allencraig

5 hours ago, ballpoint said:

If you think that's a horse, then that could be your problem.

Oh yea, it's a bull or similar pulling the carriage. And Kazam! My electricity charge problem has been resolved!

6 minutes ago, ezzra said:

you can ask them to install a parallel meter to see if the original one is faulty...

Because it's a fairly large building, MEA can install a parallel meter that will definitely bypass any neighbors who might be wired in to my unit?

1 minute ago, Crossy said:

A 20m² studio would have an A/C around 12,000 BTU, that will pull about 1.2kW when the compressor is running.Assuming you don't like actic conditions let's assume a 30% dury cycle (compressor running 30% of the time), so when your A/C is on it's using about  0.4 units per hour. Overnight that's 13 * 0.4 = 5.2 units, a 30 day month would be 156 units @ 4.5 Baht = 702 Baht on the A/C alone.

 

Fridge, probably 1 unit per day on top, 135 Baht.

 

I don't think you're a million miles off. It's worth talking to the neighbours to see what range their bills are.

 

As @ezzra notes, you could have MEA install a check-meter but if they find your meter is accurate then they may charge you for the facility.

 

 

 

That's pretty good, interesting breakdown. (Then I saw your horse-drawn carriage avatar and laughed.) Thanks.

Hi everyone;

I've been in my Trendy studio condo rental for eight months, and the MEA bills always seemed very high, like 900–1700thb +/- per month. I live alone in a 22sqm studio and have one not new A/C unit that I run intermittently throughout the day as I've been working from home. I do not use hot water. The Refrigerator is the smaller ice-box-in-the-main-space kind. My bills are from MEA directly and I pay them directly.

Previously I'd been suspicious, but now I'm sure there's something going on, as I started working full-time at an office, so no A/C, lights or modem from 6am to 5pm, five days a week, and my first full month's bill with this arrangement came in at only 300thb lower than previous month(s). (This already accounts for the recent Covid discount.)

Is it possible that a reduction of over 60% in-home electricity time equates to only 20% electricity bill reduction (aprox.)? I'm going by the assumption that my A/C is the main usage of electricity.

And why is my electricity bill so high, anyway?

Any insight, suggestions or inevitable condescending comments appreciated. Thanks.

On 7/16/2020 at 8:21 PM, ThLT said:

Was this said by someone, or you went to the PCS Center in Bangkok in person and this was confirmed to you?

I went around to numerous officials there and they all consistently confirmed this to be their rule. So I applied—and received after a week—the same one, but that says "Only For the United States" on it. 

On 7/16/2020 at 8:48 PM, sungod said:

I walked in years ago, its just the wording they need for the certificate. Being British I asked them to put 'British', not sure if the certificate is the same now but it looked OK.

Yes, this is how the one I received looks, only for the United States. I haven't offered it to any potential employer yet, but I'm fairly confident that it will be fine.

On 7/21/2020 at 9:41 PM, ThLT said:

Did you request them for one inside Thailand? Did they clearly say it was not possible to get a police clearance for Thailand without a job offer? (Maybe they simply followed standard procedure, thinking you needed the police clearance for something else other than a job in Thailand, for example...)

I yes I spent some time going around to different offices at the Police campus/CRD trying to get someone to provide the clearance for Thailand, and everyone at least was consistent in that I couldn't obtain one of those without a job offer in-hand. But they were perfectly happy providing what seems to be the same certificate but that says "for XXX Country Only", which I'm ok with.

I guess with so much fewer packages coming in, they have more time to scrutinize. So much for my online CBD oil plans...

1 hour ago, Captor said:

I have checked with EMS from Sweden and a package will be sent by boat now when the borders still not open. At least 7 weeks. That is not an option so it has to be DHL then. 27 kg in 2 packages. Ventilation details. I need to get it to Bangkok within 3-4 weeks. Is there another way?

That's weird as I sent OUT a small package to the US via regular ThaiPost in March, which would have to go by air, and it was held up through April and May. But the package finally arrived in California on June 6. So that would mean airmail is flying out. But EMS tells you there are no flights IN. Hmmm..

