scorecard

30 January 2023? And wait time was 90 minutes?

When are you talking about, recently? The older australians line 132 300?

I need to send funds to someone in Europe. The receiver is asking for the funds to arrive at their bank already in Euros or in US$. Can I request my Thai bank (K Bank) to do that by stating the Euro or US$ amount in the on-line application for an international transfer? Has anybody had real experience in doing an online inter. transfer from a Thai bank to a bank in Europe in Poland? Was it a smooth fast process? Or....? Is there a national Thai banking regulation re the maximum amount Thais or non-Thais can transfer out of Thailand? I've searched for this, I found many short mentions but no clear/absolute answers.

I've called 132 300 many times. Always answered within perhaps 15 seconds, always polite officers, good listeners. Always got a focused clear answer You say "...You may be right, it is up to clients to chase them now. ..." That's a big statement, there's many benefits etc., available to Australians, some can happen automaticlly, some can't and need more processing and Centrelink don't / can't know the personal circumstances of every pensioner. And most pensioners wouldn't want Cenrelink to know all of the personal business, their cicumstances etc.

Agree re Aldi, they have many items which are considerably cheaper than the other 2, and many of their fresh meat cuts are also considerably cheaper. I bought their lamb chops several times, excellent quality/taste (just my opinion of course), certainly much cheaper than C or W. Aldi also has a limited but good selection of wines. Their boxed reds and whites are very drinkable in my unprofessional opinion as is their port, all quite low priced.

The ham and cheese sandwich was presented as a meal, came as standard with a pile of potato wedges and onion rings and a pile of salad and a pot of ketchup and a pot of mustard.

Yes very old stuff, never really substantiated by the 'usual suspect'.

Services Australia / Centrelink have a 24/7 link to the immigration databases of Australian (and other) folks going out and coming in. Their systems continuously scan the immigration in/out databases and if they find a c'link or other citizen has entered / departed it's automatically recorded on the C'link and other files for that person. Does that automatially generate new concession / medicare etc., etc., cards. In some cases perhaps yes and perhaps not for all items. Medicare is one example, C'link (which nowadays manages medicare), doesn't know if the citizen just arrived/retuned has a valid card or has discarded their car. On a C'link visit I was asked "do you still have your Medicare card". I responded "no, lost years ago". "Do you still have the number?" "No I don't." C'link lady said "never mind I'll do a search for your number." A few minutes later she said "system can't find your old number". At the same time the printer on her desk activated, she signed the letter, gave it to me and said "If you need to get meical attention please show this letter with your new Medicare number, your new plastic card will come in 2 or 3 weeks". New card arrival about 4 working days later.

My googling also shows that C'link has NOT been privatised, and C'link and Services Australia both exist and both are 'owned / operated' by the commonwealth gov't and they share companion / coordinate various services to the public.

Re supermarkets inn OZ, I got alerted to check out all the Coles, Woolies, Alsi home brand items. There's many products across the stores. Just as good quality as the 'original' brands. Includes food and many other product area. Just one example : Coles home brand laundry deterget, notmal flagon size AUD2-. All the other brands in big chunky bottles, same products AUD 12 to AUD 15 for same volume. Coles Tomato soup, excellent taste, 80cents per can, campbell AUD5.xx per same size can. One dozen frozen meat pies Aldi home brand, great taste, AUDAUD6.xx. Same pack mainstream brand Four n Twenty around AUD24.xx. And dozens more products. I changed my s'mkt shopping habits to 99% Coles / Woolies / Aldi home branded items. Cut my s'mkt bill in hlf. No loss of quality. But home delivery from these supermarkets is very expensive. I had a free daily village bus service to 2 giant shopping complexes, 10 minutes each way, I did the trip 4 days a week to spread the weight I had to carry and also as a good excuse to get out of the house. Also, at these complexes if I mentioned I was living at the local War Veterans Village cofee and lamington or whatever 50 - 60% instant discount. And instantly 'can we help you to get to your bus outside. Off topic - The RSL in Australia (Now RSLLifeCare) has realy upped it's game, it's attitudes, it's care / the broadness of wht they offer, etc. 'The 'Thank you for your service' comment is now instant. and sincere. One afternoon I was killing time at a coffee shop in the shopping complex, 4 teenage high scholls boys came in and sat down and politely introduced themselves. They whispered and then one boy held my hand and said "I have a driving License, I can go home (5 minutes walk) and get our family car and drive you home with your shopping". The other 3 boys all instantly "let's go, let's go". I thanked them for their kindness and said 'but my village bus driver is waiting outside for me now, I don't want to cause confusion with the bus service'. I stood up and moved away with my walker and shopping bags with lots of waves and 'take care'.

