sicky

Yes, I agree with two former posters.  Save yourself a lot of worry.  Things often don't go to plan in Thailand.  I have had disasterous treatment at Bumrungrad Hospital.  The doctor made an error which caused me complications, but when I formally raised the matter and presented evidence, the doctor lied about the events which took place.

Many thanks.  I have a non-B visa which does not expire until next year.  I am British.

One of the reasons for asking this is because I have had problems with Thai Airways check-in staff during the recent past, where they asked me a lot of questions, even though I showed them my non-B visa.  I switched to using Cathay Pacific and have never had a problem.  However, since my passport is close to expiry when I shall arrive in Thailand, I just wanted to get the matter straight.  Appreciate your help.

Can someone confirm, is the six month period calculated in terms of number of days, or a calendar date.  For example, if a foreign visitor's passport expires on 28 Jan 2018, what would be the last allowable date of entry?  Thanks.

Can anyone confirm, is there an address one provides within the UK passport renewal via Trendy & Co., and if so are any documents sent to the applicant's stated address?  I just ask because I'm in the process of moving, so if nothing is sent, presumbly this address is of no consequence?  Thanks.

Many thanks, yes that's an option.  I don't know what charging method is used by the UK passport authority though.  They won't physically have the applicant's debit card to swipe, so presumably it's an banking transaction.

I hope it's ok to bump this post, and perhaps simplify the question.  Essentially, I wondered if anyone applied and successfully paid for a UK passport renewal with the Bangkok Bank debit card, known as Be1st, as there appeared to be a number of earlier topics in regard to the use of Thai bank debit cards, although I didn't see anything in regard to Bangkok Bank's.  Thanks.

Just to add further, the problem is caused because the design allows unimpeded entry through the wing opening and subsequently into the cabin air circulatory system.  It isn't necessary for pests to eat away the plastic in order to gain access.  By contrast, the designers have made the windscreen cowl a very good fit against the bulkhead, but those who designed the inner wing section have omitted to do likewise -- perhaps another department!?  I noted that owners of various other Toyota models have found it necessary to improve the design - see attached from a pickup truck.  Sadly the main dealer is unable to compete with the ingenuity of many owners.

Just by way of update on this matter, as it may help others foolish enough to have purchased a Camry, as I have been.  The attached pictures show what I have had to do in order to resolve this weakness in the design of the Camry.  I suspect other Toyota vehicle are similar in any case.  I purchased some fine but strong aluminium mesh and hot-melt glued it into place.  In the second picture, you can see the square opening into the inner wing.  This is where the rats were getting into the plastic-covered housing at the base of the windscreen, which contains the wiper motor.

I have also removed the air blower assembly from inside the car, because the rat droppings had accumulated inside the blower ducting and the blower itself.  What I found was something that surprised me - it's in relation to the switchable function which either recirculates air within the cabin, or alternatively draws air externally.  I didn't realise that when the car is parked and the engine turned off, there is a flap which remains open to the outside air, if the console button to allow inflow of air from outside, is currently selected.  When you turn off the engine, this flap does not close for safety.  This means that once rodents gain access into the wiper motor housing, they can pass easily into the vehicle through the rectangular section in the first picture.  Rodents essentially have a complete free-run of the air ducting and cabin filter.  This is the reason why there was so much dirt inside my filter (picture 3).  Furthermore, even if this flap is in the closed position, the rats can still deposit excrement inside the opening, which only later then drops down into the blower motor, when then driver subsequently opens the recirculation flap next time.

The whole thing, in my view, is an abomination, full of inferior quality plastic and with no regard for the ease with which pests can gain access.  They have eaten-away parts of the plastic too, because the thickness of the plastic is almost like cardboard.  The opening into the inner wing is a big hole - we all know that some rats are very small and can therefore gain access through very small openings, but this design offers no prevention whatsoever.  The manufacturer has done nothing to deal with the reasonable likelihood of pests.

Notably, the local Toyota dealer has been replacing the vehicle's cabin filter on every single service visit, showing me the filter but has done nothing to help me to prevent the problem.  They do not use their initiative.  I think many other Toyota models are the same - the filter has the same part number for various other models.  Hope this helps!

I hope someone can clarify this please.  I noticed there was a past discussion regarding the suitability of other banks' cards for payment of the UK Passport Renewal fee and that the cards must be suitable for online payments, if they are to be used successfully for the purpose of the passport renewal.

I have a Bangkok Bank Be1st debit card with magnetic stripe.  I note that on the Bangkok Bank website, for the page which covers the Be1st card product, " You can also make secure online purchases using your Be1st Visa Debit card with Bualuang iPay which provides an extra level of security by using a password inquiry system – reducing the risk of someone fraudulently using your card to make online purchases. "

My feeling is that this indicates that online purchases can be made using this special password facility, and furthermore it would possibly appear to be incompatible with the method of charging used for British passport renewals.  Has anyone else used this card please?

It may be helpful to note that I have made a payment via eBay, using this card number and it appears to have been successful.  I have not specifically signed up for anything special with this card.  Thanks.

I have had a problem with rats getting into the air conditioning duct for some time on the Camry, effectively getting into the interior of the vehicle.  The Toyota dealer said every time that the filter had been saturated with rat excrement, and changed the filter, yet never bothered to do anything to prevent it happening.  They don't seem to question why something is happening and what can be done by way of prevention.

I removed the plastic cowl from the base of the windscreen and found the cause of the problem myself.  The first picture shows a large opening (black rectangle) which does not have any gauze protection - just a big gaping hole into the duct.  Although the windscreen cowl is well sealed around the edges, there is an opening on both the left and right sides of the bulkhead, which leads down beside the inner wings (see second picture, right side square opening).  The enables pests to gain access into the vehicle, because they have failed to provide any degree of protection over the holes.

