok Bank branches is they may still try to steer you towards using the ACH DD form because then the funds still get routed thru their NY branch, the NY branch gets to collect a fee, and Bangkok Bank also receives a higher receiving fee than in comparison to IDD.  For IDD their NY branch is taken completely out of the picture and the receiving branch only receives the smaller Bahtnet fee.   So, if a Bangkok Bank branch plays dumb regarding the IDD form it could be because they are actually very aware of the form but know they lose fee money when a person switches from ACH to IDD payment method.

 

One thing about Thai banks, be it Bangkok Bank, SCB, etc., when it comes to asking them complete and "sign" a form they don't have loaded in their system, they may not complete it for you....nor sign it either.   

 

So, let's say "you" complete the form....even most of Section 3 of the IDD form which is for your bank to complete. By most of Section 3 I mean everything except the two blocks titled Print Name of Bank Official and Signature of Bank Official.  Completing the entire form yourself with the exception of those two blocks and sending it to SSA (like Manila) is fine.  Just include a signed note with the from that your Thai bank will not sign the form as they will only sign forms their system can produce. 

 

Really the whole purpose of the bank's section on a direct deposit form is the help reduce errors....where the customer is really clueless/unsure about routing numbers, SWIFT codes, and maybe his own account number. 

 

Others on ThaiVisa have already posted about their Thai bank giving them blank stares, no-can-do response to the IDD form, but the ThaiVisa members just completed all of the form minus the bank official's name and signature, included a separate memo saying the bank wouldn't/can't sign the form, and provided that to your SSA office...a few months later their payment started arriving via IDD.

 

When completing the form be durn sure to get the bank's SWIFT code and your account number correct (and of course other parts of the form) as that's what the SSA will enter for your payment and if you gave the wrong code or number, well, your payment goes into never-never land or into someone else's acct.  Same would be applicable if filling out a ACH DD deposit form.   If you don't get anything else right on the form get the SWIFT code and your account number correct.

 

And if you just use the same restricted Bangkok Bank direct deposit acct you have now on the IDD form, well, your SSA payment will switch from the ACH system to the IDD system, but since the payment is still flowing into a restricted acct you still have all the same restrictions. So, if sending to a Bangkok Bank acct be sure to provide a regular Thai baht savings acct number. 

 

Or, do what we did for my family member, have the Bangkok Bank restricted direct deposit acct switched to a regular acct.  Bangkok Bank does that by removing the "O restriction" they have coded against the acct....that O restriction is an internal Bangkok Bank coding thing which desginates the acct as a restricted DD acct..  Takes them about 15 minutes to do along with your signing a few pieces of paperwork....but usually better than opening a new acct where your branch may want to play the game of treating your like a brand new customer and want this-and-that extra paperwork from your to open a new acct.  Thai banks can be pain sometimes in an opening new acct even for a long time customer.

 

See below SSA weblinks for the IDD for Thailand policy and DD signup form.

SSA Policy Manual/Regulation for IDD for Thailand.  Provides policy and instructions to SSA offices.

https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0202402419

 

IDD Direct Deposit for Thailand Form....SSA-1199-OP107

https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-1199-op107.pdf

Went to SCB this morning and found then most willing to help. They filled out their secton of the SSA 1199, had the Branch Manager sign it added the official SCB stamp and off I went.

A totally delightful experience.

I did my O Visa in Savannakhet 3 months ago. They did not ask for a Kor Ror 2 but for B20 I got it and had it with me.

Be sure to have your original marriage certificate.  They will ask for that.

51 minutes ago, Pib said:

Although SSA can technically accept direct deposit information via phone call, fax, email, letter, or direct deposit form, it's purely up to each office which method they will accept depending on the individual/situation.  For ACH DD signup they will usually accept the info via phone call....remember, ACH would be if using the Bangkok Bank NY routing number or some other US bank routing number.  But IDD does not use ACH; it uses the SWIFT funds transfer system.

 

The surest way (and what I recommend) is to provide a completed DD deposit which would be the IDD Direct for Thailand form below.  Complete the form and then mail....or scan & email to Manila.

 

Now, you may go to your Thai bank, especially if not a Bangkok Bank branch, and say I want this SAA-1199-OP107 for Thailand direct deposit form completed and they would give you a blank stare or a no-can-do response.  Remember, up until IDD for Thailand started last year Bangkok Bank was the only Thai bank for decades that could receive US govt payments like SSA, VA, etc.. via their NY branch routing number.  No other Thai banks like SCB, K-bank, Krungsri, etc., could receive US govt payments.

