orchidfan

Another Airasia annoying experience : I tried yesterday to book a flight from Hong Kong to DMK for my wife on AA. The MOVE app was a nightmare ~ defaulting to Thai language constantly etc. Agree with others that their chat bot is useless.....no other "contact us" options provided! Finally got to the Payment page. Entered my BBL Be1st Debit card details, got an OTP from BBL, submitted it and got the "proceed" message. BUT AA app just went into "loading " mode forever. Finally cancelled and called BBL Customer Help line. Nice lady with good English checked what I had done and confirmed no funds had been deducted . She then dug deeper to find the problem and ,after a few minutes " advised me that the "merchant"....AA do not accept the BBL Debit/ Mastercard!!!......a fact never mentioned on their Pathetic Move website ! BBL Customer helpline were most obliging and helpful. I then proceeded with a new booking using a BBL Mastercard Credit card.... This worked fine and payment was made and ticket issued! What a bloody waste of time ! Only used AA as they land at DMK,. .... nearby to our house. Using BKK means B600+ taxi fare and 1hr ride home. Btw....checked bank accounts online later and nothing was taken from my account for the first abortive booking attempt. Also, add ons, like insurance were NOT automatically added but required customers to tick these IF you wanted them. Last time with AA.

Strangely enough I got Covid (back home in Thailand) about a month or so ago after a few weeks stay in Hong Kong. Nothing during to 4 year pandemic ! Have had 4 vaccine jabs, 2x Pfizer, 2 x Moderna.....last in early 2023 (74yo so in the "high risk", BMI 23) Only noticed sore throat, slight cough and bloody awful headache. All in all, only lasted 5 days,then gone. No dizziness, lethargy or aches (well, no more than usual ) I'm assuming that I was well protected during the "dangerous " years, with the immunity finally fading away. I'm glad now I had the vaccs and boosters. Seems to have worked for me.

Quote,"All quiet on the Western Front" And if while we young men are fighting in the belief that we are preparing the way for the new democracy,

When I attended a private boy's school (100 yes ago ) I recall our old and wise Latin Master informing we bright and restless young men that amongst the first words of Latin ever translated were: "The youth of today are not what they were in my day" 2000 years ago?!?

As I said previously, I messaged Wise regarding the apprehension being experienced here. They replied by email confirming 100% that the new account details are correct and any advice by our bank (Westpac) is INCORRECT. Personally I do not have a "wallet" with anyone, I just do a normal bank to bank transfer from Westpac ("Retired 55+") account to Wise in the Payee list (which I have edited to now reflect their new AUD account. Wise's response has been very good both by email and offer to call them direct if I still had any questions or queries. My next transfer will be my pension on 24th, some of which I send to Hong Kong and some to my Thai BBL account. So we'll see how that goes.

I agree that, at our age, we don't need things like this sprung on us when a bit of well timed, advance notice, giving each of us easy access to our "new" account details, with a changeover timeline /date would have made it far easier. I'm sure things will settle back to normal in due course. BTW, I've sent them (Wise Support ) a strongly worded message pointing out the above, and how many expats here in TH, using their services, have been left bewildered by their tardiness, especially in the light of their respected Aus banks ,like Wespac, informing us that this 'most likely ' fraud !!

My main gripe with Wise on this matter, is that there doesn't appear to have been any notification on their app or email previously about this AUD account number change......other than the one (noreply email) just received after my last transfer a couple of days ago. And yes, I do read every message and email (other than junk) coming my way. It took a message on their help page to finally be advised of the new "Wise Australia Pty Ltd " BSB and my new account number. And after the Oz bank strongly warned that this bsb is not being used by anyone, and it "may" be a fraud, I had to contact their Support section to have them reaffirm that it is correct and everything is ok. Someone there is seriously lacking in forward thinking/planning and customer service not to have advised us ALL well in advance of these critical changes. Ok, rant over.

Dr Jack, you probably have it sorted by now but in the Westpac app, once you've logged in, at the upper left of the "how can we help you today?" page is a drop down menu, represented by 4 horiz line, at the top of which is "Payments and Payees" . Under this is "payes and BPAY billers". Clicking this produces ALL your Payees. Down at the bottom is Wise and any current (banking) details you have in for them. At the right is EDIT, click this and you can erase and replace the current BSB and new Account number. Your "past payments" will show exactly where Westpac have been sending your past transfers. IF you don't have your "NEW" Wise AUD account details (BSB and Acc No,) a message/email to Wise will prompt a reply from them with these. But it sounds like you have all this already and are just waiting on Westpac to verify the new BSB - as others have implied. Cheers

As I exit and enter quite regularly, i use the BPs as "evidence "(if required ) to show my local Imm Office why I haven't done 90 day reports in long while. (I submit a photocopy of all the cards in chronological order). I suppose I could use the PP stamps but that would take an IO ages to scroll through and find them all! At Hong Kong I enter and exit using my HKID card, so no Imm PP entries, but I still have the BP issued by the airline (usually Emirates) to add to my collection. Let's see what happens !