On 8/24/2019 at 2:59 AM, Cucuy said:

It was about a thousand baht a bottle but it’s better than taking diazepam or Codeine or morphine for pain when I have really bad flare ups. But just take a few drops of the Cannabis oil with TCH and not too much at night and when you do just stay home and watch tv or something don’t go out on that stuff and DO NOT drive on it ever! Don’t take too much but if you do it won’t hurt you but just talking a little bit makes you feel really relaxed and pleasant. BUT, taking too much can make you really nervous. When I first started getting it I was experimenting with it a little bit and one time I took the WHOLE BOTTLE of Cannabis oil in only ONE HIT! Well, that night I was seeing the boogeyman lol [emoji23]. So just use it very sparingly and it lasts longer and a little bit makes you feel very pleasant and then you wake up in the morning feeling well rested and great ready to start the day with no pain. It’s truly a miracle medication for me. I’m actually on it right now and I also got some Cannabis capsules as well today. The kind I have contains pretty decent levels of THC and CBD so it’s really strong lol. But I really do have some pretty severe permanent injuries particularly my back and insomnia and I do have severe chronic pain so it’s great for me! I’m a disabled veteran as well so I’m kind of an ideal candidate for medical marijuana and I now have it and 100% legally!

But, 1000thb for what? what mg, percentage and how many ml?

So I guess I can also take the info here as meaning they've opened up international mail service. (I was assuming that since the borders were still "closed" no mail was going in or out.)

On 5/13/2020 at 8:25 AM, BobbyL said:

No you don't need a job offer. You can just go and apply. 

Well, it turns that you there's an important distinction when applying for the clearance certificate WITHOUT a job offer. The certificate says "For XX country only."

So if one doesn't have a job offer in Thailand, they can only get the clearance for another country—as if you were leaving Thailand and needed the clearance to enter or work in the other country.

In my case it's fine as I only wanted to see if there's anything listed on my record, but I couldn't take this certificate and use it to provide a Thai company if they require it to hire me. I'd have to do the process all over again and supply the police with the offer letter from the company here in Thailand.

On 5/20/2020 at 8:50 PM, teacherclaire said:

If you got caught with weed, or similar, or you had an accident under the influence of alcohol ( or similar), most schools will not hire you and it will be in your clearance. 

   Send me a message why you were caught and had to go to court, I might have a way/solution to get it sorted out. 

 

   It doesn't have to be before the start of a new job, they can ask you for a police clearance whenever they feel like. 

It wasn't drug related at all. Pretty stupid actually. And "court" was just driving me from the holding cell across town to stand in front of a judge-like person who was on a video feed from who-knows-where. 4000thb fine and "don't get in any more trouble for a year" warning.

But my fear is that anything—anything—that shows up on a police check will be enough to keep a company or school from hiring me.

On 5/19/2020 at 5:09 PM, colinneil said:

Last evening, my wife brought home some of the written work that she has to get the teachers to take to students homes for them to do.

I nearly wet myself, the grammar was pathetic..... Johhny went to the shop for a dozen of eggs, that was  on 1 of the papers.

You nearly wet your pants because of one unnecessary preposition? Wow, tough crowd.

On 5/13/2020 at 5:38 PM, Max69xl said:

If your case went to court and you got fined,then it will most likely be on record.

Hm, so I better go and get a check. If a job mentions they will need a police check then I should probably avoid applying to that position.

Thanks for the feedback!

A job I recently applied to listed needing to pass a Thai police check in order to be hired. So I thought this might be a good thing to have just in case, for this job or any other I might land. And ESPECIALLY as I had an "incident" with the police a few months back that required seeing a judge and paying a fine. So I'd like to know if that's actually on my record here and how its worded.

Do I need an immediate reason to request a police check in Thailand/BKK?

22 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

“A bit of apain in the ass to get to, but I found minivans there andback for 35thb each way. “

 

mini vans?! I’d rather take a cruise.

 

Well there's plenty of taxis available for folks who don't mind paying extra to avoid sitting next to another person.

1 hour ago, Viezeman said:

I entered the country on 10 march. Guess its going to be overstay untill they officially announce it.

If they don't announce anything clear, you could just go to immigration on April 9 and pay 1,900 for an extension, couldn't you?

