Agusts

I read some of the posts, but sorry in case I missed it, how does bank know the registered name of a phone number given to them...? I thought only SIM card company can do that (and maybe police - probably through them). Are the banks given access or they can contact some place to verify this info..., because if this is not going to be automatic, or say quickly done via some computer, it will take forever for bank staff to go through every phone number of every account - probably for Thais too... My number was registered many years ago with True using old passport number, but banks has my new passport number, I hope that's not a big deal, same name after all..., not received anything from the bank yet..., I pop on to True and update the passport number, just in case.

I think this birthday thing is a bit confusing. Let me see if I can get it with an example: If my 5 years licence expire 1 June 25 which is always also my birthday. Then I go renew before this date, I get licence valid from that date to 1 June 30. Now if I don't go, say let licence expire, and go renew in say 1 July 25, you think I get a licence from 1 June 25 to 1 June 31 ...!?

Actually I realises the new Triumph 400 series are more naked/cafe racer style. Similar to the cruiser type like RE Meteor would be Honda Rebel. I think a Rebel 300cc version would probably be a close match, and good alternative..., 27hp vs 20hp. Many used ones around, best to test drive and feel the handling and seat position...

I love my Forza and recommend it, but for a motorbike in the type and cc you're looking for, also check new Triumph 400 range, maybe a used one in close price range..., have you seen the RE Meteor 350 power hp, compare the weight and power with Forza 29hp or Triumph ...!

A lawyer and I saw on various web pages, I have feeling this is a new regulation...

I heard a scam where money paid to condo admin management company and they say the condo for sale is foreign freehold..., how is that possible !? Surely the details at land office will say the condo owned by a foreigner or Thai and if its foreign freehold or not...! Unless condos exchange hand over the years and 51/49 quota can change..., but is that how it works...? That's a condo that was foreign freehold is bought by a Thai, then that free another Thai quota condo to be available for foreign freehold...? Basically is the assignment of a condo as Thai quota or Foreign quota can change over time..., or once fixed, it never changes....?

I have renewed my 2 year and 5 year for both car and motorbike, they never asked for Overseas Licence or IDP in Phuket... Everything else mentioned is spot on.

Now for every renewal must watch a video, about 45 min, answer 4 or 5 questions at the end (or middle, can't remember) which are very obvious and in English. Link provided on DLT website and must do this at home on computer or mobile etc., at the end get screenshot or photo of QR code that appears. Valid for 6 months. They need this on the day going for renewal. Then the usual reaction test and taking photo is done. I heard in Phuket at least, can no longer watch this video at DLT, must do it beforehand... But in Phuket last year they gave me an appointment of 1.5 month after I went to renew (5 year to 5 year renewal). But usually it's about 2 weeks, not sure why, and I even argued with the manager, but she said they change only if I bring a proof of flight ticket that I am leaving, then they change it, otherwise have to wait...! (I said I'm leaving, but they are getting smart...). I think other offices are not like this, Phuket is a meyham, too many people, and they still want more to come...! 🤔

I also thought it was like this, but I'm told now must specify on the money transfer reference from abroad, the condo unit #, project name, town (basically address)...!?!? So that money can only be used to purchase that specific condo as bank mentions this on their certificate of FET and the Land Registry office specifically verify this at the time of transaction...! Now if for some reason (and I can think of many) the deal did not go through. The money has to be expatriated to the original foreign bank, and to buy another condo, sent again with new details...!😳 That's just mindblowingly stupid if you ask me, imagine losses on fees and exchange sell/buy gap..., and imagine sellers knowing the buyer will lose a hell of a lot, try to sabotage the deal and ask for more money etc....!? I'm amazed we don't hear more about this... And I'm sure this crazy idea is again introduced to the benefit the Thai banks, I mean why would the money have to be attached to a specific condo unit when deal has not been done yet...!!!???

After exactly 3 years from the day tax was due, if no tax was paid during this 3 years, the green book becomes invalid. Must apply and get a new one. I think you can do it yourself at DLT office if get a signed power of attorney form from the last owner on the green book. Doesn't cost much for a small scooter... After that can insure/tax and then also register the name on green book to yourself... (need copy of last owner ID, and transfer form etc. signed as well).

