tom in bangkok

What's the fine for not filling out a TM28? Never done a TM28 or 90-day report and a TM30 was just filed for me for the first time recently (been staying here since 2018).

Getting my next extension soon and totally forgot that TM28 was a thing ????

I saw a thread or two about how to get a virtual credit card and, as if through godly intervention, I received this email which I now pass onto you. You can thank me later ????

Unfortunately the youtube video was removed. Last time I saw one of these emails with a youtube link there was an Indian-sounding man poorly explain how their template credit card management website worked. Here's to poor attempts of scamming people!

(it's a joke please don't ban me)

3 hours ago, Max69xl said:

I have travelled with a lot of airlines,and never been informed about the possibility to show my card when checking in. Sometimes I don't even carry the card I used for my ticket. I must be a lucky man. ????

Same here. My only guess is that people get asked to show their card were flagged on their risk assessment software ????

28 minutes ago, Pib said:

yeap....that's how the great majority to Thai bank operates when it comes to debit card use, within and outside your home province/bank region.   From looking at the various debit cards offered by K-bank, they all charge the roaming fee (i.e., when withdrawing out of province/bank region).

Thanks. Didn't even know this existed.

26 minutes ago, ThaiBunny said:

In this day of online, instant communication between computers the out-of-province fee sounds like the sort of rip-off fee Thai banks continue to use simply because they can

Sounds like it. To add to it, you get charged an annual fee for a debit card PLUS you have to pay the issuing fee (my newest card was 700 thb..)

On 1/15/2020 at 2:51 PM, jak2002003 said:

Well, I thought that too.  But my parents were grilled about the address, as it had no house number... and in immigration woman was not very friendly with them, saying it was not a hotel and she wanted the house number... she even called over another immigration officer.

Huh, interesting. Do you know which box they ticked on the back of the arrival card? I don't have a place of my own yet and am staying with a mate, but I've never been questioned about the address on the arrival card.... maybe because I always tick the "friend's place" box?

4 hours ago, Max69xl said:

When people move to another province it's normal to change branch to avoid fees.

Is this legit? I haven't noticed any fees/charges for withdrawing at an ATM in a different province with KBank.

10 hours ago, noticojaru said:

Wake up, we're talking about kasikorn.

you're talking bulishlt.

to open a new account, I'd have to close my current one. Once I've closed it, I may not be able to open a new one, anywhere, because they've tighted KYC regulations. If I'm lucky, I'll be able to. And if I'm not? As if you were not aware of that.

I have two active accounts with KBank, the latest one was opened in the last month or so.

10 hours ago, noticojaru said:

bingo! What left is: find such a bank, find a branch, a manager that'll be willing to open an account for me on a tourist visa.

Bingo! Tourist visa. That's probably a problem!

6 hours ago, Scott Tracy said:

For information on one of the posts here, a nameless card can be given at the bank, so the punter doesn't have to wait for 2 weeks for one to arrive at their address.

It doesn't take 2 weeks in my experience (usually a day or two, pickup), but banks don't print/punch account holder names onto debit cards for non-Thais -- at least with KBank.

I think the questions/concern about it is fair enough -- usually it's only visa/mc gift cards that don't have names on them in western countries. Bottom line is that it doesn't make a difference for payment authorization, and anyone who needs to check the card (like at the airport apparently) would, at worst, ask for extra ID to confirm the payment/booking.

On 1/16/2020 at 7:57 PM, DaRoadrunner said:

Does not matter which bank issued it, if it has VISA or Mastercard on it then it should be valid worldwide. I do wonder about the reasoning behind the bank not putting your name on it? My SCB VISA Debit Card has no name, but I guess the imbeded chip identifies it as mine.

I ask this question to my KBank branch when I visit (hoping for a real answer) and always get the same response "falang debit card not have name printed". Leaves me with more questions -- one of which was why I couldn't get a special edition debit card design because it was for Thai people only.

@sometimewoodworker thanks mate. Do you have any recommendations for other loos?

While stupidly expensive, the newest Toto does look very cool and I don't think anyone here could truthfully deny that.

I've had the Toto catalogue on my shelf for a long time while I decide which toilet to buy for my new house in Bangkok. I really want the Toto Neorest NX1 (the Rolls Royce of toilets) but it's 200k THB and is not something I have any hope of justifying to my other half. I think I can get away with the Washlet GG for about 63k THB but I want to know what your thoughts are about Toto bogs.

