scorecard

6 hours ago, Denim said:

I got mine at the local tessabahn when our house was finished. !0 years ago and my memory not good but if I remember correctly I needed my passport plus a translation of the relevant page,  the chanote of the land and pictures of the completed house with the address which came from the land office ( I think ).

Since these requirements might have changed over time, and each district might have different requirements , it would be best to go with your wife when she gets her new blue book ( tabien bahn ) then at the same time , ask exactly what is needed for you to get a yellow house book. Some places are more friendly and co operative than others. Mine was ok but where we previously lived in Bangkok they were unhelpful and corrupt and basically tried putting a lot of unnecessary obstacles in my way.

 

It will help if you keep your cool no matter what and be friendly and polite as possible. Better to dress with long trousers in my opinion. Some might baulk at this obsequious behaviour but for me it was being normal.

 

If you get the yellow house book getting a pink ID card is easy. Is it worth having this ? Well, I find it useful at the bank when they want ID as it fits in my wallet and saves carrying a passport around although a Thai driving licence is also accepted.

 

 

Banks are changing the passport numbers in their records to the Thai pink ID card number if they become aware that you have a pink ID card.

Why? Because the banks all realize that a large % of the bank's account details have a passport number in the bank records for each farang but in many cases the passport has expired and the passport has probably been replaced but the passport number in the bank records has never been changed.

So when they become aware of a pink card they change the personal details in the bank database; delete the old / any passport number, and enter the pink ID card number which for most farang doesn't need reissue. 

In reality they would be readily available documents, and for my son or daughter I would be happy to prepare as many documents as needed.

I've witnesses 2 farang hand over new EU passports to their kids. Kids knew that there was maybe a possibility to get an EU passport same as dad but had been told by their dad 'we have to wait and see and it may take quite a long time'. 

The look of delight on the 2 kids faces when they opened the envelopes was beyond  wonderful.

In both cases the farang fathers told their kids 13 and 14 to read the details very carefully and confirm that the details (spelling etc.) was totally correct. Both times the kids read the details 50 times then confirmed 'all correct'.

In both cases they were instructed to immediately scan all the pages and create a file and send the file, by e.mail, to themselves and to dad and to mum and to grandparents in Europe. Completed within a few minutes.

In one case the mother (the Thai wife) already had a passport from farang husband's EU country), in the other case the son (14) quickly but secretly asked his father 'but what about mum?' It was in fact in process but would take a longer time to fully qualify etc., etc.

15 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

and i'v einteracted with a few techers. 

No. We are all impressed if someone is introduced as an English teacher in Thailand.

As you know, Thai assign a high status to their teachers. 

Really? Many times I've delivered my grandchildren to school (kinder, primary).

Many times I've briefly or for a few minutes interacted with one / a few foreign 'English teachers'. A few times I've been impressed* but more often horrified at their spoken English and their behaviors / attitudes.

                        *being impressed has always linked to the name /reputation of the school

                         involved, their tuition fees and their published details of the teachers on

                         staff. 

A few times I've asked 'what qualifications do you need to work here as an English teachers? Sometimes the answers have been good but more often not good. e.g.

- 'It doesn't matter, I flashed my photoshopped Bachelor of Science degree, and I got the job immediately'.

- 'I was not expecting to get the job because English is really my 3rd language and not that good regarding grammar but a 3 minute chat and I was employed'.

- 'certificate of attendance at a 14 day English teaching course in Bkk seems to be well accepted, but during the course dates I did a 3 / 4 day border run to renew my visa, all accepted by the 14 day course folks'.

- and more ...  

20 hours ago, UWEB said:

Prices in Private Hospitals are complete out of control, and Government Hospitals are not really an alternative.

I disagree, there's plenty of excellent government hospitals all over Thailand with well qualified excellent doctors and nursing staff and plenty of English. Shop around.

9 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Sometimes I go to food courts, yesterday in Terminal 21 about noon. It was busy.

I went to the shop and bought my meal and then I looked for a table.

There were lots of tables without people, but on most of them were small or not so small items like an umbrella, maybe a keycard, or a shopping bag.

It seems some people "reserved" these tables by putting something on the table and then walk away and take their time to get the food. And then I guess they expect that everyone recognizes that the table is blocked/reserved by them and nobody else is allowed to use it.

 

I find this behavior strange and annoying. Sit there and use the table or the table is available for other people. It could be simple.

 

Luckily, I found a free table within a minute, and all was fine. But I considered already going to one of those reserved tables, put whatever someone put on the table to the side, and then eat there.

And if someone would come and complain: Yes, I noticed you forgot your bag. Here, take it back. 😉 

 

What do you do in such situation? 

 

I guess the world will end. Buy lots of tissues.

6 hours ago, MarkBR said:

Wonderful.  Unfortunately, your son threatened the whole system.

True.

This was a few years ago and tings are slowly changing:

1. My eldest Thai granddaughter went to a bilingual catholic school, they had English first and last period every day:

Morning, well qualified young British guy who focused quite successfully on progressive conversation development with kids encouraged to ask questions.

During this session the afternoon English teacher (old Thai lady) sat at the back and took notes and was under instruction to repeat the morning session late afternoon but in Thai language.

Afternoon, but she spent most of the period criticising the farang teacher and highlighting his mistakes (which weren't mistakes).

And you guessed it kids not allowed to speak and not allowed t questions.

*******

And mid term / end of term exams. Kids had to remember what each teacher had taught to answer the questions, often conflicting. 

Continuous complaints from the parents. A number of fathers were farng native English speakers, they sent handouts (given by the old Thai female teacher) back to the headmistress (who can't speak English) highlighting numerous mistakes. 

