Terry2905

Thank you so much for reply. I was ex RAF, so I do receive a very small pension. I have today touched base with Blackpool CAB via email, but it will be at least 1 week before I will receive any reply. I have contacted the NHS, and their reply was that I will be placed on a 2 year waiting list to address my mental and physical health issues. Some people are lucky in life, and some are not, and I really appreciate your sentiment that a few people experience extreme difficulties in life. I worked hard all my life, only for for that to be ripped away from me from 2 very bad divorces in the UK. I lost everything. I eventually bought a house in Blackpool 15 years ago, which I had expected to make a little bit of money from, but I bought it in 2008, just before the massive housing market crash. It is now under a repossession order, with a negative equity of around 30,000 pounds. Mortgage became due. Yeah, you are right that I am not the 1st or last person that this will happen to. I did have my future carefully planned for. I took out health insurance, and had money to last until I start to receive my UK pension, but the expense of the heart operation, and subsequent acute gastritis, without health insurance, has left me with not enough money money to survive on before I receive my UK pension. You seem to be a very caring guy, as I am. I have just fallen on bad times. But I really like your obvious heartfelt thoughts and advice. Thank you so much.

Well, that is what it cost me for the full mri scan and colonoscopy.

Thanks for the input. I do have a very complex excel spreadsheet for a forecast, and all the possible scenarios that I put in show me that I can't survive until May 2024. I am not willing to beg for money. I am too proud to do that. I have tried to address my alcoholism, but even the AA here in pattaya have refused to help in any way. The local psychiatrist has told me that he can't help me with alcoholism, apart from attending a rehabilitation centre, which will cost about 1 million baht. Giving up alcoholism is not easy, and can be fatal if total abstinence is tried, without medication and support. Withdrawal symptoms can be fatal.

Hi. Yes I had the same problem with non disclosure of a medical condition, which I ticked the wrong box to on the 4 page very small print questionnaire, which was actually an undiagnosed mental health issue. But we all know that insurance companies use any excuse not to pay. My heart operation was very unexpected, because I was very active and physically fit, sailing every day for 2 to 3 hours, so it came as a complete shock to me. But because I did not declare an undiagnosed possible anxiety issue, my policy got cancelled. This is a warning to everyone, that even a small typo error on an application form for health insurance can have serious consequences.

Yes I have my pension forecast through the government gateway, and I will get 3 years less pension due to missing 3 years of contributions. I was actually going to lose more than 6 years, but I was allowed to make a lump sum to recover 3 years. Being honest though, with being refused health insurance here in Thailand due to previous existing health conditions and mental health issues, the cost of private health care in Thailand on only a basic UK pension is going to be a big problem!

Yes you may ask the cost of the heart stent operation. It was a total of 840,000 baht, done in a private hospital, as that was my only option. From my knowledge, there are no government hospitals that can perform stent placement? I also then suffered from acute gastritis, which cost an extra 380, 000 baht, for mri scans and a very painful colonoscopy. The good news is that the mri scans and colonoscopy showed no problems. I am pleased to hear that your stent operation did not break your finances, but in my case it did!

A further thank you to other people who have taken your time with very helpful advice.

Originally based in Blackpool, which is where I would be looking to return to. And thanks for the link.

Thanks to the other people who have given me some constructive advice on the 1st steps to take. Much appreciated.

Hi everyone. It is looking likely that I will have to return to the UK in maybe the next 8 weeks. I have fallen on hard times, with a heart operation that the insurance refused to pay for. That took most of my savings. I do not receive my UK pension until May 2024, and my remaining savings will not last that long. I suffer with extreme anxiety issues, and have become an acute alcoholic. My question is what what becomes of me when I arrive in the UK, with no accommodation and very little cash? I will be able to afford my flight, and a few nights stay in a b&b, but who would I need to contact immediately for accommodation assistance and income for necessesaties? I have no family or friends that would help me. So my basic question is what would be my 1st steps to take? I can't seem to find any direct answers on the Internet. I only find things like contacting shelter UK, or the local council. I find it all very confusing, but maybe some of you have had friends in a similar situation, and can offer me advice. Thak you in advance for any advice you can offer me.

Hi. Thanks. That worked.

Hi Just tried today to do my 90 report, and the immigration page only opens with a recruitment advert I can't find the 90 day report link anywhere! Anybody else having the same problem, and knows of a work around? Thanks

Thanks

They done sel actual yacult. Only the fake version.

