zeekgarcia

On 11/9/2023 at 1:35 PM, bamnutsak said:

Fairly easy to compare...

 

Get a quote from WISE  https://wise.com/us/send-money/send-money-to-thailand

 

500 USD = 17,573.20

 

 

 

Compare it to the Visa rate (I assume you are using a Visa debit card, if not compare to MC)  https://usa.visa.com/support/consumer/travel-support/exchange-rate-calculator.html

 

17573.20 THB = 496.137279 USD

 

 

 

you can add in the local fee of 150 ~ 220 THB, and then rebate it.

 

 

WISE allows for larger transfers, your card may have a transaction or daily limit.

 

WISE can be used to ret ext/inc; ATM withdrawals cannot.

 

Thanks so much for this, it confirms that I compared it correctly which shows wise is more expensive if you have a fee free debit card that rebates all atm fees.

I see a lot of people saying they use wise and I am trying to see if it is better to use than using a visa or mastercard no fee US debit card that refunds atm fees, no over the counter withdraw fees etc?

Do you get better exchange rates than using a visa or mastercard no fee US debit card that refunds atm fees, no over the counter withdraw fees?

Thanks for any info you share

Also there are some NGO's in bangkok, chiang mai and maybe in some other places around the country that have Thai psychiatrist, counselors or foreigners that speak Thai that can help. 

Several public hospitals have mental health departments, which the health care cost is at least partially, if not fully covered under the Thai social insurance program.

According to what you wrote, you probably need to make your personal safety the most important thing right now. And let this direct all of your steps.

1. Probably the best & safest thing for you to do is move out now in a way where she and anyone she knows will not know where you moved to.

For now just get a temporary place to stay and if you have a lot of stuff, find somewhere safe to store it for now.

When you leave take all the documents that show you paid for the land, paid to get the house built and that you have a usufruct. (All bank transfer documents, receipts etc) And take every thing else that is important to you and every thing that you can show you paid for, and take all these at the same time.

It will probably be best to move when she is not there.

2. Find a recommended English speaking lawyer that you can understand.

Getting a lawyer should show her that you are not just going to give her everything.

Someone earlier said they know of a lawyer that has helped them with a similar situation.

3A. Either have your English speaking lawyer contact her and try to get a settlement worked out, with her either paying you for your half of the house or agreeing to sell it with the lawyer overseeing the sell.

And it will be best to sell the house as fast as you can, even at a low price so that you can get what you can and get on with your life.

Or

3B. Show your lawyer all the documents, receipts, and the usufruct, and ask them do these documents show that you are the owner of the house?

If yes, ask the lawyer if there is some type of sign that can be put on all the doors of the house that says in Thai – Everyone must receive permission from your lawyer or yourself before they enter the property.

If you can do this, ask the lawyer to get the police or someone they know to put these legal notices up and send you pictures.

Then ask the lawyer that even though you have moved out, can you legally do anything you want with the house?

If yes, there may be a scrap/recycle businesses in your area that will pay you some money for the roof materials, all the steal and even pay you to be able to destroy the house, so they can sell the concrete and brick rubble for land fill.

If you cannot find a scrap/recycle businesses in your area that will pay you, you could probably find someone you can pay to remove the house.

Remember your personal safety is always your most important thing.

30 minutes ago, sometimewoodworker said:

We have 3 84” helicopter fans and 6 other ceiling fans. They are all MrKen and are virtually silent and effective to keep the rooms air in motion. There are about 3 floor standing fans for spot use they are much more noisy and often get in the way.

 

Having assembled and fitted all the ceiling fans your wife’s worries are completely groundless, none of the fan blades have any chance of coming off and none of them need to be on a high enough speed to be dangerous, not to mention that any fan blade that was not secure would immediately be noticeably as the fan would no longer be balanced.

 

the smaller fans don’t use metal blades

Does the light on these fans produce enough light for the room or are the lights on these fans weak?

Anyone use Dr Rak/Rat ENT Eye clinic on Chang Puak Rd? 