The metalwork too is so light, it's almost like plastic.  It's quite shocking to see what quality you get.  This is what you get for your money with a Toyota!  Plastic everywhere.  The cost is THB 1.3m but you have to spend your own time covering these holes with metal gauze, given that there are unwanted pests almost everywhere.  Hope this helps anyone else with a similar problem.

Thanks very much to both for the replies.

I was thinking earlier today, that the Camry models - and of course many other vehicles too - remain current only a very brief period of time indeed, before they are replaced or updated in rather insignificant ways.  If we consider the Camry in UK, prior to the point at which it was withdrawn from the British market in the 1990s, that model had continued unchanged for many years.  By contrast, the local 2012 model which was obsoleted only quite recently, lasted no more than a couple of years or so, with its facelift model looking rather bland and with awkward styling.  I can't help but feel that Toyota revised the looks principally to create a new model, without it even being an improvement.  The current model looks so odd to me, that I feel the pre-2006 model now appears new and fresh again and looks very solid!

I have a Camry 2014 model.  I bought the car for its nice interior, though I do not like the body styling very much.  Toyota indicated that when this 2012 model was introduced, they had improved the suspension over the former, but frankly there is no discernable difference between this model and the 2007 model which I owned before, in terms of its road-holding.  The vehicles drive exactly the same and feel exactly the same, have the same limitations, and the same noises!  We don't have much choice in Thailand for quality cars at reasonable prices.

Thanks, appreciated.  Might I ask, for reference, what parts were purchased?

Thanks for the reply, but just to confirm the question again, I'm asking if the customer is able to purchase parts from Toyota's main dealers, in the same way that we do in the West, i.e. from the parts department.  Thanks.

Can anyone confirm that Toyota's main dealers supply vehicle parts to customers (outside warranty period), without insisting that the dealer fits them?  Thanks.

I have found from searching the web, a motor paint repair company near Rama 1 Road, called TS Motor, which appears to have been established for a long time.  Can anyone vouch for quality of work here?  I'm looking for a place that takes good care of the vehicle and keeps the interior clean etc.  Thanks very much.

แต่งงานกับผมไหมครับ would be the best thing to use.

Thank you.

Is there a proper or nice way to ask this question, as I understand from reading that the phrase แต่งงาน is colloquial, and therefore the question

คุณจะแต่งงานกับผมไหมครับ would seem not the best thing to ask.

I note that there is the more formal term สมรส. Would it be better to use that and how would I phrase it? Thanks.

Thanks for the replies. I recall now in fact, that someone I know, purchased a diamond ring in 2009, for Bt. 200,000 and in 2013 sold it in Bangkok for 100,000. That would appear to be at variance with the details of mark-up in the other linked post. I will try to contact this person and seek advice.

I am looking to exchange or sell a diamond so that I can put the funds to use in purchasing a different style and size for a new setting. I understand that Bangkok has a jewelery area, possibly in Bangrak area. I have asked in a shop whose owners I know a little, if they will supply me with what I'm looking for and take mine in exchange, and they have not been forthcoming with this.

For information, the diamond is not of everyday quality - it's a flawless .56 carat, with colourless grade, so it does have a value. Thanks for replying, if you can provide a recommendation on which place I should try.

Can you scan and post this non immigrant "VISA" which expires in mid 2018 ?

If you do indeed possess this unique "visa" then just carry on with the 90 day reporting , why would a problem be envisaged?

In the past have been making frequent trips out of Thailand, so I have always kept within the 90-day limit. However, I'm soon to be stopping that and we plan to marry. However, I would prefer to avoid getting these stamps in my passport and I don't want to do visa runs. What really appeals to me (if I can indeed do this), is to report by post. That would be the ideal answer.

I'll have a think about putting my visa up on this board, but not very keen to do it frankly. Is the date information sufficient for you, without showing my reference number etc?

There is no 5 year non immigrant visa. If you are writing about a APEC travel card an entry from it cannot be extended.

My visa expires in mid 2018. From what I understand, to use an example of the simplest scenario, a foreigner could conceivably arrive with a 30-day passport stamp, get married and remain here by requesting extension of stays indefinitely.

However, I already have my non-immigrant visa which is valid until 2018. I hope that doesn't complicate the normal process of being granted extension of stay for a year and compromise the right to be able to report every 90-days without the passport being stamped. Sorry my case is a bit complicated.

Thanks both of you, for that information. I understand the financial requirements and the fact that it is merely extension of stay, when married.

What if the foreigner already has a five-year non-immigrant visa, which normally requires a passport stamp or exit/re-entry to Thailand every 90-days? Can that visa still be accepted for the purposes of remaining in Thailand with a Thai wife?

The subject more or less says what I want to know really. If one is married to a Thai national and remains in Thailand permanently by virtue of that, I understand that a 90-day report is required. As part of that report, is the passport stamped?

If so, is there any way of avoid such stamps every ninety days? Thanks.

Mmm

Not to be disrespectful - but why on earth would you pay ( probably heaps) for a therapy that has no proven benefit and could even be harmful.

I'm afraid you have fallen prey to the snake oil salesman

Sorry.

Not disrespectful, just misinformed. The use of ozone in the context of hospital treatment is very common and its value is undisputed. The medical profession uses ozone for treatment of certain serious illness and dentistry clinicians use it regularly in cases of periodontitis, furthermore in cases of serious bacterial infection and in other complications. There are many case reports within mainstream medicine, such as in Pubmed article /pubmed/22825522 and also PMC3276005, if your capabilities extend to the use of such.

That notwithstanding, the question I asked was if anyone could provide details of local specialists, rather than the opinions of the uninformed.