denby45

12 hours ago, sandyf said:

I used to get my pension paid direct and you do get a fairly good rate with the DWP payments, was always about the same as SuperRich.

Following the referendum I decided to have my pension paid in the UK as I usually spend about a third of my pension in the UK, so I now just transfer what I need, usually about 9 times a year. I use HSBC and the transfer fee Is £4 and the rate using the bank transfer is usually about 0.3THB below SuperRich, overall I am better off.

Are you sending Thai baht to your Thai account or GBP?

Den

9 hours ago, Golden Triangle said:

Just a quick update for those following this thread, I gave my mate the telephone number for the International Pension Centre yesterday, he popped into his bank branch (Kasikorn) got their address and SWIFT code, called Wolverhampton this afternoon and changed his payment from his Lloyds bank account in the UK to Kasikorn here.

 

That simple move is gonna save him over 500 quid a year in bank charges alone.

 

The number for IPC is +44 191 218 7777

 

They open at 8 am and usually no waiting to get answered, and very friendly and helpful.

 

Cheers

That's an interesting strategy and avoiding bank charges certainly helps but can you tell us how he is circumventing the terrible exchange rate at Kasikorn when his funds arrive.

Den

On 5/31/2018 at 11:37 PM, Golden Triangle said:

Just a quick update for those that may or may not be interested in the application process from abroad.

 

My daughter sent me an email this morning of mail that arrived yesterday from the DWP, Department for Work & Pensions.

 

I thought I had it cracked, wrong !! It contains a unique invitation code for the applicant to use on www.gov.uk/get-state-pension, it don't work from abroad, so I called the DWP and had a quick chat with a very nice lady, she told me that I needed to download and complete Form IPC BR1

 

Man oh man, they want to know the ins & outs of a Gnats backside, every job I've ever had, with dates, every address I ever lived at, with dates, any military service including all dates and other relevant info, am I married, single, divorced etc, in my case Divorced, so provide among other things Marriage certificate, Decree Absolute, Birth Certificate.

 

So for any of you getting ready in the next few months to claim your State pension I would suggest downloading the form now and getting together the documents required, fortunately I remembered to bring everything with me, and it does explain that they will pay into your account here at no cost I believe, and at a better rate than the banks will give and no bank charges by using an ATM to get your dosh from a UK bank account.

 

And I was also pleased to note that my weekly pension will be GBP 157 .57 per week, not to be sniffed at and a few extra beer tokens always comes in handy. ?

 

Sorry I forgot to add that you need to then print off the completed form, sign it, enclose the required documents (they will return them) and then DHL or whatever to the UK.

I had a similar problem when trying to claim back overpaid tax online, on the pension I withdrew from L&G. I was directed (by them) to the online form I needed to fill out for expats. I got part the way through but got stuck when it asked for a postcode. It does not accept anything but UK postcode and then you are stuck at that point, unable to proceed.

Den

4 hours ago, doctormann said:

 

There is an edited Google map that Pattaya-Pages.com put on the internet that clearly shows a Baht Bus loop round Jomptien Beach road / Second Road.  Link:  https://tinyurl.com/y8nezbm3

Obviously either out of date or a work of fiction!

 

 

It's not so bad - about 500m to the beach, depending where you are.

I must say though that Atlantis would not have been my first choice because there are better locations.

 

That's not the official baht bus route map. I would post the official one but it would not help as the baht bus drivers do not adhere to it. If they did there would be no baht buses on Soi Buakhao and the Jomtien to Pattaya buses would go along third road and not second road as they all do.

Den 

On 5/7/2018 at 2:22 PM, meatboy said:

last yr.they told the wife mine will be paid 45days after I applied,this yr.they paid mine with the wife's prompt pay.10days.

