HauptmannUK

Depends entirely on the T&Cs of the ticket you bought. Some tickets are completely open. Some are non-changeable, non-refundable. If you bought through an agent then another layer of complexity.

I think at the moment the situation can be summed up in the words of Donald Rumsfeld....."as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns—the ones we don't know we don't know." The mind truly boggles at how they will implement any of this. I think only something like 6% of Thais pay taxes. My wife's father was one of 14 siblings up in Udon. There are therefore numerous members of my wife's extended family scattered around the province and some in Pattaya too. They all seem to be involved in businesses of some sort. Some legal and some occupying what might be charitably described as a 'grey area'. I don't think any of them pay tax. My wife owns a couple of small businesses and also rents out two condos in Pattaya. I don't think she even has a tax number.... If I ever mention tax she gives me a 'death stare'. One of the extended family run a fair sized entertainment business in Pattaya. My wife and I were once talking about how much profit he was making (quite a bit). I said 'he must pay a lot of tax on that'. My wife says 'He doesn't pay tax'. I said 'How can he not pay tax?'. Her response was 'Some people pay tax and some people don't'. I left it there.

Just to round off this topic for those who might have similar spine/neck problems... Following my MRI I booked an appointment online with Dr Wicharn at BNH Hospital Spine Centre. I got a call from BNH about two hours later confirming the appointment time at his next clinic (only two days away) and a link to do online registration. I had my own MRI CD but Dr Wicharn likes X rays taken in a particular way so I was asked to turn up an hour before the appointment for X rays. Arrived at BNH and they were super-efficient - already had my details in their system. Took my MRI CD off me and I was led straight off to do the X rays and then waited for the consultation. Anyway, Dr Wicharn is an affable character. He diagnosed age-related spondylosis, degeneration and a bit of stenosis. He went through MRI and x-ray images on-screen with me. Basically he said I have a typical 60-something cervical spine and not to worry. Written diagnosis was 'nothing clinically significant'. Total cost for X-rays and consultation with a written 'medical certificate' was ฿4500 which I think is reasonable. I feel BNH is a bit 'over the top' in terms of their decor and chandeliers etc., but they were very efficient. So total cost of all this was ฿9000 at MRI in BangNa + ฿4500 at BNH. Not too bad for peace of mind. I live near Jomtien and didn't feel like driving to appointments (especially BNH, where parking is limited) so I took the Jomtien airport bus and then taxis from the airport. Bang Na MRI is about 30 mins from the airport (฿300) and BNH 40 mins (฿400) at off-peak times. Bang Na MRI is a bit shabby, however the scanner suite is clean and tidy. I'm tall and broad (95kg and 188cm) but not particularly fat and only just fitted in the scanner. Written radiologist report was emailed to me the next day (Dr Wicharn's interpretation was somewhat at odds with the report so I wouldn't take it as gospel). I was supposed to get a follow-up call a few days later to discuss the report but that never happened.

Thank you Sheryl. I've followed your advice. I had an MRI done at 'mrithailand'. As expected, quite a lot of age related degeneration showing up. Also slight spondylolithesis. I'm currently trying to get an appointment with the doctor you recommended at BNH.

Last night there was some kind of fight amongst some young Arab guys in Soi 17 near the 'Roger Tailor' shop. About half a dozen guys going at it. One lad sitting on the kerb holding his shoulder - looked like a stab wound.

Thanks for the replies. Still a totally confusing situation though... This week I received an item (a plastic moulding) from AliExpress - picked up from BangLamung PO. I was told nothing to pay because the value was only ฿1000. I asked how much I would I have to pay on a ฿5k item and was told that they 'don't know, wait until it arrives'?! I want a particular product from one seller in China - they will do DDP to EU/UK but not Thailand. Maybe I'll just order it and cross my fingers....

I split my time 50/50 between UK and Thailand. My (Thai) wife has businesses in both the UK and Thailand needs to be in UK at least half the year. I have a business that ticks over without me but I have family there that I like to see and also a collection of cars I mess about with and am restoring. The DTV is perfect for me. Five years for £300 and 180 days per entry. Was easy to get. I doubt they'll revoke it.