 

Heck, even if going to your Bangkok Bank branch where you had your US govt payment going to for many years to your restricted direct deposit acct and who may even had completed an ACH DD deposit form for you many years may give you a blank stare or no-can-do response when asking to to complete the IDD DD form for Thailand...but they'll say they can complete the regular ACH DD form (two completely different forms as one is for ACH and the other is for IDD).   Some Bangkok Bank branches may simply not know about IDD nor have the IDD form below loaded in their system.   

 

Now for my family member's IDD form, her Bangkok Bank bank branch which is the main branch in the HQ Bangkok Bank building on Silom Rd in Bangkok had no problem signing the form as they are aware of the form.  

 

Another note about Bangkok Bank branches is they may still try to steer you towards using the ACH DD form because then the funds still get routed thru their NY branch, the NY branch gets to collect a fee, and Bangkok Bank also receives a higher receiving fee than in comparison to IDD.  For IDD their NY branch is taken completely out of the picture and the receiving branch only receives the smaller Bahtnet fee.   So, if a Bangkok Bank branch plays dumb regarding the IDD form it could be because they are actually very aware of the form but know they lose fee money when a person switches from ACH to IDD payment method.

 

One thing about Thai banks, be it Bangkok Bank, SCB, etc., when it comes to asking them complete and "sign" a form they don't have loaded in their system, they may not complete it for you....nor sign it either.   

 

So, let's say "you" complete the form....even most of Section 3 of the IDD form which is for your bank to complete. By most of Section 3 I mean everything except the two blocks titled Print Name of Bank Official and Signature of Bank Official.  Completing the entire form yourself with the exception of those two blocks and sending it to SSA (like Manila) is fine.  Just include a signed note with the from that your Thai bank will not sign the form as they will only sign forms their system can produce. 

 

Really the whole purpose of the bank's section on a direct deposit form is the help reduce errors....where the customer is really clueless/unsure about routing numbers, SWIFT codes, and maybe his own account number. 

 

Others on ThaiVisa have already posted about their Thai bank giving them blank stares, no-can-do response to the IDD form, but the ThaiVisa members just completed all of the form minus the bank official's name and signature, included a separate memo saying the bank wouldn't/can't sign the form, and provided that to your SSA office...a few months later their payment started arriving via IDD.

 

When completing the form be durn sure to get the bank's SWIFT code and your account number correct (and of course other parts of the form) as that's what the SSA will enter for your payment and if you gave the wrong code or number, well, your payment goes into never-never land or into someone else's acct.  Same would be applicable if filling out a ACH DD deposit form.   If you don't get anything else right on the form get the SWIFT code and your account number correct.

 

And if you just use the same restricted Bangkok Bank direct deposit acct you have now on the IDD form, well, your SSA payment will switch from the ACH system to the IDD system, but since the payment is still flowing into a restricted acct you still have all the same restrictions. So, if sending to a Bangkok Bank acct be sure to provide a regular Thai baht savings acct number. 

 

Or, do what we did for my family member, have the Bangkok Bank restricted direct deposit acct switched to a regular acct.  Bangkok Bank does that by removing the "O restriction" they have coded against the acct....that O restriction is an internal Bangkok Bank coding thing which desginates the acct as a restricted DD acct..  Takes them about 15 minutes to do along with your signing a few pieces of paperwork....but usually better than opening a new acct where your branch may want to play the game of treating your like a brand new customer and want this-and-that extra paperwork from your to open a new acct.  Thai banks can be pain sometimes in an opening new acct even for a long time customer.

 

See below SSA weblinks for the IDD for Thailand policy and DD signup form.

SSA Policy Manual/Regulation for IDD for Thailand.  Provides policy and instructions to SSA offices.

https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0202402419

 

IDD Direct Deposit for Thailand Form....SSA-1199-OP107

https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-1199-op107.pdf

Thanks very much Pib.. Awesome post.

I have the form filled out. I will take it to SCB tomorrow and let you know the result.

6 minutes ago, Pib said:

All of that is true about SSA DD "if ACH was used"...that is, using the Bangkok Bank NY branch routing number.  But if using IDD none of that applies.  Two different animals...two different systems....two different set of rules/regulations as mentioned earlier.

 

As mentioned in my posts above and related ThaiVisa threads on IDD has been available for Thailand since mid 2019.  Actually SSA added Thailand to their approved IDD List in Nov 2018, began a pilot program with about 10 people to test the IDD for Thailand setup, and in mid 2019 fully opened IDD for Thailand.  As mentioned I have a household member enrolled in IDD since mid 2019....works great....payments are paid into a regular Bangkok Bank acct with zero restrictions...none of the restrictions like with their direct deposit acct for US govt payment made via ACH.

 

SSA over the last year or so has added a lot of countries to their IDD list....Thailand being just one of them.

Pib, can I call SSA or do I need to go through Manila to set up IDD?