JB300

I'd go with Citibank as I believe transfers are free of charge between Citibank accounts & know ATM withdrawals are (then again, they're free if you used your Singapore Citibank card in a Citibank ATM in Thailand).

My day used to be...

Wake at 9am....go to bar.

At 2am go to bed.

Then I met my gf.

Now I wake at 7am....read the day's Itinerary and sob gently.

Happy Days [emoji12]

Nothing better than an ice cold beer (hair of the dog) to help take the edge off a hangover & was once told that it has been scientifically proven to help breakdown the poison that alcohol turns to as its processed by your body... Just need to stop at 1 (beer not AM/PM).

Oh & not on a school (work) day, not on a day where you need to drive anywhere & not everyday [emoji106]

Thanks Paz, I'd assumed they would want to see a certificate of good conduct for the preceding X years (obviously the fact that I haven't been kicked out of Singapore is proof that I haven't been in trouble with the police here) & a couple of Brit friends are having a problem with this as they're looking to emigrate to Australia (will advise them to apply for a clearance cert in the UK[emoji106])

Thanks Joe, I haven't lived in my home country (UK) for the best part of 8 years & Singapore no longer provides Police Clearance Certificates to non-citizens so will struggle to get one here.

Sounds like the best way is to apply in another country, any recommendations for the best ones to try (nb I'm 11 months away from turning 50 but looking to arrange things so once I am 50 I can sort out the retirement visa as easily as possible... No problem meeting the 800k financial requirements & no intentions of working there).

So what's the best way of getting a retirement visa?

1) Apply in own country

2) Go to Thailand on a visa exempt / Tourist visa & apply in country

3) Apply for it in another country

I do not believe the baht is pegged to the $.

Would someone that believes it is please link to something that supports their belief?

However I read (wish I could find the article again) that this basket was made up of multiple currencies of which 80% was USD which would go someway to explaining why the THB is doing so well as the USD flourishes.

Seems like a good strategy is to "Pre-Load" your UK/US credit card then take the cash out transaction & interest free ... I've generally found I get a better rate from my Barclays UK Credit Card Vs Debit card so maybe a double bonus with the avoided ATM fees [emoji106][emoji106][emoji106]

Edit: thinking about it, I'm pretty sure I got stung for around £4.50 (225 Bhat)'last time I used the Barclays credit card for a "Cash Advance" so maybe best to give it a try 1 time and checking the full charges.

I read somewhere (sorry, I can't find it again) that although the Baht is no longer pegged to the US$, it is now pegged to a basket of currencies of which the US$ makes up 88%.

If true, it could explain why the Baht continues to mirror the US$ rises & falls.

Getting cash on a credit card would be considered a "Cash Advance" which is usually subject to a charge & interest is payable from that day rather than at the end of the billing cycle so no chance to pay it off without incurring at least a day or twos interest.

Of course this is not the case in every situation. A timely online payment can eliminate this, as can the use of an appropriate card. I use this method and incur no extra charges whatsoever.

Thinking about it, I guess if you "Pre-Loaded" your credit card (I. E. Got it into credit so it has a negative amount owing) you could avoid the interest charge but then you would need to be careful that you stay in credit or you could find a purchase on the card in the same billing cycle triggers the interest.. e. g.. If you put £1500 on your credit card, took out £1,000 cash then later bought something for £1,000 on credit, you're likely to be charged daily interest on the £500 as the cash advance is the last thing to be paid off).

Getting cash on a credit card would be considered a "Cash Advance" which is usually subject to a charge & interest is payable from that day rather than at the end of the billing cycle so no chance to pay it off without incurring at least a day or twos interest.

CNY is 19/20th Feb

Might be an idea to be at least 3 hours drive away from the gf's family unless you're happy with them pitching up at your place everyday.

I liked Gone Girl too, but HATED the ending - although it was fun getting there! I really did not have problem with Neil Patrick Harris playing a straight guy though.

Sorry but against my better judgement (I have Ben Affleck in the same acting league as Keanu Reeves), I wasted 2 & 1/2 hours of my life watching this drivel tonight... Who do I sue???

Personally I'd only transfer as much as I needed for the next few months as I don't feel the GBP:THB rate is good at the moment.

