JustAnotherFarang

I bought mine on the launch date from Gamestation which was a bit of a hassle as they delayed delivery due to unforeseen circumstances.  I have it now and I think its an amazing piece of kit.  I have also bought many many games for it which is cool

But today Bangkok Bank cancelled my credit card and say they will not reissue a new one even though I have over 2,000,000 baht in saving accounts there.  So now I have to try and get a new bank account without a work visa and hope that they will issue me with any card that is compatible with PSN network.  Any suggestions which bank and which card is suitable

Cheers guys

JAF

Couldn't you just sell the console with all  your psn account details but delete any of your credit card information and then set it up to their email address instead.  Seems a relatively simple way of doing things.   As to where you can sell it, well that's a problem I cannot help you with

JAF

T.I.T.  The longer you live here the less surprising this behaviour becomes.  

47 minutes ago, ChoakMyDee said:

 

You don't need to sign every post "JAF". This is a web forum, not an email client. Welcome to the internet. Glad I could help you. 

Thanks, never thought about it

JAF :-)

1 minute ago, SaintLouisBlues said:

Hmmm

It might come over as a whimsical pun but it was not intended that way.  It's simply stating the horrific facts of this case.  

JAF

Baby loses its head and the doctor and the hospital are more concerned about losing face.  This is the way Thailand culture is and they are exceedingly proud about it irregardless of whatever we think.  The doctor should be blacklisted and struck off, not just for the mistake of decapitating the baby but for their own sheer arrogance and shameful neglect to take any responsibility for their actions.

JAF 

13 hours ago, cooked said:

You are having fun, I might mention that one of the important steps in preventing weeds is regular mowing at the correct height and adequate fertiliser. Try downloading a catalogue from http://www.cromwell.co.th/catalogue.html#ht . 

They have a lot of tools that are otherwise difficult to get hold of in Thailand, maybe they have what you want.

Thank you for that link, I shall peruse it after I have finished in the garden before lunch.  

JAF

I am on my hands and knees plucking the little buggers out left right and centre and then it starts to rain again.  I would say its taken quite a hold because my wifes friend gave us some orchids on an old tree stump that came from her forest residence.  At first I only saw a few leaves but I turned my back on it for a few weeks and then it took hold.  I hope its something I can get under control but I have put some nitrogen down to encourage more grass growth as in that particular area it was looking a little yellow and sparse.  Knowing my luck, it will only help the little blighter to sprout more.

Does anyone know where I might be able to get some quality gardening tools from, preferably online or through the post as I am down south in the middle of a rainforest and dont often venture upto the big smoke.

JAF

18 hours ago, kickstart said:

It is ผักอีแปะ  in Thai ,or  Frog  Bit, Hydrocharis Dubia (Blume) Baker .

As you said  it likes the rain we have  some about the place ,if you keep pulling at it ,it will  stop growing ,now we are in the middle of October ,we probably had most of the rains ,( unless you are  us in the central  region), things will start to dry out  it might go  on its own accord .

When the lawn  dry out a bit give it a  good spiking, it will help aerate  the lawn , I would say where the grass has thinned out  ,could well  be wet, it would  help drainage to ,  dry it out  and might  help prevent it coming back .

 

Thanks Kickstart, very informative posting.  I havent spiked my lawn for 2 years as I cannot find the right tool to do it.  Its about 1/2 rai in size so need something like a garden fork or something better to do it.  Any suggestions?

JAF

Hi Guys

After the rainy season here I have noticed that this weed has taken hold and started to spread out around my grass lawn, especially where the grass has thinned out.  It seems to be spreading rapidly and when I pull it out of the soil it doesnt seem to have an individual rooting system which is worrying as I dont want it to spread.  Any ideas what it is and how should I go about removing it.

19 hours ago, eyecatcher said:

I am not surprised mr Chang gave you a quote like that if it was exactly the same spec you have just given us.

 

You cannot cost up a job accurately until you have been to vist, know exactly what you want in terms of materials and finishes.

For all we know your shed might be in the middle of a large pond.

 

With all due respect it often laughable how many non trades people think they know better than the person who will be doing the job.

 

your first task is to draw your plan and quantify how many blocks (at 5bt,6bt,7bt,25bt), then check the price for 2m3 concrete delivered., how many bags of cement, 2 ton of sand.

Make a shopping list. If you have no construction knowledge then you at the mercy of everyone.

Then think about labour; 2 men for 3 weeks or 3 men for 3 weeks,  which parts can you use all your tools.?

 

just be methodical, spend some time checking material prices and slowly compile your own bill of quants. its not difficult if you know what you need.

 

 

 Well to be fair, I did spend an hour with him on my land, showed him the video and had my wife explaining everything.  What I said here was just a brief overview of the facts and then to query the price of 75,000 bht just for labour.  But I also take on board that my inexperience and knowledge left me wide open to be scammed by this shyster.  Thats why I posted this query to see what price I should be expecting to pay for the build including material here.

JAF

Hi guys

After buying so many power tools and cluttering the house the time has come to build a concrete block shed. Something similar to this:-

The size would be 4m x 4m with a height of 2.75 meters with another 4x4m concrete floor and roof outdoor area to work,  Nothing fancy, one door, one window, probably rendered, cheap roof with wooden beams, maybe consider metal with electricity connected from a nearby source.   I called the local chang and he said 75,000 bht for labour not including materials which is just laughable imho.  What should be the approx cost of a build like this?

Cheers

JAF

I agree, it is an incredibly archaic system that requires so much mental fortitude from both the applicant and the immigration staff. I must say that the staff at my local immigration office were nothing but polite and that I could not help feeling sorry about their inane and repetitive workload.

