Lacessit

I think if the baht was less than 20 to the Australian dollar I would be re-evaluating. Oh the days not so long ago when it was 33 to the AUD.

Every nation fiddles its currency with interest rates and money printing. My guess is the Thai government would intervene if the baht got too strong - hurts exports. Increased purchasing power for imports doesn't mean much with the tariffs they have in place.

My GF sometimes asks to "borrow" 500 baht. We look at each other and both laugh, because we  know the end result.

I've loaned small amounts to several people at the condo, most of whom repaid. The only one that didn't knows better than to ask again.

I don't trust anyone sufficiently to loan large amounts of money. As another poster has said, it ruins friendships.

Just now, ZL1DD said:

My condo management does not want to know about TM30. Chiangmai immigration insists you have one and will issue one for you. You must remember to renew it on return if you leave the country. Otherwise they fine you ? 1600 baht next time you visit immigration.

The responsibility for the TM30 is a very grey area. Chiang Mai Immigration sticks to the rules dictated by Bangkok, while Bangkok ignores the same rules. TIT.

TM 30's are simply not required in Bangkok. Can you imagine the warehouses stuffed full of paper if they were?

11 hours ago, StevieAus said:

Unfortunately you are missing the point they are not required to check on whether the contents of the stat dec are truthful just as a person certifying in Australia isn’t required.

Early last year the Thai Immigration ask them to check it lasted about a week and they were overruled by Canberra

I don’t disagree with your point as I don’t rort the system but many do as an example there is a person who advertises on this site offering to obtain the retirement extension without funds

Also there are things that go on within the Immigration system that are not right.

Quite frankly I wouldn’t worry about it because it will change nothing

I comply with the law in all areas and sleep ok at night suggest you do the same

Perhaps I have missed the point. However, I'm wondering why dire penalties are threatened if no one in officialdom is willing to actually check the contents.

I understand the fee for depositing funds for retirement extensions on behalf of an impecunious retiree is in the vicinity of 30,000 baht. That's an annualised interest rate north of 20% - nice work if you can get it. It does explain why many do the income letter instead.

Like you, I comply with the law. IMHO that's preferable to wondering when the other shoe is going to drop.

On 3/12/2018 at 5:18 AM, sead said:

One of the biggest misstakes i ever made was not asking the dealers Mb and Bmw about who paid for the service etc. I leased an Mb 180Ngt but could have had an Bmw 330 for same price. Bmw payed all Service but Mb i had to pay. Add up about 100 euro per month :)

 

Ah, Mercedes Benz. Here they are prestige cars. In Europe, they're taxis.

My experience is reversed - my 51 yo Thai GF looks about 35.

9 minutes ago, Stevemercer said:

 

 

My mother-in-law always tells me I have to beat my wife (her daughter) if she gets slack or won't do what I say. She keeps giving me old broom sticks for this purpose.

She must be a frequent flier

1 minute ago, StevieAus said:

Not sure how you reach the conclusion  that the Aus Authorities don't care

A Stat Dec is exactly that even in Aus the person certifying the signature is not required to obtain proof from the person making the declaration that the content of the document is

factual

I would have thought that the onus is on the Thai Immigration to require the person seeking for example the retirement extension to provide proof of the income

They do not however and are happy to accept a document signed by the embassy

I take my bank statements every year and they are not interested

We all know the system is corrupt and they obviously don't want it tightened up for obvious reasons 

Well, if the people doing the consular outreach visits cared about the truth of the Stat Dec, they would ask for proof, wouldn't they? And refuse certification if it was not provided.

I've done the same - taken the previous year's tax return. Neither the consular officials nor Thai Immigration were remotely interested in seeing proof.

On 3/13/2018 at 2:08 PM, gamesgplayemail said:

 

25k not enough ? They are just greedy sobs....

 

 

Can you survive here on 25K per month? Doubt if I could.

On 3/13/2018 at 7:49 PM, StevieAus said:

I’m sure your comment was meant to be tongue in cheek but for the record the Australian Embassy are only certifying the signature on the statutory declaration that one signs attesting to the income received.

No proof is required by the Embassy which I understand is common with other Countries that provide this service certainly the US.

The penalties for making a false statutory declaration in Australia are quite severe, including jail time. However, it would appear  Australian authorities don't care if a false one is submitted in any other country - only if it is made to an Australian instrumentality.

18 hours ago, Tchooptip said:

So as retired expats we must show immigration yearly the amount of a 3-star army general' salary...I get back in my good graces 

I think it's common knowledge there are expat retirees living here on considerably less - it's just the declaration obtained from their embassies which say they have more income.

2 hours ago, lvr181 said:

Change of brake pad materials from asbestos, I would suggest. Happened with my Toyota Camry.

