Agusts

I asked a few sellers on Lazada about Tox 3 and 4 if can connect to official Google Play Store, and they said NO...!? Looks like getting proper Google licence for Android 10, 11 and higher is more expensive these days, so they skip it...! If you have a link that you bought from and a good seller let me know. I have Lazada and Shopee cash on delivery account, never used AliExpress...

I was just in Bangkok Bank today, and asked one or two of them who could speak some English about exchange rates, I was told from my GBP foreign account there to my Baht account there they still use TT rate as mentioned in previous post. That's good news because that is far better than their advertised cash exchange rate. TT rate was 43.46 this morning when I checked. Although Wise still beat that on a £40k transfer, with all the cost it came to a 43.73 rate from my calculation, also this morning...! That's just over 10,000 baht difference in a £40k transfer. But for getting CFT the swift transfer is much better. I read on Wise website that Bkk bank need a lot of documents to verify a Wise transfer as foreign and give certificate for it...!

Thanks for the feedbacks, I also thought 500b was just too cheap...! I live in Phuket, so no chance of buying it from that shop in BKK, I guess could test it there and then, or ask a lot of questions and/or return it to the shop easily... Although this Lazada seller is LazMall, so probably can get an easy return and refund if any issue. I will check out Tox 3 and 4.

I had the old model MXQ Pro that served me well for many years, maybe more than 5 years, can't remember. Once I got an air mouse it did all I wanted and easily... But having Android 7, and low RAM it is now struggling with many apps, nothing can be updated any more and apps are no longer support Android 7, and Chrome browser just gone crazy and show images with tint of green on them...! Very slow and no update... So I bought an X88 box, but it turned out with a terrible fake Android, it has no Google licence, so can not connect and use Google Play Store. Saying that it has it's own fake app store, probably Chinese, that amazingly has all the usual copies of the apps, and although all fake, they work just as well...!!!!? But I don't like this idea of fake Android. So I got Google Chromecast 4k, which has Google TV version on it. But this is pretty useless, a lot of apps I use are not compatible with this version, can't even install Chrome browser on it - it's mainly to use with Netflix and usual subscription apps..., I don't think we can install normal Android on it.., can we....? Anyway, I'm now looking at newer model of MXQ Pro called 4K 5G. They seem really cheap on Lazada, some with Android 11 even. My question is do they have proper licenced Android on them that can connect to official Google Play Store...(my old model did) ? Also seen some that say no Bluetooth support, which is a bit worrying - I need that for headphones...!? Anybody has it..., any feedback appreciated...

I had this problem with Google Chromecast purchased in US, but wouldn't connect to WiFi in another country, then it worked in Thailand...!!! , something to do with region restriction..., very strange.

I have a subscription for a UK number with Skype, I'm guessing once it is moved to Teams that number no longer works, any ideas...? Is there another service or app that we can use to get the same type of landline UK number...? (I know there are some for US numbers).

Just a quick feedback, as we were on tour and passing through Pattaya, I went to this place called iMoto. Explained the problem and he quickly did a patch from inside job, fairly good job as far I watched one of his boys do it. 200 baht + tip seems to have done the trick for now, nearly two weeks and very little loss of pressure - and that's probably me checking it so often. One thing I was concerned was rebalancing, not much for the patch but if tire and wheel location changed. But he said he marked it and put it in the same location - I can't be 100% sure of this, but not a big deal on rear wheel of a Forza. It's not a 200kph sports bike...! 😜 Anyway, all good and back in Phuket now. I recommend iMoto. I couldn't find Supercheap up there either, they are only in the south..! To buy my favourite Shell 100% synthetic MB oil, as oil change was due, but found a shop that had Motul equivalent, 370b x 2 as two 1 liter bottles are needed - 1.5L with oil filter change. One thing I tell you guys, the condition of roads in Bangkok and Pattaya and surrounding area is really bad, no wonder we hear so often from guys up there complaining about scooter shocks/forks not being adequate and looking for upgrade. I must say from Cha Am down, all the way south, we have much, I mean a lot, better roads...!!! 😎

I have seen this 18 months requirement mentioned a lot on websites, but it may be for getting new visa, not extension...!? I will be going to extend next week in Phuket, so I will ask them there to be sure...

