prakhonchai nick

The exchange rate changes sometimes as much as 8 times daily.

Kasikorn bank generally give the best rate on travellers cheques

As things are at present, it sounds good,but, be aware about 2 things. Firstly you will not get any state pension increases after it starts unless the case that is currently challenging this in the european court are successful, ruling due in april, 2010. Secondly, the uk govt will no you are abroad and take a close look at your bebefits, think heating allowance £250, will be stopped and they may try and find out how long you have been abroad and ask for the money back. Is it such a good idea?

What you say Exeter is correct.

However to have claimed state pension, you will have completed the form advising where you live and the amount of time you spent abroad. If you do not have a frozen pension, AND are receiving heating allowance, then clearly you were not completely truthful.

Sure you will lose the heating allowance, and your pension will be frozen, but £57 a week for up to 10 years is likely to be far superior.

If you lied at the outset, then you must suffer the consequences!

Even if you do not claim the dependents allowance, it is almost certain that the Pension people will one day ( 1 year 5 years or 10 years) find out you are in Thailand, and then you will be in big trouble!

I assume that in the UK you can apply for extra assistance in the form of a different benefit if you can prove that by removing this particular one you become below the poverty threshold or something similar to that.

Sorry about the line above but I am bunged up with a cold and my brain does not want to play today.

Once the dependents allowance finishes in April 2020, if your wife is still not old enough for the state pension, you may be able to claim Pension Credits.

It should do but call the Department of Pensions on +44 919 218 7777.

It is money added on for your spouse and in the region of 60% of your current state pension benefit but you should claim asap because in April 2010 it will no longer be available for new pensioners living abroad but I have no idea how it will affect current state pensioners who have not yet claimed.

All current pensioners, or those who will be 65 before 6th April 2010 can claim..

It is not just pensioners living abroad for whom the spouse allowance will cease from 6th April. It is ALL pensioners including those living in the UK.

OK,

But nobody is answering my questions.

I'm a thuggish money lender. I've made over 300k in loans to family members, and none of them have any hope of paying me back. I might as well be charging 200% daily interest for all the revenue it is generating.

How do I get the government to accept my bad debt? Isn't that the real point of this whole scam? It certainly isn't to help the poor, so it must be designed to help me.

If I jump up and down in the middle of the bank and scream "I'm an illegal money lender, and I want to cooperate" will the government then pay me the money I gave to my deadbeat relatives?

This sounds like it might be my chance for a bailout. How do I get on board?

Gregb = you are by your own admittance an illegal money lender -and a farang one at that!. No work permit. I would stop jumping up and down if I were you and keep a very low profile. The only boarding you are likely to do is to board an airplane when you are deported!

You will see that I have added an invatation to all, at IQ Moderntrade, Surin. "Mr IQ" would like to thank the local farang (&prospective) customers for their service.

Music will be by our very on Peter(Spoons) & others?? and a free BBQ/Thai Curry&Rice and beers/cold drinks. It kicks off at 18.00hrs on the 5th Dec 8th Dec (prev date non-booze day)

Also ammended is the agreed date of the SurinFarang Party.

Dave

Is anyone going to the IQ do on the 8th?

I have clearance to go and an overnight stay!!!

Our local Friday market has just introduced a trampoline in addition to the Jumping Castles. The kids love it.

3-meter wall, razor-wire on top, automatic gate, rolling platforms with pots of boiling oil on top, sentry tower with sniper. That oughta keep 'em out.

Plus a couple of pit bull terriers and a snake pit

What happened to all the warm blankets and warm clothes provided by the authorities last year, and the year before and the year before that and the year.............................???

This is not the Anglo-Saxon countryside where there is 5 centuries of Common Law defining the autonomy of individual pastures and walled properties... this is a communal rice-farming society where land belongs to the village primarily, to the individual secondarily. "Trespass" is almost a foreign concept here, especially when the land isn't even fenced and you haven't given any notice to the village that it's yours!

Svenn is absolutely correct. This is how the Thai's see the village land. Even if you build a wall, you will need a gate to gain access, and unless this is kept permanently locked. SOME locals will still wander in and pick fruits from your trees etc. Some will even just march straight into your home without knocking - which could, on occasions be somewhat embarrassing.

