TheRascal

21 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

I have never seen them pull an older Mum to the side and search her stuff.

May happen on the way out, but I doubt it.  I bet she will be fine coming in with those meds.

Cheers mate, I thought she's not exactly the target profile!

3 hours ago, Sheryl said:

 One should never assume that bags won't be checked (they usually won't be -- but never assume it).

 

However as it is perfectly legal for her to b ring in up to a 3 month supply of these medications, it is a non-issue.

 

Just make sure the meds are clealr ylabelled.

Thanks Sheryl, I was hoping you'd weigh in. Thanks for the answer and for all the info you provide here, it's a massive help to a lot of expats. 

My mum is visiting Thailand and will likely be here for over a month. Does anyone know what the legality of the following are in Thailand and if she will need to have a prescription with her for her existing tablets and if she will be able to have over 30 day's worth:
 

• Venlafaxine 37.5mg (full box is 56 tablets but she takes 2 per day so would need over 1 box)
• Betahistine Dihydrochloride 16mg (full box is 84 tablets, takes as needed. Not really regularly)

Also are they available here incase she needed more?

Those who have had or have babies here... where do you buy decent quality clothes?

So far been buying from Mothercare and a few bits from Emporium & Central Department stores although the latter two are definitely a bit more on the expensive side. 

Thanks for everyone who's replied so far, a lot to take into consideration. 

I'm not hugely into cars so European brands seem overpriced, if you're into them for the love of cars then that makes sense but there doesn't seem to be a big benefit otherwise. 

Reviewing most of the European, American, Aussie and Asian safety sites it seems like the Mazda MX-5/MX-30 are very similar from a safety perspective to Volvos and Mercedes of a similar size or the Range Rover Evoque which was also suggested. Subarus also seem to perform well in safety tests as does the CRV (although not quite up there with the Mazdas). 

If the only option for a safe car was a European brand then I'd go for that but from research it doesn't seem like that's the case. 

1 hour ago, BTB1977 said:

Take a look at the Subaru. My daughter has two kids and It takes it all. Plus their very safe. Kind of like the Volvo of the Japanese car world. 

I've been looking at them, which one does your daughter have?

1 hour ago, Chris.B said:

500mb is not much in the scale of things.

 

True but he was asking about an email that could be used to provide to gmail, not one needed as a daily driver. 

Protonmail is free for 500mb storage. 

Edit: just saw the user above recommended the same provider. 

17 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

You know that children's buggies are collapsible and will fit into any car, including the smallest of your choices?

I know they fold but I didn't know how small. Dumb I know, I have no experience with this kind of thing! 

2 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

Bought a CX-5. Well impressed. If that helps.

 

No kids now, but brought up four as a single dad and the CX-5 would have been perfect.

 

 

That's really helpful thank you - CX-5 does look like a better sized option. Which model did you go for?

My partner is pregnant and we want to buy a car before the baby is born. Would be interested in car suggestions from any members with a baby. I like the new Civic and the Camry, she prefers Mazda CX30. 

I'm concerned that all of those might be a little small when it comes to fitting a buggy easily. Corolla Cross, CH-R, CX5 or CRV are also an option. Fortuna and the like are probably a little too big for generally driving around BKK. 

3 hours ago, TunnelRat69 said:

I have numerous ad-blocks on my browsers including Facebook...........they want to advertise, create their own website and leave my Facebook alone.  I don't agree with adverts on my facebook - so I take the time to report them all, all as Spam - I don;t ask for them, I don;t care why facebook or Google is sending me unsolicited stuff  I hide and report them all as Spam - finally after a month of constantly reporting them, I get fewer and fewer.

Facebook ads are hardly intrusive, nor are Google ads unlike ads on some other sites. 

Should companies give people a platform to use completely free and not monetise it at all? Or would a social media platform where you have to pay to use it but you don't see any ads be better?

16 hours ago, cyberfarang said:

Nothing to do with having experience. Being a guarantor means being responsible for payments if the debtor defaults on the payments. It`s not rocket science understanding that one.

