WhiteHatPhil

First of all it does need to be a professional and it does need a stamp. But that is not relevant right now. For those who are also experiencing a delay in receiving their pension, especially if you have recently filled in a Life Certificate, the DWP are experiencing a very large delay in processing. My certificate was received on the 1st May by the DWP but when I called them today, I was told that it was still in the backlog but would be pushed through as I had called, and should be received within 2-3 business days as it needs to go through the banking system (which believe it or not entails being sent to a US Bank first, Citibank or JP Morgan, who process all the overseas pensions for the UK, before being returned to my bank in the UK). Illogical, but that's the way the DWP/Government do it. The number to call is +44 0191 218 7777.

I suspect most if not all UK expats will have received a letter from the DWP asking to be provided with ‘proof of life’ and have it verified by a reliable person in Thailand. In my case I used my local Doctor who said he had done many and proceeded to fill out the form for me. I returned it using recorded delivery and I can see that it was delivered. However last Friday my Pension was not paid into my bank account. It has been paid in every 4th Friday as regular as clockwork. My question really is “has anyone else experienced this”?. Or maybe this is just a coincidence? But even taking into account public holidays, they have never missed a payment. I’m in hospital at the moment so can’t call them until Friday. Thank you!

Thank you. This is what I was looking for. I am now using Phitsanulok Immigration and it is impossible to know what they need in terms of financial paperwork. I guess what I will do is have them emailed to me and as I will be in P'lok on Saturday, I can call into the Bank and see if they will stamp them as "certified" and use them to write the letter (if a letter is required!) When I opened the account, they told me they were totally used to providing paperwork for immigration. If anybody is interested, I will update this post with what happens....

Yes it does. Have you actually done this?

This was the point of my question. I know how it works as I've been doing it for 5 years but as I have moved away from Chiang Mai and now live more than an hour's drive away from my Bangkok Bank branch, I quite reasonably wondered if I could request my 12 monthly statements via the app, highlight the appropriate International Transfers then ask the bank to write the letter? This was exactly what I did in Chiang Mai except, as you pointed out, it took the bank up to 5 days to get the statement. Even then, it was me that highlighted the International transactions on the statement so that they would write the letter. Yes, the bank DOES provide that. For the last 5 years the bank has written a letter, with 12 lines showing 12 different international transactions. Are you suggesting that I took the reams and reams of paper that constitute 12 months of transactions to Immigration and let them look through them? Have you ever even seen a printout? It is in no logical order whatsoever! lol

Good morning Has anyone successfully requested the 12-month statement using the Bangkok Bank App? If so, did you request it in Thai or English. Then once you received it and presumably printed it, was it relatively simple to get the "letter" from the bank stating that you had indeed received monthly income greater than 65000THB? Many thanks.

Maybe. But they are also penalising for NOT renewing early.

Early renewal notices are commonplace. But being asked to actually renew and pay three months early is a new one on me.

I think what they are really trying to do is get me to pay early and then if I have an "at fault" accident between now and the actual renewal date, then somehow magically I will not lose my No Claims Discount and the premium will not go up. Can't think of any other reason....

Got an email, three months before my renewal date, asking me to renew. I asked, via email, why I should renew three months early. This was the response: "We inform you that, if you have accident, that is your fault, between now and the date that you are due to renew, the premium price of your renewal policy will change and you have to pay the insurance premium higher. Due to claim at fault counted." This would appear to mean that for the final 3 months of a Roojai Type 1 Car Insurance, I am not actually covered in the same manner as I was for the first 9 months UNLESS I pay up 3 months early? I called and queried it, and the person at Roojai at first confirmed this, then said he would speak to his manager and call me back in 5 minutes - almost an hour ago! Is this just a poorly thought out way of retaining customers,

Has anyone successfully made Mozzarella at home here in Thailand? If so, what milk did you use? Cheers!

Has anyone managed to successfully deal with those incredibly small gnats (I think they are known as Eye Gnats because that's what they aim for; eyes, mouth and nose). I have tried the 'eggs-&-water-in-a-bottle' trap which failed miserably. I can't seem to find where they are breeding, so I am looking at some pyrethrins (sp?) insecticide to lay down all around the outside of my house. But no idea what to buy yet, and if it will actually work. Any (sensible) suggestions?

For about the millionth time, this old fart has walked away from an ATM without collecting my debit card. I can no longer use the excuse "it should be card first then money like back home" - that just gets my better half's eyes rolling even faster! Has anyone discovered a foolproof method? Is it possible to get out cash from an ATM that isn't operated by my bank using a phone/mobile banking app, for instance? I think the family are planning to have me committed - especially as I drove all the way to the bank (40 mins) and forgot my passport and bank book!! LOL

DILLIGAF?!?

Turned the router off and on again - working now. Odd....