Over time they will learn that farang ways are somewhat different to Thai ways, and you will eventually get your privacy.

The problem with certified copies for me at least is that I have to go to BKK to get it done and I am having problems getting my yellow tabien ban due to the guy asking for a translation only and then changing his mind and wanting certified copies of everything in sight. He also wanted everything stamped by the UK embassy but the only deal with UK documents.

I hope you have good luck in claiming compensation but I wouldn't hold my breath on that one either.

Cheers

Most translators are able to certify documents. Acceptable to the pension people. Notarised documents are something entirely different in that the notar is witnessing a signature. I have only been asked for these when making a Power of Attorney.

Those with more financial freedom however should keep their income in GBP preferably in offshore bank accounts (better interest payments & tax free) compared with banks in Thailand where 15% tax is deducted automatically

The 15% tax is deducted only from the interest in Thailand (which is abysmally small). I believe there is also a minimum amount that is allowed tax free. Some years ago the Government Housing Bank permitted interest up to 20,000bt to be tax free, but if you went just 1 baht over, the whole amount (example 20,001) was taxed. Maybe this scheme is still in force.

I applaud you Bagwan. A man after my own heart. I have used implied threats in the past and they do bring results.

Obtaining the NI number usually takes 8-12 weeks, and then you should receive the benefit.

Since "her indoors" is from Prakhonchai should you ever find yourself there do pop into to Coffee Corner on the edge of the bus station. It is the local farang meeting point, and was heaving last night.

I claim hero status as recently the Pension Service finally got their act together and transferred 5860 GBP to my offshore bank as they finally acknowledged I had been underpaid. My 4 weekly payment has also been upped by 120 GBP. It has taken 2 1/2 years to get a result and I guess that they only stepped on the gas because I stated that if the matter was not resolved by 1st November I intend to make a complaint to the Pensions Ombudsman.

Two events are worth recalling. The morons that inhabit the Newcastle HQ lost the copy of my marriage certificate and asked for another. I provided this and a translation certified by my lawyer. Asking by telephone why there was a total lack of action I was told that they were having the document verified and translated. I pointed out that they had been given a translation and I was told very tartly they they preferred to use their own translators. I expressed the wish that the translator was more motivated and efficient than the other staff appeared to be.

As part of the delaying process all the required documents are not requested at the same time but piecemeal. Although they had verified copies of my wife's ID card (they ask for the original but I pointed out that in Thai law she must carry it at all times - surely they must know that by now), they wanted verified copies of her birth certificate. Herself said she didn't have a clue where it was so off we went to Pattaya City Hall to see if we could get a replacement. We were directed to Banglamung Amphur who, helpful as ever directed, us to Prakhon Chai Amphur. Apparently online computers and/or telex hasn't reached local government yet. At Prakhon Chai they said that they had no record of her birth (part of election fraud?) and we would have to bring before them two close relatives and the local Headman to verify that she was in fact herself. What purpose does an ID card serve you might ask. The two relatives were rounded up but the local Headman was in BKK on business. His deputy said that he would only attend if he was paid 5K baht and I refused to pay up. All this was related to the Pensions Service and I asked if they really wanted me to put myself at risk of imprisonment for bribery to satisfy their over zealous requirements. I also pointed out that any information on a replacement birth certificate would be copied from my wife's ID card, thus the affair resembled a script written by Spike Milligan. I asked that if the person dealing with my application did not have the authority to make a sensible decision that the matter be placed before somebody that did. My guess is that the Ombudsman threat , the attendant possibility of public disclosure and that they would have to meet all the cost of an inquiry did the trick.

I now await the issue of a Social Security number for her that does the ironing. I shall be replenishing my ready use ammunition lockers until early in the New Year when maybe I shall be forced to let loose further broadsides.

AFAIK in order for the benefit to be paid your wife requires a National Insurance number which requires you to send her original birth certificate to the Department of Pensions in the UK. I used the EMS post.

They will get it translated and return the original to you by a courier company.

When they have done some work on it the send it to the Department of National Insurance (sorry but I am not sure of the correct name) and they take 8 to 10 weeks to complete their part.

They then confirm your wife's NI number to the DoP who then come back to you and it will be backdated to the date you receive your pension OR depending on how long you left the claim for a period of time that they determine.

