RaymondJohnEdwards

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Many Many thanks NanLaew your response cracked it. I sent the first email from my domain thefactoriesgroup.com and the reminder from my personal domain raymondjedwards.com, you mentioned gmail worked so I created a gmail account and used that. Within an hour I got a response saying they had not received the first two mails. It seems they count any non webmail as spam. All the best and if you ever get to Ban Chang I will give you pizza and beer. Raymond.

I put in an application on 29th March and received a reply on the same day for an appointment tomorrow, so it does sound like something may have gone wrong.

I put in my application for an appointment on 18th March and have yet to get a response. Anybody know how I can get a response from Trendy as to what is happening?

Without question something has gone awry, send a new email.

There are no alternatives to email as regards making trendy appointments.

Keep it simple, just list three times and dates - weekdays 08:30 to 15:00 excluding most Thai and UK Public Holidays. You can try 3x time/date ranges, but it might well not work.

For an appointment at trendy email to [email protected]

One could also check any spam filters depending on your email provider? I recall the first time I asked for an appointment late last year using my US-based, spam-filtered email account, there was a stunned silence. After checking with this thread and finding out that it was typically same or next day response, I resubmitted using my gmail address and that solved the problem. Used that for the next 2 passport renewals with next-day response to booking appointments.

I put in my application for an appointment on 18th March and have yet to get a response. Anybody know how I can get a response from Trendy as to what is happening?

Jesus there is so much bad information on this topic.

The law has been on the books for many years but only got enforced from last year. At that point there were a number of exceptions, but earlier this month these exceptions were removed. So be very aware ANYBODY selling alcohol outside of 11-2 and 5-12 is breaking the law and is liable for a hefty fine and time inside.

The problem is we don't know about drinking beer that was sold before the deadline, or drinking beer that will be paid for after the 5 deadline etc etc.

Hi All, I am trying to renew my British passport. I have just found out that the agency in Bangkok is on the 28th floor. Being a acrophobia (fear of heights) sufferer there is no way I can get there. Has anybody come across this before or got any suggestions?

Has anyone successfully used someone else's credit card?

many thanks!

I have heard there is a service in Pattaya that will help with a uk passport renewal, anyone know of it?

I am renewing my uk passport. I don't use credit ot debit cards, does anyone knoe for sure that I can pay in cash or use my father's card?

Anybody know where I can but Tombac or dried tobacco? Preferably around Pattaya or Rayong.

Beware CTH is failing to meet its commitments. Channels not working, others intermittent, and even the website doesn't work!

Thanks, tingtong. Good thought about a chip in NZ, will try to source. Not worried about the money, although I take the point two xbox is one too many! Cheers.

I sent some games to my son in New Zealand for christmas but they wont work due to regional security (is that the right phrase?). There seems to be two options...

1. send him an xbox bought here... but will the pal here work with the pal there? If so what model?

2. send him a mod chip... but where can I get one, is it easy to fit, will it work?

Any help appreciated.

I have been in computers all my life (40 years) but have rarely played a game as I think it is a waste of time and brain power. Tried to suggest this to my son once, all hell broke loose!

Raymond

I have started a wine club.

I like wine and don't like not being able to get a reasonable selection at a good price. As I import things as part of my business, I thought why not start a non-profit wine club just for those individuals who, like me, are interested in the wine not just the effect. This is completely separate from my commercial interests and I make nothing from it.

I will be ordering a container from South Africa, (12,000 bottles) at the end of this month and have set aside half of it for the wine club. There is no cost for membership and the wine is sold at what I have to pay out to get it here and delivered to your door. The first delivery will be in August, which you have to book before I place the order, with a 50% deposit. The idea is to take the minimum one case each month whenever possible.

I have selected a vineyard in the western cape for the first order, their wines have won many prizes and they have a reasonable range of high quality varieties. Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Late Harvest, Merlot, Pinotage, Rose, and Sauvignon Blanc. You can make your own selection or keep the standard of one bottle of each plus three extra at random. The minimum order is one case, ie twelve bottles.

The cost to you will be 400 baht per bottle, that is 4,800 baht per case of twelve bottles, remember this is the cost price, I sell it for much more when I import it commercially. If your interested the costs per bottle are: average price at vineyard $3, shipping $1.50, import taxes $5 (!!!), warehousing and picking $1, delivery to your door $1.50, total $12. This equates to about 380 baht, if it comes out to that then that is what I will charge but I am quoting 400 baht to play safe, it will not be more.

Friends and neighbours have taken up nearly 3,000 bottles already, so if you want shout soon.

Next month I will look at placing an order for Italian wine, but I can get from many countries depending on what people want. I don't want to drive this to my tastes, I want people to say what they want and I will source it.

Comments, requests for information, discussion, helpful tips, humour, are all welcome.

Bottoms up, Raymond

Thanks for the link and advice, arthurwait, tried Global House already - no joy, will try the others.

Thanks David48 for the laugh, a sense of humour is a great gift.

Raymond.

Anybody know where I can buy vermiculite, preferably in the Rayong area, or Pattaya. Thanks, Raymond.

OK, here is my six penneth worth.....

First thing to remember is that Australia and New Zealand have a free trade agreement with Thailand on wine, so on a 750 cl bottle they pay 54% less customs than everyone else, and that means that the excise tax, local tax, and vat is calculated on a lower figure.

