Leaver

What were you expecting?

In years gone by, a post such as yours would have been met with a flurry of replies such as "don't let the door hit you on the way out" etc etc. Not so now. I doubt you are the first to revert to your Plan B, nor will you be the last. Good luck to you, and you can always come back on tourist visas, which will be more on your terms, rather than Thai immigration's.

Perhaps it's being turned into The KiK Agogo. (Kas-i-Korn) with the lighting in green and all the service staff wearing green and the dancers wearing green bikinis. Such an investment is as good as money in "the bank." ????

Yes, they are the real "Thai mafia."

Yes. Unfortunately, there will be a period where the rent returns to full price, yet tourism is far from being back into full swing. Tourism may not get to the point where it can sustain pre covid rents until well into 2022, possibly beyond. Good luck explaining that to a Thai landlord.

I have no problem with a Thai landlord selling their parcel of land to whoever, for whatever price, whenever they want. It's their land. However, when Thai landlords keep upping the rents here, pushing and pushing the consumer market, until it breaks, then there is a problem. Those rent increases flow on to the consumer, which is mainly tourists, but also expats. I think it got to that point in the high season before covid. It was dead here. Once a market is lost, it's very difficult to get it back. Once again, Pattaya could well go down the same path as the Nokia phone company. They had a huge market share, but ultimately went broke. In my opinion, Pattaya / Thailand is outpricing itself in the South East Asia tourism market. It has placed itself in an unusual position where it's still too cheap and nasty for those with a lot of money, and becoming too expensive for those with not much money. A market correction was needed here, pre covid. The fact that many cheap bars have been built in Tree Town, despite for sale and for rent signs everywhere across the city, tells me Thai landlords are still way out of touch with reality.

It can be argued that if you give them money, they give you their respect and obedience. ????

Perhaps they've all gone to the music festival.

The outcome for the whole country is planned the same way, for the foreseeable future. Thailand is a dictatorship, masquerading as a democracy.

More like, "staged."

With only 348 new cases here, I don't see a problem with holding a big music festival. ????

There are many accounts from foreign business owners that have taken the risk and rented a property, worked hard, built up their business, and right at the time when they should be reaping the rewards of their risk and hard work, a new lease falls due and the greedy Thai landlord ups the rent, thinking it's all about location location, not a good business owner. On many occasions over the years I have been talking with business owners when they have commented that their Thai landlord is driving past and how they wish their business wasn't busy at the time because it will mean a rent increase shortly. Rather than seeing their tenant's business is doing well, so there will be no problems paying the rent, or having their property vacated, they are looking to screw them with a rent rise. It's like musical chairs here for cheaper rent here, because business owners are basically slaves to their Thai landlord. There's adjustments for inflation, and then there's greed.

And their neighbour is "big boss police." ????

Nothing wrong with riding the wave. Enjoy your time here. It's a great place, and whilst things are not great here at the moment, it will rebuild after covid. Although, I can't say the same about the political structure in Thailand, which I think is driving the country towards civil unrest. For a country that does not offer a realistic pathway to permanent residency and / or citizenship, it means we are all just long stay tourists here, and I would suggest a Plan B is a must have, because without a "right" to reside here, you never know when things can change, which could mean one is no longer able to stay here.

I never said they have small incomes. Say they are wealthy, very wealthy, but due to their age they can not secure a medical insurance policy for the purpose of obtaining an extension. This is why I suggested they may bring in a two tiered system. Either produce an insurance policy, or, show something like 3 million baht in a Thai bank, rather than 800k. They couldn't care less about any of this. I agree. I have suggested showing enough money in a Thai bank account to prove you can self insure, but the Elite Card is another option they have, of course, at a higher price. I think 5000 euros a year may knock quiet a few out of Thailand. It's not an option I would ever consider, but unfortunately for many, it may be their only option in the future. Why do you think you have to return to your home country? I would think at $300USD for a 1 year multiple entry visa, no other hoops, Cambodia may pick up a lot of ex Thailand residents. Things can change here with a stroke of a pen in Bangkok, and the changes don't always make sense. Everyone should have a Plan B sorted.

Hardly a project fear. I have given my reasons for why the Thai government may implement a mandatory medical insurance requirement for retirement visas / extensions in the future. I'm not worried about it. I have nothing I can't walk away from here and be at the airport within 48 hours to leave, covid aside. I have a Plan B to Thailand. If immigration are going to accept fake bank balances, why not fake insurance? You must remember, the money flows up to the highest levels here, and we are talking about millions of dollars, not baht. Why wouldn't they implement a policy like this and make millions of dollars more? Not to mention kick backs from insurance companies, who will no doubt be lobbying for this change. As far as foreigners being insured, but really not insured, and getting sick or injured, what's the difference between the system now that allows a non existent 800k in a Thai bank, which is money they are supposed to be living on here, and "insurance" that also doesn't exist? Same Same. They both don't exist. The only thing that exists is the extension, and no one is accountable for how the extension was granted with false documents. Under the current system, they have no bank balance, which they are supposed to have, just add to that no insurance, which they are also supposed to have, but don't. In any case, the Thai government couldn't care less who stays and who goes. As for picking a time scale, I will simply say it's not if, it's when. It could be next month, or in 2023, or beyond, but I stand by my comment that it's only a matter of time. . Why are you so confident it will never happen?

Many articles on the internet about it. https://motorandwheels.com/stickers-on-motorcycle-helmet/ The decent helmets have some UV resistance to slow the degradation, but with so many variables, it's difficult to put a time on it.

And those residents that are over a certain age that insurance companies refuse to cover. What advice would you have for those residents, despite being able to afford the insurance? Perhaps it will become mandatory for foreigners to revert to their Plan B country once they reach a certain age and can no longer access medical insurance, or, overstay. I agree. Only a matter of time.

The risk is so low that it is near non existent. I don't ride around in the sun enough for it to become an issue. I swap mine out ever few years, which also fixes the UV issue.

Do you own a property in Australia? Maybe the property documents can be used.

That link was about testing the sewage in the UK for covid. You need to educate yourself.

You assumed I leave my helmet with my bike. I have a Shoei helmet. I'm not leaving it sitting on the handlebars, even if in the shade. UV is one reason why people put stickers on their helmets.

You may also be interested to know that police test sewage water to see the type, and level of drug use in the community as well. Yes, also hilarious. ???? https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-57205126

Did you read I said "leave mine in the sun" not "ride in the sun?"

I see your point, but with corruption being so rife here, anything is possible. The agents may even make fake policy documents, with immigration having full knowledge they are fake, just to issue the extension. Of course, now with more "illegality" attached to the application, the agent and immigration price go up, so a good earner for the corrupt. They already know the 800k doesn't exist. No bother for them to know the insurance doesn't exist, either. Maybe a Thai insurance company will offer a junk policy for the purpose of qualifying for the annual extension. For decades the 65k / 800k has been the Thai government's method of ensuring foreigners living in Thailand can afford to live here, on an annual basis. This money is nothing compared to the medical bill after a serious illness / injury. Making medical insurance a requirement of living here is the final piece of the puzzle for them, and in my opinion, it's only a matter of time before it becomes an annual requirement. They may even have a two tiered system. Eg. show medical insurance OR instead of 800k you will need to show 3 million in a Thai bank. Such a policy would ensure only wealthy over 70's (or whatever the age cut of is) can continue to reside here, whilst clearing out the over 70's that can't afford to self insure. These policy shifts would impact every foreigner living here, but it's a mere stroke of the pen in Bangkok.