Dene16

31 minutes ago, vincent13 said:

TOT Wi-Net is OK most of the time. Can certainly use Skype with it. Not sure about installation costs but about 650 baht per month.

installation is if i recall was about 5 or 6000 baht plus the cost of the router 1200 baht  LNB failed after 8 months and then again after another 8 months they wanted 2600 baht to replace each time

 yes you can use skype but not after 7.30 at night and the cost was 650 baht per month for unlimited

 i believe that they were slowing the connection on purpose for using too much data.. All farangs in the area had exactly the same problems as myself.

When i finally pulled the mast down i found it was being held in place by loose bent over nails, no wonder the mast was constantly moving out of position (had to call them out about every 6/8 weeks 400 baht) 

3 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

tallation co

1 hour ago, Coota said:

I imagine TOT will be your solution.

Probably true but TOT is absolute rubbish constantly breaking down at your cost to repair due to the winds moving the mast fractionally and totally unusable past 7.30 in the evening. power modules constantly blowing.

Government has stated that everyone should have access to the internet by some date in the next couple of years.

It is not expensive, before 3BB Fibre came to our village in rural Surin,  some guy paid to have CAT put a fibre cable to his house at a cost of 40K baht for 5 kilometres ( maybe further) 

 i could not use it (piggyback off it) as they said he owned it and ended up paying him 700bht for him to transmit to me via wifi ( 1.5 kilometres) but very good

17 hours ago, flexomike said:

have an O-A multiple entry visa based on retirement, my visa expires May 11th, My plan is to do a border run first week of May to Cambodia, Phsar Prom, not sure of spelling, I live 30 km east of Rayong, close to Sukhumvit 3 , so I am thinking that this is my best choice, I will be driving myself, is there parking on the Thai side?, will I be able to do an in and out?, will I need to show 20,000 baht in my pocket? should I bring a photo for visa on the cambodian side, or will I just get an in and out stamp, cost on Cambodian side, heard there were agents on the border that will take care of you, worth using? Last question, will I get a one year permission to stay on the Thai side when re-entering? Any input on this will be greatly appreciated, this is my first time doing this, in the future I will just do it at Rayong immigration.

i have done this, not to save on the 800k baht for an extra year, but  was not happy about the date i would have to renew my extension every year.

You do not need 20k baht 

yes they will charge you an extra 200 or 300 baht to come straight back actually on the reciept

they will take your photo there 100 baht approximately

There are lots of touts/agents about that will do the paperwork for you. (its not hard to do it yourself but much simpler, Someone has stated 1,200 baht, i paid 300 baht.for young boys help ( he asked for nothing) Better you ask the cost first

I also had to pay immigration officer an additional 200 baht tea money maybe tout was working for them

On 10/04/2017 at 2:47 PM, c0der said:

There is now a special desk at Suvarnabhumi Airport in the same large room as the immigration counters. This desk is in a corner before the queues. In addition to the expected re-entry permit fee, they demand an extra 200 THB for their "service".

I well and truly got caught by this, but i believe you are mistaken, they did charge me 200 baht but this was for the photos that they claimed had to be taken by them.

I personally would not be worried over 200 baht if i didn't have any photos on me, as they charge this price everywhere.

However as i had already gone to immigration in the airport to ask where the desk had gone.They promptly asked if i had any photos and then took some for the grand price of 200 baht.

Only for the desk to charge me again saying they had to be taken by them via their camera ( crap i know but the fact of the matter is, 200 baht for doing it at the airport and not paying for new photos to be made, is ok by me)

Now i know where the desk is haha

14 hours ago, Roger Lee said:

I got dumped from Jomtien at the Harbor Mall over by Soi 2 on 2nd road which was fine because that's where I wanted to go.  Then after my business I walked to Beach Road and got on another baht bus but got dumped again just short of Walking Street.  What gives?  I'm suspecting Thai greediness once again.  I don't mind mind walking several blocks but to be dumped and forced to do the same makes no sense, except for greediness.  I suspect they're conniving, definitely different.

