PBob

The truth is worse, Thailand is just not that important to the USA.

They need to complete the submarine deal otherwise the money spent on the submarine uniform patches will hwve been wasted.

Should be fun, SIM in Mrs name, the bank uses christian name and surname for savings accounts, christian name and middle name for credit card.

Hit the Talat Thai fish market yesterday as do not plan to go out this weekend due to polution and traffic (events at Thammasat University and Dhamakaya). Yesterday fish (Snapper), chips and mushy peas, today baked Black Pomfret, potato salad and a green salad. Steer clear of Talat Thai this week traffic only gets worse in the run up to Chinese new year.

So with the Chinese population 4X that of the USA if they increase per capita CO2 emissions to that of the USA they will be over 50% of world emissions.

In the UK you can join any organiaation/religion/club you like and chose to follow their rukes/law, provided they do not break UK law. Sharia courts are no different to the long established Jewish courts that deal with mainly family matters. If you do not want to be bound by its decision you do not need to be.

Many organisations have similar bodies to handle civil matters between their members. Members agree to abide by the decisions being made, they are not enforcable in UK law, unless covered by a contract. Besides Moslems, some Jewish and Chritian organisations have similar 'Courts'. Also do not forget Masonic organisations and golf clubs.

Flaunting it is very big here, even if you have not got it. The new car kept on a red number plate for months. The multiple gold chains with designer bags and top of the range phones. Debt keeps the merry-go-round turning. Currently flaunting it in Starbucks Reserve @ OneSiam with coffee and a egg butty.

It was over 12 years ago but I got my first Thai bank account by having my brother-in- law vouch for me. We were in his local branch of Krungsri and he mentioned to the assistant manager that none of the banks in a big mall would open an account for me. A little while later I left with a pass book and ATM card. Odd thing was we met the assistant manager in a mall a couple of years later and they asked us how we opened the account because their sisters Scottish husband needed one for retirement. So things may have changed.

Both my wife and I have kept our existing Natwest accounts and they know we live in Thailand. They would not send new back cards to Thailand until a couple of years ago. Ulster Bank insisted that my wife close her account and would not transfer the balance to any other bank in the group. They changed their mind after a complaint and paid compensation for the poor service.

I keep seeing this guy at various shows. He keeps local bees and his has a variety of honey, mostly good but some are challenging. Often at the monthly fair at the agriculture museum in Pathumthani but not always and not the full display.

The bank said it is a phased roll out, that means that they are not doing everyone at once. My wife is still happily spending on the okd version.

Fired up the Krungsri app today to pay the credit card and it just hung, yelliow screen with Krungsri logo in the middle. My wife had no problem with the app on her phone accessing her accounts. Tried for about an hour, rebooting the phone etc before I uninstalled and reinstalled the app. Started the app and entered account and identity details to get a popup message in English to go to the branch and digitally validate identity. So I popped into the branch and let them sort it out, you will need your passport, cards and passbook. Only non-Thais need to do this the validation for Thais comes from the information the government already has. It is a phased roll out of the new version so beware that you may be in Nakhon Nowhere at midnight with no means of paying for sonething.

Forgot to mention do not rely on the Thai government not knowing about you. They are getting very good at pulling information together about you. Shocked at the information held about my wife in the 'Tang Rat' appication, driving licence, insurance, medical, financial etc

This years tax rules will only become clear when some people are processed by their local tax office. I expect to see posts here next year from people saying... 1. They filed and no problem or it was a nightmare. 2. They did not file and were audited or not audited. 3. DTA meant that no Thai tax due or additional Thai tax was payable. UK example: you take a lump sum from your SIPP of which 25% is tax free would Thailand want to tax this if transferred here? Remember TIT you plqce your bet and spun the wheel