Barley

There is a new development: She spoke with the company who sold the car and they said they found the truck one week ago. But no sign of the buyer. So they said my friend would still be liable for a bunch of costs: like interest, reposession charges, court costs, decrease of value of the car, etc. She has spoken with a free volunteer lawyer who can give her advice but for some reason is not able to represent her in court. Doesn't the Thai legal system provide legal representation for the needy? Now I was wondering if this wouldn't bring the amount in controversy down to below 300k, which AFAIK would mean that it is no longer under the jurisdiction of the province court but the local court. Wouldn't that mean cheaper court cost, more time, and easier legal representation to her? How could she get the case dismissed from the province court? Can't she just declare with proof like bank statements that she really can't pay anything and wouldn't they understand that there you can't get water from a dry stone. Most of her predicament is because of the Covid pandemic (job loss of her and buyer). Are there some provisions for that? Is there a better way for her to get legal advice?

Hello, a friend of mine was the front desk manager at a hotel in Chiang Mai and guaranteed the purchase of a couple year old used truck to a co-worker. The hotel closed, both of them lost their job due to Covid, the truck buyer cannot be found by the bank, neither can the truck. My friend has a 2nd court date next week in province court - during the first date in July the bank's lawyer told her they will try to find the truck and the buyer. Now she is very worried that they haven't found either because both disappeared from buyer's last known address, and since she guaranteed the loan, she will have to pay back the loan or go to prison. Due to Covid she has zero money left and debts of her own. Would anyone have any well meaning advice for her, what she can do, what are her rights, and how she can get out of this mess?

I think the OP's post is a bit missionary, but I also think he has some valid points. Just a few generation back it was common that the path of the monk living in celibacy was a natural choice people had in their life. Nowadays you become inundated in media, press, social media, school etc. with lovesickness, sexual longing, etc. etc. that some people whose nature is more to be alone and not in a relationship with a woman feel like there life is unhappy, unfulfilled, excluded from society, worthless, maybe even sick. That is very sad and therefore I think it is good that the path of living in celibacy comes back as an option for those people who have this tendency. I think they will feel liberated and empowered to know that it is okay to live without a woman, without sex, without marriaae or a girl friend. For most of civilisation the way of a monk was a choice, but now it has all but disappeared from the collective societal attention. But I think a life in solitude and silence living in your spiritual center would be an appealing choice to people who have this tendency. But of course not for people who are married and have children and responsibility in their life. It shouldn't be forced on anyone but it should be a valid and real option for anyone who has this tendency and not looked upon as something strange or weird but as one possible path of self-realization.

Hello, I have read that the DLT is open again now, but I am not sure if it reopened for having my European National/International Driving Permit transferred to a Thai Driver's Licence (my IDL expires in a few days)? I have also been told at this forum, that there is the possibility to watch the video, which is apparently mandatory to watch, online now. I have found this site https://www.dlt-elearning.com/People/RegisterForeigner - but I am confused since you have to register and it only seems to be for renewing a Thai Driver's Licence. Would anyone know more about this? Thanks so much!

Since I will have to start the process anew with a non-O, that's what I need to do.

That wasn't my question. My question was if it can be done and it would be legal/accepted. Thinking of moving to another bank and want to do that in the transition phase. AND my first bank would have the proofs of international transfer, since the money came into the first bank and is then being transfered to the second bank.

I assume the 800k can be split on several Thai bank accounts at different banks? F.e. 450k at SCB and 350k at Kasikorn? Is that correct?

I thought if I leave without a reentry permit my visa is automatically cancelled?

@Jingthing What do you mean by "It would be too risky to approach immigration now"? That means I should not file 90 day reports? I am thinking of leaving Thailand again in April without a reentry permit, and when I come back around August/September enter Visa Exempt and then apply for a new Non-O. Would that be possible? Should I still fill up the account again to 800k now?

Ok, I guess I messed up then! My extension was granted 5 Aug 2021 until 29 Aug 2022. I withdrew 380.000 last week, thinking I would be fine with 400K for sure. I was thinking I could withdraw it all until a few weeks before applying again. So what are my options now?

Hello, my Non-O based on retirement 12 months extension was granted one month ago. I want to withdraw most of my 800k now, since something came up and the money is needed. Will that be a problem? I can replenish with a week.

Hello, I have a Thai friend who will be taken off by her Landlord from his Blue Book in a few days. Currently she is living in the same rental apartment house as myself in Chiang Mai. She tells me that she cannot be added to our landlords Blue Book, because most landlords who rent apartments will not just add a renter to their Blue Book. She is very concerned of the loss of this Home Residence Certificate (not sure if this is the proper English term), since she says that this loss could result in numerous problems for her. https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Flive.siammedia.org%2Findex.php%2Fnews%2Fusa-news%2F6985 Could someone enlighten me on the importance of these Blue Book entries for Thai people and maybe some people would have some advice for my friend what she can do to get a Blue Book entry, since she seems very troubled about this.

The sender is figuring it out right now: There is a problem with his bank's accounting software. The money was returned to his account. Thanks for everyone's help and information.

My business friend doesn't use Transferwise. IAT ~ International ACH ~ is what I told him to do and I also gave him the BBK link. So how long does the IAT transfer usually take to reach the local account?

Hello, a business friend sent an international ACH transfer via Bangkok Bank New York to my local BBK account. He sent it Wednesday morning. So far it hasn't arrived yet. Is this normal?

OP was asking for this. So I brought it up as an option, fully aware that he probably needs to go postpaid. If it is so important to him, he may be willing to pay the extra money and transfer his number to postpaid.

As already mentioned, Multi SIM is the solution to your problem. You get several SIM cards (up to 5) and they all have the same number. So if you loose one, you can still use one of the other cards to receive SMS, phone calls and make calls. Here are the details: https://www.ais.th/postpaid/multisimpackage/en/

That is true per se, but in addition to this, banks handle out of region withdrawals differently. And Krungsri seems to be the only bank that doesn't charge for out of region ATM withdrawals. This means, even though you may have f.e. 4 withdrawals free on your card when using an ATM which does not belong to your bank, you will still get charged with most banks even on your first or second withdrawal outside of your local region, be it your banks ATM or another banks ATM.

I thought with an ATM card from Krungsri any bank's ATM could be used. Is that not so?

Most banks take a fee if f.e. you have an account with Bangkok Bank in Chiang Mai and you withdraw cash from an ATM in Bangkok. Here someone said that Krungsri takes no fee:

Hello, I would like to open a second Thai bank account at a Krungsri branch, just to have an alternative if my main bank ever gives me any trouble. I also have been told that Krungsri allows nationwide free Thai ATM withdrawals. Which Krungsri branch in CM is most foreigner friendly?

My statement above was probably not correct. One needs to dial *125*1# to activate international roaming on AIS before leaving Thailand.

I think my previous statement above may be incorrect. One needs to dial *125*1# to activate international roaming on AIS before leaving Thailand.

I don't think that will help the OP. AFAIK messenger will simply be the default app for receiving and sending SMS. But if the phone isn't receiving SMS through the SIM, there won't be any incoming SMS on messenger either. So I believe this won't work for the OP.

I don't have a Thai ID and I was able to activate the True app. AIS has roaming activated automatically according to my experience, but True you need to do it manually. I did it at the True airport booth. I had to insist, they were a bit reluctant to do it and tried to talk me out of it. Could someone share the links for receiving True and Dtac SMS per app?