Pulpeddoes

Sorry to sound silly but I have been hearing in the last months that the location to renew has changed.  No one has given substantive evidence, but I am getting confused.  I need to go tomorrow (deadline is Thursday) and I want to make sure I go to the correct place.  Please forgive me if this sounds asinine, but better safe than sorry.  Thanks in advance for your help.  

Conclusion to this saga:

Yesterday, after receiving my 1st Pfizer vaccine (that is another story but a good one!), I went to another Blue and White Bank branch.  The young lady who dealt with me took the time to look at my phone; settings; contacted someone in the back office of that branch, who came out and did some things; called someone on the phone...uninstalled and reinstalled, and set me up from scratch.  I walked out of there with my scan function working.  

If this were the USA, I could have reported the employee at the first branch for not being willing to do her job.  But TIT!!!

Thanks for all the responses!

I tried to go to another branch immediately after I left that one, but they had closed by the time I got there.  I will try again this week.  If I get the same runaround, I will look into the easiest way to get my funds out and into a bank where I can use the app to pay COD to my heart's content! 

Thanks for your response, Caldera.  Looks like I will have to remove my cash from KT. Imagine sitting there with my 800K required balance plus extra, but I can't scan to pay for a 300 THB item!  I would have moved the account before but there are lots of new disclosure forms to complete that were not required when I opened the account seven years ago.  I did not want to bother with those.  But, at this point I  figure they (the US gov't) know all about you already anyway, so what is another form, here or there?!

Do you think this can be accomplished via an easy wire transfer?  Nothing that is simple or should be simple is easy in this country. 

I have tried to use my bank's app to pay for items before, and it just does not work.  I went to the bank and the lady called up her QR code, no problem.  She said that maybe there was a problem with my wifi.  (??!!?!***). This was 2019.

Fast forward to 2 months ago, and the place where I go for physical therapy no longer accepting cash, due to Covid.  Again, I cannot use the scan function; so I had to ask them for their banking info, and transferred payment to them.  Everyone else just scanned their QR code.  Since I was able to pay, I kept it moving.  Transferring is okay.  Scanning to pay via QR code - maie daie!

So last week I ordered items from Shopee and selected the COD option - the only one offered these days, it looks like.  Merchandise is delivered, and actual cash is not good; need to scan.  But it does NOT work!!  Fortunately, the security guard saved me by using his bank app (twice in one week) and I immediately transferred the payment to him.  

So today I moseyed on over to the bank to find out what's going on.  At first she said "it depends on the type of phone."  I firmly stated and showed her that my phone is not an iPhone; but Samsung top of the line.  She pulled out her phone and showed me that her scanning function works with no problem.  She then said that foreigners are not allowed to use that function.  I asked her if she was sure and it there was someone in  IT, more technically equipped, with whom I could discuss the issue.  She said it won't help because earlier in the day there was a "foreigner who also could not scan."  She then said that it what it was "today."  I could have tried to argue but you just know when you are getting nowhere, so I left with my dignity and quiet anger at being treated this way.

* Is anyone familiar with this?

* The bank is the blue and white one.  Does anyone else deal with this bank and, if so, can you scan to pay for items?

* If you bank elsewhere, does your app allow you to scan to pay with no issues? I need to move my THB if that is the case.

I would really appreciate feedback on this.  This is such blatant discrimination and I am so angry that I don't even know what to say. How am I supposed to pay for anything if cash is the only option, but not actual THB??

Thanks in advance for responses.

Thanks Ubonjoe.

I am getting more hopeful by the minute. Seems much of what I read when I decided to get the retirement status may have been false/overblown.

Hmmm... these responses make me hopeful. I kind of think Immigration may be tougher in Bangkok though.

I am hoping more people respond. I have a bit of time, obviously, but I want to know how I need to maneuver when it is time to renew my lease. I am wondering if moe666's comment about the re-entry permit is the key. I do have one now and plan to always have one (multiple, in fact). I spoke to my landlady, who agreed to renew for 6 months but won't go month to month. Here in BKK, I've asked around and was told that as a new tenant, all buildings require one year's commitment for the firs year, so it makes no sense to try to go elsewhere.

