moontang

6 minutes ago, Aerosolist said:

Just as info:
I’ve entered now with a tourist visa without being asked a single question.
It also looked like they had improved quite some things. There were like the double of the counters open than they used to have. Almost no waiting time.


Gesendet von iPhone mit Thaivisa Connect

Good for you..not all suffer, when there is a decline in numbers.  We're you at Swampy?

5 minutes ago, hobz said:

Ok. I guess I'm wrong then.

Not if you are on KSR.  TukTuks charge way more....and are also in on the setup game.

1 hour ago, hobz said:

2500 for 100grams is way too cheap unless you travel to the mountains up north or something.

So it was most likely a setup by the seller / police.

One of the Facebook groups was charging 1300 for 100 g.  Compressed is low value, even here.

For extension based on retirement?  Thanks.

40 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Likely use my  savings account which I have kept above 800k  long enough,

I am using MTD Savings for my first one at a new office, but FD were fine in CM, except for the friend who had to waste an extra 12 hours running around, because he did what I advised not to do.  Only getting 1.3 on MTD, and on e I am more established at this office, I will probably do a ladder of 4 x 200k...with 6, 12, 18, 24 month tenors, and replace each one with a 24, when each matures.  The value seems to be in the middle of the curve, lately.

8 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

My 7 month BBL FD also appears to have automatically rolled over into another 7 month term at the same rate and not some lesser rate shorter term as I was expecting. I seem to recall this term was only available to Thais according to the English spiel but they opened me one anyhow.

They are wrong more than half the time on this "for Thai peoples," crap.  And in your case, I would not want the renewal entry during seasoning.

My BBL fixed book show on the day of maturity, it being renewed for one year at the new, current rate.  Even when I went in that day, to avoid a rollover scam, which was already done, but I just cancelled that, but created a mess of entries.  Now, if you set it up at opening to go to savings at maturity, that would be different, but possible, but by default, and what they push is rollover at noon promotion rate.  I have a BBL FD Book showing a five month rolling into a one year, and me cancelling on the same date, but still lots of extra entries.  And usually, they do not ask you.  I would also be very careful about taking the interest monthly, as that could make your account worth less than face value.

22 minutes ago, Tanoshi said:

I never stated it would be guaranteed at 1.5%, but it's a damn site better than 0.5% in a Savings account.

 

Again, I never stated 'should be ok', I know it's ok.

But you are giving people advice that is less than fool proof.  Ever here of KISS?  Even if there is a 5% chance of them requiring more docs, as happened in CM, why risk it.  You cannot state with 100% certainty that a maturing FD, during seasoning, won't be problematic.

4 minutes ago, sfokevin said:

My bet is that you will be able show up with an impressive stack of documents showing your income which the officer will pretend to review and then they ask to see banking documents from a Thai source to substantiate your income claim... If you can not come close to showing them a good portion of your stated 65K monthly income coming into Thailand to support yourself you will be looked upon dimly... No banking documents and you will be rejected... 

Correct.

You have no guarantee it will renew at 1.5, even though it has lingered there since BBL tried to compete as more people sought actual returns.  "Should be ok," great way to approach Immigration.

12 hours ago, Tanoshi said:

Well it won't mature during seasoning if your on a marriage extension.

 

Even on a 3 month fixed term and retirement extension after 3 months it just reverts to 0.5% until you close the account.

But it is a rollover, and the continuity is broken.  Caused a problem in CM.  FD matures and gous into a savings at the same bank...not good, or even maturing and rolling into a new term...you want to chase paper for an extra two days, if lucky, be my guest, you are warned.

1 hour ago, JLCrab said:

It seems to me, lacking official guidance on the monthly income route to extension of stay, that the best thing you can do right now is to start putting 65K+ baht per month int a Thai bank account with an FTT transaction code next to it ... or just hang out in the grey area and wait.

