Scouse123

Panama? Costa Rica? Ecuador?

All seem to score highly for easy visas and cheap living and reasonable on evening activities! except Ecuador I suppose.

Actually found a use for mine and got the bank to insert my pink ID card as opposed to passport number for future usage.

Saves a lot of messing when I change full passports. I wish they would extend it as a form of ID for other uses such as bills, airplanes for domestic travel etc.

They manually put in my number at SCB bank!

Yeah they have increased it to 1,000 baht a month, a tiny step in the right direction.

Please bear in mind they are only giving their OAPs 500 baht a month!

A proposed minimum tax rate on any small business of say, 3,000-5000 baht a month would be a start to get people with small businesses into the habit of paying into a tax system, and if people say they cannot afford it, then say they cannot open or keep a business then as it is of no benefit to the nation.

They have enough civil servants sat on their bums doing nothing and getting a salary to implement this kind of a system especially with the technology now available.

Guys,

My card stopped working as I found out topping up my viber phone account and also it was declined at Big C. I went to Krung Thai bank YESTERDAY and reported it. I was informed that it was because of the new six digit pin system that was now in effect. My old card did have a chip by the way.

They recommended I upgraded to the new Palladium card with life cover, hospital cover and a higher limit for cash withdrawals of 150,000 baht per day. I accepted and parted company with 1699 baht for the card. Nice card though!....I think this is a yearly fee!

I don't care as I never queue in Krung Thai bank and get VIP treatment ahead of regular customers with having a KTC black card. It's worth 1700 baht a year to queue jump!

Next, I crossed over the road to SCB bank. I hardly use this account but wanted them to cease the SMS messages and deducting 20 baht which has gone on for four years now. Like other posters, I was sent away to get my passport original as they wanted to copy it. My phone copy, driving license and pink ID would not do. I returned with passport. The passport differed from the one I opened the account with. I told her the previous passport was lost.

I, with my other half, then proceeded to explain very jovially, so much so the lady manager joined in, about the merits of using my pink ID which number would never change as long as I was here on retirement extensions. Also, I told them I traveled a lot and filled up and changed passports a great deal, way before their expiry date.

They agreed!

They also found a way to change the system to not require the lost passport and then put in my pink ID card details and the computer accepted this. So now, at SCB at least, my account is linked to my pink ID and not to a passport.

I did have to sign about thirteen pieces of paper and a copy of my passport to finally stop the 20 baht fees and constant SMS's.

So there you go guys, it can be done and an actual use for the bloody pink ID card.

This could go on a lot longer than the Thais realize.

The word is from people managing to get the news out of China is that this epidemic is far, far worse than is being reported in the news.

4 minutes ago, mike787 said:

All this will escallate even more, just the beginning.  Thailand will virtually have eyes on ALL foreigners 24/7 so nobody can hide here.  It's a great idea.  THailand will be one of the safest countries in the world.  Now, what to do about the road fatality, that's another story. 

And what will they do about the epidemic levels of drug use and violent crime by their own citizens?

2 minutes ago, kfchugo said:

More and more expats are "voting with their feet" and going to countries that actually welcome foreigners - Vietnam, Laos, Philippines etc. I feel sorry for the expats with family/ assets here who are stuck with Thailand.

Nobody wants to live in a police state where the innocent are still treated like criminals.

You can add UK to that list.

I can afford to stay here without a problem, but a business opportunity is taking shape that will take me to the UK for at least nine months of the year.

I am simply full up with the stupidity, xenophobia and Thais still believing the government bile that this country is the best thing since sliced bread when they are driving the country into the ground with their knee jerk reactions and stupid policies that are never thought through.

Never proactive, always reactive.

The saddest part of all is they don't see how silly they all actually look to anybody who walks upright!

Talk about being sent out on a fools errand.

6 hours ago, darksidedog said:

Lots of money spent, lots of hard work and for what? A series of very minor infringements. Given the crime rate across the country, you have to ask if the money and effort wouldn't be better spent policing the local population perhaps?