The difference between the two models seems to just be the design and material(?) used for the unit and the lack of "electrolysed antibacterial" water. I'm sure I can negotiate the price down as well.

A bum gun is great and certainly better than dry wiping, but comforts such as anal laser-precision bidets are part of the little things in life that help.

I have a Samsung "Air Track" 1800W bagless that works great and always has strong suction. I empty the dust vortex thing every few vacuums into a plastic bag (on the balcony because dust spreads) and then bin it. Only problem is that sometimes the doughnut-shaped vortex dust thing gets clogged so the dust stops spinning around, but that's only when I don't bother taking the dust out.

I've had bagged vacuums before and after a few years it's almost impossible to find replacement bags. With bagless, you only need to get a new vacuum cleaner when the machine breaks, instead of when the manufacturer stops making bags / merchants stop selling bags.

To add to my reply, if OP doesn't bother to sign up to a different bank then I have no sympathy. Masochism for the sake of an imagined principle.

BKK Bank and KBank own more than half of the market share combined. If you're not happy with either bank and you live in Bangkok then you need to get a grip and realise that Thailand doesn't have royal commissions or enquiries into the banking industry, and so branch policy depends on how the owner/manager feels on that particular day.

Find a new bank or deal with your current one.

On 1/9/2020 at 8:48 PM, SCOTT FITZGERSLD said:

well, banks are banks, but a fair bank will tell you that you are about to sign an important form.

that is not what the bangkok bank clerk did. 

Mate you're not living in a place like Australia where you get a fair go and where banks won't let you sign anything before they finish their 10 minute spiel/disclaimer about the main details. You should find a different bank.

After I filled in a standard information form for KBank I was asked what colour debit card I preferred. Even if you don't speak Thai and live in the sticks, mate, there is at least one other option -- KBank.

I really do not understand why people are so loyal to their bank after (sometimes) repeated issues to do basic things.  I saw a weird payment on my account yesterday and picked up my replacement card today. Is it really this hard to spend 30-45 minutes at a bank to open a new account?

If you need to get a new debit card and you're with Bangkok Bank, you might as well spend a bit extra time to get a new debit card from another bank. Avoid Bangkok Bank like the plague for all your debit card needs.

Is anyone else able to get the checkout staff to bag your stuff with the reusable bags? I've given them the bags a couple times so far and they just stack everything on the counter. Then they watch me bag everything..

Plastic bag ban does not mean your job has one less duty.

On 12/18/2019 at 8:49 PM, EbhB said:

When we started the process HK was the clearly best option, but read that it changed to giving visas ONLY to people with WP-3.

Anyone know about the status in HK?

Good question. I got my B-visa in HK last year (without a WP) after a recommendation from my lawyer and I was granted it, but I got a stern talking to and a bonus love-letter in my passport (below), so I'm not surprised to hear they're cracking down.

Give it a shot OP, other users have had successful experiences by just asking. Let us know what happens.

For everyone else, if you've arrived at swampy during a particularly busy time and the immigration queue is beyond the "45 minutes" sign, try walking to the next immigration section 100-200m away. Maybe it'll be better -- it usually is for me.

Other than that, get an APEC card or diplomatic passport. Or be a pilot/flight staff; you'll get your luggage faster too.

OP what happened? Did you go today?

18 hours ago, sfokevin said:

Also if you order get the global version which has a US plug 

And in case anyone gets the Chinese version like I did, you have to set your region to "chinese mainland" in the app to be able to connect to it.

Nothing happened as you guys said. They hung around for about 2 hours then left.

In fairness this isn't something I'd seen before and couldn't find a thread that was the same. Wanted to know what was up.

Relax.

I ordered my purifier after reading this thread a few days ago and it arrived today. Xiaomi Mi S2 from Lazada. Thanks for the reminder.

The app was a pain in the ass to setup though.

3 minutes ago, mike787 said:

I would make sure no matter what you have a plan B ready and instructions for your thai significant other ready if you are not alone...just in case.  This is the new Thailand, not Elysium...NO Diplomatic immunity unless very large envelopes are ready in hand.

Hah, keep a wad of 1000thb notes in my drawer? Or do the officers accept qr code bank transfers?

I've got a plan already in case things really do hit the fan for no reason.