notrub

5 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Spend 2,000 more and get this Motorola G7 Power, very good phone and battery life

 

Motorola G7 Power (Ram4gb/Rom64gb) (เครื่องศูนย์ ลดล้างStock มีประกัน6เดือน) (Ceramic Black) | https://s.lazada.co.th/s.W9xHk

 

 

5 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Spend 2,000 more and get this Motorola G7 Power, very good phone and battery life

 

Motorola G7 Power (Ram4gb/Rom64gb) (เครื่องศูนย์ ลดล้างStock มีประกัน6เดือน) (Ceramic Black) | https://s.lazada.co.th/s.W9xHk

 

 

I have some Moto G phones and they are good and not costly. 

Lazada has much better deals than the shops.  Look at YT reviews and find a brand that is good.  Choose an older model as they are often heavily discounted.

Thanks havefunme, Yes, that is why I have asked the forum.  I bought some Motorola Moto G7 phones at a stupid low price last year and they were just a clearout exercise.  All genuine and work fine.  Since writing the above I looked on YT about identifying a fake and tried out the secret samsung code on a phone I have.  The seller has confirmed that it is genuine via the Lazada chat so if it is a fake I think I have a good chance of a refund.  Lazada have been helpful (?) in the past about returning counterfeit goods.  There were a bunch of S10 plus phones on lazada at a similar price from established sellers last week and they went quickly.  Fingers crossed.  At less than 400 Euros it will be a great deal if OK.

Fake shoe experience.  I was looking for Birkenstock sandals and found some on Lazada.  The description was OK and the price OK too.  From China.  When they came, COD, I opened the box, saw they were not what was described and refused to accept/pay for them.  I was instructed to do this by Lazada help chat line.  The delivery guy was upset but had no choice (other than assaulting me) and the sandals went back with no further comments.  I had opened the shipping wrapping carefully with a sharp knife and was easily taped closed again. 

Good morning,  I have just ordered a Galaxy S10 5G from Lazada, price is 14,500 baht.  The seller has been in Lazada business for 2 years and has 60 positive feed backs (yes, I know where they can come from).  He confirmed that the product is genuine and sent a picture of the box in his hand.  It is coming COD and I will open the delivery packaging and inspect the maker's seal on the box b4 paying but if they can fake a phone they can fake a seal too.  The seller is KSHER SHOP.  I know it is an older model which could explain the price but it is still being sold on ebay at almost 2x the price.  I have purchased other phones at clearance prices in the past so I know this could be the case now.  This is a last check to see if there are any of you have a comment about this.  Thank you very much for your help.

Yes, I get a UK, Canadian and French pension too.  All small but they add up and help to pay the bills.  I keep getting demands from the UK for a 'proof of life' certificate which is a pain in the bottom as it must be signed by an official in English.  One lawyer wanted 30,000 Bt but normally it is 500 or 1000 just to verify that they have seen me standing upright breathing.

Thanks for the comments.  The short story is that I was married with my Canadian passport (the amphur insisted) and I would just like to tidy things up.  All legal - no hanky panky in any way.  I would take a short flight out and back but not with the pandemic issues complicating things.  My current status is fine and I have another 9 years b4 my UK passport expires.  Thanks again.

Is there any way to get one of these little cards without leaving, then coming back and being subject to all the quarantine regulations in place now?  Due to an immigration officer's error at BKK airport in the past I had to get a replacement.  I got a morning flight to Kuala Lumpur and back to BKK, got my new TM6 and went on other formalities from there.  I have a TM6 now which is valid in my UK passport but I would like to get one for my new Canadian passport.  Any way of getting one w/o exiting the country?  Thanks for any ideas or comments.

How about this?

I am a UK citizen with a retirement visa.  I go to the amphur's office and the exchange goes like this:

Me.  Hello I would like to marry my Thai partner please.

Them.  Yes sir and madam.  Do you have your ID?

Me.  Yes, here is my UK passport with my retirement visa in it.  Here is my partner's Thai ID card.

Them.  Are you single?

Me.  I was married but now I am divorced.

Them,  Can you provide proof please?