I may just have to ask them directly next time I report. Hopefully I get someone who is human enough to answer a simple question.

Thanks for your input.

UPDATE:

I went to Immigration in BKK this morning at 8:45 and was out by 9:45. No questions asked. At all.

The 15THB I spent for copying pages was a waste of money. They only needed the TM.47. Just in case, I am making a digital copy of that receipt that reminds me when to report next and the bar code on it though.

Thanks to all who responded.

This is my second question for the week. Thanks for your patience.

I plan to leave the country next month for two months. Upon my return in October, I'll renew my lease for six months instead of one year, because I plan to leave next year for three to six months. (As it is, I will be paying high rent for an apartment that will be unoccupied for two months!) The landlady has already agreed to renew for only six months. I may or may not actually leave after six months, so I want to keep the retirement status; however, I don't want to be hemmed in and prevented from living my life because of a lease (loss of a hefty two months security deposit).

When I need to renew the visa in December,

- When Immigration sees the six month lease, would they automatically go, "no dice", and put me back in visitor status?

- If that is the case, does that mean that I would be granted just 90 days with the option of a one month extension at the end of the 90 days? (meaning I would still have to break my lease and leave after four months instead of six?)

- Is there any way around this potential problem, i.e, walking out of there in December with a renewed retirement status stamp?

Just thinking ahead.

Thanks in advance for your help.

-

Well now, I am somewhat not as panicked as I was earlier but still not too comfortable. I guess I will go on Friday morning and pray for the best outcome, (I do that generally) and will report how it turned out.

First thing I will do when I get home is make a copy of the pesky receipt!

Thank you all for your input.

Thanks The Appletons.

I will actually go to Immigration directly on Friday morning. Last time I went, I dealt with a very hostile officer, so here's hoping...

I will highlight my departing and arrival dates as you suggest. Too bad they don't enter the 90 day reporting stamp in the actual passport somehwhere! :-(

So Ub​onjoe, are you saying that I can still have a problem if they ask for that receipt? I am hoping that the officer will not be too hostile and will be willing to verify it in the system. After all, the validity of one's reporting should not rest solely on a manually stamped piece of paper.

Then again, this is Thailand.

Thank you, bangkokequity.

I have not been a member too long long and I figured that out about Ubonjoe. I posted expecting him to answer and I would have followed whatever he said, because reading his responses in the past year indicate to me his knowledge of the topics.

Thank you for being there, Ubonjoe. You are much appreciated! (Sometimes it is good to hear it.)

Thanks very much, Ubonjoe and Minnehaha for your timely responses.

I do have the blue TM.6 form. What I lost is the stamped receipt which I thought I was required to produce for the next reporting. I thought I read somewhere that it is one of the documents you must produce when you report.

Does this mean I have nothing to worry about?

I've decided not to try messing around with online reporting as I have a mac and no access to printing, so I'll just mosey on up to ChanWattana or whatever first thing in the morning and get it over with.

I am desperate because I am still new at this. I last reported in March but left the country and returned April 21st, so I am not scheduled to report until around July 19th. I thought I left the document at home but it is definitely NOT HERE. I may have put it back in the passport and with the going back and forth at the different immigrations in India where I went, it may have got lost. Now that I am getting my docs together to make copies is when I realize I do not have it.

WHAT CAN I DO??? This gave me instant d---rr--a!

Thank you, Tywais.

I checked out the Dummies page and the first thing is that my Safari page is different from the one pictured. That Settings icon is not in my top right hand corner, I will dig around and find it just for my knowledge.

I also realized from reading this thread that If the receipt is by email, I can print it at the hotel up the street, else, I have no access to printing.

I'll work it out somehow. Thanks again.

