JimmerJJ

Depends a lot on what your interests are. A big consideration for me was to be close to airports for International travel so Bangkok was a no brainer there. Well, you could go to Chiangmai but that usually adds another stop. If you don't travel much that's probably not a deal breaker. If living within Bangkok my considerations was walking distances to supermarkets and BTS/MRT stations. I ended up on upper Sukhumvit 22 which is a short walk or bike to the MRT, BTS, Makro, Foodland, Big C, Lotus, Villa Mart and Gourmet Market.

Hi, mostly it's a matter of principle, in that if you have good credit and pay your bills they shouldn't be able to trash that because you live overseas and i.e. don't have a US phone. But also I sent 2 items (SSN card and lease) that no question met their requirements and they still harass by sending more letters with no explanation on why it was rejected. And that potentially impacts on me being able to keep my credit cards. Fortunately my banks do not use Equifax so my score is still good with them and i suspect my credit union would weigh my 40 year good standing with them over a wayward credit bureau. And they're very aware of this problem so I doubt if they'd cancel my card. Plus they are pro-expat in that they allow you to have a foreign address and phone on your account. I could get by on debit cards except when I travel to check-in at hotels sometimes they want a real credit card (I'm going to go to Bangkok Bank to get a secured credit card as backup). but still it's the principle of the thing I don't like them trashing my credit for no good reason. Thank you

Obviously you didn't read what I submitted to them.

Anybody ever received a letter from a credit bureau saying they’re unable to locate your credit file? I’ve had a pristine credit history for over 40 years as a member of my credit union and a credit score normally over 800. I have strived life-long to maintain good credit and never missed payments, no bankruptcies, no criminal record. So all of a sudden this summer starting in June I get letters from Experian and then Equifax saying they don’t have my credit file and to send ID documents (the redacted letter from Equifax below at bottom). These credit bureaus are so out of touch with Expats but there are about 10 million Expats worldwide and growing so they better get with the program. I’m sure I’m not the only one (I’d like to start a class action lawsuit). So some history of what happened. First it was Experian who said they did not have my credit file (May ’24) and then I asked my credit union to make sure Experian was getting my credit history. My credit score went from over 800 to around a negative -10. Infuriated I complained to the CFPB which is supposed to oversee credit bureaus to find out how what happened, how did it get ‘lost’. About a month later Experian fixed the problem (each bureau has different credit scores I believe) and I got my credit score back with them to almost normal. So that was relatively easy. But then in June I get a postcard from Equifax (at my Thailand address) saying there is no credit file available. So then I complained to CFPB about Equifax and got this letter from Equifax in late June (OCR redacted copy below) saying they could not locate my credit file. It was very strange because just the month before I happened to download my Equifax Credit Report and it was Exceptional. So anyway, I responded to the Equifax letter via DHL with tracking (it was delivered) and what I sent back met their 2 required items. Side note: They know I’m overseas and unbelievably they don’t ask for a passport for ID just shows how out of touch they are with Expats. So then comes the end of July and I get 2 more identical letters from Equifax but what’s frustrating is they give no information about what they found wrong with my original response. So, they expect you to go through the whole rigmarole again and just take a shot in the dark not knowing what they didn’t like about my response. I am so done with credit bureaus I am not going to waste my time responding to them again. Next complaining to CFPB again, then FTC, then Senator and then a Credit Bureau lawyer. I would be interested if anyone else received a letter like this and what happened. A couple other thoughts: * The credit file is mostly derived from what the bank or creditors send to the credit bureau. I actually do not believe they cannot locate my credit file all they have to do is contact my bank because is a dialogue between banks and the credit bureaus. They have my name, SSN, banks etc. they just nee to put 2 and 2 together. * I have my Equifax credit report from May 24 (I keep close tabs on my credit and frequently download my credit reports form all 3 bureaus) just a few months before this began and it was "Exceptional" credit. What happened how did they ‘lose’ it in about 2 months time. * Although they are not a government agency I they are still obligated to fairly represent credit and by not providing my credit history (which I believe they actually have despite their saying they can’t locate it) they are in effect trashing my credit. How can they not ‘locate it’ don’t they do backups. I think it’s just a BS excuse to harass because I filed a CFPB complaint. (Redacted Letter here below with my notations) We have received your request concerning inaccurate information on your Equifax credit file. We were unable to locate a credit file in our database with the identification information you provided, In order to further assist you, we will need additional documents to verify your identification. Please provide your complete Name, Current and Former Addresses, Social Security Number and Date of Birth. (I Did in my response) We ask that you please send us a copy of two different items - one from each of the two categories listed below. (I did, solid with SSN card and lease) One item will verify your identity and the other will verify your current address. Category 1) IDENTIFICATION Please make a copy of one of the following items. The item you choose MUST contain your complete 9-digit Social Security number. 8 Pay stub with complete U.S. Social Security number N/A I’m Retired W-2 form with complete U.S. Social Security number N/A I’m Retired Valid Social Security Card Done submitted my original SSN card front and back (which I amazingly still have) Also I submitted a copy of my passport which seems like a no-brainer if you’re dealing with Expats (told this to the Equifax CEO who I DHL’d a copy of my response) Note: A 'Work Permit Only' card is not valid proof of a SSN. Category 2) CURRENT ADDRESS Please make a copy of one of the following items. The item you choose MUST contain your current mailing address of (redacted) Driver's license (I submitted copies of my expired USA license and current Thai license but they did not have current address so probably rejected) Rental/lease agreement or house deed Done I submitted my lease agreement, it’s in English too Pay stub with address N/A Retired Utility bill (i.e. gas, electric, water, cable, residential telephone bill) with current service address. Done submitted my Thai phone that has name and address. They don’t specify if it has to be US phone. Again, we need a total of two items -- one item from each of the categories above -- to process your request. Please submit those items along with this letter to the following address: Equifax Information Services LLC P.O. Box 105069 Atlanta, GA 30348-5069 To ensure that your request is processed without delay, please enlarge photocopies and ensure the information is legible. Illegible documents or documents that contain highlights may cause delay in processing as we may have to ask you to resubmit your request with more legible documents. All submitted documents were clear and legible Please return this letter along with the requested information and your original correspondence/request to the address below. I sent via DHL with tracking number and it was delivered. Equifax Information Services LLC P.O. Box 740256 Atlanta, GA 30374-0256

