spornb

We all have different opinions and experiences, as to quality and costs, and may I recommend before accepting advice you ask the question, are you answering from personal experience, there are many bad stories out there

I am very pro the Thai govt hospitals, both in BKK and Issan, on the other side I have experienced gross incompetency,  in hospitals here and received compensation without resorting to lawyers

I have had extensive surgery, many specialists and 13 hrs on operating table  for complicated state of the art keyhole surgery, my bills have been and continue to be very reasonable

Waiting times and queues in Government Hospitals can be very slow and frustrating, on the other hand on being delivered to the A&E at 3.00 am I was attended to quickly and efficiently

If you want more information, PM me I prefer not to discuss on open forum, but am always happy to assist others on a one to one basis

I have no medical ins and am  76 from UK

I am registered with five hospitals, makes getting looked at a little quicker

I am also under a palliative care unit, from a leading  Government Teaching hospital teaching pain suppression

I also have a living will that specifies no life support or resussation, and a lawyer within walking distance of the main hospital I now use, my body will be donated and the paper work is in place, ( my wife carries the donor card not me !) many hospitals no longer accept donations from foreigners, too many problems from families out side Thailand

PLAN FOR THE WORST AND HOPE FOR THE BEST, also Pray a little, God helps those who help themselves

Have a plan and make sure your wife can execute it, call an ambulance from the Bumringrad, and a very big bill is almost guaranteed, you can have the same specialist in a govt hospital, at a fraction of the cost

Buy the heater on lazada, can be less than 2000 bhat, will already have, 

Check spec  VERY CAREFULLY and make sure RCD included

Also make sure has automatic turn off if water ceases

A competent farang should be able to do the wiring

All the pipe , get plenty of cut off valves at global

Change from 3500

Go to a local shyster and can be 10,000 up, 20,000, skys the limit

We offered grannie hot shower three years ago here in Issan, she did not want it

Two step sons , 16, and 17 NOW  outside bathroom, no hot water as they destroy inside bathroom adjoining their room, got fed up fixing it all the time, so locked it no longer a problem, our bathroom same as step sons works no problem after 12 yrs

KhonKaen, plates stolen one night

File police report 30 mins 

Apply for new plates, small sum paid less than 1K

7 weeks get plates

In the meantime piece of paper in car to say getting new ones

Have built three houses here so far

Have Usufruct

Never done contract for the whole, always split it

1)  land clearance/fencing

2)Foundations and base level concrete

3)Walls and second floor

4)Roof

5) Electric and water

I have always signed the agreement, ( and drawn it up ) only pay enough to cover work completed, pay every two weeks ;  builder signs for money on each payment, enables switch contractor easily, usually have undefined bonus clause for final stage, also have penalty clause in  the event of major delay

11 yrs here and married to Thai so far so good

Three yrs ago I had major surgery at Chulalongkorn, was on the operating table 13 hrs, keyhole surgery, absolutely excellent at very very reasonable cost, nice private room in new block on 23rd floor overlooking lumpini Park

PM me if I can help more

I have been here 12 yrs

First two on retirement extension

Then I switched to marriage extension, many said why, immigration said retirement easier please do that

I said No, I 

I said Thailand too unpredictable, and maybe marriage safest

So today with marriage, still no mandatory insurance, still not having to hold 800,00 in account all the time

At 75, uninsurable I worry I might be thrown out

I support a wife, two sons, two parents, and three full time workers in the house and gardens, BUT this is  Thailand

MAYBE HUMAN RIGHTS NEEDS IMPROVING

We deal with Khonkaen immigration, and for marriage extension 400,000 for the two months prior to applying is the simplest, we tried the income one year and just left us open to too many questions

We have never had any real problems with KK immigration, prior to the KK office was Nongkai 

Have been doing this over 10 yrs

Khonkaen generally expect it dated same day as application, done it for 10 plus yrs

Human Rights

Visitors treated same as criminals

Yes they will all be lining up to stay away

OR have I missed the point is this April Fools Day

Well, I am here on marriage extension, over 75, three lots of cancer, and uninsurable, and in the last ten yrs here paid all my own medical costs

So it would appear must never leave the country

These rules could force effective divorce, against the wishes of both parties

SUGGEST THIS ALL CONTRAVENES NORMAL HUMAN RIGHTS

So this is Thailand

It is well known and accepted that for around 20,000/30,000 a retirement extension can be bought, even the deposit is dealt with

18 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

It is 30 days.

But I got grubled at for doing it 12 days early last year. I have not bothered doing it very early since the 30 day under consideration doesn't start until the day your curren permit to stay ends.

There is little advantage to doing it early, as the 400,000 cash has to be left until the under consideration period has expired, for KhonKaen immigration

I was also upset the under consideration did not start until my current permit expired

We are owed around 90,000 in refunds on two international flights for myself and my wife

We filed for refunds in March

All we have had is emails saying how they want to keep loyal customers, and also they are in liquidation

Chances of any real refunds I am afraid are nil, we bought all tickets at their office in KhonKaen and paid cash, STUPID ME AS I GET OLDER I GET CAUGHT

WILL DO OUR VERY BEST NEVER TO USE THEM AGAIN

Remember this is Thailand, I have been here 10 plus yrs

Many many things <deleted> me off about the way banks operate here, but I have to accept it, normally I find a work around solution

Samtam at 200,000 bhat per day, how many MONTHS  are you going to have do the ATM withdrawal and then redeposit !!!!

Clarification would be appreciated

I have been on marriage extensions for about ten yrs, I am over 75 with many many serious preexisting  things and thus uninsurable, I am happy I can fund necessary medical as required while still here

WHEN DOING MY RENEWAL IN ABOUT A MONTHS TIME AM I GOING TO HAVE TO PROVIDE MEDICAL INSURANCE

Help and clarification greatly appreciated

19 hours ago, tiocfaidh said:

And does it drop down to the previous level on his return to Thailand?

So long as you remember to advise them

AND what is going to happen to our overdue ticket refunds !!!!!

21 hours ago, bwpage3 said:

What kind of high yield does $12,500 get you in a US Savings Account these days?

I guess well below 1%

Times of cheap money and energy costs, should all fuel growth in the economy

On Marriage extension done it ten times, never brought from abroad, BUT last time told I had to leave it there for the under consideration period, as well but at final grant this was never checked

The 400 deposit is much easier than the income route

So no alcohol, and still have to wear facemasks

Just done a wall 4m wide by 3m, done it with cement screed, cost less than bht 2,000, less than a days work, but a lot of mess, to do, was quoted with plaster board bht 9,500

If not money conscious plaster board better

We like Lazada, often many different prices for the same thing, delivery generally quick, we are building another house and saving a lot on many items with Lazada, they are fair and honest on returns

We have about ten deliveries a week

57 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

Normally there is little or no pain for root canal treatment in my experience (and have had many) unless still have an abscess.  But I normally have a fairly high pain threshold so expect it can be painful for some.  With an abscess it is smelling salt for revival time if doing much of anything. 

I have very low pain threshold and need valium as well for root canal, have had horendous pain experiences over the years

we all have different levels of pain tolerance

Try ibrufen, and keep tablet on tooth until it has disolved, but get to A&E ASAP