I have experience with Honda brake pads, there are originals, then copy type A, then copy type B. I have seen original next to copy type A, it was imposible to tell them apart, up to the red Honda sticker label with part number or any sign on the actual pad..., the guy told me even Honda dealers knowingly or unknowingly using copy type A sometimes...! The copy A was half the price of original the honest seller told me. But he said for a scooter, you won't see much difference anyway...!? I bet on a downhill when it gets hot and seized could know about it... 🤔 Not heard about tyres but the Michelin City Grip copy readily available at half price, but it has different name from what I've seen, looks the same...

Haha..., really, a car, and you posted this question in motorbike forum...!!!? 😎 Not much fun with a car, get stuck behind a van or a truck for hours, no easy way to overtake.. 😜

Don't miss Doi Inthanon, highest point in Thailand, must go viewpoint.. Done half of it on Forza no problem with brakes at all, depends if speeding downhill to the bends and then brake hard will cause overheating on anything, Forza has enough engine brake to cope with down slopes ..., with reasonable safe riding... I can imagine problem with 2 x 100kg tourists and luggage on a Click, speeding downhill, out of control, could be a problem - damn dangerous ...!

With Witholding Tax (aka income/gain tax) don't take into account initial money paid for property purchase...? See this example here: https://thailand.acclime.com/guides/withholding-tax-selling-condominium/ It mentions "7,995,000 assessed value", is that the sales price now, or sales price minus purchase price...? It should be the latter... 🤔

I think this is for Thai nationals, it says the previous discount rate limit was 3 mill, now increased to 7 mill, I know for fact that many foreigners sold and bought condos below 3 mill and paid the 2%, so even previous discount was not available to non-Thais, very much doubt new arrangement apply either. Then again this is LOS, let's hear from those who did a transaction this week and if they paid this or got 0.01%...!?

Thanks for the info, so these rates and definitions are the same for Samui and Phuket and all over Thailand.....? Also the Withholding Tax for individual is not so clear but I found some more info and examples. What about the sales value, what normally happens, I heard they put lower amount in sales document to reduce tax, I think a small difference is not a big deal, but shouldn't be too much as that is not really legal...?

So I am getting different numbers from various sources, so I thought maybe can confirm some of these. Specifically looking at Phuket foreign freehold condo transaction from one foreigner to another: 1- Transfer fee, I'm guessing land registry charges some fixed amount for the transaction, new title/chanote issue etc. , possibly paid 50/50 buyer/seller, how much, who pays....? 2- Transfer tax, again land registry charges this, I got anything from 1% or 3% or even 6%...!!! ? I thought could this various range be related to the actual price of the condo - depends if 1m or 10m price...! (usually 50/50 paid by both parties I'm told). 3- Income tax, I read this is usually paid by seller if he owned the condo for less than 5 years, what %...? 4- Agent fee, that's I guess what seller agreed originally with them, I think normally in 3% range. No fee to buyer...? 5- Lawyer fee, I heard wide range for this, but it is not so important as it varies and agreed separately by each party privately. 6- For transfer seller must get two docs from condo management, one that says common fees and sinking fund and all debt are paid and up to date. Other to say condo is in foreign quota for freehold transfer. I guess valid visa and passport..., does it need certificate of residence...? Anything else... I'm guessing if original owner turns up with original title/chanote in his name it means no debt to banks or anyone - in western countries usually banks keep the title if any money is borrowed with condo as collateral. And I'm guessing land registry checks documents to be authentic and not fake and this owner is registered correctly on their computers etc...!? Maybe also check authenticity of condo management docs...!? 7- Buyer needs a CFT (certificate of foreign transfer) for the amount, with a bank cashier check for the amount to hand over after new title/chanote issued in his name..., passport and valid visa I guess, certificate of residence...? Anything else... Anything else of fees or docs I missed....? The problem is when I ask around they say the lawyer, agent, land registry blah blah..., tells you all this, but it's good to know beforehand, so can plan and understand better..., and more importantly, not taken for a ride. So people who recently done it in Phuket can easily help - although rules also change a lot here from one year to the next..., cheers.

Did it with Roojai online, they have a really good website, can choose various options etc., can get an instant quote... The only problem was, must pay with Prompt Pay app only, no other way to pay...!!!? I don't have the app, but managed to find a Thai to pay for me and I paid them cash... I wish they change this so we can go to the bank and pay or via 7-11 or ATM or something, none available now... 🤔

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...!!! 😎