Trump ""𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘝𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯."" As he dodges and comes up with a totally nonsensical answer. Trump goes on "𝘐’𝘮 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘢𝘹𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴" which is more nonsense." Tariffs may make the exporter less competitive but the tariffs are paid by American businesses, the importers, and are passed on to the consumer in the way of higher prices- Inflationary. https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2024/09/a-new-level-of-incoherence-from-trump/679742/?gift=_WvLxLquFZWaELBkwHbkizLEYcsa9I_MfRcdGtEDATw&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share

If Trump is elected it will almost certainly mean a weaker dollar. It's an economic fact hed by many economists that Trump's nationalist and tariff policies translate to a higher cost of living for expats. Think about 25 or 30 baht to the dollar and how that would affect you. just something to think about here: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/27/opinion/trump-inflation.html?unlocked_article_code=1.GU4.OTb5.axdyXh-ZeppO&smid=url-share

Some people here are going by old information. The Clade II strain in 2022 was a threat to gays but the new strain Clade IB is a threat to everyone. https://nationalpost.com/health/new-mpox-strain-clade-ib-what-to-know Researchers report that in 2023, the Clade Ib strain initially spread through sexual transmission in the local sex work industry in DRC. However, it later spread within households from mothers to children, eventually reaching people outside households without sexual contact. Researchers believe it is more easily transmitted, making it potentially more dangerous.

Thanks for the info! Just wondering if it was available in Thailand, I guess not. It's not a big problem now but there have been several outbreaks in the last few years and the newest outbreak is very virulent and deadly. We'll see, hopefully it will just blow over (but then I said that about Covid :-)). I don't think it's going away IMHO. I had a smallpox vaccination about 65 years ago (I hope my body remembers that :-)). 🤞

Hi all, anyone know if it's possible to get JYNNEOS vaccination against Monkeypox here in Bangkok? Thanks excerpt from web about what's available. JYNNEOS This vaccine is licensed to prevent both mpox and smallpox, and has been the primary vaccine used in the US during the current mpox outbreak. It's a two-dose vaccine that's injected into the upper arm. Common side effects include headache, nausea, muscle pain, tiredness, and reactions at the injection site. ACAM2000 This vaccine is also licensed to prevent smallpox, but hasn't been used in the current mpox outbreak. It has more known side effects and contraindications than JYNNEOS, but could be made available for mpox under an investigational new drug protocol.

A second Trump presidency threatens to devalue the dollar. Trump's advisors are scheming how to accomplish this in order to boost exports and reduce imports. https://www.forbes.com/sites/zacharyfolk/2024/04/23/trump-blames-biden-for-strong-dollar-as-us-currency-reaches-new-high-against-japanese-yen/ https://www.marketwatch.com/story/trump-blames-strong-dollar-for-u-s-economy-going-to-hell-56d67936

Hello all, If I use a friends address to maintain a US address does that make me taxable in my friend's state? Before moving to Thailand I lived in Nevada (no state income tax) but my friend lives in Wisconsin (has state income tax). I don't think it should since I file my taxes using my residential address here in Thailand. Correct? Also is it legal to use a friend's address? Many websites suggest it i.e. Experian the credit bureaus suggests to do this to maintain a USA address. Text from their website copied below. I want a real residential address not a commercial (CMRA) street address as most US mailing services like IPostal and Anytime mail use. Thank you 1. Maintain a U.S. Address The best way to maintain your credit while living abroad is to continue using your U.S. credit cards. However, to keep your existing cards, and to maintain your U.S. bank account or other financial accounts, you need a U.S. address. One option is to ask a relative or close friend if you can use their address for your financial accounts while you're overseas. If you don't want to ask anyone, there are plenty of paid mail forwarding services for this purpose. These businesses cater to digital nomads and expats who need a U.S. mail address that's not a post office box. Some companies physically ship your mail to your foreign address, while others scan and send digital copies. Once you've decided on what address you'll use, update all of your financial accounts to this new address.

