RAZZELL

Out of interest, does it actually matter what "Class" of DTV you apply for? 

Seems you get the same stamp whether you apply for as a Nigital Nomad or Soft Power?

23 hours ago, jimn said:

Massive portions at Tarka House soi 13/4. If you want an expensive one then Indian by Nature in Jomtien. Also Masala Twist in Jomtien is decent.

Yes, I agree with Masala Twist being decent.

On 7/5/2025 at 7:35 AM, BritManToo said:

Aren't MG and BYD and Nissan going bankrupt?

From the op, wouldn't be surprised if half the car manufacturers were going bankrupt.

Yes, Neta's parent company, Zhejiang Hozon New Energy Automobile, has officially entered bankruptcy proceedings. This was initiated after a creditor filed a petition for bankruptcy due to unpaid debts. Neta showrooms in Shanghai have reportedly closed, and the company is undergoing restructuring to revitalize the business. 

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Bankruptcy Filing:

Zhejiang Hozon New Energy Automobile, the parent company of Neta, has been placed into bankruptcy proceedings. 

Creditor Action:

A creditor initiated the proceedings due to unpaid debts, including exhibition printing fees. 

Restructuring:

The company is undergoing a formal restructuring process aimed at revitalizing the business. 

Financial Difficulties:

The bankruptcy filing reflects significant financial issues for the Chinese carmaker. 

Impact on Operations:

Several Neta showrooms in Shanghai have closed, and there are concerns about the impact on overseas markets. 

Neta Thailand:

Despite the parent company's bankruptcy, NETA Thailand is not registered as a branch of NETA China and is therefore not directly subject to the bankruptcy. 

On 7/5/2025 at 7:35 AM, BritManToo said:

Aren't MG and BYD and Nissan going bankrupt?

From the op, wouldn't be surprised if half the car manufacturers were going bankrupt.

Yes, Neta's parent company, Zhejiang Hozon New Energy Automobile, has officially entered bankruptcy proceedings. This was initiated after a creditor filed a petition for bankruptcy due to unpaid debts. Neta showrooms in Shanghai have reportedly closed, and the company is undergoing restructuring to revitalize the business. 

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Bankruptcy Filing:

Zhejiang Hozon New Energy Automobile, the parent company of Neta, has been placed into bankruptcy proceedings. 

Creditor Action:

A creditor initiated the proceedings due to unpaid debts, including exhibition printing fees. 

Restructuring:

The company is undergoing a formal restructuring process aimed at revitalizing the business. 

Financial Difficulties:

The bankruptcy filing reflects significant financial issues for the Chinese carmaker. 

Impact on Operations:

Several Neta showrooms in Shanghai have closed, and there are concerns about the impact on overseas markets. 

Neta Thailand:

Despite the parent company's bankruptcy, NETA Thailand is not registered as a branch of NETA China and is therefore not directly subject to the bankruptcy. 

8 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Neta V,

New 2023 430,000bht

S/H  2025 219,000bht

That's nearly 50% depreciation in 2 years.

 

Aren't Neta going bankrupt?

There are a number of vloggers who have then started other businesses such as Mark Wiens and Jack Brown.

Distinct lack of detail in the whole story.

Keis 1 is an Aussie.

https://www.youtube.com/@keisone

Apparently he set up a business and has a WP for Thailand.

I imagine the vast majority do it "under the radar" - which is ok...until it isn't 

1 hour ago, simon43 said:

Thanks, but in view of my age and potentially-worsening health issues, and also because I have no support network in Thailand (divorced etc), and also in view of the likelyhood of stricter visa rules, I think (realistically) it's time to return to Ol Blighty!

To be honest I have taken a lot of trips to the UK in the last 3 years as my parents are not well.

I like visiting (apart from the flights) but I could not live here "full time". The country has changed beyond all recognition.

I am currently in the UK for the next month and the weather is amazing.

If you can afford it I would try and get a retirement visa or what about a DTV? You work online? Surely you could quailfy?

As already mentioned Maneerat are very good.

Goes with his mates to Pattaya but has to say "Bangkok" because of his Mrs?

4 hours ago, redwood1 said:

To the best of my knowledge no farang has ever won one of the top lottery payouts...Not a single time....At least in the last 20 years, and very possibly in entire history of the Thai lottery.... 

There was a girl who worked in Bar 4 in Soi 4, Bangkok, (now called Always Bar). 

She and her American fella from Chicago, from memory his name was Jason.

They won 6m each.

22 hours ago, billd766 said:

I make 37 transfers a year from my Wise borderless account in the UK to my BKK bank account in Thailand.

 

When I make a transfer, Wise tell me how much it will cost, how many thb I will get, the forex rate (which will be frozen until the transfer has been completed), the time and date when I can withdraw the funds from my BKK bank account.

 

It also shows up as a an FTT in my bank book and on the BKK bank statements.

 

I have had my Wise and BKK account running for nearly 7 years and only 1 small problem in the first year (easily sorted out with the Wise help centre.

To what Thai Bank?

It seems Bangkok Bank are having an issue.

(I've been using Wise for 8 years)

Have issues with WISE taking longer and also with Remitly to a Bangkok Bank Account.

Seems to be connected to the  "upgrade".

On 4/1/2025 at 2:28 AM, georgegeorgia said:

Stay away from Arcadia Beach Continental, full of  backpacker,Russians etc

 

View talay 2B I was locked up last year there ,I managed to escape ,a lot of walking frames there 

 

I stayed there for a month. 

