scorecard

And while those who have the power to 'rig' continue with their highly unethical games and clearly ignore the will of the people.

I agree, OFX is very reliable, very customer oriented, simple, easy to get started, fast and they have a standard fee, all transfers AUD15-. I've used OFX about 20 times in the last 5 years, always into K Bank (I'm guessing into other Thai banks would be the same speed), great service, highly recommended.

And way less than comfortable, most carriages 40 years old. And very very slow. Plus when passengers alight in the middle of nowhere, no platform, no awnings, no rain protection they are swarmed by song tao drivers grabbing their luggage and quoting outrageous fees to take them a few kilometres into the city. Quaint would be a suitable word.

"His freedom in Thailand will always be conditional." Good point and I'm sure this would be true. This situation will I'm sure be a 2 way street, he gets benefits but also promises to do / not to do certain things.

Thai Permanent Residents are usually recorded in the dark blue Tabien Baan book, therefore never have a yellow Tabien Baan book.

Thanks for the many way to translate the document. I'm 79 yrs old less than 2 weeks from now, and way out of date, I didn't know so many options for this item existed. I've found a smartphone app which when activated I can pass the s'phone camera across the Thai text and it changes to English. For my needs right now just perfect. Thanks again.

Call the SSO Hotline 1506, there's an English language option. Be ready with your member number (nowadays it'd the number on your pink Thai Id card). 1506 can answer your question about which hospital you're registered with, and get some information about your annual right to change the hospital. Also perhaps ask what ambulance services are available to SSO Voluntary Insurance members at the hospital where you are register. In some cases (e.g. Rajavet private hospital in Chiang Mai) SSO members are covered for all necessary ambulance services. Also ask them to guide you to register yourself on the SSO members portal, which is in both Thai and English and on this site there's plenty of information. Good luck.

Re the room charge / private room charge for SSO members, this is a bit complex and at some hospitals gov't or Private which accepts the SSO membership) it can depend on the medical situation at hand, and of course depends on whether the SSO member wants a private room, or some hospitals have rooms with only 2 bed and of course full ward size (my understanding is that this is usually 10 beds). The above para is of course regarding the 'room' charge'. Nursing fees, medications, Dr's visit to the ward, medications, food are cover mostly covered by the SSO membership, the charge for actual room is what changes and can be not that cheap. For example at Rajavet hospital here in Chiang Mai for private room: - Nursing, Dr's visit, medication. food is covered by the SSO membership, as mentioned above. - Room charge can be as high as 1,700Baht per night but usually with 700Baht reimbursed by the SSO. As an aside: I recently asked for a quotation from 2 international mainstream medical insurers 'room only' not including nursing, Dr's visit, medications and food. Both indicated they could do that but when they sent the quotation: - it was just 10% cheaper than full cover. - I was already way older than the maximum age they stipulated (both sias max age 78, I am 79 in 2 weeks) Bottom line, of no value. Therefore is pays to check these charges in advance case by case / hospital by hospital to be prepared. My SSO membership also provides full ambulance services as needed at Rajavet hospital, covered by my SSO membership.

Did it "sink to the bottom"? I didn't see that in the media reports. Or just wild assumption?

Actually I suspect your analysis is rather over the top. Of course it might be different in your location (which I think you have mentioned before is Pattaya, but Pattaya is not Thailand and is not a good example).

Good question but I'm sorry I don't know the answer to this point. I nominated Rajavet private hospital here in Chiang Mai and that was accepted with no further discussion.