I want to buy a particular Android headunit to experiment with. I can only find it on AliExpress. Cost around ฿5-6k. I know that the law was changed recently to apply import tax on items above ฿1500. Does anyone have any RECENT experience of having to pay tax on items sourced from AliExpress wi่th a declared value over ฿1500?

I have bought a number of bikes into Thailand over the years. New and used. Tourist visa and spouse visa. They are all still in Thailand. I never declared anything - just put through Emirates oversize baggage. Only got stopped once with a very large bike box. The customs guy asked 'What is it?'. I said 'a bike', an he waved me on. Bought lots of tools through, a big trolley jack (that was a struggle), hi-fi system, race exhaust system for a motorbike etc. Customs have never shown much interest.

Many thanks for the replies. I'll probably get an MRI then and try the specialist in Bangkok. For years I have had mild tightness around the shoulders and massages help a bit, but I specifically ask for my neck NOT to be massaged for fear of causing more problems. At the moment the pain comes and goes and there is no radiculopathy. I did bash my shoulder about six years ago but recovered from that (a friend bought himself a brand new Toyota Fortuner and was under the impression it was a Porsche - he managed to flip it onto its side near that big zoo in SriRacha - despite my protestations to slow down! Took a year to fully recover).

Could you get a DTV (soft power?). You'd be good for 5 years.

I'm over 60 and for the past six months have had neck pain. My daughter is a doctor in the UK and when I was last there (about a month ago) I asked her to take a look at my neck. She is always very dismissive of my health conditions and she just prodded my neck a few times, got me to move my head around and declared that its age-related deterioration of the vertebrae and nothing can be done. She isn't a GP though (works in a hospital) and doesn't do orthopedic work. She said its a waste of time getting an X-ray. I find that hard to believe and would like to get an X-ray done in Pattaya. Any suggestions for a local orthopedic specialist who would order up an X-ray and interpret it?

I obtained a DTV from London a few weeks ago. I simply wrote a letter using Limited Company heading with the title 'Confirmation of Employment'. I just stated that I had been an employee of the company since xx.xx.20xx and then signed it. Nothing mentioned about remote working, hours, pay etc. Keep it simple.

Strange. I received a DTV a week after it launched. No flight details given or requested. No contract or tax return requested. I just wrote a short letter on Limited Company headed paper entitled 'Confirmation of Employment' and stating I was an employee of the company. Signed it myself. I know someone who is a 'hobby vlogger' - early retired and makes 'walk through videos'. No real income generated. Just supplied a link to his webpage/online portfolio. Got the DTV. Probably depends which administrator deals with your application.....

I think some applicants are making heavy weather of the DTV process in London. There is no requirement to have the 500k THB (£11k) 'seasoned'. They just want to see something showing £11k in your name at the time of application. There is no requirement to show an income either. In my case I simply wrote a letter with our Limited Company logo and address. I headed it 'Confirmation of Employment'. 'To who it may concern. I can confirm that Mr Joe Bloggs has been an employee of this company since xx.xx.20xx.' Then I signed it. No mention of remote working, or any other details. Finances were a screenshot of a YBS account balance showing my name and address and over £11k on the day of application. Location dealt with by sending a recent energy bill. I got the visa 30 hours later. I doubt there is much, if any, checking being done at the moment. That might change of course....

Bored waiting for my wife to finish having her hair cut so I thought I would look for Toffee, the computer repairing ladyboy. Searched in Thai and s(he) popped up straight away. One of the less convincing ladyboys IMHO....

Stories and photos are becoming increasingly bizarre and difficult to make sense of.. A 'computer repairing ladyboy' and a photo of a Chiang Mai temple by the sea??

Believe it or not there are some well educated ex-pats out there. In Pattaya/Jomtien area I am friends with a retired Professor of Ionospheric Physics from the UK, a Professor of Hydrology from France and a Professor of Biochemistry from Norway who also speaks about a dozen languages including Thai, Chinese and Japanese. I suspect there are plenty more retired academics elsewhere in Thailand. I have a BSc and PhD in Physics, MSc Advanced Engineering, BA East Asian Studies and an MBA.