Me.  Yes, here is a certified freedom to marry document issued by the Canadian embassy.  It is a registered Notaire that certified this document. I am a Canadian citizen and so they       provided this service for me.  I am now free to marry in any country of the world.

Them.  I can see that you have been declared and certified as being divorced by a government official.  Thank you.  Now we can proceed with your application.

Does this work?  Is it that the Thai officials just wants to be sure that I am divorced and if so, a declaration from an embassy should be acceptable, no?

As Preacher noted an amphur that has married many foreigners will be familiar with the process.  In our local office they have never done this sort of marriage before. 

I really am who and what I claim to be an am not trying to circumvent the system in any way.

Thanks again for any comments

Thanks blackcab.  I didn't try to take a shortcut.  I went to the CDN consulate and showed them my divorce papers proving my freedom to marry.  Which they accepted and provided me with a freedom to marry certificate.  The translator included my UK passport in the translated documents that he presented to the 'Thai registrar' for certification.  So both of these passports are included in the certified  translated documents presented to the amphur.  If both passports were not noted then I would be an illegal person regards my being in Thailand in the first place.

I am clearly the same person and confirmation of my divorce is a formality carried out by a recognized authority, the embassy.   I was divorced in France but this divorce is not limited to France.  I am divorced everywhere.  Referencing my UK passport as part of my ID is simply adding a line to my identity box on the marriage certificate. 

They only need to be sure that I am not married, which my freedom to marry certificate supports.  They could marry me with my UK passport because I became free to marry as a UK citizen as well as a Canadian citizen at the time of my divorce that took place in France.

Richard Smith commented in a different post:  'That said. I’m guessing that IF for whatever reasons a specific Amphur is not connected to the ‘amphur network - intranet’ or whatever its called, there may be some additional difficult / hurdles (or not).' 

Do you know what this refers to? 

Thanks for your help and comments.

16 02 2021,

I have dual citizenship, Canada (born) and UK.  My Thai visa is in my UK passport.  I have been here many years.  I am divorced and can prove it .

We tried to become married today.  We are in Ban Mai Chaiyapot, Burriram.  We live in a village near to the amphur.  After several hours of filling in forms and having my passports and paperwork scrutinized we got to the final stage of the signing of  the completed ceremonial certificate by the chief person.  Then she started to look at my Canadian passport (again) and got back on the phone (again) and looked at my translated freedom to marry certificate (again) then announced that they would not marry us today.  They said we could apply to be married and after they checked out everything (?) during a 6 week+ time span we could be married.

She said my documents (from November) would have expired before she finished her checking.  My partner said no, for a foreigner it is 6 months,  for Thais it is 3.  (Is this true?).

My situation is a little bit different than some in that I was married in Canada and divorced in France.  I am here on my UK passport.  To get my divorce certified by the UK consulate would have meant getting my French divorce documents translated to English, after they had been certified by the French consulate as being valid.  The hoops increase and include multiple certified translations and certifications of my 25 page divorce decree.  Each stage would have to be presented and certified in person in BKK to the various authorities and consulates at least once or multiple times on different days.  

So, I just renewed my Canadian passport and they accepted my French divorce decree in French (Canada has French and English as legal languages) and I swore that I am me and that I did not tell a lie.  They gave me a stamped 'freedom to marry' paper in English.  I took it to a nearby translator who translated it and my 2 passports and had them stamped and certified by the Thai department that does that sort of thing. 

Among other things the person responsible (in our amphur) would not take into account that I am legally in Thailand as a UK citizen.  As a Canadian passport holder only, I am not legal here as there are no entry stamps and no visa attached to the CDN passport.  I am one person with 2 passports.  Not 2 persons.  I am the same person in the flesh when I hold up my 2 different passports moments apart.  Because the CND consulate certified the Canadian Burton as being divorced they will permit him to marry.  The UK Burton is apparently not free to marry and so they will not put any reference to my UK passport (complete with retirement visas) onto the marriage documents.

The chief was clearly out of her depth and even demanded to know why another person's id card, with a form, was attached to my translated divorce papers.  I finally got her to accept that it was the translator's certificate by showing her the envelope he sent my certified documents in.  So, she called him too.  Looking at my recently renewed UK passport she announced that I had to be here for 3 years before I could marry (?) and it took a while before she connected the dates on my old original passport to see I have been here for many years. 