Went over there to Jomtien and inquired what was happening. Was directed to the 4th. floor. Had to wait about 20 minutes while they found my file. Then had to fill out a form with all sorts of questions about my income and monthly expenses. After that I had to sit with one lady and justify my in-comings and outgoings. I don't have a pension yet and am currently living off savings and interest at the bank. She did not like that idea at all. My accounts are all overseas apart from the account I use for expenses and another which is invested for 3 years in LH. She was basically trying to say that I should not be here at all because I don't have enough income. I use the 800,000 in the bank route to get my yearly retirement extension. I wanted to tell her it was none of her business but I bit my tongue.

Eventually another lady pitched up and started to ask similar questions. She could see I wasn't happy with the third degree as I was using short answers. Anyway eventually this lady agreed that I should be paid. However there were 2 payments and she suggested that I should forget about the smaller of the 2 payments so as to "Help Thailand out" <deleted>.

I guess without this visit and my intervention, that file would have remained on someone's desk and eventually ended up in the bin.

Anyway one week later I am still awaiting the arrival of the cheque.

Den 

1 hour ago, topt said:

It may be worth ringing or seeing them. This happened to me last year and I had to complete some form a lady had on the 4th floor before they would release the cheque. This year no issue and I received the cheque late March/early April after applying early Jan.

Good advice I will pop over there and find out what is happening.

Cheers

Den

On 5/5/2018 at 5:44 AM, jacko45k said:

Was discussing them only yesterday and a few friends wiere giving posistive statements for accommodation booked in the UK. Personally I had a negative opinion from one of those invetigative consumer programs one gets on UK TV relating to double bookings on the continent with airbnb. For Thailand I was concerned that they seem to offer short term bookings in condo buildings when strictly speaking that is against the terms of the building.

You are quite correct about the short term bookings in some of the buildings. However if the complex is a condotel then there is no problem are there is an hotel license in place. For the others there is a rule that you cannot rent for less than one month at a time. I do know there are some places where the management of the block turn a blind eye to that rule. 

Den

On 5/5/2018 at 10:14 AM, Colabamumbai said:

Troll post

Typical reaction when you have nothing productive to say. Now I was not going to qualify my statement however due to your typical rudeness I will. There is a very good reason I don't allow Indians in my condo after they trashed the place. Even the security deposit did not cover the damage they did. However that was not the worst. I had guests coming which I had to cancel because I could not get the repairs done in time. This is a short list of what was damaged:

1. Huge cigarette burns on my coffee table even my place is non-smoking. Smoking only on the terrace. Cost to replace 8,000 baht.

2. Patio chairs with cigarette burns. They obviously did not like the idea of stubbing their cigarettes out in the ashtray. Preferred to stub out on right on the chairs. Should really have replaced but rubbed down and sanded myself. However you can still see there is damage.

3. Wash hand basin in the bathroom pulled out of it's seating. Cost for refitting and new drain (4,000) baht.

4. Full cotton bed sheets and pillow cases completely stained and to throw away. approx 2,000 baht.

5.) Place was completely filthy had to pay cleaners 1000 baht instead of the usual 500baht.

6.) Shower door broken. Had to search high an low to get the new parts. 600 baht. Fixed myself to save money. 

7.) Top of wardrobe damaged where they had stored their suitcase. Veneer pulled off and missing. Again managed to fix reasonably well myself.

8.) Bedside cabinet drawer was damaged. Again I managed to patch it up. Not pretty but at least it works.

That was the damage they did. There are a few other items which are minor and don't need mention.

OK On top of all that damage I had complaints from next door about the noise they were making every night.

Also management of the complex told me there were many complaints from residents about them swimming in their underpants in the pool. Can you believe it?

This is the reason Indians are not welcome.

Just to prove a point you can find a couple of pics of my place attached and see how nice it is. It's 76 sqm. Try to get something like that for around 1000 baht a night anywhere else but airbnb.

Den

2 hours ago, meatboy said:

aint time flying,i thought I had just renewed my fixed deposit acc.but that was last yr.april 2% for 3yrs.the last time oct.2017 2% was still available,3yrs.interest paid monthly into a separate acc.with tax withheld.refunded jan.-march following yr.not sure what the minimum deposit is to get the interest monthly.500,000bht.?

