billzant

The issue has been resolved with the bank. I phoned Kbank, and they had blocked the card as a payment method for google. Hence the message that the "account is closed" at Google's payment methods. When I phoned Kbank they explained that they were concerned there might be fraud and had blocked the card as a payment method for google. It was immediately unblocked, payment has been made and there is no issue with Google. I am unsure why fraud is question as an old card was used for payments at Google. Kbank were civil. It means that I will have to test that civility as any time in the future where the card is brought into question I will have to phone the bank immediately in case it has been fraud-blocked.

Thank you, Charlie.

(apologies for wrong forum) I am wondering whether finance regs are giving me a problem. By finance regs I mean the changes that ended my using Paypal here in Thailand for transactions overseas. Asus web storage insisted on paypal, and I was unable to use them any more. I usually use Kweb card for online transactions. Last year (March) I bought a Google One package, but since then that Kweb card has expired. I have a new kweb card and tried to enter the details at google, and it gives me "the account is closed". The account is not closed as I use it for Lazada regularly. I have a case opened with google. Their first attempt at resolving the problem didn't work, I am waiting to hear from them as to what to do next. So I am asking here if anyone has experienced similar? billz

Maybe the 500000 expats on frozen pensions could register to vote and maybe have an impact. Doubt it but better than at the moment.

Every year I receive a letter from HMRC saying what my tax code is. I get it early in the year before it is applied in the April.

This is a warning concerning frozen pensions and tax codes. Retiring in Thailand I knew that my pension would be frozen. I assume it is. Every year the only information I get about my pension is a tax code letter. I can check my bank account for how much goes in, but with all the different economic variables that amount is always changing. Because my pension is frozen, I didn’t check the tax code; I just assumed frozen is frozen, and they were unjustly taking my money. That was a mistake, and that is what I am warning the forum about. I discovered that my tax code was changing, and that I was paying more tax based on the assumption that I had received an increased pension – the uprated pension – the non-frozen pension. So I was receiving a frozen pension but being taxed on an uprated pension. I discovered this back in May, and I had hoped to write this forum post with a result ie tax rebate. Far from it. Today I have just received a form from HMRC about double tax treaties – “DT-individual”, and it appears the Thai tax authority has to sign it. I accept that I should have checked the tax code but I just presumed it would be correct. I check my pension payments when they come into my bank account, but even now I cannot see a pattern that would show this tax code problem – so many other economic factors that affect how much you get. And the worst of it is that this tax code problem has been going on for 5 years. Even if I ever get it sorted, they have told me I can only get tax back for 4 years. They made the error in the tax code they sent me, I missed the error, but they say now they will not rectify their error for my 1st year of pension. Frozen pensioners will be used to such UK government injustice. If you have kept your tax code letters you can see whether the calculation of the tax code has used the uprated pension or not. As far as I understand frozen pensions, the pension should be the same on all the tax code forms. I would not want anyone to be in this mess I am in - trying to reclaim tax. This warning is to ask you to check your tax code when you get it at the beginning of next year, and check your past tax code letters to see that your frozen pension has not been increased in their calculation.

Hi Eff1n2ret, As part of the application package this time, my photo was signed on the back, and the name of the signer was entered on the application form. VFS were helpful but meticulously checked what I gave them. If the embassy "outsources" to VFS then it is reasonable to think that an agent can submit an application to VFS to be forwarded on. I note your sympathetic edit. I have rarely used agents but have found them helpful. I have never done this but I do know of agents who are able to bend the bureaucracy in Thailand. I am asking if there is "bending" going on when agents submit to VFS?

I am interested in this because my next passport will be at 80, the thought of 2 trips to VFS to renew my passport is daunting. My understanding with VFS was that I had to apply in person so that my face and photo could be matched. If an agent does it, such matching could not happen. The 2nd trip was to collect the new passport, a letter for immigration to renew stamps, and have the corner of the old passport cut off. Are there legal comebacks?

