scorecard

Bottom line - 30 years jail sounds good, which would keep him silent, not allowed to use any form of media, therefore no more lies and less than honest comments.

I wonder what the gf has actually told her parents about the wealth of her farang bf? To gain face has she told them 'he's extremely wealthy', and that's what's driving their request for several million.

I'm 80 in 2 years time, no real health issues at all but nobody knows, at any age, what's ahead.

The XE site exchange rate is the current mid rate.

Certainly agree about the accurate/inaccurate reporting. There's been any number of reports in the media. In every report the number of missing is different, from none missing to 31 missing. I also criticize the actual media outlets for their very shoddy confused reporting. As always seems nothing is ever checked or verified.

And an obvious point; simple but usefull life vests are easy are readibly available for purchase, and quick to buy, in bulk and not expensive. Surely there's a naval officer on board who is responsible to ensure there's enough life vests and many other items regarding safety and more, on board at all times. Surely there's a land based part of the navy responsible to regularly/continuously monitor/check/audit the same things. The actual problem is a total lack of common sense.

Couldn't look around to check if passenger OK because he had brake issues. Come on, brakes gotta be somewhere in every post.

Thanks, and I'm hoping that my name in a 'standard' dark blue cover Tabien Baan TB book, along with my entire Thai family, will be acceptable (my name in dark blue cover book because I got PR 25 years ago) and I do have a pink card. The dark TB blue book I refer to was issued new when my sons new house was finished in a new moo baan in CM about 12 years ago, and son, his wife, their 3 kids (my grandchildren), and me all transferred from previous TB book in Bkk.

Thanks, good information. Did you have to push this point to prove your contributions?

You mentioned "...This is quite irritating though, obviously. My identity is proven by my passport, visa etc., my membership to the Social Security scheme is established by my having a number, card and contribution record,..." When you say 'contribution record', are you referring to the records held in the SSF databases from payments made by employers on behalf of members? Or, personal records of payments that you have maintained? Or ?

That's a big assumption, not everybody is aiming to cheat people.

And to ensure they look powerful and maintain the prestige of the military - I've seen some of this, the senior and mid level officers live in their own heel clicking giant house many expensive cars and many servants world, all desperate to look good, look important and look like they are wealthy.

Further, I would take my bag with passport, wallet, phone etc., etc., with me, even just for 1 minute to buy snacks or quick chee...

I have attached the English language PDF version of the Social Security Act B.E. 2533 (1990). I must recognize that another member sent the file to me however I will not reveal the members name as a respect to their right to privacy.social_security_act_2533_sso_1 V2.pdf

Seems it can be a bit different for some teachers. For 'mainstream' farang employees, (if the employer has X number of employees or more (not sure what that number is, I think it's 5 but that needs checking) membership of the SSF is compulsory for all employees Thai and all nationalities, and the company is fully responsible to apply for membership for each employee. The company deducts the monthly contribution from each employees salary (around 450Baht a month) and the company must also contribute each month for each employee and the company is responsible to send all of the contributions and full details to the SSF every month. At retirement members can claim a refund of the contributions and there's also an option to take a monthly pension for life. Also members can elect to continue their Injuries benefits and Sickness benefits by paying the monthly contributions direct to the SSF via own bank transfer to the SSF. If the member takes a refund of contributions (para just above) this does not affect their entitlement to continue Injuries and Sickness benefits and pay direct to the fund each month. And the member has 6 months to decide (after taking the refund) whether they want to continue their Injuries benefits and Sickness benefits by paying the monthly contributions direct to the SSF via own bank transfer to the SSF. Other knowledgeable members, please make corrections if/as needed. Thanks.

And some similar sites openly advertise that owners/operators can buy 1, 10, 50 ??? positve reviews.

And local gangs in every city in every country.