LH BANK.

You just reminded me. I applied for my tax refund (Jomtien) in Jan. Still no sign of any payment to date. Seems to be getting very late now. 

Den

I like the folks on here slagging off airbnb and in turn the hosts without giving real examples of their bad experiences.

Den

On 5/2/2018 at 1:53 PM, jacko45k said:

Fast on the draw there, I was about to post welcome to the world of......

Same goes for you as goes for ColabaMumbai please tell your extremely bad experiences we would all like to know.

Den

On 5/2/2018 at 8:09 AM, Colabamumbai said:

And would that have been thru airbnb?

So you are obviously an expert. Pray tell what extensive experience you have dealing with airbnb. I would like you to name and shame also seeing as you have had very bad experiences in the past. Give examples or shut up.

Oh and by the way if you are from Mumbai you certainly would not be allowed to rent my place. Once bitten twice shy as they say.

Den

2 hours ago, Oxx said:

 

Yet some people don't seem to understand that Islamic banks don't have interest rates and don't pay interest.  It's a totally different system, while some people seem to wallow in their ignorance.  People need to be aware of the differences if they are to make informed investment decisions.

I worked in Abu Dhabi for 14 years and of course they are mainly Islamic banks. However they do have interest bearing products which the expats make use of. Remember the UAE nationals are outnumbered by about 10:1 so to limit your bank to Islamic products would not be a good idea.

Den

5 hours ago, Bangkokazy said:

There are so many strange laws in Thailand, that it is easier to tell what is legal, than what is illegal
because the law changes from day to day and after the brown shirt's mood.

“because the law changes from day to day and after the brown shirt's mood financial status.”

More appropriate me thinks

Den

21 hours ago, spambot said:

The previous electricity charges were 6% of the rental costs - The New rental cost has increased by 13%. The new electricity cost will reduce now to 3% of old rental costs. 

In summary the amount extra being paid is 13% - 3% = 10% real increase.

Oh dear not good me thinks.

Den

18 hours ago, nong38 said:

The first 2000 gbp dividends is currently tax free.

Don't remind me. I used to be tax free at 5000.

Den

6 minutes ago, Oxx said:

 

These were never products paying interest.  For "wadiah" products, the lender is only entitled to the original amount back.  Any additional payment is an optional "gift".  and for "mudarabah" products, what went on behind the scenes was that your money is used to finance trading transactions.  If those transactions don't work out, you don't get your money back.

 

These are riskier products than conventional bank offerings.

Is that correct? I was actually looking into that.Didn't know there was risk involved. I remember they were stating interest and not profit rate as an Islamic Bank normally would.

Den

12 hours ago, mommysboy said:

My fear is that a government will decide to tax the state pension for expats, arguing that as we are no longer resident for tax purposes we are not entitled to the personal tax allowance.

 

I don't know how realistic this fear is!  Can anyone comment?

Yes it is realistic to assume that it can happen. There has been talk in the past that after up-rating the pensions for all expats this would be a way to compensate for expats not contributing to the UK economy. However they will have to include everyone who is ordinarily and non resident and that is a lot of voters. Actually if they did this would it not be better in some way? At least it would avoid the situation of older pensioners being the victims of inflation and having their income reduced every year forcing them into poverty. The rate of tax you pay could be set much like the tax on dividends which is 7.5%.

Den

I am still waiting for the OP to tell the actual Baht numbers involved on a monthly basis. You got a reduction in your lekky bill and it also looks like the landlord did not add back the 20% he was entitled to. How much more are you paying per month overall after the increase in your rent?

Den

1 hour ago, nong38 said:

Its been said before but lets not forget there are about 1 million expats in the EU, they chose to live over the channel, they pay their taxes just like us, they don't pay council tax just like us, they don't use the NHS just like us, but, they can use the local country service, free which we cannot and like us they make a marginal use of contributing to the UK economy as they spend mainly local like us. Some of them are seen walking along sunny, sandy beaches as well, just like us. The big difference though is that our pensions are frozen and the expats in the EU are not, they continue to get their annual increases.