You could be right. Apparently there are still many replacement brake pads containing asbestos on warehouse shelves, even though asbestos has been banned in brake pads since the mid-1980's.

15 hours ago, smutcakes said:

 

If you know your cars then i don't see the problem with getting a second hand one, other than you are paying all upfront, which can be a bit of a minefield if you don't know what you are buying. Buying new at least you have the warranty and the dealerships to get assistance from.

 

Warranties are simply a  conspiracy between the manufacturer and dealer to tie a buyer to the dealer for a servicing period. Extended warranties extend the gravy train for the dealer. That's why the warranty is voided if a buyer gets the car serviced by another mechanic. Most dealerships don't have a qualified mechanic doing the servicing; it's done by an apprentice, but the car owner gets charged the mechanic's rate.

It's very rare with modern quality control for a car to have any major problems, so warranties are seldom a cost to the manufacturer. And customers can get fobbed off. If you are the proud owner of a flagship Mercedes AMG C63, you will be told by the dealer brake squeal is normal. Funny about that - I've never had it on my 1989 Merc.

55 minutes ago, lvr181 said:

Ummmm......................you didn't check the Contract terms before you signed? 

I have my doubts about the sanity of anyone who buys a new car here, let alone signing a lease. Grand slam in worst financial decisions redoubled. So many good low-mileage cars at much less cost.

My former company used to lease cars for myself and other employees. All the leases for all car makes put the responsibility for maintenance on my company, and it was one with a lot of legal clout. Perhaps that answers the OP's question.

IMHO I would not gamble with it. If you can't get your extension to stay early, stick around until you can.

We all have to jump through the Immigration hoops.

5 minutes ago, Groove said:

When say snuck in I mean, yes I was in Oz illegally (was just too late for the 10 pounds assisted package transit thing). I've been processed by Australian immigration and all is recorded with them about my residing around 20 years in Australia before gaining PR in 1991, then citizenship in early 1994. In all that time I never left Australia. I didn't get back to see my family untill after that, which was for 2 months. Then resided continuosly until 2004 and then was in & out of Oz until I came to Thailand in 2010, so there's agood 35 years living & working in Oz until 8 years ago. I was back in Oz from Dec 2015 till June 2016. I tried calling Centrelink before (as someone else here said) going on TV at Thaivisa but couldn't get through because of bad service in my Thai location, but I posted to hear the feedback about this & it seems there are a lot of grey areas about this 2 years residence before OAP age, so I'd say I should have no problems, but governments are always changing things & sometimes pay for it at the ballot box, but one never knows eh?

We are too small a constituency to have an impact on the ballot box, although the broader community of Old Age Pensioners certainly makes the politicians tread warily. Just ask anyone on Newstart or any other of the younger social welfare recipients - Centrelink treats them like lepers in comparison.

5 hours ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

I only see 7 reasons, unless one of them have a hidden skill you are not sharing with us.

It depends on whether you are a leg man. I can see 14.

Ignoring the pesticide phobias, it's quite rare to get sick from eating fresh fruit and vegetables anywhere. They ferment when they are off, so it's fairly obvious by taste when they should not be eaten.

Proteins such as fish, shellfish and meat are a different story.  Flies are not seen at the vegetable and fruit stalls at markets; they hang around the meat and fish stalls. Food poisoning almost always comes from those sources. Although I am wondering how on earth rock melons ( cantaloupes ) in Australia have managed to get themselves contaminated with listeria - four deaths so far.

Just now, poanoi said:

not for me at least, i dont want even if its free

It's never free.

If we are really honest, it's cheap sex.

I don't bitch too much about life here, because it's good. However, I do have two pet hates.

The Thai concept of loud being better with cars, motorbikes and all forms of music. My eardrums can't take it.

The selfish <deleted> in large SUV's and pickups who come up in the scooter lane, then shove their way back into traffic that has been waiting for a green light. I sometimes wish I was in an APC so I could teach them some road manners the hard way.

3 minutes ago, Stevemercer said:

Too many attractive and available woman - makes it hard to stick to just the one wife or girlfriend.

You're going to complain about that? I'd suggest a short holiday back where you came from, to re-acquaint yourself with hips like barn doors.

2 minutes ago, poanoi said:

better

https://www.google.com/search?q=caribbean+woman+beautiful&client=firefox-b&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi-tuvhptDZAhWEgrwKHdfcBCQQsAQIJw&biw=1192&bih=529

Cost is also a consideration.

7 minutes ago, Thailand J said:

I couldn’t buy a used car for my retirement. I just could not.

 

You see..

 

The controller in the head office singed a new lease every two years.

 

I was provided with a new car every 24 months when I was working in US.

So it was not your money going into those new cars. And your point is?