agogohome

Went today to Patong Immigration for my 90 day report. In and out in 4 minutes. Service with a smile and no fees requested. All new staff. Excellent service. Very busy as well but well organized compared to previous visits.

That's good to hear. I wish the same could be said for the office in Phuket town. It took me the best part of 2 hours to do my reporting last month. The new office downlstairs is an overcrowded shambles - completely unorganised with the ticket system not working properly. I joined a long queue of people, only to find it eventually lead to the photo copy counter.

Maybe they saw you struggling as there is now a new ticket machine for all different task and the copy counter is moved outside of the office.

Me... and the other 100+ lost souls milling around, not knowing where to go - or who to ask. Hate the damn place! LOL

Went today to Patong Immigration for my 90 day report. In and out in 4 minutes. Service with a smile and no fees requested. All new staff. Excellent service. Very busy as well but well organized compared to previous visits.

That's good to hear. I wish the same could be said for the office in Phuket town. It took me the best part of 2 hours to do my reporting last month. The new office downlstairs is an overcrowded shambles - completely unorganised with the ticket system not working properly. I joined a long queue of people, only to find it eventually lead to the photo copy counter.

Your right, do not need it but just the feeling that I have house book same my wife and children. I only want to apply because I was there anyway.

I agree entirely - it would be nice to know that you're in the system and accepted as part of a Thai family. My experience is from a close neighbour and friend that's got one. He hasn't found a single use for it yet - which put me off bothering. For your amusement, it cost him a genuine Manchester United T' shirt, to get it. LOL

Phuket expats, tourists called to report corrupt officials

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) Phuket office announced today that foreign expats and tourists in Phuket can report cases of corruption to its officers.

“We are encouraging all foreigners on the island to come forward with any allegations of corruption involving local government officials,” said Tawichat Nillakan of the NACC Phuket office.

Complaints can be lodged at the NACC office at Provincial Hall from November 5-7, between 9am and 4pm.

http://www.thephuketforum.net/General-News-13/Phuket-expats-tourists-called-to-report-corrupt-officials-38327-n.html

There's even a map of how to get there.

Dämn! I went right past it twice today!

There is such a simple solution to this problem, but it will never be implemented.

If Immigration HQ in Bangkok would provide signage (in Thai and English) with each service/document and the corresponding cost (including those with no charge), and require that these signs be displayed in a prominent area of each office, the problem would all but disappear. Offices with no signage could be reported to HQ.

I wouldn't be surprised if a local office would "update" the rates on the signs. To counter this, an image of the official signs/rates could be posted on Immigration's website, and any deviations from the official signage/rates could be reported to HQ as well.

Such a simple solution - but will never happen.

All immigration offices used to have large boards on their walls, with the schedule of fees for each serrvice clearly displayed (in Thai & English). It's obvious to anyone why they've been removed over the years!

Wife and I was on Phuket town Amphur to get a new ID and passport and no problem. Now when I was there I also ask for a yellow book. Even have all the paper ready I was told the “big person” want 5000 baht to sign the paper. Has anyone in TV lately experience to make this 'tabien baan book. I was told I have non chance whatever to get this book if not pay 5000. Is this the “price” or is it radical more up now?

Can I suggest you get the name of the 'big person' and take it to the Damrongtham Centre at City Hall. I can't remember now, but I think there's no charge for the yellow book - other than the usual 20 baht service charge. Someone can correct me, if I'm wrong!

The problem I cannot go to Damrongtham and put my Phuket stay in risk. As farang it can be difficult for you to stay in Phuket especially if you are tied up with Business, property, family etc. Believe me, I know one farang who had to leave Phuket with business, family etc. to other part of Thailand. I don't mind to pay 5000 if goes to the public box but not to one corrupt public servant "big" person. I live here many years already without the yellow book but just like to know the if someone TV have obtain the book recently.

Out of interest, can I ask why you want the yellow book? I've never found any practical use for it! They're not accepted as proof of address for buying a new, or 2nd hand vehicle - you still need a letter from immigration. (on Phuket....before someone kicks off they've done it elsewhere!).

Wife and I was on Phuket town Amphur to get a new ID and passport and no problem. Now when I was there I also ask for a yellow book. Even have all the paper ready I was told the “big person” want 5000 baht to sign the paper. Has anyone in TV lately experience to make this 'tabien baan book. I was told I have non chance whatever to get this book if not pay 5000. Is this the “price” or is it radical more up now?

Can I suggest you get the name of the 'big person' and take it to the Damrongtham Centre at City Hall. I can't remember now, but I think there's no charge for the yellow book - other than the usual 20 baht service charge. Someone can correct me, if I'm wrong!

The news in Aus mentioned some 23 ticket holders failed to make it on this plane.

Hard to believe we are here reading of yet another plane crash. Just tragic.

Link please ? 23 seems like a lot of people......

I believe this is incorrect. The passenger manifest put online ( but now delted?) listed 3 "no shows", all from one (very luck) family

No, I've seen the passenger list on line, and it clearly shows 23 'no shows'. Roughly 50/50 male/female passengers and crew.

Also a new story running in PW

Do you have a link to the story? I can't find it.