Strangely, I have used Wise for years to transfer funds deposited by my (Oz) Commonwealth Super Fund into my Oz bank (their rules require them to pay out ONLY into an Oz bank account in my name only). I checked the passbook (BBL) and the deposits are coded as "Transfer from another bank". I'm on Marriage Extensions using "money...400k..in the bank" method, so do not need these to show as "overseas/international transfers". I've always selected "monthly living expenses " BUT this option has also disappeared, leaving only "personal expenses". So, for last Wise transfer, done yesterday, I selected this and it was there within a minute or so. Also it shows as just "Transfer from Another bank" I don't know if this has any beneficial implications on the proposed future tax.....not showing as an international remittance, but a local bank to bank transfer ??

In Brunei there aren't many, if any, "very poor people ". The Sultan ensures that with generous cash handouts, housing and free public services. The people love him. Taxis don't even have meters. You pay what the driver says. They don't cheat. No need to, they're well off. Not like here! Have you ever been there ?

And.on another off topic matter,...where did she earn those golden wings on her uniform. It took me a few years and many expensive flying lessons to earn mine !

How many times does it need to be stated that under the "Westminster" system, prime ministers /premiers are not "elected" by the thai people but appointed by their party. This is a (supposedly ) Democracy not a Republic . Give it a break

A decade ago now, I flew home (~5000nm) to a year 7, 50th year class reunion...ie 2013 (no wives or gfs allowed ). It was a long haul from Hong Kong back then but was forceably talked into it. So we were all, that night 63 years old. Thank goodness for name tags, but as other have commented, apart from being a bit grayer,balding and/or slightly overweight (me only graying ) I could recognize most of the (remaining....a few MIA) guys, but the "girls" were a bit more challenging ! One or two of those, we, as 12yo boys, had lusted over back then had degraded to the 3/10 category, and one or two who had been quiet and sheepishly, reserved were now raging. Quite a shock and an eye opener But overall a great experience and well worth the journey. It'll probably never happen again as we are all now in our seventies, but glad it did for we baby boomers back in 2013

It's also an Accepted trend amongst the rich !

Examples...

Thanks for that, and here some exsamples of Licences (booklets, not plastic cards)

I am aware that in the USA both License and Licence are interchangeable in usage...as a noun. However you were bluntly (and incorrectly) trying to correct another poster's reference to his pilot's LICENCE /LICENSE. I think you need to take off the US blinkers ! BTW, I'm curious,... to drive your car there do you have a Driver's license or Driver's Certificate ? Similarly, does one have a License or Certificate to own and carry a gun ? Just curious !

We English speakers use the noun "Licence", meaning... "permission, a permit, a document that states you are qualified or allowed to do something" That Licence is then endorsed with the various ratings which you have passed.. Aircraft types/categories, ratings (IFR, Multiengine Land /sea etc). So don't bluntly correct someone's writings based only on what you know /do in the USA!

NOT in Australia. Mine is clearly labeled a "Commercial Pilot's LICENCE" Maybe where you come from it's different !

I agree Will, but they were attempting a hopeless (though noble) cause. And yes, there were mainland "law enforcement officers " involved in those skirmishes. I've not bothered with local politics (although I'm entitled to register and vote)......again, a predetermined and hopeless cause. Compared to Thailand, the cops here are efficient, virtually incorruptible, and provide a truly safe feeling day and night. You could have a 15yo daughter go out alone or with friends and have NO fear for their safety and wellbeing. Cheers

HK cops are some of the best I've ever seen (over 25yrs here...HK...working and now 40/60 with living in TH). They are polite, respectful, helpful,non~intrusive and multi lingual. Originally trained by the British, and still maintain those standards. Majority are born raised and educated in HK......NOT sent down from the mainland by the CCP!! There are no "bath busses" in HK (only excellent bus,train ferry and taxi services.) So, it no doubt was this policeman's own fault, but he had probably never experienced anything like it before. RIP.

At Pathum Thani Imm...ALL Imm officers refer to the (marriage) extension as "the or your VISA". After over a dozen of them, I've never heard them call or refer to it as an "extension " When I call up near the 30 day "under consideration " period, they (she) always says "yes Sir your VISA is approved " ! So it is confusing !

Agreed. I live in HK about half of the year and previously worked here over 20 years. A real,functioning Financial center ! After cut and pasting your above playbooks, they could try copying the HK assistance/stimulation programs instigated during (and after) Covid. HKD10,000 handed out to HK residents followed by further cash handout, then (what they called) "Consumer Vouchers"#....worth thousands. #These were the ONLY handouts with spending requirements. All Conducted seamlessly, quickly and efficiently.....not like the convoluted B10,000, vote buying fiasco. (IF it ever actually happens !)in Thailand. But then HK has the brains, education and the money to execute these.

Yes. Agree, Hong Kong, where I am at the moment, it's 7 years, 5 minute "interview ", sign 1 piece of paper and then Permanent Resident forever (providing 1 'touch and go' at least every 3 years.) And, being over 70, $2 fares (9THB) virtually anywhere on buses,trains and ferries etc. No concerns regarding money in the bank, property ownership or being able to speak and read Cantonese !