1 hour ago, LNER4472 said:

I entered Thailand on the 7th of March, so those among you will work out that my 30 Days run out tomorrow. I when to immigration Yesterday afternoon and told them that I need an extension and because I cannot find work here as you all will know all the schools, colleges and universities are closed. I have lived here for 15 years and I have been a teacher of English in both Private or State Owned Schools. I was retired from my last job as the Labour Office told the school that they would not extend my Work Permit and The area Education Office also said they would not supply the necessary paperwork for extending Visa and work Permit. I am 63 years old. I do know that some Teachers who are older than me are still teaching, because the Director of their schools told the necessary departments that He or She wanted to keep the Teacher. So I am not working or being paid by anyone and when I read about the Automatic Visa Extension I thought they have thrown me a life line. But it turns out not yet. So as of tomorrow night I will be overstaying.  

<deleted>, sorry to hear it. This is a perfect example of how immigration officials here don't seem to think through the policies they implement. It's like all the details evade them.

23 minutes ago, Abrax said:

 

 

Thanks for update.

Just to be clear, someone from the immigration office told you that if you enter after 1st of march you don't need to do anything. Not even a report to some entity? 

 

 

 

He indirectly said that, yes. He checked my date. I lastly arrived before the 1st. But right after me, he pointed at a page in someone's passport and said "after March first, you don't need to be here". But like you, I'd prefer clear, documented information, and I can't offer that.

15 minutes ago, Tim123456 said:

It's great to see that update being posted thanks for that. It's really hard to believe that they ever get anything sorted out in a clearly defined manner. 

 

In regards to your first point. People who arrived after March 1st and needing their initial 30-day extension. Where is it written that you don't have to even show up at the immigration? 

 

I can't find such information anywhere. It would really help if you can post an official photo of the document or something. 

It's not written anywhere as far as I know. I've heard of it for a few days, and I can only report on what I saw happen at immigration yesterday. I think people are "waiting" to hear an official announcement on this the gov't has said is to come...soon.

On 4/2/2020 at 8:53 PM, allencraig said:

THAT, actually, I don't know. But I'd guess that it would be found where the other little buses are, where you catch the one to go to Chaeng Watthanna. If you ask the first bus driver where the bus to Muang Thong Thani is, or the Impact Convention Center, he's sure to know. The transportation page on the Convention Center's website doesn't really clarify further, unfortunately: http://www.impact.co.th/index.php/visitor/direction/en

Turns out the minivans to Muang Thong Thani ARE available at the Mo Chit BTS, but they are found on the southbound side, in the parking lot alongside that main road. 35thb. See if you can get the driver to bring you close to the Central Investigations Bureau building, as its parking garage is where the temporary immigration area is set up. It's the tallest building in the area. Really tall. (Just outside the mall/exhibition hall area.) To return, you can catch another minivan that leaves on schedule from right across the entrance to Cosmo Bazar in Muang Thong Thani. It's a 1.7km walk from where the visa stuff is going on.)

1 hour ago, samisaurus said:

Which bus number would that be ? Was debating doing taxi from Mo chit 

THAT, actually, I don't know. But I'd guess that it would be found where the other little buses are, where you catch the one to go to Chaeng Watthanna. If you ask the first bus driver where the bus to Muang Thong Thani is, or the Impact Convention Center, he's sure to know. The transportation page on the Convention Center's website doesn't really clarify further, unfortunately: http://www.impact.co.th/index.php/visitor/direction/en

6 hours ago, samisaurus said:

I'll be heading to Muang Thong Thani, that's where Tourist visa extensions are from my understand. 

5am taking BTS to Mo Chit, then doing Grab Car lol. No other way I guess. Definitely want to be there early, so i dont get turned away after the first 1000 visitors. Just wanna get this done ahha. 

Yes, I see now on the Thai Immigration website that "k" window people are directed to Muang Thong Thani. I hope it's obvious WHERE, because that exhibition center is large with a bunch of different buildings. (I imagine there'll be people and signs.)

I also now understand there should be a bus from the BTS directly there.

I'm going to stroll on down by 8am tomorrow. Let's see who spends more time there.