Absolutely,

But the problem is that would be the sensible thing to do.

3 minutes ago, schlog said:

Singapore. It sucks in the 90s.

The prices still do!????????????

6 hours ago, ChasingTheSun said:

“Thailand has changed beyond recognition and I would now refer to the late 80s and the 90s as the good old days. It is well known among many people the place has deteriorated in terms of friendliness, cleanliness, value for moneuy and overall enjoyment.“
....The same could be said of almost anywhere on the planet.
 

Tell us about a place that you think is now better than how it was during the 80s or 90s?

 

No place is perfect. If running away to Issaan makes you feel you are somehow living better, then good luck and buh bye. 

You are making a silly post when you do not know my circumstances.

I did not  run away to ' Isaarn ' . It was a planned move over many years, building and preparing the site and building the properties on my partners land.

Ill health and a major operation sped this decision along the way. There was no running away.

Some of us do not want to spend our days in an outside beer bar in Pattaya or wherever. Those that do OK, but not for me these days.

Name a place that is now better than in the eighties, you say?

Well, Cambodia for sure as the Khmer rouge have gone and it is no longer occupied by the Vietnamese. The country of Vietnam has improved as it is now much more accessible for tourism and more developed. Myanmar for similar reasons.

We could then talk about many former USSR states that are now independent and have opened up for tourism, or newly formed or re-established previous states that now enjoy freedoms and independence from the former Yugoslavia.

Angola, Namibia and countless others, no longer war torn and prospering and developing.

37 minutes ago, ChasingTheSun said:

Buh bye.

If you wish to speak with me or quote me, could you please use English that I can understand.

Next, I have been coming and going to Thailand over 30 years. I have lived here for around 25 years now. I have been in business and also lived here on both business visas and now retirement extensions for a considerable time. I have lived in coastal areas, traveled extensively within the country, and now live in Isaarn.

Thailand has changed beyond recognition and I would now refer to the late 80s and the 90s as the good old days. It is well known among many people the place has deteriorated in terms of friendliness, cleanliness, value for money and overall enjoyment. 

I and many others have lived through military coups, Tsunamis, blood on the streets of Bangkok, airport shutdowns, increased xenophobia displayed towards us, a tightening of rules and regulations of which many are duplicated and others serve no purpose except to make us feel unwanted.

The beaches have become terrible, filthy and polluted, the massive income from tourism has not been reinvested but diverted elsewhere. Prices have rocketed and plenty of it has nothing to do with inflation.

Meanwhile, countries such as Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Bhutan, Malaysia are now providing alternative and better choices for long staying tourists and expats. Whilst offering and opening up their countries we are witnessing easy visa processes and relaxation of rules governing purchase of properties and more access to stay and work in some Asian countries except of course, Thailand.

Thailand feels it is ' better ' than its neighbors, doesn't need Western tourists as much as it used to and is focusing on the Asian market, yet dislikes other countries in the region reaching out to those very same markets.

Two of my close friends are in Phu Quoc as I speak and on my recommendation. They were big fans of Phuket and this couple do not skimp on good hotels and pampering wherever they go. They said their last trip to Phuket they felt cheated and unwanted, even by vendors they have met from previous years and people they thought were at least, holiday friends.

I have seen their posts and photos on Facebook, they also contacted me on messenger saying thank you and stating Vietnam is wonderful, they are having a great time, and it now is their first choice for future holidays. Sure, this may change as Vietnam gets busier and opens up, but you are just in denial regards Thailand.

6 hours ago, mike787 said:

Post from jaiyen . "....Japan, China, Malaysia, Vietnam and more. Even going to Europe is only about $500 more than Thailand and much better places to visit in many countries..."  speaks for many of us in the community.  There are way better options, take your rose colored glasses off.

+1

12 hours ago, tgw said:

this is an interesting piece of news.

something stinks to the high heavens.