Decent advice.  IMO, at minimum, they will want to see the income deposited in  a Thai bank account.  As witnessed here, many are racking their brains devising schemes to deposit and redeposit money in an attempt to show income.  It is unrealistic to believe that will be acceptable.  If that were the case, they would have never required the 400/800 to be in a Thai bank.  Many are trying to cheat the cheaters...Asians, as a group, are huge system players.  Even the lowest IO will know of attempts to pad financials, to obtain loans, or mortgages.  Sometimes, it isn't the criminal act itself, but committing the act as a foreigner and thinking you can get away with it.  Petty white collar crime?  Best to do that at home.  Start doing the 65k, and be prepared to top up three months before, just in case.  It is obvious that the dung will hit the fan in early January, as many don't stay on top of Immigration events, as the TM30 pleas for help are still happening three years after the first documented victims.

1 hour ago, Tanoshi said:

If you can't afford to keep that 400 or 800K locked in an account throughout the year and need it for living expenses, then just top it up 2/3 months before your next extension application date, I suggest you open a 3 month Fixed account.

 

Deposit the funds 3 months prior to extension application, baring in mind you may wish to apply 30/45 prior to renewal date.

 

It shows the date of deposit. The term, the amount and the due date.

No transactions, it's a fixed amount and doesn't need updating via ATM or branch.

On the due date and after your application has been submitted, close the account and transfer to your Savings account.

Nope..maturing FD during seasoning are problematic.

There would be 10 million software developers from India here, if it was easy.

2 hours ago, 5633572526 said:

I know this isn’t what you were asking but since you mentioned bad Thai food I would like to recommend a place called “Isaan station” it is a restaurant on the south side of town across from the railroad tracks. An absolute favorite of the gf and when we go to Hua Hin we end up eating there almost daily which is ok with me since it is a lot cheaper than resort food. Any taxi can get you there.

That is helpful, thanks. A shortage of places like that here, almost unlike any place I have been in Thailand.  I had a successful outing last night.  3 for 150 small Tigers on 80, then down to Bintabaht.  Took one of the massage girls all night..Bars were OK, not great, but way, way better than the action in CM.  Much better vibe than Udon, too.  She is mid 30s, a former coyote.  There were a few on 80 closing in on 60, but some cute ones, too.

80 for a small?  You can do that at Cowboy.  The videos showed some places in the 50-60 range for Happy Hour.  Last night it was so dead out here, my night concluded at 10:40 getting overcharged at Family Phart.  Could not find even the simplest of Thai food.  The girls (if you consider mid 40s a girl) seem more interested in sex in a closet than hanging out at a 10 million Baht house with a pool and some Smirnoff coolers in the fridge.  7km from Hilton..you would think I lived in Lopburi.

Many bad business plans.  Who in their right mind would go to a buffet that had zero customers?  And places with no prices posted...my experience says always avoid that, even in the States.  Many are quite happy here. and some great people here...I miss Bangkok, where 30 THB still gets you a meal and a big smile from a beautiful Thai lady.. certainly not around Sukhumvit, though.

1 hour ago, lopburi3 said:

That is often the grey area mentioned - it is likely not legal if done to to circumvent foreign ownership laws.  Some Condo ownership is officially allowed.

Exactly...

I heard five Rai for 450 while ago...almost a bad thing if you are looking for Thai fun...but not a ghost town, by any stretch.

3 hours ago, Speedhump said:

Ah. I own my house. Maybe it's different. 

If you owned your house; you sure as heck wouldn't need a visa....and if you are on some kind of grey area paper....best to be very low key about that.

8 hours ago, Mario666 said:

Only spent 1 week there earlier this year....Deffo recommend "Beer Goggles".....

 

Not planning on going back anytime soon, but all the girlie bars, freelancers and decent pubs are all within 5 minutes walking distance from each other.

 

My question is with so many better places to go in Thailand if you are looking for Tottie, why go back to Hua Hin....Also the beach is dirty and no good for swimming and forget driving a car as nowhere to park.

 

Chok Dee! ????????