When you first enter Thailand with your new passport you will need to bring along your expired passport and the eVisa printout. Give everything to the IO. The IO will check your eVisa against your old passport number but stamp you in on the new passport. The new passport number will be entered into the computer and linked to the eVisa. Thereafter you just use the new passport.

You are wrong. I am co-owner of a very long established car sales and service business in the UK. We will deal with all marques but for the past 25 years we have specialised in BMW and MB cars since they tend to be more profitable. The car in question is an E46, made from 1996-2006 approx IIRC. The E46 is fitted with the troublesome GM5 body control module. When locked using the remote fob the locks are moved by the locking motors into a 'deadlock' position, completely disconnecting the locks from the locking pins and door release lever. To unlock the car from inside the console unlock button must first be pressed to operate the locking motors, to take the locks out of deadlock, and then the door release must be pulled twice to open the door (once to unlock and the once more to open the door). If the car is locked with the keyfob and the battery goes flat then the door cannot be opened from inside - obviously the power windows will not function and so outside help is needed. Pull the hood/bonnet release and get outside help to connect 12V to the B terminal to power up the system. Or the window has to be broken...... I heard that some years ago a US highschool girl student was trapped in a car and died - leading to a legal case against BMW. The BCMs on these cars are quite unreliable and we have dealt with cars that have deadlocked on the fob and then refused to unlock even with a good battery. Usually down to a bad relay on the PCB.

They want to see £11k+ with your name on it. I just sent a YBS instant access account balance screenshot. It had my name, address, date and a balance of £29k. No transactions or anything else shown. Received DTV 24 hours later.

I can't make sense of that price. If they mean 180k Kip then that's only about 250THB, which can't be correct. On the other hand if they mean 180k THB then that's a ridiculous price and there would be no takers.

I guess it would be easy enough to take one's own sheet/towel to put on the table.

Yes indeed. And many stay in the UK after the conclusion of their studies thanks to the introduction of the 'Post Study Work Visa' following Brexit. Anyway, again from the ONS website and looking at future population growth... "Focusing on the 15 years between mid-2021 and mid-2036, the total projected growth for the UK population is 6.6 million (9.9%). During this period between mid-2021 and mid-2036, the projections for the UK as a whole suggest: 10.8 million people will be born 10.3 million people will die 13.7 million people will immigrate long term to the UK 7.6 million people will emigrate long term from the UK This means that of the projected 6.6 million increase in the total population, 0.5 million (8.2% of the total projected increase) is projected to result from the higher number of births than deaths, and 6.1 million (91.8% of the total projected increase) is projected to result from net international migration."

Illegal immigration into the UK (which everyone is focussed on) is almost insignificant when compared with LEGAL immigration. Legal immigration has rocketed since Brexit, when the immigration rules were changed. "In the year ending (YE) December 2023, the provisional estimate of long-term immigration to the UK was 1,218,000, which is broadly similar to our updated estimate for the YE December 2022 (1,257,000) (Figure 1). Looking at the historical picture, until 2019, EU nationals were the larger component of total long-term immigration, whereas since 2021, when the new immigration system was introduced and free movement ended for EU nationals, the majority of immigration now comprises non-EU nationals. In our latest estimates for the YE December 2023, non-EU nationals accounted for 85% (1,031,000) of total long-term immigration. This is similar to levels seen in the YE December 2022. The top five non-EU nationalities for long-term immigration flows into the UK in the YE December 2023 were Indian (250,000), Nigerian (141,000), Chinese (90,000), Pakistani (83,000) and Zimbabwean (36,000)" https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/internationalmigration/bulletins/longterminternationalmigrationprovisional/yearendingdecember2023#:~:text=In the year ending (YE) December 2023%2C the provisional,1%2C257%2C000) (Figure 1). So the UK Home Office are issuing around 23000 long-term immigration visas PER WEEK - about ten every minute of each working day...