Hi. Any advice or contact details on how to buy yacult in Pattaya? As I understand it, it is very hit and miss to find the vendors riding around on their motorbike, but I would like a steady supply. I already know that it is not available in any of the supermarkets. It is a monopoly of street vendors only. But if anyone has an English speaking vendor who can deliver to my door, please let me know. Greatly appreciated for any info.

I recently registered for government gateway using my Thai mobile number. It went trhough with no issues at all. Got my access code via text message.

I am 1 the unfortunate individuals who had an insurance claim (locally purchased from a reputable company) cancelled and not paid out for an urgent heart operation. I "accidently missed" declaring a previous condition. 2 pages of "yes or no", and I missed answering 1 yes! Why? Because the application form quite clearly stated if I had been diagnosed with a mental health issue in the last 10 years. Yes, I had been misdiagnosed with a variety of mental health issues, ranging from anxiety, insomnia, MDD, bipolar 1, bipolar 2, et al! My records were from more than 10 years ago, but still on record at Bangkok Hospital. And some of the questions are there deliberately to refuse payment! For example? Have you ever had a headache in the last 10 years! Hmm! Does that include the occasional hangover! LOL! I did declare all my previous pre existing conditions, but even though I had never been diagnosed or treated for a heart condition, my heart operation claim was refused! And now, because I have had a health insurance policy refused/cancelled, no insurance company will cover me! Thankfully I am on a non O extension, so insurance is not mandatory. Anyway, the crux of the matter is that 1 very small mistake in the application form resulted in me "losing" the 65,000 baht cover fee, and then having to pay out of my own pocket 450,000 baht hospital fee for the heart operation. I did appeal to the local insurance company, telling them that it was a very genuine misunderstanding/error on the application form, but to no avail!

I have downloaded Skype now, but it looks like it is very expensive to call the uk from Thailand. Even though the office is shut, I called the tax office, and it used up 6p of my Skype money for only about 10 seconds of the greeting? I don't think that £10.00 is going to last long?

No. I followed the rules. I had to declare income received from renting property when working overseas. But when I lost my job and did not receive my self assessment forms, nor the penalty notices, because I had no forwarding address here in Thailand, I couldn't file my returns. My situation is very simple. I know that I had to file my self assessment tax returns, but I had no way of doing that! And now I find that I being penalised over £7,000 for something that was out of my control. If you are in Thailand and ever tried to call the uk tax office, you will on hold for 2 hours, costing approximately £200 before anyone even answers.

I got kicked out of Asean now before I could answer fully. I needed to fill in tax returns because I was renting property in the UK. I stopped renting my house in August 2021, and I declared that now. But the tax office have taxed me on income for 2020 to 2021, including my final salary and all other income from renting my house during 2020 to 2021. And to answer your question about why I didn't file my returns that was because I didn't receive my tax returns in the post, and Oman banned access to the government gateway, so I couldn't file my tax returns.

I never went to the UK. I was working in Oman on a tax free salary. But the UK tax office have taxed me for my salary, because I was not resident in Oman for the whole period of 2020 to 2021 tax year. Even though I was still non resident in the UK for tax purposes, they have taxed my income when working in Oman during 2020 to 2021, even though I lost my job in January 2021.

Thanks for the immediate and useful replies. I will download Skype and try that. I just have to somehow survive the weekend with no support. I am in a mess, and suffering with anxiety and alcohol related issues. I guess I will just drink and sleep the next 2 days before I can talk to the tax office again!

Hi. I missed 2 self assessment tax returns when I lost my job in Oman and was not able to file my self assessment tax returns, because I did not have a permanent address in Thailand. I have very recently been able to get a government gateway access, which is showing me that I owe nearly £7,000. I have called them, but at over £200 for each phone call, that communication has become untenable. So my question is, will the UK tax office chase me here in Thailand if I don't/can't pay? I am not advocating tax avoidance, but they have obviously not made the correct calculations, and fined me for late returns. Any helpful suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

And yet once again I am not receiving the daily news via email notification. I have subscribed both with hotmail (which used to work fine), and recently with gmail (which you recommended), and I have received nothing since 18/02/2023. I really wish you could get your system up and running!

I know this is an old topic, but I really need help.