"Hope<deleted>lly, pensions will be exempt, but who knows." OZ pensions have long been a sacred cow / EXEMPT from tax. We wait and see, and (just my opinion, not fact) I somehow doubt pensions will be touched in any way (just my opinion, nothing more).

Thanks.

Please provide some evidence that Centrelink has been privatised and is now owned by Services Australia, a private company. Google searches don't support that, not at all. I know from clear discussions with the officers on the 'older Aussies Line' (seems to be part of Centrelink and Services Autralia) that there' a 24/7 live connection to Immigration records and folks recipient of pensions administered by Centrelink. Any exit/entry of sucn pensioners on the passport records automatically goes onto the Centrelink / pension records of that person. One quick example: about 2 weeks after I had completed the '2 years return to re-establish a residence in OZ requirement' I called the older aussies line; identified myself and the politels asked 'Am I now entitled to 'Portability'? (Reality; I hadn't left OZ since I returned 2 years earlier beacause this was in the height of the Covid- 19 issues; some difficulty to get per permission to exit OZ (but possible with some extra documenttion) and the issues of gaining permission to enter Thailand regardless of what Thai visa the person holding, ll of course focused on spread of Covid- 19.) The Older Aussies Line Lady quickly responded with 'let me call up a couple of connected screens to get some data, as she did she said 'I need to look at your movements out in and into OZ over the last 2 years which is all on the screen coming up now, it's automatic from immigration records'. Then she said 'Ohh you haven't been out oz OZ for just over 2 years'. Then she indicated she needed o scan a couple more pieces of data on her screens. Less than a minute later she politely said 'Yes I confirm you are now entited to 'Portability'. She asked 'do you have any more questions on the that item', and can I eplain anything more about portability and what you need to do if you wish to return abroad? I responded 'I've been reading a lot re 'Portability' and I think I understand, can I can call you back If I run into any issues or anything I don't fully understand' She politely responded 'Sure that's fine and don't ever hesitate to call if needed'.

Hi Artisi, Can you please share the source of your post and whether, from your understanding, the personal tax, if implemented, refers to: - Cash in OZ bank(s) (and perhaps in banks abroad) at time of applying for the OAP? - Annual levels of cash in OZ bank(s) (and perhaps in banks abroad) on an annual basis? - NOTE ALSO: Annual levels of cash in OZ banks for all pension recipients (meaning pensioners who eaide in Australia full time, rarely/never leave Australia for any reason). With the recent mentions in the OZ media that pensioners are suffering, barely surviving seems a bit rough to tax them 30%. Also, it's alwys been enshrined in OZ attitudes / laws that tax on pensions are exempt from taxation. - Annual personal tax on all pension payments made to recipients domiciled in OZ (Incl: OAP, C'link Disability allowances, DVA Service Pension, DVA Disability Compensation allowance (until last year called DVA Disability pension), the tax being paid as part of submitting / settling a personal annual tax return to the ATO? - Annual personal tax on all pension payments (OAP, DVA Service Pension, DVA transferred to banks abroad to recipients domiciled in OZ (Incl: OAP, C'link Disability allowances,DVA Service Pension, DVA Disability Compensation allowance (until last year called DVA Disability pension), paid as part of submitting a personal annual tax return to the ATO? I guess the two scenarios just above could mean: - taxed on the amount received, or - taxed on any amount above a published threshhold amount? - Or...?

But in reality he should be in jail and barred for life from joining anything to do with politics and barred for life from employment in any position which connects to taxpayers funds.