So I am confused and I have a few related questions , so please bear with me:

1. I did my first 90 day reporting at Immigration Office itself in March, as I was required to do. No problem. When I thought I needed to do my 2nd one in June, I found out that since I had left the country in April, my 90 days got deferred. Yippee!! My question is, I was told by the processing office at Bumrungrad, (yes they do more than medical stuff!), that I would need to send in my passport if I report through them. I had never heard of anyone having to send in their pp to report before. Can someone please clear this up for me? I am not willing to let my pp out of my possession like that. I think I prefer to go the inconvenient distance and ride to Chan Wattana (or wherever it is).

2. Exactly what are the docs needed for reporting? I took all sorts of copies when I went in March and the officer returned practically all of them. Because she was downright rude, I did not ask exactly what was needed, so I would get it right the next time. I would be grateful if someone would clarify because other than the pp, I am still not sure.

3. I definitely plan to leave the country in August for two months, and I might leave in July for a week or two. That would mess up all the 90 day reporting and run into when it is time to renew the extension of the time to stay in December. Would I run into problems if I show that I reported only once in the 12 month period (but my pp will show I was traveling) or should I make an effort to report at least one more time, such as before I leave the country in July? At this time it is not certain.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Consider reading before trying to shoot someone down.

Sheryl,

Like I said, it was not worth it to me to run all over the place checking out the suggestions, while I was not otherwise feeling well.

I will keep the Dental Hospital in mind when I get them done again at the end of the year, or thereabouts.

Thanks.

Ok, so I finally had my teeth deep cleaned today. From the time I asked for input to now, I could have had all the teeth extracted and they could have regrown, I know. However, I had other things going on health wise so I had to put cleaning of the teeth on hold.

Where did I go? I was back and forth at Bumrungrad four days in a row this week and I figured, why knock myself out trying to save a few dollars, when I may be in pain doing so? So while there today for something else, I had my teeth done by the same dentist that did the job last year; today's cost was $85. What also helped me to make up my mind was the fact that I checked out a neighborhood place where my neighbor said he paid 1,200 THB to get his cleaned (regular cleaning). I walked in and mentioned deep cleaning. The girls acted like they had no idea what I was talking about and that worried me. So they called the dentist (I assumed) who was not in and she spoke to me on the phone. I made an appointment and then asked how much...8,000 THB if you please. At 33.00:1, that is just under $250.

I decided not to be penny wise and pound foolish by walking all over the place or taking trains/taxis just to save a few dollars. I am satisfied with what I got for $85.

Thanks again for all your input.

Something positive they are doing, for a change.

Again, I thank you all for the responses and follow up. Unfortunately, I had to put off going because a more immediate, serious health issue developed that is painful and ongoing. I figure that deep cleaning my teeth, in the overall scheme of things, can wait while I try to address my other issue that affects my mobility somewhat (need to prioritize where I go and what I do).

I have been blessed with excellent teeth and at my ripe young age, have all 32, all mine, no crowns, bridges, and no cavities. The first guy who deep cleaned them last year kept remarking "you have 32 teeth to be cleaned." I wondered what he is used to seeing. So, yes, while I like to take care of them by having them professionally cleaned twice a year, it is not that urgent and can wait while I focus on healing the rest of my body.

I have all your suggestions to ponder when I am ready (hopefully in a few weeks). I will post what I eventually do.

Thanks again.

Sheryl,

I just checked the link you provided. Does the fact that it is a dental hospital mean that I will pay more money? All I want is deep cleaning and I am good at saying "no , thank you" to additional services that I don't need. If the cost is comparable, I will check them out. My neighbor told me about a place where she goes and when she asked the price, the high range of the estimate was the same as what I paid at Bumrungrad last year, the equivalent of $97 USD. I figured I might as well stay with B...because the appointment was at 7:30 PM. (I ended up canceling Bum... anyway.)

While BUM..."s price won't put me in the poor house by any means, if I can explore other options and also explore what BKK has to offer at the same time, I would like to do so.

Thanks much.

Thank you all for the responses. I will carefully select one of the above. I canceled my appt at Bumrungrad.

Oops! Sorry about that!