Is this normal?  I have the distinct feeling that this person did not know what she was doing and was afraid to take responsibility for signing something (my certificate) that she did not fully understand. 

Where we are now is to apply to be married and have left many of the original documents with them.  There is no rush to get married and my visa has been recently extended.  But I am concerned that they are willing to allow an undocumented Canadian to marry and do not want to reference my UK passport details on the certificate.  I can see trouble down the road claiming to be married and having only my CDN persona recognized while my UK persona holds the visa.  Also our prenuptial contract is on my UK passport as it is where my visa is.  I know I can get another visa but that would involve leaving the country to acquire a new TM6 entry card.

So, what do you think? Should we just go and get our original documents back and go to the next town over?  Is there an amphur in Buriram (for example) who would be more experienced and able to perform this service with fewer problems?  Aside from anything else this is all a waste of time and like most other 70+ year old retirees I have things to do that are more productive than spending 1/2 a day in an office with no results.

As always, thanks in advance for any useful ideas you may be able to share with me.

PS, You can see how close we came!

It idles when just sitting there and powers up when the tool is started.  It has an economy switch.  I have not used it much except to try and to see if it would work with the high draw tools.  There are descriptions about what inverter generators are and how they work on youtube.  This one is 1.8 or 2 kw.  You can see on the sticker and also it weighs only 18kg which is important to me.  It is clearly a quality product and the wholesaler is client satisfaction orientated, so I am told.

Inverter generator, revisited.  POLO brand P2250iS

I posted a question about inverter generators and welding equipment a while ago and here is an up date.

I bought a Stellar welder for about 1000 Baht and it seems to work OK.  I chose it over others at that price because it came with longer cables and a guarantee.  I also bought a helmet with solar auto darkening lens recommended by a member.  What a good recommendation!  You can see what you are doing with the eye protection only as sunglasses the as soon as you strike an arc they go black.  just great.  Thanks.  Sorry, I have misplaced all of that thread so I don't know the names of who helped with what.  Thank you, however.

The Generator...  I found out about this Polo generator and bought one.  It works just great.  My power tools that have a big draw on startup run without a problem.  Big disc grinder and cutoff saw, for example.  I tried it with the welder and it worked to strike an arc and run a bead for a number of seconds but then overloaded and the breaker switched off.  I reset the breaker and it was all OK to provide power again.  I have not tried out the 12v or USB ports but assume they will function.  This unit comes with a 1 year guarantee and I am told the wholesaler is a reputable outfit.  This generator seems to be the business and I recommend it without hesitation.

I bought mine from  Ruangsangthai in Buriram  (burirambuildersmerchants.com).  [email protected]  FAO Bob or Moses although any email in English or other non Thai language will go through to them by default.  They have a foreign customer sales department and English, German etc. languages are spoken.  Store phone is 061 028 9292 (English).  They have a lazada service and will ship anything you order on line or on the phone. 

They will honour the Polo guarantee and repair in house or seek a solution from the wholesaler.  I got a very good price that was a reasonable markup on their cost.   My price was in the low(ish) teens 1000's but then I am a regular customer and I picked it up.  Speak to Bob and get a price and shipping costs. 

Here are a couple of pics.   It is as solid as it looks.

Thanks very much for comments when I ask questions.  It is often very helpful.

Thank you very much KhunBenQ.  Both Buri Ram and   Nakhon Ratchasima are listed in NORTHEASTERN REGION (3 provinces) section ( sorry about the colour change- cut and paste) so it appears that my friend's aunt's friend got it wrong/right.

Thanks again.

I am looking for a site that will provide current information about where I can and cannot go, particularly in Isaan.  Some kind person posted a site which I have lost, sorry.  When I google search about this subject (see above) I get many sites referring to international travel and even Trump's latest thoughts on travel generally...  I live in buriram province and want to go to Korat for the day to have a meeting with my lawyer there, not shopping etc..   Can I find out?  No, only that locally (in my village) a friend of someone's aunt went there and did or did not have to stay home for 14 days...   

Any comments will be most gratefully received,  About travel, not the aunt.  Thanks.