Ok so it can be a little annoying sometimes but lets face it, is it really going to spoil your day?. I would suspect that it has happened to everyone, but its 10 baht, not exactly a fortune and probably the best bargain in pattaya.

Any serious bike rider will know that the the rtp were riding in a totally irrational manor plus being incorrectly positioned in the middle of the road. Yes you could see the brake lights but the only indication was as they were turning. Undercutting vehicles here is normal. You need to to be extra vigilant regarding other motor vehicles on the road when riding a bike 

However the truck driver should of been more observant and slowed down sooner when the brake lights were seen or in this case not. I would put this as a 50/50 fault or possibly put the higher percentage of blame on the truck only because if he'd slowed on seeing the brake lights he would of stopped in time.

I for one when talking to someone also call it a retirement visa, understand exactly what someone is talking about when they mention it, and is far easier to explain to someone new when calling it exactly that. 

The only reason i would call it an extention of stay would be on here to stop the moaning moaning moaning, pedantic brigade (as someone has already stated)  trying to start a whole new topic on it over my original question.

which ever way you look at it your extention of stay is generated originally by the retirement visa.

Get a life people !!!!!!!!!

On 13/12/2016 at 9:15 PM, liveforever said:

Does anyone have any idea on chanote paddy land rai price with good access between buriram/surin please.

Very hard question to answer as there are many variables to consider. 

Last year in Surin i was offered 5 rai for 1/2 million baht and I/2 rai in village for 300k

Apparently, i believe, someone did pay 1 million for 4 or 5 rai recently but this land was very close to the main highway

The problem is many thais believe the land is worth much more than anyone is prepared to pay for it and stay millionaires, on paper, as they will never ever sell it.

Banks will also secure loans upon it and overvalue it aswell

I personally believe that no farm land should be worth more than 200k per rai  ( no water or electricity)as very little money can be made by owning it except as an investment to sell in many years time.

On 15/12/2016 at 11:23 AM, thetruth revealer said:

Depending on every Branch there are different rules applied, Kasikorn seem to be Farang Friendly , which i cant say for Bangkok Bank per example.Often its depends on the clerk as well what kind of Documents are required. Some branches would even allow TR Visa for opening  accounts where others require what you described. Its not consistent .

I have a Bangkok bank account from 4 years ago, gained using a tr visa.

When i needed to put 800,000 baht into a  fixedi savings account, i was refused in all 4 banks that i went into, saying i needed a work permit 

I had to go back and except the crap interest rate Bangkok bank were offering on their fixed savings account but at least they offered it.

This was in robinsons mall, Surin city

28 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

Traffic has at least doubled over the past 6 years. I'm sure you've noticed that here in Pattaya!!!

I do not live in Thailand or have frequented Pattaya for the last 2 years  so unfortunately do not notice the changes as well as yourself but i'm sure you are correct

12 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

 

Looking at the transferwise website, the exchange rate is slightly better than bank TT rate, but the fee to transfer $10,000 is $150. Fees like that negate any good exchange rate.

I have to concur with your observation. However when sending smaller amounts as i and many others do the fees are less than the transfer cost from your bank.

Also i am also from the UK (UK banking system) not Australia and have not come across anything better at the moment but, i as others, are always looking for better options and maybe some more will come in this thread

On 12/11/2016 at 8:07 AM, Baht bus said:

Would appreciate any input or experiences people may have encountered transferring money this way . 

 

I, as many others here, use transfer wise. 

usually takes 3 days to transfer but overall provides the best exchange rate when charges are included. There is no charge from your thai bank as they deposit baht.

The price they quote is the price you get. The rate they quote is always better than the TT rate from whichever thai bank you will use.

There has been many discussions on this subject here   and i have always looked at other op's suggestions but no one has yet to better transferwise if you don't mind waiting the 3/4 days

A couple have offered a slightly better rate but this has only been for a certain amount or time 

4 hours ago, rixalex said:

4 hours sounds ambitious. 4 1/2 - 5 hours accounting for traffic sounds more realistic.

when i did this trip 6 years ago, leaving from jomtien,  it took 3 1/2 hours. I must admit i just like to get places quickly, with only a brief stop on the way to grab a drink from 7/11. 