Peter, I had a year of bureaucracy caused by this issue, and I now have a DL but no solution for you. I went to my immigration office to get a CoR, they refused - sympathetic but new boss was not for turning. I went to Konsoong for driving license, they said go to immigration for CoR. Going round and round in circles. Konsoong suggested the Amphur. Amphur told me get a yellow Tabian baan and a pink identity card. This required a trip up to Bangkok, official signed copy of passport, then to a translation agency for a translation of copy of passport, then back to Amphur. I then needed much cooperation from landlord who went 4/5 times to the Amphur to get yellow Tabian Baan and pink ID card. I went to Konsoong with new documents and he refused saying he wanted a CoR from immigration. I went back to Registrar at Amphur who knew me by then, she got on the phone. I sat there for half an hour, and eventually she told me that the Konsoong had agreed to allow me to renew the DL - with reflex and colour test - and medical certificate from hospital. My immigration office has now said that they issue CoRs, so fortunately no problem in 4 years - unless there is a change. The DL can be renewed at any Konsoong. My last resort was going to be using agents to renew at Pattaya - I had contacted the agents and they said they could make it possible. Please feel free to DM me if it helps.

brianthainess, Interesting. I was dealing with my DL for a long period last year. In the end it was solved by the amphur getting on the phone to the konsoong. I would go to the guy and say I wanted to renew my DL. He just said he wanted a CoR and stonewalled. The amphur told me the matter would be resolved if I got a tabian baan and a pink ID card. I went up and down to Bkk - embassy and translation; then several trips to the amphur with landlord, got the tabian baan and ID card, took them to the konsoong and the guy still stonewalled. I think the amphur felt guilty at sending me from pillar to post and also felt Thai embarrassment at the DL guy. The registrar got on the phone and after 20 mins he agreed to let me register for a renewal test - colours and reaction test. Last year a Thai friend got in touch with the Khao Saming office because I had heard they were more sensible. Last year they were not. I am glad they were more sensible for you. see PM

Aforek, I am glad you didn't have problems In Prachinburi, and you are probably right that your tabian baan was enough for you. Things are different in different areas. Sadly the rules in Trat appear different. The amphur suggested I got a tabian baan and a pink ID card to renew a driving license. The driving office still caused me problems that the amphur eventually solved. However the tabian baan and pink ID card are now enough for me to buy a car - I checked.

HappyExpat57 It is not only in Chantaburi but various offices. This is a big problem in Trat also, immigration will not issue Certificate of Residence (CoR) letters. But here in Trat the Honda office last year would not sell a bike without a CoR, maybe this has changed in Trat as well now. Trat Transport office would not renew driving licenses without a CoR. This was a huge problem for me. Maybe that will change as well.

I was interested to read the DWP statement, but as usual it is not helpful. Firstly they have accepted that the pension is an entitlement but designed for those living in the UK. "A person’s contributions provide a foundation for calculating their future benefit entitlement but do not actually pay for those benefits." Previous legal questioning has arisen over discrimination. This statement seems discriminatory in some way to me - "The United Kingdom’s state pension system is primarily designed for the benefit of those who are resident in the UK." Not for citizens only people residing there. Is this a legally acceptable way of looking at contributions we were legally forced to make? Clearly every other(?) country regards their pension systems for the benefit of all citizens as they don't differentiate over residency.

ubinjoe, that is very clear. Thanks again.

This is a tentative post. I will be buying one more car and would like to buy electric, not now but when my Mazda Bt50 (7 ½ years old) starts to go wrong - fine at the moment. I would prefer a big pickup like I have but don’t think they do them - prefer EV more. I live in rural Thailand 8 kms from Meuang Trat, am not sure but think there are 2 charging stations in Trat and one in Saen Tung. To be honest I rarely travel outside Trat so that is not too much of an issue. But I would want to charge at home. Are there issues about chargers at home? The electrics in my house are iffy. Are PEA helpful about this? I asked Mazda whether they will be doing anything a couple of years ago and was “laughed” at but that could just have been language. Am interested in seeing where government incentives go, and whether there will be anything useable for me over the next few years? Am not too intrepid ????