'Make America Great Again' Trump recently placed dead last in a Feb 2024 survey of Presidential greatness by historical scholars of political science. Can you believe it? A guy that professes to be the epitome of family values and even sells Bibles has ranked last. Yes 45 ranked 45 below the top guy Abraham Lincoln and for the 2nd time. What were the scholars thinking or maybe they were thinking. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Political_Science_Association#:~:text=In 2024%2C Republican Abraham Lincoln,tied with Federalist John Adams.

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That would be a great thing that you suggest Jing. As it is many US citizens living abroad are being denied their rights because of the overboard archaic Patriot Act. You are required to have a US address and phone for many things financial and Expats have to use clandestine work-arounds to maintain a US address or phone. It's frequently suggested to use a friend in USA but that's a band-aid solution. Here's an example, me. I'm currently in a dispute with Experian because they removed my credit score and they say I'm "Unscorable" on my Experian dashboard page. It's been several weeks and I'm still trying to find out why they did that but no answer yet. I'm 72 and have been with the same credit union for 40 years and I have never once been late on a mortgage or credit card payment and so too with my other 2 banks. I have no bankruptcies, outstanding loans, criminal record nothing adverse to impact on my credit. Squeaky clean. My credit score has always been over 800 and in Nov 23 it was 815. So it's preposterous for Experian to say I have no credit history to score. But I believe it is because I'm using a CMRA address to forward my mail to me. I have an Experian account but it does not allow you to enter a foreign address. I submitted a complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau a division of the FTC) and they are a government agency to oversee credit bureaus (private companies) and all CFPB did was forward my complaint to Experian and then a week later Experian responds with an answer saying nothing except 'we're working on it' and with that nothing-response CFPB closed my complaint. It's a nightmare to try and hold the private Credit Bureaus to account and worse you get zero help from the CFPB. My whole 40 years credit history is up in smoke because of them and I get no answers. So my next step is to complain to the FTC and then my Nevada Senator and then to a credit attorney. I wish all Expats would join together and fight to have part of the Patriot Act (maybe wrong but I believe it is the crux of these problems) amended so it is not hurting US citizens. ExperianMaintain US address.docx

This is a spot-on explanation of how the Trumplican Party are trying to undermine the very election integrity that they are always screaming about.

One of my many concerns about Trump is that he wants to essentially take away the independence of the Federal Reserve if he regains the White House. And all Fed decisions would need to be approved by him. His ego would come before what is fiscally prudent. Prudent is not in Trump's vocabulary. Off the wall policies like this could drastically devalue the dollar and tank exchange rates for the dollar. As an Expat I'm really concerned how that the dollar could be weakened and the exchange rate of $ to THB could go down substantially (I'm stocking up on THB just in case). Exchange rates could be a real gamble under Trump, just something to think about between now and November. But of course we all know he only employs the best people. 😄 https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/26/business/dealbook/trump-fed-independence.html https://www.omfif.org/2024/05/trumps-confused-approach-to-foreign-exchange-is-back/

Anyone know for a fact if the 2 year license can be used to rent a car in USA (specifically in Nevada)? And can you get the International Drivers Permit with the 2 year? Hertz site says you can rent a license with a temporary but they don't elaborate if it is only US temporary. And they say with a temporary and living abroad you also need the International permit.

Hello I live in Bangkok and I get debilitating migraines. Does anyone know of a pharmacy that carries oral Sumitriptan or Eletriptan (Relpax®). Thank you

Thanks all for the great information!! I have more confidence about getting this done (sometimes I get unduly stressed out) and I really need a license because I have to go back to the US and rent a truck to move a bunch of stuff out of my storage. So this helps a lot. ????

Thanks Tall Guy, Very helpful about the practical tests. I passed them all before in 2019 when I got my 2 year temporary (now expired) but it's a nice refresher knowing ahead what they are.

Thanks Polar Bear! That is one of my concerns on the practical test is not understanding what they want me to do. I guess I'll try watching what others do. Do you know are the practical tests the same at Chatuchak and Onnut? I'm an excellent driver too with about 40 years of driving and only one accident my fault when I crashed the Drivers Ed car in high school because instead of using reverse in backing out from a parking space I had it in drive and gassed it crashing into the store window. ????