 

Two things in life to avoid. Don`t lend money and don`t be a guarantor, it`s a mugs game.

 

 

I disagree on the first point and strongly agree on the second. I understand what being a guarantor is, I didn't ask for a definition. The reason I ask if anyone has experience is to try to get an idea of what the finance companies can/can't do and to see if anyone has any knowledge of the law - which it seems some people do so asking for experience was relevant. 

On the second point I agree - my old man always told me to only loan money if you didn't expect to get it back again. 

 

That sucks opalred. 

How much room to negotiate with finance companies is there here? I know that in the UK if someone is incapable of paying a debt they can go into an arrangement with the company that they will pay a small amount each month until it's settled. This person has nothing the finance company can take, no property or vehicles and a small salary without much left over at all. 

4 minutes ago, dotpoom said:

The way the question is put seems to suggest that the OP feels that the guarantor shouldn't be held responsible......why so?

 

 

 

 

Nope, nothing to suggest I think that the guarantor shouldn't be held responsible or whether I think they should or should not pay - just asking if anyone had a similar experience. Don't try to read between the lines. 

Yeah definitely, not the first time I've heard of this situation. People are way too trusting here. 

A friend of mine acted as a guarantor on a motorbike purchase for a friend around 10 years ago. They are no longer in contact and the finance company have now appeared chasing 36k from my friend. 

Is there any course of action that can be taken, anyone have experience of this. What happens if my friend refuses to pay as this amount of money just isn't available to their family. 

Past 3 times I've flown from Manchester they have checked I've got a visa when checking in due to me having no return flight. 

I wore black for a bit and then just normal clothes with no bright colours and a ribbon when I remember. Have had no disapproving looks (in BKK) that I've seen. Not even all Thai people are wearing black now, I'd guess it's around 75% or so. 

Did as advised and completed it and passed over the passport open on the page with the re-entry. No problems at all. 

Thanks all for the advice, much appreciated. 

Perfect. All good. Thanks guys. 

I have a Non B visa with a BOI company. I got the visa in March (3 month visa) and the entry stamp was changed to a year at immigration once I had entered the country.  The visa is obviously stamped as used. 

I've now taken a short trip outside the country (with a re-entry permit), what visa number do I need to enter on the arrival card? I want to make sure they see the relevant info and don't just stamp me in for 30 days. 

If enforced, those are certainly onerous requirements for what amounts to a pretty limited-use visa. Compare, for example, with the SETV, which is available in multiple locations convenient to Thailand: to stay in the Kingdom for six months, at the same time dispensing with many of the requirements of the METV, but needing a little more effort, the SETV can provide much the same length of stay and flexibility.

I'd be very surprised if the METV proves popular under the present terms.

How can you stay for 6 months on an SETV? You would need two for 6 months - get SETV, enter once, get 60 days, extend for 30 and then leave, rinse, repeat.

As an update to this topic I decided to go to Penang. Flew from DMK on Monday and will fly back on Thursday. More time than I need but it's nice to have a buffer incase of any issues.

Had all the documents but the guy asked me for work permit, I explained I didn't have it yet as I was just about to start, had all the letters from the company and the supporting letter for the work permit (the company is BOI)

He explained I could only get 3 months which can then be extended in Thailand (this I was expecting), I will collect it tomorrow afternoon.

Didn't bother with an agent, staying in Georgetown, the taxi took me, waited and brought me back and it cost me the equivalent of around 300thb.

Went to the consulate at around 11am, less than 10 other people. Taxi driver said it's busy first thing so better to go late morning.

Can anyone recommend a good visa agent in Penang for Non B.

I've got all the required documents.

A recommendation on the best area to stay for convenience would be great too.

Hello,

I need to go outside Thailand to sort my non B visa for work. I will have all the documentation from the company I will be working for.

They have suggested I go to KL but having read many negative reports about them being excessively strict I wanted to ask advise from you good people.

Also advise on how many days it would take would be awesome.

Happy to go anywhere in the region but would prefer to avoid Laos if possible.