There are now two stories running on the Phuket Gazette: http://www.phuketgazette.net/articles/articles/get_article_detail/37174 and http://www.phuketgazette.net/articles/articles/get_article_detail/37149

Please everyone, if you've been charged, leave a comment so the Phuket Gazette can present evidence in the event that allegations continue to be denied.

Dream on

I am going to let you into a little secret

It not just Phuket immigration who are like this but the whole establishment in Thailand

From the top until the bottom ...

It also once pissed me off but I just learned to go with the flow as it's better for my blood pressure

I'm aware of that! .... I've never paid a single penny in the 17 years I've lived here, and if everyone else refused to, the whole issue would go away.

as soon as someone with a camera get this on tape it will stop for a while, why don't you record it yourself?

Because there are signs saying no photography! Ever noticed the lack of CCTV cameras (in the Phuket office)? The police are always asking business and house owners to install them, yet they don't on their own premises. LOL

I recollect reading foreign teachers were going to be asked to retire at 65. That was about 2 years ago. Anyone know more?

49.1 baht to gbp today,will be keeping an eye on the situation in the next few days,could be worth cashing 10,000gbp soon.

Long way to go yet. I got 91 Baht/GBP when I moved here :-)

If it were a DNS issue on True's side, I think they'd have received thousands of complaints by now.

And your point is? Obviously the OP hasn't called True yet.

Seriously, I support many, many, many True DSL installs and have seen similar issues. We now always run Google DNS, and haven't had any reports of issues over the past few days.

Obviously it's line, router or DNS issue, based on what little detail the OP has provided so far. Addressing the DNS issue is the simplest one to eliminate.

Just stating the obvious. If it's a DNS issue on thier (True's) side, it won't be affecting just one person.

Loma, I tried that, and that's what I thought too.. Didn't seem to help.

but you said in your first post,

"I also can't login to the HTTP of the router either"

which seems at odds?

You'll need to log in to the router in order to re-configure it to use another DNS server(s).

You have a PC? Windows? 7?

Do you have DSL? A phone? Any weird noises on the line? How are your line stats?

I'd also re-boot everything and clear caches. I'd also swap in a known good router. Then maybe ring True.

But again, this sounds like a DNS issue on True's side.

If it were a DNS issue on True's side, I think they'd have received thousands of complaints by now.

I have a couple of BIB friends. I know for a fact the only reason they take pics of passports, IDs, or anything for that matter is so they can post it online to prove to their superiors they are actually working.....or whatever it is they call it. Their way of thinking is "no photo, no proof". I have never seen them do anything inappropriate or with bad intentions with photos of farangs.

This is correct, every immigration office has to do some "special" project every few weeks.

They will make pictures for their record and to show to HQ that they performed those projects.

The projects can be like helping out Farangs with their visas who are in hospital or passport checks at curtain areas etc.

Yep. Every time we've been burgled, or had a gun fired at the house, the police have asked for a photo of me posing with an officer.

Does it work with proxy server on VPN?

actually to get the lower price you need to have a Macro card and show it when they start to go through your cart, no charge for it though.

Same as for special offers in Big C, Tesco, Big One .....

Makro where ? BKK ?

do they ask for any sort of identification nowadays ?

Last time I went to Makro must have been in 2006 or so. no membership required, but I had to fill some form.

Do they deliver if spending for a certain amount ?

All Makros throughout Thailand are the same, as far as I know. You do need a Makro membership card to shop there. As long as I can remember (at least back to the late 90's) you always needed a Makro membership card to shop there. However, the membership card is very easy to get. Once you have one, you can shop at any Makro in Thailand. I've never seen Makro deliver anything, no matter how much you buy. But I'm not 100% certain since I've never inquired about deliveries. I've bought in excess of 30,000 baht at times and have never been been offered delivery. And the previous statement about Makro not providing plastic bags is true. You must either bring your own bags or just simpy throw everything in you car or pickup. Not a big deal!

Back in the last century. LOL

Load of bullocks if you ask me

Thank you for your assistance and advice. If I can get an ETD then everything should be ok apart from the costs. I'll find out Monday if I the FCO will be able to send a new passport to the Philippines. They should as they use couriers but we shall find out soon. The passport application form does allow for a delivery address different to the normal residential address so maybe that should be ok. Will let you know. Thanks again.

Form C1 has a separate space to enter details of the delivery address, if different from your residential one. You might also need to get the form countersigned by someone that's known you for a couple of years. Then it's a trip to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok to advise them of the missing visa and work permit. What a nightmare :-)

http://showroom.one2car.com/carDetail.aspx?car_id=c06550057

4 Million Baht... I believe MRO has one. Lovely cars indeed, I'm trying to sell my older Range Rover so I can get one !...

About the same price as Mini Cooper then. LOL

All we have to do is wait for debt level of the government to rise too rapidly ( as it is ) and the baht will lose ground as sure as eggs are eggs, no need to panic.

You're joking of course, arn't you? Debt? What debt, the Thai Government have so much spare cash they hardly know what to do with it. Loans from other countries are already being paid back early.

The GBP to Baht exchange rate was 36-37 for more than 20 years (25 to US$). All it's doing now is heading back where it was before the financial crash of 97.