MrMuddle

I deal with Phitsanulok Immigration office too, much the same to report as Vatman, very impressive service, polite, helpful staff, in and out in next to no time!

PS Vatman, next time you go, it's worth a look in the new Robinsons Shopping Mall, there's a supermarket there with a fair selection of farang food !

We've been into our local branch today, and came away more confused than when we went in. We had bought our receiver, many years ago, and after reading comments on here, about exchanging new for old, (at a cost), I took it with us. At first they told us that could not sell us a new receiver, as they had none in stock, but would have stock in three days. We could however rent one, but had to pay 6 months deposit (9000 Baht), first. We decided to wait the three days. Then they discovered they did have some receivers for sale, at 3900 Baht.

We decided to buy one, as we were told to rent a receiver box was 1500 baht a month, with Gold package subscription fees of 1400 baht, on top of that. We asked to have the HD channels included, (extra cost 290 baht), and also the BBC package of Entertainment & CBBC, (a further 170 baht). after the True shop got in touch with whoever runs this joke of a company, we were told that the HD channels and BBC packages were only available to customers who rented their receivers - I thought the purpose of running a business was to make money, but it seems True can afford to turn my money away.

After I had stopped banging my head on the wall, we bought the receiver, but with only the Gold package as a subscription. It took the girls in the shop, (there was seven of them, and we were the only customers, apart from a couple of folks paying bills), over two hours to sort this out for us !

I have been a customer of this company, and UBC before it, for 12 years or so. I cannot understand why they differentiate between customers who rent their receivers, and those who buy them.

It seems they have no idea of how to treat loyal customers. Frankly I am amazed that any Thai people can afford to pay a monthly rental of 1500 baht, with additional package costs for whichever service they subscribe to, on top of that. Ridiculous way to run a business.

The real high society will go to great lengths to ensure that they do not make the list. The last thing one wants to do is to draw attention to oneself. Until one is harrassed by charities and the parade of people looking for handouts, donatons, support etc., it is difficult to appreciate. As well, one does not need to attract kidnappers and extortionists.

When I was in school, one of my classmates came from a billionaire Hong Kong family. They led a very low key public life. The father was a big supporter of philanthropy, but did it discreetly. There was also another kid. He came from some old German aristocratic family and made sure everyone knew about it. His home was eventually foreclosed by the bank(s) and all of their leased and financed cars were taken away. Chinese kid went to summer camp with me and he lived in a tent and suffered mosquitos and balck flies like the rest of us. The hairlipped aristocrat spent the summers on his daddy's boat in the mediteranean or at their villa in the south of France. He made sure we knew how "rich" he was. Fast forward a couple decades, the Hong Kong Kid is still married to his wife, is a quiet businessman and seems to be following in his father's footsteps. The aristocratic kid has been in and out of rehab, has had a messy divorce and is a royal mess. I know who is high society.

From the above

"The real high society will go to great lengths to ensure that they do not make the list."

No, I'm not on the list either !

So Jayman, share the joy, what are the ingredients & method ?

I guess that the keyword is "torrent"...

correct.. torrents have all the content you could ever want in very HD quality all out there free for the taking. No sat dishes or program guides required. I use a NMT that I tell it what I like to watch and it monitors the schedules and as soon as the shows air they are downloaded and wait for me to press play on my TV. Stuff that TRUE would never carry nor any of these other asian sats. It really all depends what you want to watch. I don't watch sports as it does nothing for me to see men running around playing grab ass.

What do you want to watch today?

http://eztv.it/

http://www.bt-chat.com/

http://www.seventorrents.com/

oh cool.. just noticed that Breaking bad season just started Sunday night in US and now the new episode in HD has already been downloaded and is waiting for me to press play. And Weeds... who doesn't like weeds?

How do you keep your downloads per month to under 5GB ? Or is there an unlimited download package in Thailand I'm unaware of ?

I've had True visions for 11 years, was with UBC before, I pay my bill every month and now can only get the basic channels NOT the Gold package I'm paying for. My receiver is a Samart DSTV unit, does anyone know if these are now blocked ? We'll be giving them hell in Phetchabun tomorrow, that's for sure. Doesn't the Thai government get involved in cases where a company screws it's customers like this ? Absolutely disgraceful way to run a company, and a country !

ok boys i except your point,

but it still pisses me off,,

we cant all be happy,

jake

I would rather be a man like you that objected to women being casually abused and disrespected than be them

I frequent a bar in Chiang Mai where a few of the staff are refugees from Loi Kroh road, they've been there, done it, got the T-shirt and got out before they were consumed by the monster.

Women take a massive, massive step in their psyche when they go down that road, I believe the women that have the nous and strength to turn around and walk back up the road deserve respect

Guys that treat women like second class citizens are saying more about themselves than they will ever know.

