shortstop

10 hours ago, tingtong said:

7-10% like returns

It seems real estate agents like to tout gross ROI but net ROI which subtracts CAM charges and other expenses seems to me like a more realistic way to calculate ROI.

5 hours ago, andy said:

the asking prices which seem to have no bearing in reality given the oversupply.

It seems rental prices in the Pattaya area are adjusting but sales prices haven't adjusted yet.   I'll buy at the right price but my guess is that the market hasn't come close to bottoming yet.  

Would someone please clarify if this app replaces what I use on Line to check in or is more or less the same thing with either being acceptable.

On 12/12/2020 at 6:22 PM, KhaoYai said:

Have you heard of people being denied entry because of their insurance at the airport? 

I don't know anyone who has been denied boarding at an airport or denied entry into Thailand because of insurance.   But one guy I now well who got in said they were checking his paperwork multiple times before entry.  He didn't say they were specifically looking at insurance.

6 hours ago, ukrules said:

change every one of their antiquated foreign travel encouraging (visa runs for limited stay visas) immigration regulations.

 

 

Agreed.  If Thailand wants foreigners then give them a visa and charge an appropriate amount for the visa.  If Thailand doesn't want foreigners then eliminate loopholes such as visa runs.

A system that encourages the waste of time and money on a visa run is idiotic.

I have it pretty good with my annual extension of stay just 1900 baht and perhaps an extra 1000 for a re-entry stamp. 

My complaint is having to renew my extension of stay close to the renewal date.   

Somebody else in this thread mentioned proof of outbound travel.  My pet peeve when travelling to he Philippines is this requirement as I prefer to not have to lock in my departure date.  

7 hours ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

COE, ASQ hotel, insurance (min 100k covid cover), flight, covid test and fit to fly document up to 72 hours before flight, lots of money and patience..

... and stress.

If you still need toto deal with an embassy/consulate what is the advantage of 45 day stamp instead of 60 day tourist visa?   Assuming the person will extend an extra 30 days then is it 75 days instead of 90 days but 1900 baht cheaper?

Unless someone had a specific commitment back home say on the 80th day, you would think that anyone willing to quarantine would much rather have the extra 15 days for just 1900 baht.  Or am I missing something?

I know a few people who would be willing to put up with the discomfort and expense of quarantine but just don't want to deal with uncertainty of Immigration examining the fine print of an insurance policy, or a flight delay changing the 3 day window and perhaps being knocked back at the airport after spending a good deal of money probably non-refundable.

So if an American (or many other nationalities) wants to enter without a visa for 45 days and then extend for another 30 days for a total of 75 days, what other requirements are there besides the quarantine?

28 minutes ago, Mattd said:

He was referring to the 48 that want to return now.

Adding to that.  The Thai government wants the 48 to return through the officia checkpoint so they can then be quarantined.   The alternative is for them to sneak back undetected, not quarantine, and spread Covid around.

4 hours ago, khunjeff said:

 

Exactly. It won't stop people from crossing illegally, it will just discourage them from getting testing and treatment when they get sick.

Good point.

I suspect that many more Burmese than Thais are entering illegally.   Checking passports of Burmese workers would be a good idea.  With so many Thais out of work who needs illegals just so the boss can pay lower wages? 

6 minutes ago, Oldie said:

This piece of paper with the ID and the stamp and signature of the Revenue Department is the only thing I needed at Krungsri in the Central Mall Pattaya. As you said correctly there is no card anymore. It took them 3 attempts to get it right. But after my complaint they refunded me the tax that should not have been withdrawn. Since they didn't cancel the tax payments themselves I got them refunded from the Revenue Department too and so I got the tax refunded twice. I didn't want to complain again... ???????? I had troubles enough with them because of their mistake. 

The branch manager really helped me out as I was with her and a driver for four hours making the various stops so did not want to press the point about refunding prior withholding as due to Covid I will most probably be in Thailand early next year to file and receive my refund. 

I filed on Jan 2nd or 3rd this year for 2019 and did not actually get my refund until June or July.  I don't mind the wait, but cashing the refund coupon would be problematic if I'm out of the country.

So hopefully I'll never have to file again after my 2020 refund. 

7 minutes ago, Oldie said:

If you give them your tax ID they "normally" should not charge the withholding tax as long as you are below the 20k Baht interest income limit. What is their problem? 

At Krungsri they wanted my official Tax ID card rather than just a statement from the Revenue Office with my Tax ID number.  The Revenue Office said they don't issue ID cards anymore.   Finally got it sorted by going to Soi 9 Police and Pattaya City Hall then back to the Revenue Office in order for me to get what my branch at Krungsri wanted.  

I've heard that there was an issue with getting withholding removed for the SCB Jad Tem accounts, hence my question.

It was easy for me to get the withholding removed at Bangkok Bank and Kasikorn but they don't seemto accounts similar to Krungsri's Mee Tae Dai or SCB's Jad Tem.

6 hours ago, Oldie said:

Until August next year it is 5 Mio Baht and then they indent to reduce it to 1 Mio Baht- per Bank and not per account! 

I have a Mee Tae Dai account with Krungsri and have finally managed to stop them from withholding tax.