This is for a couple of years ahead, for retirement visa extension they need 18 months validity...! So need to get a new passport (UK) if it, for example, has 17 months validity on it... ? Do they even issue one so early (if say I'm in London and apply from there )...? I think I read somewhere a while ago that before if renew UK passport they give 10 years from last expiration date, but now if apply early they start 10 years from application date, so lose a lot of validity in this way too...!

It's a two step process , if have a the docs. First transfer number plate, takes a couple/few of days for that in Phuket DLT , then transfer green book to your name. I think mine was 1000b all together in 2019, for old model Forza 300.

Not Yamaha, after that need to go to Tmax for Yamaha , which is 500+, and very expensive..., in Thailand. In some countries they sell Xmax 400, but it's not upgraded for years, and small wheels..., not that inspiring, or powerful. There is Honda Forza 350 and ADV 350 of course, good options, but in similar power/weight ratio of Xmax. Then there is Suzuki Bergman 400, but it's so heavy and low HP, that it's slower than Xmax. But Zontes has now come out with maxi scooters with 368cc, supposed to be the fastest cat on the block in this class..., AND cheaper than Forza and Xmax...! They have it for test drive in Phuket, we will have a go in a few of weeks and see... 🤞🏻😎

Only buy items that are sold a lot and have a lot of positive reviews from Lazada and Shopee, also LazMall sellers always send good quality and genuine goods with warranty...

I had a puncture plug in the rear tire when I got the Forza last year. It was losing air slowly, but last week I noticed it let even more air out than normal, so I thought let's replace the plug, maybe it will fix it. The usual corner shop happily had a go, but as usual a messy job. Couldn't get the fabric material out, so he just pushed it in, and put another one. Was even going without the glue until I asked him to put some on it. He really had a go at scrubbing the hole a lot though, and I think he made it even a bigger hole now...! Anyway, a week on and I still lose about 1psi a day, so pretty waste of time, though only cost 100 baht..., I was thinking is it worth trying those patches from the inside..., Are they any better...? Or is the hole just too big now and not worth the effort..., and have to get a new tire... (it's a few years old but still good, about 12k on it). It's the rear, so not as critical as the front...

Good info from everyone, I'm guessing we can use the Wise swift facility too, they also can send using swift the money that's there on Wise account in original currency and let receiving bank do the exchange..., I think they charge the same as banks for swift transfer... I'm saying this because some of us have already money there on Wise, in GBP, USD etc. - theg pay good interest on their accounts... I say use swift, so it's less hassle getting that FCT certificate this way...

Does this TT apply when GBP is sent via SWIFT or Wise into a baht account at Bangkok Bank...? I also have GBP account at BB, can send GBP into that, and then at a later time transfer that to baht account, I guess that does not use TT...!?

As an example I just checked today Bangkok Bank exchange GBP to THB at 41.58. And Wise does it 42.49 - and on say about £47300 charges £250, to deliver about 2 mill baht - max allowed. So using bank exchange will cost about £800 more, give it take, say about 1.5%, it's not the end of the world, but that's what I was investigating (I think dollar is bit better) , I guess they have rigged the system for Thai banks to benefit..., nothing new...! I'm also told they put certain amount as official selling price, to take care of this FCT certificate at lower amount , and the rest is paid in cash, is that the norm.....?

If you're talking about Thai tax, if less than 180 days here, not applies...

That's good to know if selecting that option it does not deliver baht... As for limits, surely can send multiple transfer and get certificate for each....?