So 4 hours does not seem ambitious to me and quite a pleasant journey ( no sat nav required)

i thought it would be  the same when i purchased a motor cycle in Hua Hin 2 years ago.

However it then took me 8 hours to get back ( maybe longer). What a nightmare that was with my sat nav in bangkok sending me up one road  then sending me back down again on 2 occasions. 

5 hours ago, fabman5 said:

Thanks for the info Faz , with regards to when you are first issued your Visa , does the 1 year start as soon as its issued or when you first enter Thailand ?

Its when they issue the visa

4 minutes ago, berybert said:

Just been back to my doctor and he refused to sign the paperwork without the tests being down.

 

Looks like your unlucky, i went on the advice of others and as ROY111 has also stated his just took 2 minutes

However they may not charge you for the tests as its your own GP, curious to know as i'm sure others are

ROY111 also said he had his documents certified in London.

Due to a 2 hour traffic jam i was 2 minutes late from the 11 o'clock close and they refused to except my documents and told me to come back the next day. I think i would rather get them done before you go. I had travelled 80 miles

It is also stated that the solicitor  said the bank statements were okay as they were stamped by the bank. Again for the sake of £5 i would get them to sign them just in case.

On 03/11/2016 at 2:49 PM, fabman5 said:

Thanks Dene , when you say "go on your history or medical file" , you mean your Doctor signed the Medical Certificate, Basically just saying you were fit and healthy. and they accepted that.

 

Basically yes and Yes they did 

The doctor stated that some of the things they asked for would take months to do if some of the tests were done.  I stated that this was normally just signed by the GP as many others had done this  before . She said ok and they phoned 2 days later to pick up the certificate. The certificate must be downloaded from the embassy website for them to sign 

27 minutes ago, fabman5 said:

Just looking at the website and realised i need to get police and medical checks , then get them signed by  solicitors as well. ( not that i know any )

 

A private medical report can be quite expensive

 

I had no idea so much information and cost was involed !

 

how much are your solicitors charging you  berybert ( if you dont mind me asking )

 

I am guessing the total cost for everything ( Visa application , doctors report, police checks and solicitor fees ) could be as much as £350 ! depending on solicitors fees

I went to my local doctors for the medical certificate. They cannot check everything on the list as it would require blood tests etc so go on your history or medical file cost £30

Police check cost £35 or £45 cannot remember exactly, its on the police website

I had bank statements, medical,  etc signed by a solicitor £5 for the first document and £2.50 for each after that total cost £12.50 or £15.

Do not have them notarised as they do not need to be, regardless of what it says on Thai embassy website. Notarisation in other countries,  other than UK, just means signed by a solicitor. May be slightly more expensive as this was cheap just phone around.

My bank statements were taken from my online account

Biggest cost can be trip to London to get it all done as it has to be done in person and why all the paperwork needs to be correct

I went the cash in bank route so slightly different i do not know what an income certificate is also

7 hours ago, sometimewoodworker said:

Is far as I have heard (I hope I'm wrong) the London embassy does not usually give a Non O-A to people under 65, even though the website states it can be given to people over 50 with the relevant documents.

 

please correct me if you know anyone under 65 who has been successful.

 

i got my OA visa aged 51 2 years ago

5 hours ago, George FmplesdaCosteedback said:

I got a letter from them in 2014 saying I now had enough contributions for a full  pension. Have they moved goalposts again?