On 6/22/2021 at 6:06 PM, canthai55 said:

You do not want an optician -

You want an optomotrist or ophthalmologist - 

An optometrist is an eye doctor that can examine, diagnose, and treat your eyes. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who can perform medical and surgical interventions for eye conditions. An optician is a professional who can help fit eyeglasses, contact lenses, and other vision-correcting devices

 

Do you have an optometrist to recommend?

On 7/28/2021 at 4:37 PM, CALSinCM said:

I'm going with Zenni this time around.  Even in the US when I had a refraction the optician would usher you into their own shop with their own selection of frames and their own prices for lenses.  I've been blind all my life so I never questioned that practice.  Then one day I just didn't see a set of frames I liked at my optician and the lens prices finally got high enough that I wanted to shop around and compare. So I asked for my prescription and thanked the doctor.   And then I found the best set of frames I've ever had in my life and the lens where less expensive but good quality.  Why throw money away?
Since coming to Thailand I've been tossed back into that same model.  Go to most optical shops and ask for just a refraction and a piece of paper with a prescription and they won't do it. If you don't purchase from them at their prices then they won't do it.  In the US they have to.  They can't force you to purchase their frames and lens when you paid for a refraction.   Here in Thailand?  Consumer protection isn't a strong point in Thailand. 
So this time around I just to try Zenni.

If you ordered glasses from Zenni, are you pleased? Thanks

On 7/27/2021 at 7:43 PM, CALSinCM said:

which I plan to get filled by a US optician on the Internet for a fraction of the cost. 

Were you successful in this? 

If so, what US optician did you use?

Thanks

On 11/16/2022 at 2:14 PM, jaywalker2 said:

My girlfriend contacted the one we went to before and she said it's still in business in Lat Prao between sois 61 and 63. So the government shops haven't closed just the one she used to use. Come to think of it, I might go and have a new pair made.

Can you paste the name of this in Thai or the search term in Thai how one could find one of these in Chiang Mai and other areas of Thailand?

On 5/14/2022 at 2:36 PM, FolkGuitar said:

Dr. Paradee, my ophthalmologist at Sri Phat Medical Center (who has been treating me well for three years; operations and follow-ups) recommended that I visit the optometrist who had recently left the Medical Center to open her own business. I can't remember her name, but her shop is located 50m on the right down Ratvithi Soi 1 off Moon Muang Rd.

If you can read Thai, here's a pic of the front of the shop, including phone numbers.

She is 'Old School.' She uses 'try lenses' rather than that big bug-eye looking machine that never seems to get my numbers right! She, on the other hand, doesn't stop swapping lenses and moving axis until you can see the very best image.  Then she will offer to make your glasses and a price that beats all the chain shops!

On 12/11/2022 at 3:28 PM, Rotweiler said:

Her name is Khun Vannee.  The name of the clinic is Jaksu Patana.

It seems like this Dr clinic is only open on Saturday AM, does anyone know where she is during the week? 

Because most Drs here have daytime clinics at the hospitals here or they work at partner clinics. 

Any info about this Dr or a recommendation about another Eye Dr would be good. Thanks

Since we are so technologically advanced why hasn't anyone developed some tests that can be given to a person to see if they will have an allergic reaction to a vaccine before they get any vaccine.  In our day and time and with the data we have there could be common factors with people that have had an allergic reaction to any specific vaccine. And if so, they could screen a person to see if they have any of the factors ahead of time and warn them not to get a certain vaccine.

Anyone have any idea about this? 

On 5/31/2022 at 9:31 PM, JimmyJ said:

I strictly use ATM's for cash and withdraw from US banks.

 

There are a few US financial institutions which refund foreign ATM fees.

 

Costs me nothing to withdraw.

But the question is do the US banks have some back-office secret limit where if you start costing them a lot of money in regards to them refunding foreign atm fees, will they cut you off. 

So since a cash advance is free or at least cheaper for a US bank than them refunding foreign atm fees, why take chances?

1 hour ago, NorthernRyland said:

Americans should learn a lesson from this (I sure have). In "my" country there are entire areas I can't go to unless I speak Spanish or prefer their particular culture (even if I was welcomed which is debatable). Often times the cheaper areas outside of towns are now occupied by foreign cultures and kids have no cheap alternative to move out of their parents house. All of America is totally ghettoized like this now and it's one of the reasons I like to live in Thailand.