Also worth remembering that the cost to unfreeze is estimated to be around 600 million, thats about 8 tomahawks, remember we last saw them in action just a couple of weeks ago, I think ours are called Brimstone and Storm Shadow, no problem finding the funds there then.

Regarding the taxing of pensions, your Sate Pension is received in full with no tax deductions, any taxes due after allowance calculations are taken from any other income you might receive such as private work pension.

Apologize in advance for again playing devils advocate but I am afraid your argument cannot be used for the simple reason that there are many EUers living in the UK and contributing to the UK economy. Tit for tat basically.

Yes that is a good point about the war wastage and puts the figures squarely into perspective. Thanks for that. 

Den

1 hour ago, sandyf said:

The argument against the increases was never there when they were negotiating the agreements that are in place. It is merely a view that has been generated to try and drum up support for not changing the current situation.

As for income tax I think there are a lot more than you think. Nobody pays income tax on their state pension, the DWP do not collect tax. The amount is taken into consideration against other income, if there is no other income it is by direct payment. 

Last year 12% of my income tax went to funding the state pension, was I paying myself? As far as I am concerned that is about as close to legalised fraud as you can get.

Perfectly correct the argument has appeared recently to bolster the gov. side.

Sorry I am confused with your statement about " As for income tax I think there are a lot more than you think" Are you talking about State Pension? What I mean by that is are you suggesting there are a lot of pensioners with State Pension above the personal threshold. Or are you including other income. e.g. I have other income sourced in the UK and I have no problem paying taxes on that income. I also have a personal pension which when I claim it will be subject to tax deductions. Again I have no problem because for many years I got tax relief from the government against that pension. Of course I will be well over the threshold when that time comes. I have also taken a hit lately with the change to dividend payments. However again the funds are sourced in the UK so I cannot have objections.

I recognize that those taxes are probably correct but are in no way related to the state pension taxes.

It's like an old friend of mine who was peed off because he earned too much money in one tax year and was pushed into the higher tax bracket. Come on how does that make sense. 

Den

Now I know what a turd burglar is. I think! 55555555

Den

8 minutes ago, Rajab Al Zarahni said:

Paying tax on private pensions is relevant because the tax code would be increased to reflect the additional income from the state pension.

Personal pensions are not used at all in the governments argument about contributing to the economy of the UK. The subject of the argument is State Pension freezing. Are the government forcing frozen Personal Pensions now? I missed that one.

I jest of course and I will repeat. The issue of personal pensions and the tax payable, if any is not relevant to our argument as they are not frozen.

The governments argument is not that we don't pay any personal income tax but about not contributing. They mean by that we do not spend our money in the UK but take our state pension abroad. In their eyes we are avoiding paying e.g. council tax, VAT and we are not consuming goods within the UK. Which means we are not contributing anything to the economy or paying tax on all consumer products we would normally buy if we lived there. Remember the manufacturers are paying tax on their profits when they sell you their goods. However we are not buying those goods with our state pension.

This is one of their arguments, it is not mine so let's not get into the "you are wrong" bit. I am merely setting out the facts and playing devils advocate. 

Our argument cannot include paying personal income tax on our pensions if the vast majority are not paying. That is why it is important to know how many of the frozen state pensions are liable for tax. I suspect there may not be very many, if there are any at all.

The other side of the coin is the fact that by leaving the UK we are no more a burden on the state for e.g. NHS facilities winter payment bus passes etc. etc. We are not using roads or any of the other facilities made available by the government. This is our main argument and far outweighs the non contribution argument the gov. are putting forward. IMHO of course. I don't have the actual figures of course.

Taking all that into account even if the gov. could prove the losses to the economy are more than the net gain through us leaving, the freezing of pensions would still be totally wrong and not the way to balance the shortfall. They may be able to balance for the first couple of years but the ravages of inflation further down the line makes a nonsense of their solution.

Sorry for putting you all to sleep.

Den