 

I am 53 years of age (not worked after 51) and i will get the full pension minus my contracted out part of the state pension. As i do not wish/need to work any more. and will receive my company pension at 55.  I had 32 years service at age 50 i think and it is worth £129

I only need thirty years service but as they have changed the rules for others ( i.e 35 years) i can now continue to contribute further, to raise it to £155 pounds per week, counteracting the contracted out part. They stated that it would take another 6 years of contributions

It was all dependant on your age when they brought in the new rules 

It stated  on the HMRC web site  my entitlement, what i would receive and any missed years ( there is no longer any earnings related addition to the state pension as it was removed)

For many people in my age bracket and contracted out, this will come as a bonus

i had previously checked with HMRC but all of this information is now available online you just need to register a gateway account with HMRC

I am 53 years of age (not worked after 51) and i will get the full pension minus my contracted out part of the state pension. As i do not wish/need to work any more. and will receive my company pension at 55.  I had 32 years service at age 50 i think and it is worth £129

I only need thirty years service but as they have changed the rules for others ( i.e 35 years) i can now continue to contribute further, to raise it to £155 pounds per week, counteracting the contracted out part. They stated that it would take another 6 years of contributions

It was all dependant on your age when they brought in the new rules 

It stated  on the HMRC web site  my entitlement, what i would receive and any missed years ( there is no longer any earnings related addition to the state pension as it was removed)

For many people in my age bracket and contracted out, this will come as a bonus

i had previously checked with HMRC but all of this information is now available online you just need to register a gateway account with HMRC

If you have it paid directly to Thailand it will not go up each year with the  rpi (retail price index - inflation). Not a problem at the moment because inflation is so small but could change.

Always better to have it paid first into a UK bank account

3 hours ago, sahibji said:

get an engineering soil survey if the soil is unstable. best to tackle the problem at the source.

Your'e missing the point, corruption from contractors, civic officials, village headsmen,  all result in either sub standard work, incorrect materials, backhanders.

The start of the main 226 out of Surin  was relaid 18 months ago but less than 12 months later the road was falling apart in places. The village roads last half that. 

They know it won't last just gives them another opportunity to make more money later. 

6 hours ago, ALLSEEINGEYE said:

yet this guy is able to operate right inside the police station? No CCTV there or the cameras are fake just like the cops.

 

Never seen one story with so much Karma.

This was my thoughts exactly.

Is there no CCTV (not hard to believe for obvious reasons)

If there is, do they know the culprit,  how long has it been going on with someone thinking that it would never be reported .

Finally why are they not looking for him or perhaps they do know who it is.

1 hour ago, sead said:

I'm almost 100% certain she can't take out your baby without your consent.  just file a report to the police and the toll at airport stating that your wife is trying to take your baby out

As much as i hate to say it, even if possible, what would be the point of stopping the child leaving as you would only prolong the process

Look at the facts

95+ % of custody battles do go to the mother, this is simply because a mother, has and will continue to be, the parent the child sees on a regular basis and therefore has a strong bond. People will argue this but it's a fact. As someone has already mentioned would she be farmed out to relatives or childminders.

The child has grown up in Thailand and has no family ties/familiarity, apart from yourself, to anyone in the UK.

Why would she be better off here if you were supporting your daughter in Thailand

Would she struggle because of the language barrier

You claim she wanted  her to stay here, this is hearsay and means nothing.

Although the child's best interests are foremost they would also have to take into account (although minor) Thai law  does not recognise you as the father. 

The list can go on but the bottom line is it's a battle very very unlikely to win and will cost you money and heartache as she will turn her against you.

Keep in constant contact and when she is 14 years old ( in UK law) has a say in who she want to live with . Bring her here on holidays, whenever possible and if she can integrate with others i'm sure she will want to stay.

Good luck with your efforts.

I used to travel 300 miles every 2 weeks  to see mine until she forced her mother to return to our home town after 7 months. It was me she chose to live with when she could.

this needs to be put into prospective

ukforex.co.uk  is only good if you are sending £1000 or more not quite as good as the exchange rate with Transferwise but if as stated ,the money arrives in one day

Xendpay  They offer the best exchange rate but only for the first £2000 (in any one year) then it incurs the 1% fee which catches people out as it then becomes,by fa,r the worst deal there. Even with the better exchange rate

Tranferwise  overall seems the best alternative for smaller amounts and larger if you don't mind the 4 day wait but you need to keep a check on the exchange rate as sometimes (for some unknown reason)i have noticed that it is worse than the Thai banks