When I was staying at a War Vets Village on the Northern beaches I got invited to join some pensioners to go to a local seafood restaurant. Others quietly mentioned ('it's very expensive but so are all restaurants). Nothing on the menu re seafood/meals was under AUD80. A seafood platter (for 1) was AUD140. Big restaurant, good service, apparently full house every meal because of the freshness of the locally caught fish. I ordered a ham and cheese sandwich AUD28 (not toasted), that seemed to be the 'default' several others were ordering. When it came I was quite disappointed, a small amount of ham (1 small slice) and 1 commerial cheese slice. After that I politely declined invitations to go to restaurants. But no big deal, an excellent big menu professional restaurant within the War Vets village. Roast beef (several thick slices), gravy, yorkshire pudding a 3 veg AUD8.50 (obviously heavily subsidised). The beef and other 'roast of the day meals' often became my default order (other options; roast pork and veg just AUD6, Pie and peas, big pie AUD3.50). And lots more. If I went for breakfast I often ordered a bacon and egg roll, 3 or 4 big rashers of fresh bacon and 2 fried eggs, all made fresh, with B B Q sauce AUD3.50. Good value.

Case by case. Maybe owner has a gap in tenants? Many hotels do good deals on monthly room rentals. Usually come with TV and internet service. Perhaps also laundry and breakfast are part of the deal or can be negotiated. One place in Chiang Mai a friend looked at also had options of linen and towel change. He went for linen, towels, full bathroom and room clean twice a week. Extra 30Baht if extra room clean up requested. Rate included 15 laundry articles per week, additional 10Baht per piece washed and ironed, all returned late same day or by 10:00 am next morning if sent to laundry late in the afternoon. Also free hotel transport to local bus station / airport etc. All up 10,000Baht a month (incl breakfast) for a one month contract, cheaper if willing to sign for 3 months or more. Hotel has many monthly tenants. Also provide a long list of local shops which deliver promptly (some free delivery / some very cheap delivery) when items ordered by phone. I know he used very near by local 7/11 many times because one of staff spoke good English. Sorry I don't know name of hotel, friend stayed at this hotel for one year then went back to UK and since deceased.

Agree, 3 years ago new engine imported from Japan with all fittings and installed, Chiang Mai, for old civic cost us 55,000Baht and I got many comments that this was a reasonable price.

I discovered that it's now not easy to buy pasties. Did find one on-line bakery, advertising 3 huge pasties for AUD50 plus AUD5 for home delivery just Nth of Sydney. I took the plunge, delivery slow and huge turned out to be quite small and taste quite lacking, no carrot at all. For over 2 years searched further for pasties in the Northern Beaches area, never found any. But recently had an excellent pastie at the Irish Pub in Chiang Mai, good size, very tasty, 90Baht.

OK, but has the passport owner bothered to fill in the items / info. on the passport back page... and, how up to date is the info? and, would this page and whatever has been written on this page have any standing in a court? in my passsport this page is headed 'Personal Info and Emergency Contact', but there is no signature block / signature requirement. Seems to me all recorded clealry in a properly signed and witnessed will is the way to go. Making sure that there's no confusion between Next of Kin and details of who the assets are bequeathed to.

Perhaps they can't fly into or out of some / maybe many countries but make the most (revenue) by focusing on the countries who are more lax in terms of safety stuff? Over the years TG has been banned from flying in / flying out of some countries because of safety items. I recall decades ago having to fly urnetly from HK to Mumbai to try to close a very big consulting contract. My HK admin. staff got me on Air India (I would have refused if i'de known more before the flight). Before we landed there was an announcement that there would be no return flight because the airline had, that day, been banned from landing in HK. Staff came around with a form for passengers wih return tickets back to HK to complete. Basically all the details on all the various vouchers of the hand written ticket (before computerized issue of tickets and e.tickets). Passengers had to also indicate whether they wished to return to HK (on another airline) or change to a different arrival airport. I changed my next arrival destinaion from HK to S'pore. We landed in Mumbai. Folks with the completed form were ushered to one side just inside the terminal. A small team waiting with a photo copy machine. Each passenger with this form had their form registered (all by hand in an exercise book) then photocopied, the original held by the airline, and the copy given back to the passenger. I had a call early next morning from SG, they wanted to check if I still wanted to do the return by changing to s'pore and when? Also a comment, 'best to fly Mumbai to S'pore very quickly in case SG imposes any restrictions re flight coming out of India/Mumbai'. I indicated that I would like to fly Mumbai to S'pore the next morning. S'pore confirmed that but said again 'anything can happen re flights out of India not being allowed to land in other countries'. (luckily I was able to reschedule my meeting aimed at winning the contract to the evening I arrived in Mumbai and we did win the contract, which quickly became a mess re travel and accomm, refusal of the staff of the contract client in India to cooperate and more. Eventually I held a couple of meetings using the first versions of Skype and got the client to agree to reduce the scope of the contract and got their agreement to promply pay a much reduced consulting fee. They promised to pay in 14 days, they did pay, after they reduced my bill by a further 20% at 90 days. Luckily the payment did cover all my company expenses and covered the notional value of the consulting time we had spent on the work.) SG called again to ask If I could be ready to fly out of Mumbai within 4 hours. I readily agreed and got to Mumbai airport as fast as possible. Total confusuion but I did get on the SG flight 1 hr later than what had been planned. Luckily the SG aircraft was allowed to land at Changi.