Thought it was ok. Not loud. Pool empty most of the time. On the baht bus route a 5 minute walk away.

A lot of bar girls though...but they don't seem to surface until about 3-4pm! 

On 6/25/2025 at 9:06 PM, webfact said:

Picture courtesy of Khaosod

 

A Swedish national, aged 39 and identified as Ludde, has been arrested in Pattaya as part of a major sweep against transnational crime by Thai immigration police. Ludde was taken into custody at a condominium in the vibrant tourist hotspot, following a red notice warrant from European authorities.

 

Accused of orchestrating an elaborate fraud scheme, Ludde allegedly used forged documents to impersonate company reps, tricking businesses into providing goods without payment.

 

The scam spanned 11 cases between September 2021 and April 2023, with damages totalling over 3.5 million baht.

 

Police Lieutenant General Chairit Anurit, Commander of Immigration Bureau 3, stated that the arrest aligns with efforts to clamp down on foreign criminals in Thailand. Authorities are keen to ensure such activities do not undermine the nation’s security.

 

Beyond his initial crimes, Ludde faced two additional fraud charges, with damages around 304,631 Swedish kronor (approximately 891,000 baht). Arrest warrants from Stockholm District Court and European authorities followed, both issued in early June.

 

The Immigration Bureau tracked Ludde to Pattaya, apprehending him for further legal proceedings. Thai police plan to coordinate with Swedish officials for his extradition, ensuring he faces justice.

 

In related developments, a Vietnamese woman involved in cryptocurrency and forex scams was arrested in Bangkok. Detained with two bodyguards, the 30-year-old defrauded over 2,000 Vietnamese nationals of approximately 10.1 billion baht. She was caught under an Interpol Red Notice for her extensive scams.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-06-26

 

 

The Vietnamese woman conned 10.1bn baht = £226m? divided 2000  victims = £113k each!

The trouble is...so many of these "broccoli" smokers absolutely take the mickey.

I don't care what people do...as long as it doesn't effect me.

The number of times I have seen (smelt) toe rags smoking in pubs,  restaurants and walking down the road is untrue.

Blame them.

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

Yes typed with OP. 

All good. No questions etc at BKK. 

Straight through (20 min total) 

And used the Safe entry service?

5 minutes ago, Caldera said:

 

What makes you assume that the OP meets the requirements, specifically the financials? They may or they may not.

It's only a suggestion and it will cover them for 5 years. I have no idea if they met the requirements. It looks like they don't even meet the requirements to get in !

17 hours ago, Maestro said:

 

I see no indication in the OP's posts to suggest the that a DTV would suit him and his partner, ie that they need multiple entries for the next five years with stays of up to 180 days for the reason of either Muay Thai training or medical treatment.

The OP was moaning about the cost of "safe entry" which was quoted @8k each. It's only 10k for DTV application.

On 6/18/2025 at 10:17 AM, DrJack54 said:

Discussed in this thread after several posts. 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1345519-safe-entry-services-bkk-airport/

 

@thai006 did you use the company mentioned by OP with positive review? 

 

OP where are you currently located? 

I used them and it cost me 4.5k

They were Excellent.

Your problem is you have ben denied entry once already and are now flagged up on the system. Hence the 8k. 

Why not apply for a DVT for muay thai or medical reasons? It isn't much more money

Still not working. I'll try some VPNs.

7 hours ago, MalcolmB said:

I have a “drinking friend” who lives in the UK who has found “true love” in the bar.

He is 58, divorced and seems fairly well off.

She is damn hot, 26 from Burirum province. Friendly, speaks good English, 8 year old daughter lives in Burirum.

He plans to come to Thailand 2-3 times per year. 
She claims to have about 40,000 in debts with crazy interest which is why she is working the bar.

He is going to pay these debts so she can go back to live with her kid in Burirum, and she can get a normal job and he will top up her salary if needed. 
Everyone happy.

 

Except now the bar is demanding 50,000 baht from him so she can go”retire” from the bar. 
And she is agreeing with the Mamasan. “Justified” because Mamasan gave her the job, accommodation, lent her money, bought her clothes etc

It is getting ugly.
He is refusing. Mamasan isn’t budging. 
 

Why can’t she just quit like at any other job? 
Interested to hear views from other bar owners.

Is this standard or are they taking the pi55?

 

 

 

Basically the "buy me out of the bar" is a ruse by the bar to compensate them for the loss of a "valuable" staff member...

The money usually gets divided up between the bar and staff member on say a 70-30 split.

It is to enable the girl to go back to work in the bar - a sort of "no hard feelings for leaving you" gift and should enable her return to work if things don't work out. You could even say it comes under "greng jai."

I have a mate who owns a bar and they "ask" for about 10k...and sometimes get it. (But the women are mostly in their 40s and 50s and anything but "hot" )

What some posters don't get is the "obligation" many Thais feel to any employer or perceived social superiors. Just look at how the staff in a bank, office, or security "wai" their "bosses" in the morning.

The simple fact is that in many ways Thailand is no longer "cheap".

Prices are literally double what they were from 20 years ago (in £, $ or €.)

Unless you want to eat in cheap restaurants or drink on the steps of a 7-11 it costs a mint 

I haven't been to Vietnam in 6 years but I will go again soon.

One of my extremely well travelled friends raves about parts of Indonesia. 

I need to explore that more to.

The OP has discovered "dynamic pricing" 

Usually use Bolt as it seems cheaper.