All rates except the U.S at 32 Baht to a dollar are down. Canadian dollar usually 29 baht down to 26.

Nearly all currency is down against the Baht. Not a good time to change or invest in Thai Baht.

I wish I had crystal balls like you two. Those of us not blessed with great powers of divination can't tell whether now is a good time or not to transfer money. The exchange rate might go up; the exchange rate might go down. If it were possible to predict these things with any accuracy then currency speculation would be a doddle. It's not. It's something best left to hedge fund managers and the like - and look how well many of them did over the recent Swiss Franc debacle.

To me, only two strategies make sense: transfer in one lump sum, accepting that day's exchange rate and not worrying about what happens to the rate in the future; phase the transfer over a number of months and get an average rate which may, or may not, be better than the current rate. Trying to time the market is a mugs' game.

No crystal ball & don't profess to be an expert but I personally believe that the rate is a little low at the moment so if it was me I'd edge my bets by moving some over now & look for future opportunities.

Obviously it's impossible to time the market, the rate could just as easily go against you & you'll take a hit on Transfer costs but I think there will be an "Event" in Thailand over the next couple of years that will cause the Baht to drop.

Again, just my personal opinion if I knew 100% (or even close) I'd be forex trading [emoji4]

Personally I'd only transfer as much as I needed for the next few months as I don't feel the GBP:THB rate is good at the moment.

Sorry but any request for individual information has to be from the individual requesting (maybe under DPA) or a court order, there's no way a bank would allow any external agency unfettered access to its IT Systems or data...

Just my opinion having spent almost 30 years working in the IT department of a top 10 global (UK) bank, last 6 of which being responsible for its IAM...

Just finished the final episode of the first series of "The 100" & it has every sign of turning into another "Lost", somebody please tell me it's worth watching S2 (or save me from the misery).

So I guess a Citibank "International" account is the best way to go [emoji17]

True, you cannot reclaim the withholding tax on UK company dividends irrespective of nationality or residency status, however the good thing about being a non-UK resident for tax purposes is its limited to the 10% withheld & you won't have to pay more if the dividend income takes you above the higher tax rate thresholds.

I'm not sure if it's ok to link to an article in the Bangkok Post but there's an interesting article on there called "Bringing your UK pension to sunnier climes".

I'm reading a lot about people needing a Work Permit or Thai sponsor to open accounts, is it still possible to open one on a Tourist visa without a Thai sponsor?

Would it help if I opened an account with Bangkok Bank in Singapore before I leave here at the end of Feb or would it be best to convert my Citigold account to an "International" account (my plan is to use Thailand as a base to travel around the region for 1 year, before deciding where to retire, I'm 50 exactly 1 year from tomorrow & Thailand is currently my #1 choice)

I visited Thailand many times over the last 28 years. It was cheap then. And it was so full of Thainess.

I decided to settle there, over 9 yaers ago. It was cheap then, and still a lot of Thainess.

But i watched as it became more and more expensive, and see the Thainess dissapear.

So 12 Months ago, I decided to say goodbye. I now live in the Philippines. I have a lovely girl who speaks English, and is not money driven.

It is a cleaner lifestyle, and a lot cheaper. I am sorry to say, because I like Thailand, but it is just not the place it used to be, and I found myself continually checking prices and buying cheaper alternatives. Goodbye Thailand, and Good luck, your going to need it.

I'd be interesting to hear where you live in the Philippines as I've visited a few different places & outside of a 3 day stay in Cebu where I never left the Shangri-La resort, have never found it to be as "Clean" as Thailand.

NB I love going to the Philippines (Visit 4 or 5 times a year) & Filippinas (have been with mine for 4 1/2 years... Oh, and she's one that doesn't want to leave the Philippines except to travel for a couple of weeks or stay with me in Singapore for a few months at a time),

NB2 I love Thailand more & visit 6-8 times a year [emoji12]

Coming out of the EU will do nothing for frozen pensions as most of the member states (as does places like the Philippines) have bilateral benefit agreements so pensioners there will continue to get the uplift whether the UK is in or not

Black Hat...

Absolutely rubbish, watched it in a cinema in Philippines & actually fell asleep...