Next year, I'll be looking to open another high interest account.   Has anyone been able to avoid tax withholding with a SCB Jad Tem account

A friend gave me a real Mont Blanc.  Do you know where I can buy real refills in Pattaya or Bangkok?   I'm not sure exactly which model I have so figure better to buy in a brick and mortar store than online.

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Foreign visitors must undergo a 14-day quarantine or strictly comply with prescribed guidelines against COVID-19 before undertaking travel.

It says OR instead of AND.

8 hours ago, webfact said:

and a hotel or apartment to stay at after completing their quarantine

I would hope that booking at a hotel for a few days is sufficient as if one doesn't already have a condo, people would like to look at different places before settling on one.

If a few days is all that is required why have this requirement especially since one may not now how long they will need to quarantine?

4 hours ago, Nout said:

eventually go into default and are sold at a blind auction via City hall.

Any details as to when these auctions occur and How I find out about them?

6 hours ago, jmccarty said:

Plenty with some money in hand bought at very low prices during the Asian economic crisis in 1997.  This was also due to a contagion. 

Does anyone know when real estate prices bottomed out after the 1997 economic crisis?

7 hours ago, RichCor said:

Pocket WiFi' devices  prepaid Internet on a daily, weekly, or longer subscription basis. Some of the 1-year subscriptions are quite affordable. 

I went to AIS today and they said the building that I'm in is not eligible for super speedy internet with them.  But they have a pocket wifi plan where I would get the pocket wifi unit plus a Sim card for the unit that would give me 100 GB per month at a speed of 10 Mbs for a year with a total cost of 2345 for the year including the pocket unit.  The service rep at AIS seemed to indicate that there were no other AIS options for me.

I will ask at the condo what the wired options are.   

But if I go the wireless route does anyone have a recommendation for a pocket unit and data plan as I've been told that 10 Mbs is not fast enough.

Maybe the wrong thread for this but are new low end motorbikes such as Honda Wave or Click usually negotiable or do they sell off the price list?  Was also thinking of buying used from a dealer as they would handle all the paperwork.    If I were to buy privately, are there places that handle the paperwork for a small fee or would I need to go to a government office? 

On 5/25/2020 at 1:39 PM, shortstop said:

Krungsri 

 

Thanks for the heads up about the coupon as this gives me confidence that if I can produce the coupon that it will solve my problem.   

I finally got my coupon today. I filed on Jan 3rd and have no idea why it took so long.   So took the coupon to my Krungsri branch and they still don't want to eliminate withholding.  Must have been there for an hour and half while they were dealing with the head office.  On Monday they are going to drive me to Jomtien (they did so once before) to try to get what is needed to satisfy their head office.  I do appreciate their attempt at service but it would be nice to see results.

I am not sure if I can even open a SCB Jad Tem account as I don't have a work permit.  I have a retirement visa.  Another poster said they will not attach a Tax ID number to this account.

Identity Verification
ID card (A foreigner using a passport and work permit), or a government official card, or a State Enterprise Employee Card

Does anybody here have a SCB EZ account?  It does not seem to have the work permit requirement as does the Jad Tem.  But I would be reluctant to use that for my 800K baht retirement visa money in case Immigration wants a passbook.  But the 1.5% interest is appealing especially since interest in USA bank accounts is quite low these days.   So with this account I can withdraw money without a card from a SCB ATM?  Are there any hidden fees?  Of course, I'll ask the bank officer these questions but would find it helpful to hear from any of you who have this account before I go to the bank.

Or are there any other banks that have high interest accounts where. I am tying my money up as with a time deposit?

It's not necessarily a binary choice between keeping the border closed for public health or opening the border so people don't starve.  A third choice is taxing the billionaires so that the people don't starve.

6 hours ago, Mops59 said:

Forbid all foreigners? Does.that mean Thai people who are registered living abroad with a foreign spouse too? Because they are foreigners too. Does it mean that all foreigners with property in Thailand who stay about 5 months a year in Thailand, go eat at restaurants, play golf, shop in expensive shopping malls, make trips with taxis and so on. Are.they not welcome anymore? Those.who sponsored and.delivered food packages to poor people and jobless people because of this crisis. People with retirement visas can not.come? Why? We like to be in Thailand. We help Thai people who are close. Make difference where needed. If you want to loose us please do keep rejecting our entrance into Thailand. We will spend our money somewhere else and let the government take care of you. I do hope the big moguls want to spend this kind of money.

Much of this talk is to soften returnees up so they will feel fortunate to be permitted back in even if forced to quarantine.

On another note people who don't like the poll results are criticising the sample size. 1400 is certainly a sufficient sample size.  A bigger issue is how random is the sample.

Obviously keeping the border closed kills the tourist industry and also has a trickle down effect.  However throwing the border wide open could eventually force mandatory business closures, beach closures, curfews, lockdowns etc. So there could be negative economic consequences to the resumption of tourism.  

A reasonable course would be to open the border to certain groups subject to a quarantine, probably in a government facility.  If working well it can be expanded to anyone who is willing to quarantine.   

Anyone know if the Pattaya to Ekkamai bus is operating. If so, any idea of the schedule?  Thanks!

7 hours ago, rooster59 said:

launched

What does this article mean by launched?

Open to investors but no construction?  Groundbreaking?   Continuation of projects already under construction?  Projects now ready for occupancy?