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Yes, its the pension administrator's process not the bank. The original admin sold its book of pensions onto the next administrator & then they sold on to the next one bringing mechanistic processes in place. I really don't need a new bank account but I fail the electronic ID check by not having my name on utility bills or the electoral register at my cousin's. I think I can pass it from this Thai address but I just want the money in the UK accounts so its a pain qualifying to get it in an account here. All my paperwork was in place at my sister's but she died and her husband f***** it up.

vinny you're the man on phones! Thanks once again, a temporary loss of service wouldn't be an issue for me on this, it just might be nice to keep my decades old number from my faithful Nokia! 🙂 KR

Thanks, I have a couple of questions if you can help: Does WISE allow you to print a statement out & does that statement show your address like bank statements usually do? I am wondering whether a GBP account might be opened with WISE based on a Thai home address. If possible, I might be able to use those documents to initiate a pension so I am also wondering if a tax free lump sum might be received in WISE & partly paid onto UK bank accounts. & is it possible to pay (unconverted GBP) from a WISE GBP account on to a UK bank account? Thx again

Other threads have mentioned GBP accounts held with WISE being used to receive pension payments from DWP before payment on to Thai banks. Does anyone know whether a GBP account with WISE could be set up with a Thai address? Can you get a statement or account confirmation letter from WISE evidencing your Thai address? I presume that if a lump sum were paid into a WISE account in GBP you could pass it on in GBP to another UK bank. Do they have protocols restricting the size of transfers? Thx

Interesting .... I wonder whether this might work for me dealing with the particular requirements my pension provider has for paying out. Does a WISE account require an address from you? Does WISE give you a statement or other correspondence specifying that address? My pension administrator requires me to supply a statement showing my home address as corroborated by certain other documents that can be checked to certain third party records (like the Electoral Register). If I could get a GBP account supported by a statement from WISE showing my address here in Thailand, it might work. Thanks in advance

Hi Guys I wonder what advice you may have. I live in Thailand but I keep my UK bank accounts open using a UK address so as not to have access to services like bank cards removed. I applied to start a pension using the UK address (in order to have payments made to a UK bank account & not straight here) but was asked to provide further evidence of my UK address from utility bills, Electoral Register etc. I registered on the Electoral Register here and have a Thai bank account registered at this address. I really would prefer not to receive pension payments into my Thai bank account, either in terms of currency conversion costs or costs/scrutiny in transferring amounts back to the UK. For instance, I would much prefer to have any tax free lump sum paid straight into a UK account (assuming the government haven't withdrawn the tax free allowance currently available to us by the time I might claim it) and not have to explain how payments from it back to the UK aren't financially denuding Thailand. Indeed, there tax consequences here of receiving a lump sum - are there? ! Does anyone have experience in a similar situation? Do I have to come clean over my address being in Thailand with a UK bank and face whatever restrictions may be applied to get the pension paid to that account? Would it be better to open a new bank account (online perhaps) held in the UK from here & does anyone have any recommendations of banks providing a good service in that respect? Any suggestions will be welcome! With many thanks as always & kind regards to all

Does anyone know whether there is any drawback in transferring an old number (on a 3G or 2G) sim to a new 5G sim? Phone numbers are entirely independent of the grade of data mode in use in a SIM 2G/3G/5G, aren't they?

Giff Gaff sent me a SIM here. I have just set it up without any problems. It accepted payment by bank card up without any of the problems I had in using a new card on tescomobile. If anyone followed this thread, at one point the tescomobile Auto Top Up service ceased to recognise digits keyed in unsing the phone keypad. That problem had disappeared when I tried again in the new month of October, I suspect the system must have deactivated that functionality on my account for some reason in Sept. Who can tell? Life is too short not to switch to GG imo. KR

It looks like you can order a free SIM with UK number to be sent to Thailand from Giff Gaff or port an existing Tescomobile number to it if the payment process with Tesco gets too troublesome.

Great, thanks. I hadn't thought of putting a voucher via a laptop. It'd avoid the handset keying trouble that has befallen me. This morning I've had a few more goes. Even the hearing the script instructions phases in and out of audibility and it seems there might be intermittence at their end in receiving key strokes - only a guess. It like a bad telephone connection used to be, the line phasing in & out. I get a flash back to being in phone box on a dodgy connection when that beep, beep, beep for more coins cuts it off : )) ! I'm trying different times of day & different handsets in case the old nokia is finally conking out too. KR

Is setting a bank card up as fickle as tescosmobile's functionality on the Giff Gaff site? I presume tescomobile acceptance on a card fails because this laptop has a Thai IP address - does anyone know if that is it or use VPN to set cards up on UK sites like this from here? I wonder whether tescomobile would accept a card from a thai bank - would that work?