I've checked this with the Australian embassy in Bkk and with my Thai Lawyer. I asked both the same questions, basically: are there any laws (Australia or Thailand) re who must be contacted abroad or in Thailnd when I pass away? Answer, both OZ embassy and Thai lawyer: - There is no law indicating that a relative (even distant) must be contacted anywhere when I die. - Re who must be contacted is totally up to the person involved (deceased). - The will owner can put into the will an instruction that: - - - Nobody, anywhere be contacted / advised the will owner has deceased. But there should also be some additional documentation quickly assessable, which states 'contact nobody/anywhere). to ensure the police/embassy staff know every quickly the details of the deceased's wishes on this subject. - - - Some embassies offer walk-in facilities / online facilities for their citizens to lodge these instructions so that the embassy has quick access to the case by case instructions of each deceased. - Anybody can nominate anybody as their Next of Kin - NOK (does NOT have to be a relative in any country), should of course be some record that the person nominated has agreed to be showing as the legal NOK (best done in specific and separate clauses in the Will of the person involved). - Nobody should consider that the person recorded as the NOK is automatically the main or part beneficiary of the will. Beneficiaries and NOK are quite separate subjects. - But of course the will owner can and should write into the will: - - - The name of the NOK - - - And the name/names of the beneficiaries of the will.

and he has no hesitation to manufacture and sprout total absolute lies, repeat lies which are since proven to be total lies, totally deny and/or twist real facts etc., etc. He's a dangerous unethical fool.

And I add more: how do you fell about the girl talking abruptly / demanding / impolitely to your personal staff at your own condo/house. If it's a condo talking the same to the lobby / cleaning staff in the hallways etc? The 'I want now' appraoch, 'what the car isn't washed/cleaned yet, I already told you 5 minutes ago, I want the car washed, why are you always so lazy' (this probably in the midst of the maid taking care of 3 other 'I want now' demands'. Being demanding / expecting instant attention at restaurants / shops (regardless of the fact she can see the waiter / shop assistant is at that moment in the midst of taking care of another customer)? An example: many years back a friend was the coordinator at an expensive language school in Bkk. Sweet twenty five year old hi-so girl came in, booked/paid for a number of private lessons, met the teacher (teacher also approved by her surly big brother who was with her) driver also with her to carry her several Gaysorn Plaza shopping bags (well known very expensive plaza all hi-so oriented very expensive shops). School staff explained several timesthat she must be on time because when the teacher finishes her lesson the teacher has 5 minute break and starts the next lesson with another student. School has seen this before and insists she and big brother sign the school contract which shows that each rule has been explained that the rules have been explained and they are understand (a tick alongside each rule). First lesson she was 2 hours late, swans in and talks over the top of the staff attending to other/prospecting students. 'Where is my teacher?' Snr staff member tells her 'your teacher waited for a while then started his next lesson and now he's gone outside to conduct lessons at a company office, he won't be back today'. Her response, with tears. 'that's not fair because right now our family only has one driver'. She flounced out, driver with a big smirk following her. Never came back. Are you OK with these types of behaviors and attitudes 24/7? Quite a few hi-so girls fit this portrayal.

And he totally controlled the police, hardly desireable.