2 hours ago, TSF said:

I had my right eye cataract done in August at St. Mary's Hospital in Korat. Upfront cost was 28,000 Bt, which included a bag of eyedrops. I had to make about 4 or 5 visits back to the hospital for the doc to check and more drops. Each of those visits cost me approx 1,000Bt. So total cost was about 33,000 Bt. Vision in right eye is brilliant. I no longer wear glasses for driving or watching TV & movies. But do still need reading glasses for computer/shopping. 

I can't really remember mine were perhaps 20,000 each all in.  (I thought less but  probably wrong) .  Dr Nithadon (Nithadol?) charges 500  or so for a checkup and 700 per tiny bottle of glaucoma drops (they are 1000+ elsewhere).  I have read that some doctors fit different focale length contacts to check on whether your brain can adjust.  Or, I have read that people who co for monovision and cannot  adapt have to have the lens replaced in a second operation.  Happy that it is done and dusted.

On 1/4/2020 at 4:42 PM, Jingthing said:

Nice story. 

Congratulations. 

Is there any way to tell beforehand whether your brain will have a problem with that adaptation or not? 

The Dr. at Nithidol said my eyes were already imbalanced in their focal distance.  I have had the operation in Buriram and it all went 100%.  

On 12/22/2020 at 6:20 PM, faraday said:

http://polo.ktw.co.th/generators

 

Thanks very much.  Thanks Faraday.  I had thought these were pretty good and, according to Ruangsangthai, in Buriram, the supplier KTW is of very good repute.

Polo is a house brand of Home Pro and Thaiwatsadu (I think) but I cannot find out more about them on the internet.  A search just comes up with shirts and sports events.  I bought a big Polo generator and it worked OK (too big, sold it) and other of their products seem aright too but I would like to find out more about them.  Any ideas please?  In particular I am interested to buy an inverter generator of that brand.  It is very much lower price than a Honda (I know apples and oranges) but many of these sorts of generators seem to work OK.  It is for light occasional use.  Any comments on polo equipment in general or this generator in particular please?  And thank you.

22 hours ago, OJAS said:

 

So how come the actual amounts involved appear to have slipped your mind? Maybe because you had given the receipt the @luckyluke "treatment"?

My 'new' UK passport was issued 11 09 2018 and my razor sharp brain does not retain details of all the various service charges that  have occurred during the past couple of weeks, let alone the last couple of years.  How many times have you paid the inevitable 100 baht charge for the various small services at any bank?  The UK is pretty bad as they have subcontracted many consular services to private companies and anyway that government is cash hungry. 

20 hours ago, luckyluke said:

Maybe there is a scanning system able to read the authenticity of the stamp.

Never heard/read about someone encountering this situation.

18 hours ago, jomtienisgood said:

All Visa's are registered in their central computer system.....As are marriages and divorces.....

You must obtain a letter giving permission to leave and return from the immigration office otherwise your retirement vise is voided when you leave the country.  There is a small fee for this authorization but, you guessed it, I forget what it is.

22 hours ago, IvorBiggun2 said:

 

It's people like you that cause the siht that we legit's have to be put through when doing an extension. They don't want us legit folk going into their office  and leaving with out some form of tea money being paid.  It's kind of crazy in that they go out of their way to put up obstacles to catch wrong doers but willing help to bypass the law.

By the way there is no fee for changing your stamps from your old passport to your new one. 

It was a modest fee of perhaps 1,000 or 1,500, I forget.  I got an official receipt for it.  It was not a tea money payment.  There are official fees for some government services in every country.  It cost 50 CAD to have my divorce papers certified by the CDN embassy in BKK.  The UK charges £ 25 to photocopy your passport.  I don't generally put myself in a position where a 'payoff' is required here but I don't argue about a 500 baht on the spot speeding fine is paid and no receipt given. 

Excuse me, but I am not a <removed>  thank you.  I research on internet, this site too, and speak to my lawyer about the best and legal way to do what needs to be done to live here in this country where I am a guest.  As difficult as it may sometimes be to jump through all the hoops here, there are far more devious governments in other 'respectable' countries, the UK & US, for example where those currently in charge are criminals and idiots to boot.