I'm doing a bit of research for myself and friends, they tell me for buying property a farang buyer must get a FCT (foreign currency transfer) certificate from the bank for the money that he's paying for the condo..., and for this it's best to transfer dollar or euro to a same currency account here and let the bank exchange that to baht...! But this means bank using terrible exchange rate..., I've seen on Wise.com when transferring money it has an option "buying property", wouldn't that be enough for Bangkok Bank for example to certify that this transfer was from abroad etc. for this particular purpose...?

I see most foreigners try to buy a condo with freehold title, so they can fully own it. But there are many good offers for leasehold too, I'm not too concerned about financial outlook of it in 30 years - won't last that long and not worry about it..., but I want to know what are the pitfalls of this scenario until then, either leasing directly from condo management or private Thai owner...!? I'm told they can demand more common fees, or other fees while can not from freeholder - odd to me, as if increase for this is approved it applies to all condos...!? Otherwise what right might not have, like if I want to replace toilet, or the sink or kitchen top, could they refuse permission....? While not if it was freeholder... Could they cancel the contract altogether...? After all it's like a long term rent..., would there be any compensation that worth it... (say in 10 years the rental or value could double, and they prefer to kick me out and sell or tent etc..)...? Anything else come to mind...

Well, for us there is usually 2 options, dealer or FB marketplace. I think auction is too complicated unless you have a Thai assistant - that still may need he or she to register and buy it...! Dealers usually 10% to 20% more expensive, but at least there is a shop to go back to. Normally they don't mess around with dodgy bike and paperwork, at least you sure it's not a con in that way, though I know they play with the mileage sometimes..., lower it. FB is not that bad, of course need to make sure you know about the model you are after, do a bit of research. Never pay in advance for anything, let someone else check the paperwork, only pay once at DLT after they checked and accepted the green book etc., dealing with foreigners always easier of course...! Many people buy this way...

Very useful and precise tips, in practice hard to do all that, but must try..., The Google Translate has on camera translation that can help to get simple things quickly understood, of course no replacement for official translator... Also when you mention the government insurance pays for injuries, I assume this is when going to hospital, at that time , is it enough to show "my" compulsory insurance right there and get the treatment for free...? (up to 30k if not established whose fault). Do they need opposite side insurance too... 🤔 Or do you mean they pay us afterwards by presenting receipts...? I am not sure about this one...! I guess this is the same question with any extra insurance..., generally it's easier/better to get it before and not pay anything, but it would be good to know...

I think RR is the cheapest can get here, 900b for Forza model. I bought one and it was okay, disconnected it when away for like 6 or 7 months, worked well after coming back. Had it for a couple of years before selling the bike and no problem...

Yes, I checked them out, they look good, not cheap but as it's Thai made I guess the warranty works, and could get some support... They even have one with front and rear cemeras in one...! Looks descent with 7 hours of recording on battery... But I got Roojai 3rd party insurance now, and I hope they are as good when coming to claim as when buying their insurance - that's when a company really shine, taking money is easy...! So I thought I don't care much about incidents/accidents, insurance should pay, my fault or not, I leave the camera hassle for now, maybe another time... By the way, my friend got 3rd party from the girls sitting at kiosk outside Phuket DLT and got 200,000 baht bailbond, but Roojai has only 50,000, I was surprised..., but with insurance paying for any damage/injury would this become important, no need to lock us up in this case to need to pay bailbond...!? 🤔

Yes, it's a bit tricky, always have a contract of sale signed by both parties and a witness..., hopefully that's enough to prove bike is sold and no longer in your possession... Many people specially dealers don't transfer the bike, so a real hassle later. Specially foreigner's visa page expires and DLT won't accept it. Thais are okay... I went to DLT after selling my bike and asked them to check if bike is no longer in my name, fortunately it wasn't...! If no date on the forms you signed then they are okay, it's probably just visa page issue. Just tell him he has to wait until your passport is back, that's all is needed..., and sign any other form required later... (if have a Thai wife or friend, best to write bike details on the forms...).