That is what has happened to me at the same time as having the first ever problem keying numbers into the auto top-up service. Digits keyed from my 5G phone are not recognised by the top-up script at all but the key in did work on my old 3G Nokia intermittently. The connection was flakey and took upteem attempts but worked in the end. Check your phone keypad works, mine has always been reliable before. I think the intermittence is due to capacity issued arising in the phased switch off of 3G across the O2 carrier service mentioned in the article Vinny41 linked but whatever it is, I'll be stuffed when all 3G is switched off unless my 5G phone keys are recognised by the top-up auto service. Even the voucher route won't work without keypad recognition so I probably have to go for on-line top up & seeing if a friend in the UK can input a bank card from there while I send the OTP to my phone here for "Verified by Visa" process needs in the mytescomobile /Mi Pay.

Thanks all, I might give giff-gaff a go as a back up as tesco has become less friendly to use presumably through implications with the infrastructure carriers here & in the UK. I worried about the effect of 3G phase out so started a different Tesco pay-as-you-go SIM on a 5G phone. Today that phone would not recognise any keystrokes to the auto top up service. Its Tesco card seems to be carried by AIS here & presumable O2 at the other end. My very old Nokia running the original pay-as-you-go number from a decade ago is on True-H- Tesco and DID allow keystrokes to the auto top up line. It was a very patchy connection and service, perhaps affected by the volume of traffic on the networks. After a dozen goes the credit DID also update from a new card after about an hour. The top up line wouldn't do a second top up for the SIM on the 5G phone. I presume there is a time restriction on using a new card until an initial transaction cleared. Rome wasn't built in a day either : ) Thanks for the article Vinny41 on the impact of 3G phase out, Its probably showing age but I find it hard to figure out how significant the change will be and what the trouble free route ahead is. KR

I have lived here for a decade using UK Tesco mobile phone number(s) for UK banking and other security verifications on a Pay As You Go basis (along with a Thai phone and bank here). It worked okay but it may be time to change, I could top up over the phone using the tesco automated service numbers for top up responding to keyed entries for choice input (press 1for x/ 2 for y etc) or via their tescomobile websites. The card I used had to be cancelled just as the tesco network seems to have been upgraded with keyed input choices (1 for x etc) no longer accepted. Inputting a different bank card to the topup website has so far failed the "Verified by Visa" service for MasterCard after the OTP had been successful. The bank helpline could see no impediment to payment so my current guess is that "Verified by Visa" may kick out a Thai IP address or fail from a wrong setting in my laptop. It didn't rain until it poured - my questions: What is a better way to keep a UK phone number going for the very limited purpose of security verifications? It won't be used for much else. Has anyone have any insight on why a phone keypad might fail outbound to the UK system? Would there be an impediment or implication to using a Thai bank card on tescomobile? I guess the longer you are here, the more on a Thai card, the better. Is there any difference between banks or devices used in the "Verification by Visa" processes? I have set up HSBC cards successfully but am failing with a new NatWest card using an old laptop. Thanks in advance for advice & best wishes to you all, KR 503

Hi Dinesh, i have gone into the system as you did, selected the accommodation, not filled anything in (but left the pre filled date of search the shows today's date as it is has a red asterisk) and get "No data found" as before. I think you must be able to access data because you have different functionality, or perhaps are you in the 7 day period of availability that Brandon refers to? Save that print! When I next come back from a trip, I'm printing as Brandon advises.

I extended my permit to stay for another year under retirement visa yesterday and was asked for proof of TM30 registration for the first time. This is in the usual situation of having waited doing nothing and then in the critical minutes when paperwork is being checked finding something to flap about. We have registered our residence for TM30 and successfully notified my residence here for TM30 purposes a few months ago. I went to Immigration at that time to do a manual TM47 and an IO was kind enough to print the record of my TM30 notification for me. I could see the residence, see how to register a guest but not how to print proof. I did not bring that TM30 guest registration yesterday nor copies of the householder's ID. As the IO said "where is TM30?" all I could reply was "online" as I floundered to log into our online TM30 account for the next 20 minutes before the IO said "here's your passport, all done". I am grateful that they were able (or perhaps, did not need) to check what was registered online at our address and could see me. I take you advice about printing out any future notification when it is done, but since I could not see how to do it last time, will it be obvious next time? Do you just re-register as a guest each time you need to print out? Is there a facility available to hotel/residence owners to print out a list of all current residents or is that on a back end available at IO? I have had a look again today & would still be lost.

Wow, a UK address is definitely desirable! It looks like I'm not going to get a pension that isn't frozen otherwise! I suppose I could register my tax affairs to a UK address but maintain the submission to HMRC as non-resident on the SA109 Residence and remittance basis if DWP check HMRC addresses but not contents of HMRC tax return submissions. Is that likely to work? I was forced to register my address here in Thailand on the UK electoral register this year to pass the ID checks for a private pension that ran an electronic check. Does anyone know whether a name on the electoral registry overseas could cause a failure on an ID check for opening for example a new savings account? I have the same UK address with Tescos to apply from, want to apply for their next annual saver account but this year have the electoral register abroad (where I wasn't registered last year) for example. My SP starts in a few years so the electoral register will expire by then and I can get a plan underway for the SP. Its all wrong for payment to be obfuscated when there was no obfuscation in paying NIC each month for years. Look forward to views! Many thanks all.