 

Here's a racial dot map of Chicago. This is how Thailand will look if they really opened the floodgates:

 

 

Thai's have it even better. They can come into America, buy houses, speculate on land and then go back to their home country and discriminate against Americans and not have to worry about the American following them back and doing the same here. How is this good for Americans?

 

So honestly they're right to limit foreign land ownership but our countries need to do the same to them. Maybe then we can come together and have some agreement to allowing land ownership but under some strict and equitable rules.

Countries should starting mirroring each other policies in regards to permanent residence or citizenship, buying land or a house or starting a business or working.

For example, since you are talking about the US, the US should use the same policies that Thailand uses for US citizens in regards to Thai people wanting to get permanent residence or citizenship in the US or wanting to buy land or a house or wanting to start a business, etc in the US.  

6 hours ago, Thechook said:

How many Pheu Thai party members own land abroad?

If they do, someone should publish a list of each property they own abroad and the value of each, since they are public officials. 

Also a list of how many of them have permanent residence or the citizenship of another country. 

On 5/31/2022 at 4:52 PM, Crazy Noobie said:

Maybe it is different for a Doctor. Here at the University , after you graduate, they assist the graduate on preparing to take the test and they aid in helping obtain a job with Bangkok Hospital. I know of two graduates (foreigner) that are now working at Bangkok Hospital. A Rep from Bangkok Hospital was here last month talking to some of us, about coming to work at one of their Hospitals in Thailand. Maybe they have something worked out with the Medical Council of Thailand. It is Thailand and not all of the rules pertain to everyone. 

Are these non thai citizen foreigners that you speak of asian or westerners?

On 6/1/2022 at 6:04 AM, Danderman123 said:

I thought that Lazada wallet was not available to Farangs.

No you can sign up

Can use Lazada and shopee wallets.

18 minutes ago, zeekgarcia said:

If a nurse gets their license from the medical council of Thailand, you need to check with them, because I know a foreigner meaning a non Thai citizen that was going to enroll in a medical dr program here and was told by the medical council of Thailand that they could not graduate and then take their test to get a license to be a doctor but they would have to go to another country and get a medical license there and then come back to Thailand with the medical license from the foreign country and then the medical council of Thailand would allow them to take the test get a license to be a medical dr here.

They told me this around two years ago. But if things have changed let me know and I will pass the word on.

22 minutes ago, Crazy Noobie said:

Yes and there is a high demand for foreigners that speak English and Thai. We checked with Bangkok Hospital. The only issue is, you would be paid just a little above what a Thai would be paid. The main requirement is to take the test and if you pass you would receive your license. 

If a nurse gets their license from the medical council of Thailand, you need to check with them, because I know a foreigner meaning a non Thai citizen that was going to enroll in a medical dr program here and was told by the medical council of Thailand that they could not graduate and then take their test to get a license to be a doctor but they would have to go to another country and get a medical license there and then come back to Thailand with the medical license from the foreign country and then the medical council of Thailand would allow them to take the test get a license to be a medical dr here.

Went to the same bank branch as my friend did, to try to do a cash advance there and they told me they were told to stop doing cash advances for people with a debit card but they can do them for credit cards.

So not sure if invidual bank branches are like franchises or not? 

Because this branch told me I can go to another branch and use a debit card for a cash advance but I cannot do it at this branch.

On 5/21/2022 at 4:46 AM, 4MyEgo said:

Cash advance with your foreign debit card for free, hmmm, sounds good, however from my understanding, banks usually charge a fee for the cash advance, as does the bank you are withdrawing the money from, e.g. ATM, and usually the exchange rate you are given is lower.

 

The above said, be interested to know which foreign debt card you are using and how you get to avoid paying any fees, sounds far too good to be true IMO.

See TallGuyJohninBKK post on May 21 after your post because he did a great job explaining the details.

On 5/21/2022 at 8:46 PM, FritsSikkink said:

There is no cash advance when using a debit card, it gets deducted straight away.

The banks call it a cash advance here even though your are using a debit card and it gets instantly deducted from your international bank account