sandyf

Exactly. Here in Thailand retail banking does not even have the branch, they only use 8 character SWIFT codes, only retail banking uses the 11 character SWIFT codes. SWIFT/IBAN works quite well both ways. I sent some money from my Thai account to my UK bank and by the time I got home an hour later it was in my UK account.

Of course they are compatible, My IBAN bank with my IBAN account code sends money to my SWIFT bank and SWIFT account code without any intermediary bank, quite often within a few hours, for an exorbitant fee of £5. How incompatatible is that?

So you would agree that this statement made in relation to a Nov bill was wrong on 2 counts. "If you are below 300 units you get an Ft discount as shown on the bill above. " What does IIRC refer to, I can't read the Thai, and what was the discount in August for?

I think someone has their wires crossed somewhere along the way, either your friend or someone at the bank. I am from the UK and they use IBAN and I send money to Thailand all the time. The transaction arrives in Thailand using IBAN codes. The IBAN code is a combination of the bank SWIFT No, sort code and account number, so the 2 systems can merge seamlessly. As far as his bank is concerned it should just be an international transfer.

I did my last one in July 2020. There was a notice on the screen saying due to the pandemic there was an extended processing time. The next day I got a message from my son saying ther was a letter from DVLC, I said to open it and see what they want thinking it was some sort of problem, it was the new licence. I think things did go downhill from then on.

That can't be right, I got the same discount of 110 baht on 356 units for Nov. In August at 290 units I got 67 baht discount, but in July when we went over 400 units there was no discount.

You have to refer to the base rate as the adjustments vary each month. in July with the same base rate my actual rate was 4.51. I only use about 300 units/month.

Yes there will be duty to pay but it is a reduced rate on recent second hand goods, nothing on what is obviously old. It is 12 years since I did it, I used Asian Tigers and they handled everything. https://www.asiantigersgroup.com/thailand/

Since when?, have to admit haven't been to the supermarket for a few days.

As been said many times, different office, different way of doing things.

Effectively yes, in 2019 I didn't have the 12 month transactions to renew extension so got a ME Non O. Seven months later when the covid grace ran out I had to get an extension and by this time did have the 12 month history. Hence 5 visits in 6 years from the Sri Ratcha office, pre 2019 they were for retirement extension.

I am booked with Bankok Airways from BKK to LP, coming back with Thai Smile from UdonThani. We are only 40 minutes from BKK so much more convenient than DM. Plan to do the visa at the airport, only 15 minutes to the hotel and have a couple of hours before can check-in so no great hurry. When I went across the bridge at Nong Khai a couple of years ago I pre-arranged the visa which certainly made things easier, quite chaotic there.

That is not true. I renewed 2 years ago at 73 and no medical was required. It is due again next year but this time I will let it expire as very unlikely i will ever drive again in the UK.

I seem to recall it was said to be 5.5 but not sure if that is base rate or with tax. Even on the base rate it would still be well below many other countries.

It depends on who you have to pay. If paid direct to the PEA the current rate is 3.81 baht/unit. I should have said with tax and adjustments my actual rate 4.86 baht/unit, but I don't know if the adjustments are regional.

Thanks for the heads up, plan B may have to be a flight back to BKK.

Sri Ratcha, Non O E-visa visiting Thai family - 12 month extension based on marriage.

But when they go from 165 to 99, no one bats an eyelid.

Yes, that company stopped selling tickets when the tickets became named. I think they may have been legit but there were touts buying up tickets and selling at inflated prices.

In a nutshell, you can't. I am going in January and have been looking at this for a while and as far as I can see all the agents that were selling tickets stopped since they changed the rules. Now to buy a ticket you must show your passport and your name is printed on the ticket You have to buy at the station or official office and the demand is high so a bit risky arriving in Laos and hoping to get a ticket. Personally I think a bus, although a bit longer, would be mor comfortable than a taxi and that is plan B if we do not get a train ticket. I changed my plans and now going to fly direct to LB for a couple of days and then get train to Vientiane, cross the bridge and fly back from Udon Thani. You can get some information on their facebook page. https://web.facebook.com/LaosChinaRailway

Yes it has been on the go for some time. I had my first about 6 years ago when I did a retirement extension. I have had 5 in total with the last just a couple of weeks ago. No two visits have been the same with different requirements ranging from witnesses being present to questioning the neighbours. The most recent visit only one guy came, rather than the normal 2 or 3. He brought a tripod and all he did was take photos that included himself, never asked any questions.

It doesn't really matter what is reported or what people think about is being reported. Reality is in the exchange rate and prices on the street and effect of that will depend on personal circumstances. We are no worse off as the pandemic pushed us into a different way of life. During the pandemic we used the WTT scheme quite a bit and now instead of going out and about so much locally we go away for a few days now and again. Just come back from a couple of days down in Chantaburi, stayed at The Pride in Laem Sing one night for 508 baht, and it was 75 baht for a large Chang at the beach restaurants. Last time I stayed at The Pride it was over 1000 baht, not everything is being subjected to huge price increases as many want to make out.

Don't you think it would be more appropriate to teach the child something about the universe. Haven't you ever talked about the moon?

That depends on the office. The TM30 in my passport is dated 2014 and I have entered and extended on new visas several times since then. Latest new visa was August and picked up 12 month extension yesterday.

"predicting the Thai economy to enter recession in the opening quarter of 2023" How strange is that? The UK economy shrank in the third quarter, signaling the start of a recession that is likely to hit Europe next. https://edition.cnn.com/2022/11/11/economy/uk-economy-recession-europe/index.html