 

one question is, why was this warning given in public ?

why allow everyone to witness the sacking of the deputy police chief and then to know about this warning?

who else than Big Joke should heed the advice?

 

if something happens to BJ, is this to mean "I told you so" ?

 

Agree with you,

If Surachate is assigned to the office of the PM, why not just a meeting or an internal memo?

Why all the high drama and a public announcement other than to let everybody know what you have done for the benefit of those on ' both sides of the fence '

Cloak and dagger, opaque and steamy windows!

10 minutes ago, kensisaket said:

 

A Lt Col is the deputy national police chief? Really????

Typo,

You can see by the uniform he is wearing he is a Lt. General three star.

19 hours ago, Roy Baht said:

He might as well have turned himself in. They will definitely find him now.

He might also be in Africa or South America!

2 minutes ago, DannyCarlton said:

The "things" you refer to is often done on Military bases.

 

When the US were redacting terrorists to 3rd party locations in order to do "things" to them, several were redacted to Utapo air base and had "things" done to them.

Ah I see,

So you actively promote this type of policing ?

I suppose you are a supporter of the extra judicial killings that take place as well without due process!

And to mention US forces, well how many times has it been proven that they have carried out unnecessary and completely wrong actions against captives and suspects including civilians.

There is law and without it there is anarchy.

1 minute ago, Peterw42 said:

I think its primarily to avoid the media circus, and somewhat for the protection of the guy, correct procedure can be followed. As you can see, when they did finally take the guy to the police station, its under an armed escort, bullet proof vests, the station is locked down. The safe house could be just buying time to get all that in place. Make sure they dont miss a legal step in the arrest process etc.

You have FAR MORE trust in the local police than I will ever have.

Regards the media frenzy, by and large it's the police who call them and tell them what time to be at the station!

The BIB and the media are all in step with each other and certainly don't need time to get things in place. They sing off the same hymn sheet.

2 minutes ago, TKDfella said:

I saw a Thai News clip on a friend's phone yesterday and they had pictures of this guy and compared the manner of stance, which appeared to be similar. Apparently, according to the clip this teacher/director had broken a leg some while back which left him with slightly abnormal walk. Anyone here confirm this?

Just wait five minutes, somebody will confirm.

1 minute ago, DannyCarlton said:

Apparently, the "safe house" was the local army barracks.

Well OK whatever,

I would like to see or know the reasoning behind it to take him there and then AFTER transfer him to a regular police station.

They have these places up and down Bangkok and Pattaya and they are nothing more than old condos and run down houses away from prying eyes where they can do things to the accused which are highly illegal.

15 hours ago, Nip said:

Yes, a police safe house is not safe for the victim it's safe for the police.

Setting aside the crime itself as that is being dealt with adequately by all the TV supersleuths that would put Sherlock to shame. I hate these safe houses and I do not believe them to be even legal.

There is not one possible reason to take somebody to a safe house other than to perform illegal activities against the person and the law. Not one. You cannot even say for the safety of the accused, because once they got their ' confession ' they move him to a regular police station or Army barracks whatever, where he could have be taken in the first place.

It is a known fact these places are used to extort victims, extract confessions under duress, use cruel and unusual punishment such as electric shocks, suffocation with plastic bags etc. There are also no witnesses or access to lawyers or medical staff if need be.

If this guy is guilty, do as you wish or should I say as the law decides, but neither he nor anybody else should be taken to these safe houses, which is just a  euphemism for torture chambers!

I know people close to me who have been taken to these places and terrorized into giving in to extortion.

I remember him well. I watched him daily.

He had very much a style and arrogant attitude not dissimilar to the UK's Piers Morgan.

He could be right on many things he said but it was usually over shadowed with the need for the limelight and making it all about himself.

Anyway, he paid the money back only after he was bang to rights and then tried denying he was trying to embezzle it.

Maybe he can do a prison radio station whilst reflecting the error of his ways, greedy <deleted>.