Very interesting and valueable information, thanks for sharing. Can you recall if the Social Security Fund SSF will acept payments through Krung Thai Bank or Bangkok Bank? I'm guessing you got a refund of your employment based SSF contributions on retirement or termination? At the time of getting the refund did the SSF officer tell you / advise you that you can continue your Injury and Sickness benefits? Or did you get this information from a different source? I'm about to make a further visit to the SSF, probably their HO at Nonthaburi. My situation: - Contributed to the SSF for about 20 years, 3 different employers. - Retired at 60, company accountant gave me some documents to take to the SSF at Din Daeng to get a contributions refund. Accountant had zero knowledge of anything about the SSF policies/ procedures etc. - Went to Din Daeng, officer spoke very good Englisn, I asked if they had any documents I should read for further information in Thai or English. Answer 'we don't have any documents like that' - I waited a couple of hours then walked away with a large amount of cash, and called my company accountant to tell her 'refund received'. - Later same evening accountnat was talking to any old friend, she mentioned my refund, her friend responded 'he can continue his Injury and Sickness benefits, he should go back tomorrow morning and tell them 'want to continue Injury and Sickness benefits'. - I went back next morning, showed another officer the documents from the previous afternoon, she also spoke good English and I said 'I want to continue my his Injury and Sickness benefits'. - She froze for a minute then said, very clear English 'You cannot continue, you are too late, you have to complete the forms to continue on the same day you get your refund of contribitions'. - I asked to speak to a supervisor, she froze gain then said 'OK I will get the supervisor. - She returned to the room with another lady, they stopped well before getting to the counter and had some discussion. - Both came to the counter, supervisor said 'how can I help you', very good/clear English. I responded he should go back tomorrow morning and tell them 'want to continue Injury and Sickness benefits'. - Supervisor responded, good English 'she has already told you, You cannot continue, you are too late, you have to complete the forms to continue on the same day you get your refund of contribitions'. - I asked if they had any documents Thai or English that I could read. Answer 'we don't have that' and they both walked away'. - I naively believed they were telling me the correct / legal / according to the SSF Act policy on this point. - Some years on by accident I discovered that 'members have 6 months to decide if they want to continue - Article 39 of the Act. - Bottom line it's now well past six months but I've had other comments about insisting the SSF should, in my case, waive the six months aspect and allow me to continue. All step by step. Sorry this is so long. My question: would you please share when/how you became aware of being able to continue your Injury and Sickness benefits and pay every month at the bank? Sorry to be a nuisance, however any detail I can find on this is very valuable. Thanks.

Thanks for sharing the details / your experience of trying to continue your Social Security benfits under Section 39 with own payment to the bank. I'm guessing your ultimate intention was to continue your Injury Benefits and Sickness Benefits under Section 39 of the SSF Act. Is that Correct, can you please confirm this? I'm about to do the same. My situation is a bit different, I've had Thai Permanent Residency (PR) for 25 years, the PR book is issued in Thailand therefore it's all Thai language. I've got my Pink card (issued 10 years ago), and my name in in the original dark blue Tabien Baan book. When you dicussed your documents with the Social Security Fund SSF officers did they mention anything alternative books/documents, PR book perhaps in lieu of passport or dark blue Tabien Baan book in lieu of yellow Book. I'm guessing you got a refund of your contributions, at the time of the refund did the SSF officers mention to you that you can continue Injury Benefits and Sickness Benefits and pay monthly at the bank or did you get this information from another source? Please share, I would very much appreciate any comments/details you have on any part of this. Thanks.

Panels/systems specific to use seems to be more popular. Heard of several people installing panels etc., just to run 1 air conditioner. Batteries charge in the day time, use the batteries for many hours for air-con at night. Whether this is really efficient I don't know. Son has been establishing an orchard near Tak and doing a lot of research about electric powered farm equipment and panels/systems etc. Seems there now a big variety of electric farm equipment and panels/systems sellers even in more remote Thai locations (and of course can order from China).

Really, There's been many announcements of expansion at swampy most of which seem to be 'after there's serious problems' which needed expansion to fix.

And sadly here's some possibility they will find a way to punish him for speaking out.

Not appropriate. Many very successful high performance people world wide operate from a wheelchair. Didn't stop me from lecturing masters degree programs in 4 countries, with good reviews from students.

I prefer cream rather than oil (or neither - just basic massage) because I find it takes too much time and effort to wash all the oil off. Ultimately personal choice.

Maybe depends on the location, here in Chiang Mai they are switched on, reliable, polite, punctual.