AlexRich

It was the Cyprus bank that did the swiping. I just don't want to deal with them anymore.

It's not too bad really. I transferred 250 Euro from Cyprus to the UK and the bank swiped 15 Euro. I'm closing the account.

My posts were in response to a poster who was insulting off the bat ... so fire with fire. Those that dish it out deserve responses in kind. But in any case, point proved ... this kind of thing happens a lot. Thank you.

That’s exactly what Martha would have said.

The only person looking ridiculous is you, Rent-A-Troll. Two posters relate their own experiences, none of which you would find in a newspaper, and google is full of articles on this subject. So now you've moved from trolling to gaslighting. Are you Martha from Baby Reindeer?

Thanks Keith ... the point that I was making is that this happens quite often. And you and another poster have given personal examples. Like you.

How often does that happen? And when did you last read this in the news? just paraphrasing your very first post asking me the above questions. The fact is you don’t care what the answer is, because it’s really all about the trolling.

Thank you. That’s the point I was making. This is happening a lot more than people think, and most of it is not reported. Expect Rent-A-Troll to be around in a minute to explain that it must just be your imagination, and you must have dreamed it all after spending too much time on Google and Facebook.

And you're some old man who doesn't understand that Google is a search engine, and when you google about people being drugged and mugged in Thailand it comes up with numerous articles ... from newspapers!!! Written by journalists, based on research not rumour or innuendo. You're another one of these waste of space trolls who constantly asks people for "evidence" that you have no interest in looking at or acknowledging.

Or listen to idiots like you.

I've just googled it ... and all I can see is case after case? It happens, and it happens a lot.

Sorry, let me consult that database I keep of all known cases? Feel free to believe that what I've stated is wrong ... but try google ... drugged and robbed in Thailand.

I don't read airport paperbacks, but I have read Thailand related news over many years. And this type of thing ... drugging and mugging ... has been reported several times over the years.

I think the family have every reason to be concerned, particularly as his disappearance and lack of contact is out of character. Many foreigners go with girls/ladyboys who drug and rob them. Many of them are too thick to get the dosage right, and the poor mark ends up dead. I have a feeling this is one trip to Thailand that won’t have a happy ending.

I find this story hard to believe? Your ex wife demands money and you give it to her? Report you to the Police for what? Your story makes no sense.

This happened to me in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The taxi driver was given the correct money and tried to show me paper notes that were much smaller ... it is a well known con in Vietnam because the notes look so similar. Now I always count the notes into the hand of the driver. Fool me once ..... etc.

Well done Lou … that is who it was.

Many years ago I attended a two week training session in Dubai with a financial advisory firm. One of the guys who presented is the head of one of the advisory firms mentioned in the article, although he is not named. I realised very quickly that it was all about selling financial "investment" products to expats ... with the emphasis on "selling" the product that generated the highest up front commissions and annual fees. They couldn't give a toss about whether the product was good for the client or not. I decided to make a quick exit ... I wouldn't do that to anyone, even people I don't like very much. My advice to anyone who gets approached (in a cafe or by a phone call) by anyone describing themselves as a financial advisor is to run a mile from them, and never agree to meet them.

The only way “around it” in my view is if the UK change the rules. But if they choose not to change the rules I think you won’t find a way around it without getting yourself in a great deal of trouble, and that will be more financially painful than a frozen pension.

Are you having a wobbly, Bob?

There is intelligence related to solving problems and mathematical puzzles … and there is emotional intelligence relating to how you interact with people to solve real life issues. Some who are strong in the former, may be lacking in the latter. And that’s why it is hard to assess someone’s intelligence. Dyslexic people can be very intelligent yet underperform in a school setting.

The problem is that is a “cunning plan” that even Baldrick would balk at. Countries are increasingly communicating with each other and swapping information on citizens. It’s only a matter of time before that ruse catches up on you and you’ll end up being prosecuted for fraud … not to mention having to pay back the extra with penalties, fines and interest. Simply not worth it.

I think you need more than the UK State pension to survive in Thailand, even if you are benefitting from annual increases. In the UK you will have access to free healthcare as well as other benefits. In Thailand you are only one heart attack away from a financial catastrophe. I don’t believe the existing policy is fair, but it does raise the issue that you need a few income sources to live here comfortably, and close family who have your best interests at heart, preferably grown up children.

Thats's quite a challenge. If the kids were 5 and 8 I'd say go for it, as they will eventually catch up and by the time they are taking important exams they will be on a level playing field. But at 13 and 16 they would have to be exceptionally intelligent, gifted even, to cope successfully with that level of change. The danger is that your well intentioned move has the opposite impact - it worsens their life chances rather than enhancing them. Perhaps it might make sense to stay in Thailand until they have both completed their education?

I had a small canvas backpack that I used to sling over my back when walking in Pattaya, including Walking Street. I noticed a tear in my backpack that looked as if it was made by a box cutter. I recall being stuck in the crowd whilst walking in this street, so I wasn't able to move as quickly as I normally do. Nothing was taken, so it was a failed attempt. It was quite a few years ago so I suspect this type of activity has been going on for many years. If you are walking in crowds best keep your bag in your hand and in front of you. Lesson learned.