A friend gave me his house for the week.. 

isn't that a big tax ripoff, where the 10,000 baht one sells for 89 bucks in the US?

On 11/16/2018 at 6:06 PM, Kerryd said:

I have a Fixed Term account with Bangkok Bank which auto-renews yearly at 1.5%.

I have never had a problem renewing my Extensions (in Jomtien) and showing a bank book that only has the initial deposit into the account, and the balance update (the day before I go for the renewal).

I have never been told I needed to show "activity" on the account.
They know the difference between a "Fixed Term" and a "Savings" account (though it seems some foreigners can't figure that out - just like they can't figure out the difference between a "Savings" account and a "Chequing" account).
The interest I earn can go into my Savings account automatically if I choose or be rolled over in the Fixed Term account. 

On 800,000 baht, you'd earn 12,000 baht in interest minus 2,000 in tax.
That leaves you with 10.000 baht which is more than enough to pay for your yearly Extension as well as a Multi Re-entry permit (5,700 baht total) and leave you enough for a decent night out on the town (or pay your electricity bill for a couple months maybe).

And yes - if you get a Fixed Term deposit at a promotional rate for a set period of time, at the end of that time it will renew at the standard rate. It isn't a "rip-off" just because you didn't check on it or ask about it before hand. I used to do those "Promotional Rate" deposits for years and it has always been like that. Bangkok Bank used to (maybe still does) "promotional" rates on Fixed Term deposits that were usually either 7 month or 11 months in length (not 6 and 12 for some unknown reason). If I wasn't around when the term ended, the interest would be paid and then the balance would get the "standard" interest rate (on 3 month "terms") until I started a new "promotional rate" account. 

And that is NO different than "promotional rate" accounts offered in some Western Banks - where you have to maintain a certain amount on deposit, or make regular deposits of at least a certain amount, or you lose the "promotional" rate and get the much lower, "standard" rate. (Yes, I've looked - because I also have money sitting in accounts back home that are not earning a lot.)

<snipped> 

Like I told dear old dad when he came over here 10 years ago. Having the 800k in the bank gives you peace of mind knowing that it's always there for your Extensions, or if you have a medical emergency, or if for some reason you decide to pack up and move back home - you'd have a decent nest egg to tide you over until you are resettled.

(And when he passed on - his Thai "companion" wasn't able to get at that money at all.)

And no - banks are not rubbing their hands together just waiting for you to put the cash in the bank so they can steal it from you. It's not even an urban legend - it's just plain bull**** but some people will grasp onto any excuse for why they can't - er, I mean "won't" - put money in a Thai bank.

 

There's a far better chance that your "relatives" will steal your money because they know your PIN and you leave your ATM card laying around all the time (but even they couldn't touch a Fixed Term account - you'd have to be there in person to make any changes to it.)

They don't issue ATM cards for Fixed Term accounts (at least not at Bangkok Bank) and even if you have internet banking and have the account listed - you can't make transfers
to/from it (I know - I have that with my accounts. I can check the balance on my Fixed Term account(s), check the interest rate(s), see if an interest payment has been made and that's it.)

Personally - I have the 800k in the Fixed Term account, the bank book is locked in the safe (and only I know the combo) and I forget about until the next time I go do my Extension. The day before I do the Extension I get the bankbook (and my passport) from the safe - go to the bank to update the book and get my Bank Letter, photocopy the pages of the bank book (showing your name and account number and the page showing the latest balance update), put the bank book back in the safe and forget about it for another year. (Though I will glance at the balance when I'm doing some internet banking, to see if the latest interest payment has been made.)

It really doesn't get much easier than that.

you are renewed at the current rate, at the time of renewal....you have no guarantee of what the rate will be in the future.   BBL has recently fallen more in line with the others, but never the best.

17 minutes ago, AhFarangJa said:

From a purely personal standpoint I prefer soi 80, though it is very quiet of late. You may also consider soi 94, not so in your face, and a variety of bars, as in some with girls, some without. Whatever you decide I hope you have a good time here.

Any freelancers on 94?