From the above

"Guys that treat women like second class citizens are saying more about themselves than they will ever know."

It's only July, but that would be my nomination for TV quote of the year. Well said Sir.

I think when you wai you should feel your wai to be sincere in paying your respects physically, mentally and spiritually towards someone.

I don't feel this way when I go to a gogo bar or beer bar.

And beleive me, I see Farang doing it every single time I go for a massage or have a couple beers at the bar.

Have I got this right, you frequent go-go bars and beer bars, and are writing on Thai Visa to correct other poster's moral etiquette?

You must have a wonderful sun tan, living in your house made of glass.

Saturday morning kids cinema, the ABC minors, if it was your birthday you could go up on stage and get a prize.....one kid went, and the fella giving out the gifts asked him, "Weren't you here last week ?", "No, that was my twin brother", was the reply.

Was the nature magazine Spick and Span ?

Dixon of Dock Green, another of my Dad's favourites, was a must see in our house, Saturday was the Wrestling, followed by tea, then all tidied up in time for Dixon. It's available on DVD now !

Wasn't that followed by the Black & White Minstrel show ?

Very Best wishes for a speedy recovery, Your Majesty.

Forgot - bananas sliced, on wholemeal toast, an excellent way to start the day.

Sorry if this is a bit vague !

I read somewhere years ago, that UNICEF or the WHO had done surveys, and it was found that children who had bananas for breakfast, and at lunch time concentrated better, and got higher exams results than children who didn't have bananas.

Bill, I can remember our junior school collecting the milk bottle tops, to pay for guide dogs for the Blind. I can't recall when the collecting stopped, (we used to bring them from home, and from neighbours and family, as well) - probably when the government stopped giving kids free school milk.

A personal question - did you wear winkle pickers or brothel creepers to work ?

SAF and Joey Barton....I'd love to see that.

Can't really imagine that, but would be funny. Barton will probably have a spell in the Thai Premier League before that happens.

Didn't Barton punch a kid in Thailand, when he was with Everton ?

Blatter's now come out with some drivel about how he knew all about it, but it wasn't illegal at the time !

Personally I think corruption is still rife at FIFA, it's the only possible explanation of why Qatar and Russia got the World Cup Finals.

EPL League

MrBoJangles

Jockstar

LeungKen

smokie36

jackndanny

oldgit

MrMuddle

MrMuddle for the main one please.

Majic, you were lucky, three quid a week ? My first wage as an apprentice was 2 Pounds, 2 Shillings, and 10 Pence ha'penny.....though why the ha'penny I have no idea!

But it went a long way, as the young 'un in the factory, I had to make the tea, and do the morning bacon sandwich run to the local greasy spoon, I used to make more in tips than I did wages.

I was lucky, I got my tranny from my older brother, who worked on the docks........it fell off the back of a ship.

Is it just me, or was life more fun back then ?

Sorry forgot - our pirate station was Radio Scarborough 270.

My favourite radio in the 60s was the Sunday afternoon comedy shows. Jimmy Clitheroe, Round The Horne, Al Read.

In our house it was Sunday dinner (not lunch if you're from the northern working classes), , spent listening to 2 or 3 way Family Favourites, the Billy Cotton bandshow, (my dad's favourite), then up stairs to listen to my tranny* for the comedy shows.

For non-Brits :

* tranny - abbreviation of transistor radio, NOT a Gentleman who likes to dress up as a Lady - those chaps on Little Britain were joking !!

That's an easy one Tropo,

When the sun rises, JT's assistant Renfield, prepares a cup of hot chocolate, and opens his master's coffin......

Surely interest rates and the taxes one pays on interest on them are intertwined? I for one, am grateful for the advice I've received in regard to taxes, on this topic. I thought the whole object of the exercise on TV was for ex-pats to help out other ex-pats in regard to problems in Thailand?

If you are so poor that you have to use that money, maybe it's time for you to go home?

You're joking right? Immigration officers LIKE to see spending on the account. That's our function. To spend.

It would be time to go home IF you are unable to top up the account for the upcoming extensions.

Sorry have to disagree with you on this one. the lady immigration officer I saw was so impressed I didn't need to use the 800K, she gave me the old "sweet eyes" look ! I kid you not!

I'm fortunate enough to be in the same position as Darrel, but this idea seems good to me. It's hard enough remembering to send in the 90 day reports on time, so for people to have to manage bank deposits 9 months after the extension, it must be well nigh impossible. Good luck with this, I can't see any good reason not to do it.

Chiang Mai, I have both types of accounts, but I'll be definitely looking at reclaiming the tax on my fixed deposit account. I'll also be transferring the majority of other bank deposits into fixed term accounts, now that i know i can get tax free interest on them, thanks for the help.

Ferangled, while I agree with most of your comment, i was under the impression that the True receivers were rented, not free. I bought one many years ago, and I'm currently looking to replace it.