Ecky

I am currently on extension of stay based on marriage and have recently started working abroad on 3 month 2 weeks home basis. I wanted to continue with long term stay visas in Thailand as it may be beneficial when applying for future long term stay visas. Since the marriage extension takes one month to process i thought i would contact an agent to switch the extension to retirement as processing time was only a day or two. However the agent informed me that all visas including retirement now take one month to process but Chonburi immigration could provide a "special" service and turn it round in a few days for THB 18,000 (this information obtained by the agent via direct call with immigration) !! The agent advised that rules had recently changed! Is this correct, does anyone have any experience of these "new rules"!?

Four issues:

1. Dangerous idiots on the road.

2. Litter on sois and undeveloped plots.

3. Difficulty for ordinary person (I.e not super rich) to obtain long term visas.

4. Girls screaming over PA systems in shopping malls.

Other than that everything hunky dory.

HSBC used to promote themselves as being the worlds local bank - not any more! Any communication with HSBC is protracted and painful. If you're lucky you will get a native English speaker who can clearly understand your query.

After many email exchanges a few years ago trying to resolve queries about a self certification form i advised my relationship manager that i was so fed up with HSBC that i felt like pulling out altogether. Did he respond or listen? No.

I also recently reported a case of fraud at the end of August and was told i would be contacted by the fraud team. I followed up a few weeks ago but still waiting!

Next year i will have moved  the three investments that i held with HSBC to other international and Thai banks leaving only a small fund for UK spending.

So anybody else who is fed up with HSBC i would advise to move funds to a more user friendly bank!

M&S inside Pattaya Central Festival has moved to one of the top floors in a corner within central dept. store, left hand corner if you're facing second road. Appears to be a smaller selection of goods than they had previously on ground floor.

Poor timing for the last advert basically letting you know you have missed out on the promotion deal unless you can rush out to the course tomorrow! 

There's an outdoor car park at Udim Suk BTS. I believe they charge 70 baht. Easy access from Bangna Trad highway, take the Prakhanong exit on to Sukhumvit road.

I would advise not leaving it too late and going before or on the due date. I have been about 3 days late before and they start to complain and get a bit grumpy!

Advice from Dmitry quite correct as the minimum but assume guest room means lounge. I would include 1 or 2 extra just in case (garden shot if you have one). Whilst you are at it, i would take plenty of photos and save a batch for next year!

15 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

But your name is not registered in it. You can use it to get a yellow house book that you can be registered in.

Thanks, it's all becoming clearer. The responses have helped me arrive at the conclusion that it's probably not worth the hassle having to go through the process for yellow book followed by ID card for the benefits they would provide ( i already have driving license, bank accounts etc.) My missus has also mentioned that if i sell the property i will have several more hoops to jump through to change the name in the yellow book.

22 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Immigration do not issue the Pink ID card and never have. 

 

 

The Pink ID card is issued by your local Amphur Office IF you also have a Yellow Tabien Baan house book. 

 

IF you do not have a Yellow Tabien Baan house book you will have to go through the process to obtain that (if you will). 

 

The process to obtain the Yellow Tabien house book has been listed numerous times on ThaiVisa.com.

 

You should be able to find the information if you run a search. 

 

 

Great, thanks for the clarification. I have a blue house book which should also suffice

Went along to Chonburi immigration today hoping to apply for pink ID card as i reckon it could be useful in some instances but was informed at entrance desk that immigration did not issue such cards and just to use my passport. Have these ceased to be issued or maybe one amphur different from another?

One option may be to check with Prudential about surrendering the policy in full and then reinvest the funds elsewhere. I intend to do just that with a pension i have with Scottish Widows. It's been dormant for years and was unable to make any contributions as living outside UK. Only about GBP 15k but better in my pocket than theirs!

I submitted a claim to Chonburi tax office in May last year for 2019 and in January this year for 2020. Heard absolutely nothing! Reminded them in January about 2019 and was told to go back if didn't receive anything. Another trip to the tax office coming up to rattle their cage!

I have passed due report date of 27th April so will be going in person tomorrow but i initially tried the online submission several times without any luck. As soon as i entered the TM6 arrival card reference and date of entry which was March last year, the system seemed to interperet this as an overstay and nessage pops up that i should go to immigration!? This information was mandatory and couldn't see any way round it!

I would recommend Cornerstone real estate near Big C South Pattaya. I found them to be professional, impartial and very friendly.

Why not call the car rental company you intend to use or email them a copy of your Thai DL for confirmation you can use it or they can clarify their requirements?

20 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

GM Construction in Kabinburi. 

 

They do big and small jobs, decent quality and pricing. They do a lot of work in the Kabinburi Industrial Zone including a few design-build jobs for us.

 

They do not speak much English, and I don't know how far they travel.

Thanks for the tip, will check them out. My wife can speak to them.

I have used Thai driving licence with Thrifty and Europcar with no issues. Easier than using UK driving licence as  no need to provide utility bills as proof of UK address. In fact i no longer have UK address and UK licence expired so need to use Thai licence. 

I am intending to have a small 2 bed bungalow built incorporating some of the elements of an old wooden Thai style house which i am having dismantled. I am therefore looking for a contractor with some basic design capability. It will be fairly simple low budget construction so not prepared to go down the road of appointing an independent Architect but just need a contractor to sketch design and make our ideas a reality. The location is not too far from Prachin Buri so ideally looking for someone reasonably local e.g. Prachin Buri, Nakhon Nayok, Kabin Buri or Chachoengsao areas. Has anybody had a house built and can recommend a capable contractor?

Plenty of gentlemens clubs open. Just take a bar of soap!

16 hours ago, Neeranam said:

There was a problem with these Japanese 2nd hand shops a few years ago, the clubs were radioactive, sent from near where that power station blew up. 

Blimey you can't make this up. Paranoid or what? 

Unless professional or very low handicapper, i would doubt the average golfer would be able to tell any difference playing with original or "fake" clubs. If anyone is interested in buying good quality second hand  golf gear, there's a Japanese second hand shop near Prakhanong BTS in Bangkok, next to Starbucks. Although second hand, the equipment is in good condition and can pick up a nice bag, set of irons, driver and fairway wood for not more than Baht 10,000. I got a set of Taylor Made irons with covers. Can't see any serial numbers and don't know if genuine but they feel good to play with. Downside is you can't try them out before you buy. 

No, do not work for Cornerstone but have condo listed by them which is available

Chateau Dale in Jomtien. Nice small GF condo garden view. Quiet and great location. Contact Cornerstone estate agent.