greenmonkey

Hello, Looking for some general advice about topping up missed contributions to my UK state pension. For my sins I have been in the UK since 2023. Before that I was in Thailand 2015 to 2023, I was working a mixture of English teaching (cash in hand) and online work (using paypal) - all of these years are obviously showing as incomplete years for my UK state pension. I am looking at making voluntary contributions. However, I do not know if it is best to tell them (HMRC) I was not working for the period abroad or if to tell them I was working self-employed for the period. I don't know how it affects their decision-making and I don't know if they will ask for documents to prove I was working self-employed whilst in Thailand (i.e. taxes paid in Thailand). My knowledge about this stuff is pretty bad... anyone who can advise? TIA

Hi all. I am British and am in the UK. My Thai wife and son (dual nationality) are in Thailand. My wife plans to send my son (by himself) on a direct Thai airways flight to Heathrow where I will be waiting to meet him. We have made some general enquiries and it all seems that it should be okay. We will book a chaperone service offered by Thai Airways (about $50 USD) whereby a member of Thai Airways staff will look after him from departure to arrival. Apparently we book this service with Thai Airways in Bangkok after we have made the flight reservation. So... has anyone ever done this before and does anyone forsee any problems. I know that 4 or 5 years ago I flew out of Thailand with my son (without my wife) to go visit the UK and we needed signed paperwork from my wife to show to immigration at the airport stating that it was okay for me to take him. Any thoughts / experiences about this? Many Thanks

you have been ripped off. Anything over 5k is a complete con. Did you even question the fee's?

Thinking of a last minute trip to UK for Christmas. In regard to covid restrictions is everything back to normal now i.e. no need to show proof of vax / no vax documents required (at either end)?? TIA

i bet this guy wouldn't even blink if someone approached him and said I have 2 young kids but I want them.... he'd hand them over without a care in the world or a single worry about what could and mostly like would happen. I just don't get this mentality in Thailand... people seem to have zero conscience here about their actions.

what really bothers me in these countless stories is how the owners seem so unremorseful... like they are not really responsible but because they are the owners then they MUST take responsibility. To speak so nonchantly to say "I've had enough of these dogs" it's like he is talking about a small trivial matter..... they killed a man.... his dogs killed a man and he, as the owner IS responsible.... he should be doing serious jail time!!! Crazy crazy...

it really is like children playing at being adults here in Thailand. Not even sure why they bother with the exams anyway as I am sure none of what they 'actually' do can be written down surely. 1) How to scam tourists 2) How to maximize brown envelope payments 3) How to avoid doing any real police work.... complete joke!

Pitbulls are everywhere now in Thailand simply because it became cool/fashionable to have them. My honest opinion is that Thai's can't really be trusted to keep anything bigger than a chihuahua. They simply do not appreciate that bigger dogs require lots of exercise off the lead (in a safe enviroment) and lots of stimulation. But here they simply keep them locked up in small confined spaces and then wonder why they turn on them. Madness.

I have an uncle, a retired general. He told it very similar.

Funny

Hmmmnn there have been many posts about DHL - they notoriously rip off customers but that is more with goods and charging taxes and duty. With documents maybe its okay. Personally I will never use DHL (In Thailand).

I'm assuming they have confiscated his passport or are they letting him keep it seeing that he has agreed to tell them if he intends to flee the country!? ????

i flew with Thai Lion Air a few times, very similar to Air asia would happily use either.

As an avid England fan that gets hopelessly excited every time the euro's or world cup comes round I watch just about every match going. But I have close to zero excitement or interest in this world cup and I am considering boycotting. Maybe I will change my opinion when it gets going I don't know but for now just not really interested - a first for me!

Round where we live we have disposed of many items in the past by keeping an eye out for people that are preparing land for building. The first thing they do is fill the land with people's junk (before piling mud on top), they put a sign up and invite anyone to bring their rubbish and dump it. Every few months we see this happening and if we have any junk to get rid of we take the opportunity.

French Fries!? ????????????

Didn't some high ranking policeman just recently say to the public "don't keep money that has been sent to you by mistake or face years in prison"!? And then one of his own does just that!!! ???? I bet he doesn't do any jail time though as clearly just a big misunderstanding! ????

Absolute disgrace! These dinosaurs NEED to go... they claim they love their country but all they do is hold it back in order to line their own pockets. So very sad.

Absolutely crazy that they can let a guy go free that has released cobra's into a city center and attacked a guy. What will be their response when he actually does seriously harm someone... it's not like they haven't had plenty of warning.

Check the website ajarn.com, many teaching jobs there. All the Best!

Hmmnn, this guy is a real piece of s#%t!!! Say's that he loves his animals. Not sure if my missus read the story right but the way she explained it to me was that an offer was made to re-home the gorilla and this guy (the owner) demanded 30 million baht for the gorilla... and that is why the sale is not going ahead because they cannot meet his demands. The govt are also to blame. Years back when this story was huge the govt said they would force through the re-homing of the gorilla but of course after the news died down they did nothing. So sad. I have been to this mall, it is really run down... I can't imagine that the zoo gets many visitors at all. If this guy really cared for these animals he would let them all be re-homed and close it down. Really not sure why the govt don't force it.

and of course if the bank's misplace your funds they will take full responsibility for them. Or if, for example, they accidently repossess the wrong house, burn/sell the household items they will be forthcoming with an apology and compensation!!! ????

Hi OP, this place is perfect. It is called the Pa Pae Meditation retreat (google it as I'm not sure if I can post the link), It is a meditation retreat up in the hills near Chiang Mai. It is run by monks who all speak excellent English and they actively encourage foreigners to come join them. It's a chance to get back to nature as you will stay in basic accommodation in the jungle (it is not at a temple) with some stunning scenery. Unlike other meditation retreats it is very casual, it's up to you how much you meditate. You can go out with the monks to do the daily alms of collecting food from the local villagers. You can volunteer to help around the grounds with building projects, gardening or even cooking in the kitchen. There is also a program for foreigners to become monks should you wish to do so. The scenery is beautiful and you are welcome to stay as long as you like. Payment is by donation, they recommend 500 Baht a day but there is absolutely no pressure to pay that and if you are volunteering and helping out around the place you can make a smaller token payment. I have been twice this year, such a wonderful place to spend some time and forget about the daily stresses of life! If you need any more info send me a message! Good Luck.

I buy vitamins from time to time on shopee, I did wonder if they could be fake goods from China (a scarey thought). I remember seeing a documentary years ago about how every conceivable type of product can be counterfeited even eggs! It was actually cheaper to produce fake eggs and so thats what they did. Crazy!

...but why let common sense get in the way of a good old 'Thai ' prediction!