NoshowJones

Yes I think you are right, my bank is up country. If it is true then there is no limit to how banks in this country steal from us. Taking 1,600 is nothing more than theft.

I know where you are, my agent takes me to a Bangkok Bank on the road to Jomtien, I think it is Second Road. The different agents will use different branches of the Bangkok Bank and probably other banks too.

Yes, it looks like another way for the banks to make money from you, it never ends.

No, not opening a bank account, I already have one in my own province, when I renewed the agent asked me for it at the bank, so I checked with another agent and they confirmed it. I suppose I may have misunderstood and it is only a one off thing. I hope so.

This is a new scam, probably by the bank, it is now paid at every renewal over and above your normal fee, all the agents are doing it now including Mannareet.

I am a teetotaller, but I do not think alcohol should be banned as long as it is used sensibly, though I would come down hard on those who are found to be drunk and incapable in public.

So that means that me, already being on retirement extensions, can go to Manareet when my present ext'ns finish and start paying 12,000Bt annually plus 1,600Bt bank charge from the beginning?

I am just back from the gold shops in Chinatown, I tried 4 of them, and each one refused to accept payment through my Bangkok Bank app, I went to a Bangkok Bank to draw out over 200,000 Bt. They wanted me to pay 280Bt for this, I know that there is a charge for drawing money out of province, but that is just taking the p!ss. Same as being charged over 200Bt for drawing cash with a UK debit card which started some years ago. I just refused to do it.

Yes! If you are doing it the way some say is illegal but isn't.

Good point. It is not always their fault the way they were born, and in most cases with very little common sense, I just passed three small children this morning, the oldest one who was driving no more than 12 years old. This is not uncommon here up country with stupid parents giving the keys of their motorbikes to their young children.

The best driving I ever came across was in America.

As safe driving requires lots of common sense, Thai drivers and motorbike riders will always be at the bottom of the pile.

The annual fee of 12,500bt is correct, but I stand to be corrected here, don't you first pay 26,000bt for 15 months then go on to the annual fee of 12,500bt for every year after that?

That's a great help, I should not have a problem finding a suitable gold shop in Chinatown. Thanks.

When buying gold at Chinatown, can you pay by Bangkok bank app, or does it have to be cash?

Are these vans insured, will the injured still have to pay their hospital bills?

If I buy gold at one of the gold shops in Chinatown, must I pay in cash only as in Pattaya? What about my bank app? Anyone recommend any special one? Thanks.

If I die before my wife, does she automatically inherit my motorbike. It is in my name and my wife is obviously my next of kin, so do I need to do anything? Obviously her name would need to go into the green book.

Yes there is a BigC and a Lotus, Lotus has most of the other shops, so I will try there. Thanks.

"If you don't know the rules in a country you visit, learn them" I'm not interested in learning anyone's rules, there is such a thing as common sense, but only if it is genuine. If you don't like anyone's rules or think they are unfair, just try and work you way around them, or just ignore them. I have lived that way all my life and have no criminal record or been in any serious trouble.

When I first came to Thailand I was up in court, nothing to do with any criminality. I won my case, then a fortnight later, my lawyer emailed my and told me the judge had changed her mind, he then only charged me half his fee.

Can anyone tell me where the AIS shop is in Phichit? Thanks.

A question here. My motorbike is in my name, I have the green book, if I die before her, does she as my next of kin inherit it? Or is there more to it?

How many ordinary people can afford to lose even a days pay? Would the people who make these stupid rules be prepared to forfeit one days pay? I think we know the answer to that.

"Lazarda's suppliers are marginally more trustworthy". ??????????