Regular response from the headmistress 'Well she's been teaching for a long time so she must be correct'.   

15 hours ago, Peabody said:

The reason I'm asking is I have a friend who received permanent residency several years ago. He was first listed under his BKK Thai lawyer's house book, even though he was living in a BKK condo that he rented and, since he has now moved to Pattaya is renting a condo here, has had his listing moved to a different local Thai lawyer's house book. He insists that he can't live in an abode that he doesn't own and register under his own house book.

I achieved PR 27 years ago. I didn't own any type of resident, When I achieved PR, I rented a house. When my PR book was issued my name was added to the dark blue Tabien Baan book of a Thai friend. Later I bought a house (under a company name, 51% of the shares owned by me) and my name was moved to the dark blue Tabien baan book for the house I bought.

I hope various lawyers have not insisted that the foreigners name has to be in the Tabien Baan book of a lawyer because that's absolutely not true. I'm mentioning this because i'm aware of a Thai law firm which insists that every application for PR had to be lodged by a Thai lawyer, which is not true. 

16 hours ago, Peabody said:

Thanks, Joe. The only reference to a house book is this and it doesn't answer the question. 

"Once approved, the blue book of residency will be issued to the successful applicant where he/she can then register the place of residence in Thailand and proceed to apply for an alien book which is equivalent to a Thai ID card."

What is the source of the paragraph above?

Does the paragraph above come from an official government website or the website of a commercial for profit organization? 

8 hours ago, proton said:

Why cant they all be like Thai government top tier schools which are more like private ones, with high costs it must be said. English to a high standard, foreign history books in English, special dance and drama courses. They have little of the nationalistic flag waving and marching about or wasting hours on other nonsense. Competition to get into them is high. If they can do it for a few schools they can do it for a lot more.

Some also have:

- Foreign qualified experienced teachers for maths.

- foreign qualified experienced teachers for maths.

- Also just heard about a school which has 2 teachers in the room for maths: A qualified experienced foreign teacher and a qualified experienced Thai teacher and they do 'team teaching': the concept explained in Thai and then explained again in English. 

On 5/21/2024 at 9:22 AM, ChipButty said:

At least they used a police woman, not let Somchai near her, 

OK, but there is no report whether the policewoman had any training to do this.

seems to me that only qualified and experienced gynecology doctors would know what to look for.   

Plus such probe / search should probably be conducted in an appropriate frame in a hospital and with correct hygiene / cleanliness, not at the scene and not at a police station. 

3 hours ago, WDSmart said:

Yes! It's been horrible, and I don't think it's even close to being over yet.  

 

When I was growing up and living in the USA, I always knew there were racists, sexists, xenophobes, fascists, and other dissidents, but I thought they only made up maybe 10% of the population. Now, it's apparent they make up as much as 40%!  They must have been there all the time.

Trump didn't create these people; he just gave them permission to crawl out from under the rocks they've been hiding. 

And in turn, after they crawled out, they support their 'saviour', human nature.

Perhaps this is a throw back to trump's father, and that's what has created trumps beliefs, attitudes, goals etc? Or perhaps it's trump alone, a very unpleasant selfish arrogant piece of xxxx?

1 hour ago, Ralf001 said:

 

Yeah nah.

 

Ive done many flights to UK and USA... breakfast was never served at 4pm Thai time.

Maybe a passenger mentioned 'breakfast' but the passenger used a wrong word, easy enough to happen.

Maybe it was a snack being served because of the time expired since the last meal.

No need to make an issue of it. 

20 hours ago, FARANG KIWI said:

Yes.   

 

Yellow House book first of all.

 

Then you go on to get your Thai ID card.
 

I add, if you have thai Permanent Residency PR (meaning a Certificate of Residence book) you are recorded in a standard dark blue Tabien Baan book when the PR book is issued, and this gives you entitlement to a pink ID card. 

What is a 'switchover switch'?

On 8/19/2023 at 10:08 AM, Crossy said:

Have you actually signed up for TOU (Time Of Use) metering, if so: -

 

https://www.pea.co.th/Portals/1/Knowledge PEA/Electricity Tariffs JAN66 Unofficial Translation.pdf?ver=2023-01-27-133655-423

 

You will be 1.2.2, weekend is the same rate as off-peak.

 

Just wondering if:

1. This would be of good benefit (reduced electricity bill) if recharging an EV battery at night time?

2. Would this bring substantial bill reduction for a house which uses 3 or 4 air-conditioners most nights?

Thanks.

Details have been on this site before but I can't find it.

My understanding is that the house owner can request a second electricity meter for electricity consumption late afternoon/ evening (perhaps this needs to be corrected) and it's at a well reduced unit cost.

Previously mentioned and several members shared that their overall bill had reduced quite a lot.

Would appreciate any details any member could please share.

Thanks. 

30 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

I was born and raised in London, but feel that if it had happened in the countryside I wouldn't have wanted to step foot in a city. I suppose a compromise for me would be living in a small town next to the sea. That would be my ideal. Instead, I'm stuck in Issan. Sometimes, life sucks. (note to those who will now comment that I could move: That is not an option.)

We all have different and quite diverse growing up locations. I was born and grew up 650 Km from nearest city, small town 300,000 people, desert environment, never cold, in summer most days around 45 degrees, very low rainfall, some years none at all, a wet year 20 minutes of rain (never heavy) three time in my life from birth to 21 years old didn't rain for 3 years, only one industry mining, many pubs (miners are drinkers), no entertainment except for Saturday night outdoor old movies once a month. 

At 21 had to move to big city to report for compulsory national service. First time ever on a train.