JAF

All done and dusted and it only took 4 hours. Yes 4 hours to sort everything out because they were not happy with my photo copies (all had to be portrait) but then others like my housebook had to be landscape. Also not happy with my google map and longitude and latitude bearings, had to make a computer generated map showing the shops along the way. Also not happy with my bank book copies and letter from the bank, had to get a statement from head office showing my withdrawals as well. And then we had to wait for the lady to finish her photocopying before she could print out the forms for my wife to sign.............

Forgive my french but what a load off complete <deleted>.

But its done, so thats it for another year

Thanks to UbonJoe

Well I will prepare my documents as required and hopefully all will go accordingly but if I encounter any problems I will respond on this thread again. As always UbonJoe, you are a gentleman and a scholar, much appreciated as always

Cheers

JAF

I have to go to the immigration office on Tuesday 26th (thats a hand written date) but my extension (the red stamp on the paper stapled into my passport) expires on the 23rd of August. I assumed this is because they wanted me to reapply before the final date of the extension.

I would prefer to have a similar extension as I have now as opposed to every 3 months having to leave the country as that is inconvenient and quite unpleasant to do when crossing the Andaman sea in the rainy season.

Thanks UbonJoe

So a single entry would allow me to stay for one year but just do 90 day reporting at the local immigration office?

If they deny me a one month extension on Tuesday, what are my immediate options. Will I still be able to travel up to Vientiane or Laos and pay the overstay and then apply for the single entry 12 month visa ?

Hi Ubon Joe

Yes, it is an extension I am applying for at the local immigration office in the south of Thailand to enable me to continue living in my own home here with my wife. I have done it for many years but just wanted to know the latest requirements. I can fulfill all of the requirements above.

But what I am worried about is that they may deny me as I was teaching a student of an immigration officer who enquired as to whether I had a work permit (which I didn't have and now I no longer teach her daughter) So I may find on appearing at the office that they might ask me some uncomfortable questions or refuse my application. If this proves to be the case, then I was hoping you might tell me the best and correct way to obtain a new non immigrant o visa from Malaysia or Laos instead.

I appreciate your help as always

JAF

Hi Guys

I am due to renew my non immigrant o visa (based on marriage) on Tuesday and wanted to know the full breakdown of the requirements and documents required so I can turn up and get it over and done with as quick as possible.

Thanks as always

JAF

Hi guys

My insurance for my Yamaha R3 has come up for renewal. The previous 12 months first class insurance was a freebie when I purchased the bike but now they are asking for 10,000 bht even though I am 48 years old and never had any accidents or made any claims. When I queried why it was so high, especially compared to my car insurance they said that because it was a big bike that goes fast the premiums are higher. Before I accept their offer I was wondering what other companies I can approach to see if I can find a better premium.

Cheers JAF

It's probably why so many people don't work

I have an english friend who married a thai and she was allowed to work after 1 year in the UK and now that they have divorced she retains her british citizenship and receives a small pension, free housing and free healthcare. She even got a free bus pass.

It begs the question why can't a man who is married to a thai, who has been visited and vetted by the local authorities in this country be allowed to support his family. In this day and age you would have thought that Thailand would have allowed the "aliens" to work without prejudice. Alas, this is not the case due to some xenophobic laws that others will choose to circumnavigate when possible.

JAF

I very much doubt that British citizenship was obtained in one year !

There is no such thing as "free" housing in the UK so why post this nonsense ?

Doubt away but its entirely true, why would I lie just so you can scoff nonsensically. She has british citizenship and free housing provided and paid for by the government

JAF

It's probably why so many people don't work

I have an english friend who married a thai and she was allowed to work after 1 year in the UK and now that they have divorced she retains her british citizenship and receives a small pension, free housing and free healthcare. She even got a free bus pass.

It begs the question why can't a man who is married to a thai, who has been visited and vetted by the local authorities in this country be allowed to support his family. In this day and age you would have thought that Thailand would have allowed the "aliens" to work without prejudice. Alas, this is not the case due to some xenophobic laws that others will choose to circumnavigate when possible.

JAF

Thanks to all the posters who have offered constructive advice. The family business employs 10 thai nationals already and they are going to apply to the labor department to employ my friend on a part time basis as a designer "situated in a different location" for a supposed salary of 20,000 to 30,000 per month. I did see another poster say that his salary would have to be around 60,000 bht per month but I am unaware of the reason why. If the salary was as high as this, what would be the amount of tax to be paid compared to the lower salary?

Once again, thank you

JAF

There is no possibility of your 'friend' obtaining a legal work permit on the basis of being a 'freelancer'

What is offered is illegal !

WP's are issued and linked to one specific job/employer and can only be used in the district where they are issued.

If he wants the job and the work permit offered by the family he will have to move to Bangkok.

Whenever this person works as a "teacher" he is risking arrest, fines, jail and deportation.

He realises that he is circumnavigating the law in this way but it must be said that many foreigners who are employed at the local schools (albeit with a work visa) also freelance as teachers outside of the school in the same private tuition school he works in. This is common knowledge in the province but it is overlooked or ignored because the province is not a popular tourist area and has a problem attracting english speaking foreigners who will teach their students. Immigration seem to be quite happy to turn a blind eye as long as he has a work permit and pays taxes.

So the question remains, how would a company in Bangkok obtain a work visa for a foreigner as their freelance graphic designer? Is a lawyer required or can the company obtain the visa on behalf of their employee for a more modest fee

Thanks

JAF