Many thanks all of you, to be able to ask these questions here is such a help. BritManToo - do you know if the process would be any different if your address for HMRC were here (as you have been on HMRC radar with all your tax returns & payments up to date)?

Hi, How is the State Pension initiated by the DWP? Do you approach them on or around the date of your eligibility for payment or do they usually send you a letter? What address do they use? Many people living abroad must risk being off the radar, is it advisable to contact them to ensure the pension starts when it should together with the proofs of eligibility, ID & life they may need? Is it best to contact them on line or through the Government Gateway to HMRC & Self Assessment? I'd guess annual Tax Returns help the process, do they? Many thanks in advance

Taxfiler, the tax software I have used to file my SA Tax Return in previous tax years will not be available for 2024/25. Can anyone suggest software to file a UK SA Tax return with HMRC for the 2024/25 (that ends on 5th April) please? I need to cover SA100 basic return and supplementary pages - SA105 Property Income, SA108 Capital Gains Tax, and SA109 Residency & summary tax calculation I used taxfiler previously but their service has been suspended going forward. HMRC provide a list of compatible software suppliers but recommendation of taxfiler came from someone using in on this forum & it did the job well. Many thanks for your suggestions in advance, KR

I registered a TM30 for the house i live in and my occupancy as foreigner visitor. The TM47 on line applications ran smoothly enough for a couple of years. I NEVER had to give my passport number if we did stay in a hotel as I knew I would have to register in my house for TM30 when we got home. I exited the country for the fist time in several years this summer and registered as staying at our home for TM30 when I got back through our ONLINE facility. My first online application for 90 notification under TM47 failed as they want to see you in person. Immigration said online TM47 would be work on the next notification which was done last week. They have not accepted my application for TM47 so far. I am going to Chaeng Watana next week because it will be due. I suspect the TM47 system has been tweaked to check the TM30 and my record has failed for some reason. I will do a manual TM30 at the same time in case the glitch happens on the TM30 side, though I think that means my wife signing it as house owner and me having a formal Authority or Power signed off by her witnesses by someone else if I remember rightly for me to submit the TM30.

For anyone interested Pension Wise help service have said that there will not be an issue for a non resident who receives pension payment in a an overseas account for HMRC in refunding the emergency tax deducted on the tax free element of the pension pot of 25% (that is often taken as a lump sum). HMRC would go further any give credit if the UK tax payer were to pay tax on the pension income in their country of residence (i.e. Thailand) by considering a claim for Double Tax Relief. Thanks all for conversations

Hi Will Are there any caveat catches about the drawdown being taken in the Uk by a UK resident or to a UK bank? My question is whether the first 25% drawdown would become liable to taxation by virtue of someone claiming it to overseas for payment into an overseas account while being not resident in the UK. I can't get my docs lined up without running through that tortuous route, I'm afraid. An advisor from the government Pension Wise service suggested I find check around - the guidance isn't easy so there is no substitute for experience. Thanks v much

Aah, I think I've twigged a bit more, thanks again I would have preferred to do it your route & will for applying for a new version of annual savings accounts with a building soc. I was pushed to be on the Electoral Register here for something else. I did it as I am registered with HMRC here and do submit Tax Returns stating non residency. My pension company, unlike yours, say they pay pensions overseas. I suppose it is still an open question whether HMRC will refund the tax free element to someone with a Thai address & non resident though. Before I try it and find out, does anyone reading this had tax levied all of their pension payments from the UK including the 25% expected to tax free & often paid as a lump sum? It'd be harsh and be as galling as the State Pension freeze must be. KR all & ta in advance

Hi Brit, thanks - i'd agree that keeping all addresses in UK is simplest. The comment to you on the Credit Score is about not finding you on the register at the address for your banking. I suppose that is good news for me as they will similarly not find an entry for me at the UK address used for my banks including the one were I'll open a new 1 year savings account. I don't suppose there can be any tie up with the entry on the Electoral Register for an identical name in Thailand so I have been over thinking it. On the pensions front, I was concerned with the tax free element usually available from a private pension pot (which is 25%) and can be taken either as a lump sum up front (also of 25%) or as part of a the future stream of payments to the pensioner. Income from pensions is taxed, as you say, (apart from any tax free element) so 20% is the most common band applicable to most people. I was talking to the government service free through Moneyhelper.com called Pension Wise to everyone for guidance on issues to think about concerning drawing pensions. The advisor was flagging the possibility of a general issue (without knowing specifically about Thailand) & as you suggest might be better ignored. No UK tax payers here comment here on the injustice there would be to them in not receiving the tax free elements of their pensions so it seems like a non issue. I don't want to find out that if I took a lump sum (that the pension company current say includes a 25% tax free element) subsequently I find myself paying tax on it (because the 25% tax free bit isn't allowed to someone living abroad as per Pension Wise's concern) & HMRC levies higher rate tax on most of it. : { Has anyone had any attempt made to claw back the 25% tax free element usually available in drawing a private pension? Thanks again