My wine club offers a vast range of value wines at 350 baht a bottle, a wider range at 500 baht, and some really good wines at 900 baht. Delivered to your door in mixed cases. The downside is you have to wait for them as it's a once a month deal. Napa Valley, South Africa, Italy, USA (other), Turkey (don't mock it til you tried it), Greece, France are all available and the range is expanding all the time.

They only do 750cl bottles, so no boxes or big bottles, but there is something for every taste.

It seems to be not well known, but knocks the socks of the Monte Claire quality.

OK 7by7 I will avoid saying anything more, I apologise if I rubbed you up the wrong way only trying to be part of a helpful community.

... and you have to admit I was at least partially right.

Wow, I consider myself bitch slapped.

My first post for a long time and I got into trouble with the moderators!

Seriously though I will be more careful in future and I thank you for your gentle guidance.

Best regards,

Raymond.

Not strictly true 7x7, see the extract below, but you are clearly correct in context.

Certain applicants for settlement are exempt from the 'knowledge of language and life' (KOL) requirement. These exemptions are listed below.

Exemption for certain immigration categories

You will not have to meet the KOL requirement if you are being granted settlement outside the Immigration Rules, or if you are applying for settlement as:

a Foreign and Commonwealth citizen on discharge from HM Forces (including a Gurkha);

the husband, wife or civil partner of a Foreign and Commonwealth citizen on discharge from HM Forces (including a Gurkha);

a victim of domestic violence;

the bereaved partner (husband, wife, civil partner, unmarried partner or same-sex partner) of a British citizen or someone who was settled here;

a parent, grandparent or other dependent relative of a British citizen or someone who has settled here (under paragraph 317 of the Immigration Rules);

a retired person of independent means;

a European national or the non-European family member of a European national, making an application under the Free Movement of Persons provisions (not based on the Immigration Rules);

a Turkish businessperson under the European Community Association Agreement (ECAA) with Turkey;

someone who has spent five years in the UK with permission to stay as a refugee;

someone who has spent six years in the UK with discretionary leave;

someone who has spent four years in the UK with exceptional leave to remain;

someone who has spent five years in the UK with humanitarian protection; or

a dependent child of someone in an employment category that preceding the points-based system (listed in paragraphs 128-193 of the Immigration Rules, excluding paragraphs 135I-135K) or of someone who is here as a businessman, self-employed person, investor, writer, composer or artist (paragraphs 200-239 of the Immigration Rules). This includes children who are 18 or over when they apply.

However, you will need to demonstrate your knowledge of language and life in the UK if you later apply for British citizenship, unless you are exempt for other reasons. For more information, see the Citizenship section.

If you are applying for settlement in one of the categories above, you should ensure that you meet the requirements for that category and can provide documentary evidence to support your application. The application form for your settlement category lists the evidence you must provide.

All the best

Raymond

OK firstly I stand corrected BULATS was added to the list in late 2011 - I apologise for my error.

However click your link provided and then the link on that page titled

New list of approved English tests

As I stated above the list comprises of KET, PET, FCE, CAE, CPE, etc etc (and also now includes TOEFL and TOEIC)

With the addition of TOEFL IBT to the list I would add this to my recommendation, but it is much more expensive.

I think you are possibly confusing test providers with test centres, the test provider is the examinations board eg Cambridge, Oxford, etc. the test centre is any location (including online for IBT) that has been certified by the test provider. The test provider is certainly approved by the UKBA and shown on the list, but the test centre certainly is NOT. There are quite a few TOEFL IBT test centres in Thailand and a few other exam centres. In fact any school can do TOEFL IBT tests by getting special permission from the exam board.

However, many thanks SamSingSong for reading my post, taking the time to point out my error and adding the links. It makes my day to be show an error in any information I give to people as that way I am constantly learning myself and won't do it twice. Have a great day.

Raymond

Ok, this is not a simple question to answer....

Logically and according to all the rules you do not need to show any income into Thailand for the months you are not here, however....

1) The monthly income assertion is not what it is titled, in fact it is an annual income assertion; so if you have said and got confirmed that you have 65k a month income, you are actually asserting to an 800K a year income, you could be deemed to have failed on the annual amount if you are not here for some months. Add up the months you are actually in Thailand and if they are above 800k for the year based on your quoted monthly income no problem. This has nothing to do with money actually brought into the kingdom or placed in a bank account. Just mathematics, where dividing an annual amount by twelve does NOT reduce the overall requirement.

2) Even if you have a problem with the above you will likely be able to talk around it as long as you have no dependants, property or vehicles in Thailand. If you do then be prepared for a lengthy discussion with an unpredictable result.

3) If you fall into the last category, where you have "things" here and have only asserted to 65k a month then my advice would be play safe and deposit the money anyway if you can possibly do so.

Hope this helps,

Raymond J Edwards

Sorry but although this information is good I think you may be misleading people without actually meaning to.

The following tests are accepted and there is no such thing as an approved by the UK government testing centre:

KET at A2

IELTS at B1

and these at B1-C2

PET

FCE

CAE

CPE

BEC

ILEC

ICFE

It is interesting to note that BULATS is not on the list of acceptable tests, but is sometimes accepted as above the level of most of the others.

Any centre approved by the examining board (mainly Cambridge) in Thailand can conduct the test.

If the qualification is of a lower order then it will be required for her to do a "Life in the UK" test later in England before her status is confirmed.

Hope this helps,

Raymond J Edwards