<removed>

13 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

You could get the extension based upon marriage now in your UK passport and then later when the borders are open make a trip to a nearby embassy or consulate, apply for a single entry non-o visa in you Canadian passport and then enter the country using that passport and then apply for a new extension. Be sure you don't get a re-entry permit until after you leave the country and get a new extension.

I am on my 13th extension of stay based upon marriage and have not had a problem doing them. In my opinion it is the correct extension for me since I am here to live with my family not retirement.

Thanks Ubonjoe,  Looking at various websites it seems that the big advantage for a person already in possession of a 'o' retirement visa is the reduced income level required.  Are there more that are not self evident (the joys of not living in sin etc.)?  I see what you mean about extending my existing 'o' visa as a married person as the simplest solution.  Thank you.

On a slightly different subject, I currently have a usufruct contract on the land that I paid for and put in my partner's name.  I built a house and improved the land etc.. I would like to have a prenuptial contract to be sure we both understand our circumstances.   I don't plan to have a problem with our marriage but who knows what the future holds?  I would like this contract to acknowledge that I built and paid for the home we live in.  And that in the event of a separation she will leave and I will stay in our home until I die when it will be hers and the usufruct contract expires (as it will on my death).  I also want it to be clear that I do not want to go to a 'retirement home' when I get even older.  I would like to employ a nurse (if my wife is unable to look after me alone) and stay in my home.   Do you know where I could find examples of these sorts of agreements that I could look at and think about please?  I have a lawyer but I would like to have some food for thought before sitting down with him to discuss this matter.  Thanks very much for this and other advice you have given me in the past.

On 12/1/2020 at 3:13 PM, localexpat said:

Hello

 

I am due to renew my Retirement Visa shortly.

 

As my old passport is nearly full I obtained a new passport.

 

Do I need any documentation for immigration to use my new passport for the renewed retirement visa.

 

I did some research on this forum and it seems the embassy should issue a letter to transfer a visa. My activity is to obtain a renewal so I hope I do not need this letter.

 

Thanks in advance for any advise.

I went to the Buriram immigration when my new passport was about to be applied for.  They just said to bring the new one and the old one along with all the usual proof of income, residence etc., pay a fee of ?000 baht (I forget) and they would do it.  Just like that.  For an extra ?000 baht they gave me an extension 14 or 15 months at the same time rather than the 2 or 3 months that would have been usual according to the date on my original visa.  That was important as I had a problem then with the money part of the qualifications.  I had a payment coming some months ahead but needed to spend what I had on deposit to live.  Now I just keep 1M THB on deposit in a foreign currency Thai bank account for this part of the qualification process.   I am pretty sure that there was no input required or given from the UK embassy for this transfer.  Just go in well before you need the renewal or transfer and ask what they want.  Better to be prepared than refused on the day.

11 hours ago, Salerno said:

 

But the government (embassy) of the country your current visa is in does when you need it transferred.

 

You've got the info you need now anyway and IMO appear to be in a better position than a lot of threads started here (no rush, multiple options, financially solid) so best of luck to you regardless of which way you decide to go ????

Thanks for the encouragement.  My old UK passport finally expired and was completely full anyway.  I simply applied for a new one (BKK) and took it, and the old one, to the Buriram immigration office.  They stamped and noted details of my old passport and gave me a 2nd new retirement visa stamp dated 26 01 2019.  I provided all the usual proof of income, residence etc. information then too.  I did not contact the UK embassy for this process.  I had to return to France for a new knee at the time so I had a 'fresh' TM6 for the transfer.   I have never had to ask or even advised the UK (or Canadian) authorities when traveling to countries that require visas, Nepal for example.   I feel that I have finally figured out the system here re visas etc. and the biggest 'learn' is to be prepared and expect the unexpected.  I normally go into the immigration office a month before my extension is due to show them my details (bank book etc.) and ask if I need anything else different this year for my extension to be granted.  Getting permission to exit and re enter on a single entry visa is an important one as the retirement visa is voided on exit without this permission.  I learned this lesson the hard way.  Thailand rules can be confusing and difficult at times but they are pretty reasonable compared to some other countries, the UK for example.