Buba Ho Tep

On 2/29/2020 at 11:23 AM, sharktooth said:

TWO month waiting list for a check up...

I know.  Honestly you're preaching to the choir.  They have at least one staff member who can be over-bearing, pushing, and not very customer-service oriented.  All smiles and we have an appointment for you at hh:mm tomorrow.  But the appointment doesn't fit my schedule and suddenly the smile goes away and is replaced with brashness and a rather chilly statement that the next available appointment is 4 to 6 weeks away.  So I do understand.  You weigh the pros and the cons and make a choice of dentists based on what is important.  Trust me, I'm not happy with their reception desk either.  But it's offset by a team of dentists who are able to do what other clinics and DDS' can not.  Best of luck in whatever your decision may be.

On 2/27/2020 at 2:22 PM, Orton Rd said:

OP was not asking for reviews of the same place but alternatives

The OP may find he is moving from the firing pan into the fire. So it's worth giving him alternatives to his alternatives as well as understanding the pros and cons of moving to another office.  I can understand leaving because the dental staff suck. I've none that numerous times. But leaving because of the front desk staff?  It wouldn't be my choice, but the end of the day it's the OPs choice.  Whatever the OP finds to be most important.

You probably need to ask yourself before you make a changed: What's more important?  An efficient front desk or highly skilled dental staff?  To be honest, in my humble opinion front desk customer service is not a strong point for most Thai organizations - not just dental offices.  Not answering phone calls or ignoring emails is pretty much par for the course in Thailand.  And I agree.  Grace's front office staff leaves a lot to be desired.  But it's made up for by the skill of the staff dentists.  A while back I went to one of those bright, shiny super-efficient looking dental-offices-in-a-box that you can find throughout Chiang Mai.  I've been though a few of them since coming here a whole bunch of years back, and they all had the same issues: the dentist's level of professionalism sucked.  That ranged from performing sub-standard work to simply being arrogant jerks. The last of these that I went to had a bright, shiny new dentist to match their office, probably still in her 20s and probably fresh out of dental school, who informed me that I have irreparable damage to my molars that would require extraction of 3 teeth.  I went to Grace and it was a root canal and a couple of crowns.  If you plan to change because the front office is sub-par, just be aware that not all dentists in Chiang Mai have the same skill level.  You may find you get excellent front-desk customer service if that is your priority, but is your dentist really top-notch?  For me personally, I don't care about the front desk.  I just deal with them.  It's the dentists who perform the work and their skill level that I care about.  Something to think about.

Has anyone tried this solution from OneSimCard? 

https://www.onesimcard.com/cell-phone-accessories/usa-2-step-bank-verification-number/

4 minutes ago, Buba Ho Tep said:

I keep reading that Skype does not allow SMS.  However, I've created and logged on to Skype and selected the "Skype Number" to get a local phone number.  On the number selection page it indicates that it is "2-way SMS enabled". 
Can someone who uses Skype explain why it can't be used for receiving SMS even though it says it's SMS enabled.  I'm totally confused.

 

 

Just found the reason from a Skype FAQ:
"* Note: You can receive SMS messages on your US Skype Number from US and Canadian mobile numbers. However, SMS messages sent from services such as identity verification are not supported on US Skype Numbers."
<sigh> Oh well, nice thought.

1 hour ago, JimmyJ said:

I believe Skype does not allow SMS.

I keep reading that Skype does not allow SMS.  However, I've created and logged on to Skype and selected the "Skype Number" to get a local phone number.  On the number selection page it indicates that it is "2-way SMS enabled". 
Can someone who uses Skype explain why it can't be used for receiving SMS even though it says it's SMS enabled.  I'm totally confused.

On 9/6/2019 at 11:07 AM, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

In that case, I have relied on both T-Mobile's $3 a month pay as you go service, which is easy to get and maintain

How do you get a T-Mobile $3 a month pay-as-you-go service is you don't live in the US?  I believe the initial setup requires a visit to a T-Mobile store in the US.  But if not, then how?  

On 9/6/2019 at 10:49 AM, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

Both Ting and Mint are pretty good low cost options for regular mobile numbers.

 

I'm aware of the coming changeover at Ting from them using T-Mobile to using Verizon as their network instead. It's supposed to start at the beginning of 2020, but from what they've told me, they've got all of 2020 to try to migrate their customers over to the new network, which will require them getting and using a new SIM card.

 

Verizon, despite historically being a CDMA network, is transitioning to LTE and 5G networks, and already is using LTE frequencies. Whether the particular LTE bands anyone has on their phone are compatible with the ones Verizon is and will be using obviously is an individual case situation.

 

When Ting first made the Verizon announcement, I too thought I'd have to ditch them and switch to some other GSM network provider. But now after reading more and checking on Verizon's plans, I think I'm going to wait and see how things play out. (Obviously, I have LTE capable phones, but in your case with an old GSM only phone, that wouldn't work.)

 

Verizon, and hopefully Ting moving forward, does have a pay as you go international roaming service that should work for receiving SMS messages and such on their phone when outside the U.S. without having to subscribe to any expensive international roaming add-on.

 

However, for potential new Ting subscribers, one problem I encountered is their system wasn't willing to accept and send a new SIM to either of the mail forwarding addresses I use. So I ended up having to use a family member's residential address, and then have them forward the SIM to me.

 

How do you find out if you have a LTE capable phone or a phone capable of recognizing a Ting SIM?  I have a dual SIM Oppo purchased in Thailand.  I really don't understand how this stuff works.

On 9/6/2019 at 5:16 AM, JamJar said:

https://www.ultramobile.com/paygo/

 

 

How do you get a US Ultramobile SIM while residing in Thailand?
According to the site, "The PayGo Plan is available at select T-Mobile locations" which means you need to be in the US?

4 hours ago, clokwise said:

https://voice.google.com

 

It's free, forever*, you can select your area code and #, and it's also a voice+SMS+voicemail number so you can forward both calls and texts to your phone using the Google Voice android app which fully integrates into your phone. It also allows you to make free calls to the USA. Works on PCs and Apple phones too. All you need is a gmail/google account.

 

I've used it over 10 years and it works painlessly.

 

Attempted to set up Google Voice on Android.  However, in the set up process you are required to have a US phone number in order to complete the setup.  Catch-22.  You need a US number to set up a US number in GV.  Not sure how to get around that but open to suggestions. 

11 hours ago, gamb00ler said:

I use Textnow on IOS.  There is probably an Android version.  You will get a new number.  I don't know if you can port an old number to use as your Textnow number.  I have verified that it works with Bank of America for two factor verification and also with State Dept. Federal Credit Union.  You must periodically use your Textnow number otherwise they will disable it.  The service is free.

I've attempted to set up Textnow on Android.  It installs Ok but setting up an account was impossible. 
I set this up while using a VPN connection to the US.
First attempted to set up an account using and existing Google account.  It failed with an error message.

Then attempted to set up an account manually.  Entered an valid email and set a local password.  Same, same: errored out.
Then uninstalled the program and reinstalled.  Attempted to set up an account again.  It failed with a "Too many attempts, try again later" message.
I uninstalled it.  It's not too useful if it can't be set up and configured.  I'm open to suggestions!

How can you setup a US phone number that forwards SMS to a Thai-base SIM, or an Android app or computer app without traveling back to the US?
How can you set that up from Thailand?  US companies are increasing requiring 2-factor authentication to a US phone number which is a bit problematic when you spend most of your time living overseas.