I started mine off in June myself and I am still waiting so don't hold your breath for an instant fix.

My documents, and those of others I have assisted were all returned through normal postal channels. One set of documents reached the pensions dept (I have proof of this) but have become lost within the pensions office complex in Newcastle. New certified copies have had to be provided adding to the normal delay. Once the pension is sorted I propose claiming compensation for lost documents.

Stick to certified copies! THEY WILL ACCEPT THEM! Costs more at the outset but worth it.

Thank you for your interest Chaimai

The allowance (or dependents benefit as it is called) can be as much as £57 a WEEK if you have full NI contributions (44). This allowance will be paid until April 2020, or until your wife reaches 62 if earlier. Over this period you could expect to receive 1,500,000bt+

The claim will likely take 3/4 months to process, and will require many translated and certified documents -and patience. If you are interested I have successfully obtained this allowance for a number of Thai based farangs, and can offer you this service for a nominal inclusive fee.

No claims will be entertained after 5th April next.

Having looked through this topic I would imagine the majority of posters are currently in receipt of UK State Pension

ARE YOU ALL RECEIVING THE EXTRA ALLOWANCE FOR YOUR THAI WIVES?

This extra benefit can only be claimed up till 5th April 2010, and will then continue to be paid for up to 10 years. If you don't claim before 5th April next (or are unable to because you are not 65), there won't be another chance.

PM me for more info if it applies to you

Thankyou for your kind words Chaimai

Perhaps they will one day come home to roost with you!

Do you guys really think there's a significant amount of Isaan folk lightheartedly reselling products from BKK without concern for the gas involved driving there, time spent, etc?

Svenn - YES !

IMHO I think that happens a lot.

I would agree with Chaimai 100% It is very common especially in tourist areas, where everyone thinks they can milk the tourist!

My ex wife did exactly as torrenova set out. To restock she borrowed from loan sharks, and to repay them borrowed from yet more loan sharks. She did what she wanted -and never took advice from anyone not even me. Eventually she did a runner, and that is largely why she is my "ex"

I had an apple and blackcurrant crumble with ice cream last night. Delicious!

I wonder whether we can persuade Steve to come up with some mince pies, and even Christmas Pud!

Over to you Steve

As someone else suggested, I think it is is a good idea to have different levels of fines based on the class of vehicle driven. I don't mean the make/model, but along the lines of 2-wheel, 3, wheel, 4-wheel private, 4-wheel commercial, and large commercial truck or bus.

Totally disagree!

It is not the vehicle that breaks the law, but the driver.

The laws are there -they just need to be enforced.

Start at the schools -half of the motorcycles parked there are driven in by underage kids, permitted to drive by their parents, allowed to park by the teachers, and assisted entry by the morning traffic police. PUT A STOP TO IT

Realistic fines for other offences such as driving against traffic flow, no helmet or more than 1 passenger. Never mind the inability to pay by the poor. If you don't break the law you don't pay. If you do, pay or the bike is confiscated until you do!

I have been watching the tax aspect for many years.

Basically as I understand it you can only elect to have your pensions paid gross if you have effectively relinquished all ties with the UK. It does not seem to matter where you are resident, but more importantly where you are domiciled.

If you have family in the UK or property then you are regarded as domiciled. If you never go to the UK and have no property there you can ask to be non-domiciled, and THEN you can request your pension paid gross

So far as Thai tax is concerned, I believe the pension is taxed at normal Thai rates (after giving various allowances ) but only if the monies are bought into Thailand in the tax year they are paid. If the money bought into Thailand ha been held by you for at least 1 yearoutside Thailand, then I understand it is not taxed.

I've been a resident for 19 years now. Cost 25000bt then.

The only benefits are not having to obtain new visa every year + the ability to enter National parks and other establishments (most anyway) at the Thai entry fee.

Have probably broken even now costwise, but at the fees imposed today, it would take forever for it to be worthwhile.

I'll second Ray's comments

Excellent afternoon all round, including the late afternoon drinkies!!!

If the original OP, Ashley Hammond, eventually makes it to Prakhonchai, he will be assured of a warm welcome in Coffee Corner (at the corner of the bus station) where the local farangs meet up.