Further, If a retiring foreigner who has been an SSO member is told that foreigners cannot continue as Dr. Sheryl mentioned just above this is not true. In this situation please take a look at the attached document, an English language version of the Social Security Fund Act, a lot of good and clear information, especially Article 39 of the act. If you strike a road block (e.g. '...foreigners cannot continue ... ) initially call the SSO 1506 Hotline and select English. Sometimes the call is automatically switched back to a Thai speaker because at that moment there are no English speaking staff available. If this happens call back later or the next day. When you do get an English speaker it's quite likely to be a Thai lawyer from the SSO HO office at Nonthaburi. They listen carefully and are very polite, and you will get clear / correct answers and advice of what to do next. I went this route and the 1506 Hotline lady advised me to write a very detailed letter in English, then make a Thai language copy (Google translate is acceptable), then post the letters to the SSO HO Legal Division at Nonthaburi (full address is on their website). I did that and 2 days later I got a call from an SSO lawyer. She listened well then told me clearly and politely that I had been given a totally false illegal reason (by the local SSO office) as to why I could not continue my membership / benefits. The Lawyer said she would send copies of my letters plus some further information to the Snr. officer at their Chiang Mai office. Note: The SSO lawyer also mentioned the SSO is aware that some HR managers (who in fact have very little knowledge of the Social Security Act) have told retiring foreigners they cannot continue their membership/benefits. As stated above, this is not true). Then several e.mails, phone calls, check of various documents and 6 months later I got an official letter that my membership had been reinstated as a Voluntary Insurance member, and the SSO had set up an auto deduction from my nominated K Bank savings account on the 15th of every month. SOCIAL_SECURITY_ACT_2533_SSO_1...3.pdf

I have several foreigner friends who elected to continue their SSO membership (SSO call this 'Voluntary Insurance') after they retired and all of them are very satisfied with the actual medical treatment and the attitude of hospital staff etc. Also, I wonder if all Voluntary Insurance SSO members know that in many locations the participating hospitals are the local government hospitals plus 1 or several private hospitals. My nominated hospital is Rajavet private hospital in Chiang Mai. Excellent / polite admin., services, nursing doctors attitudes and the quality of the medical care for SSO members is excellent and the same as the private patients receive. Plus Rajavet have a dedicated 'International Office' staffed my 2 Thai ladies who speak perfect English and a long-term resident Philippin lady, perfect English and she reads and writes Thai. This team are very welcoming and friendly, good listeners and good focused clear answers regardless of whether it's a tourist, a resident foreigner on some type of visa or an SSO Voluntary Insurance Foreigner. Wait time to see a Dr. for full private patients generally 30 minutes or less. For SSO Voluntary Insurance patients perhaps 10 minutes longer. Not an issue.

The basic fee is 432Baht per month however the SSO does from time to time adjust that amount, always downwards. Friend has mentioned before several times it's gone down to 200Baht a month member contribution, then back to the max. amount of 432Baht a month. This is why the SSO want 'Voluntary insured' members (Members who have elected to continue their membership after retirement) to pay by the SSO claiming the monthly payment from your bank. It gives the SSO the flexibility to change the monthly payment amount. If the member sets their internet banking to make an automatic payment of 432Baht every month then this creates problems in the SSO because they receive 432Baht but (as above) it's very possible the SSO has reduced the monthly member contribution for that month, therefore the member has overpaid. Bottom line - let the SSO setup the deduction from your bank account. And there's an SSO website where you can check you payments history.

I'll vote for the GOP and trump being far more corrupt compared to the democrats.

There's also a service from ground floor small booth at Suvarnabhumi to Jomtien. Last time I used it 300Baht. Jomtien terminus is on the road from city down to Jomtien left side of the road about 150 metres or less before the beach, big supermarket in same bus location, all opposite Pan Pan restaurant. Several service every day both directions, can book in advance, pleasant staff.

So now you try a new line ... my hatred for old men... Truth is: - I am 79 years old in a couple of weeks and enjoy spending my time in retirement here in Thailand with many 'old men'. - You have no reason / evidence whatever to claim that I hate old men. Bye.

Any real competition to Makro would probably get the CP folks active to take remedial action very quickly.

Where is Pats? The place has a proper name, Pattaya, which has a specific meaning, have some respect for Thailand and the good people of Thailand and Pattaya.

Expand your thinking.

Sorry, I'm totally / completely not convinced re your comments / argument points. I and many others are thinking rationally but you seem to be unable to see the woods for trees. Your claims that he's had a stressful life are not relevant. He's a convicted criminal. Further, millions of Thais are old / very old, and have had a very tough life, lack of food, lack of any decent quality of life, lack of decent health care. But perhaps you see this charade and total lack of respect as rational and acceptable. I don't, not at all.

The folks involved in creating and operating this total and obvious scam have no interest in / don't care what the Thai public thnks.

"...where radical dem controlled courts ..." But right now and in the past the GOP appointed judges who were well known to follow GOP policies. So what's different?

Democrat party, I think you mean GOP party, ahead by miles.

How true.