prakhonchai nick

Thanks for your answers.

Having already renewed the compulsory insurance. it looks like I will have to send the certificate to the finance house, and transfer the tax fee to them.

My finance company (bank) have asked me to pay for annual road tax renewal and compulsory insurance + their fee, after having had the car for 1 year.

Can I take a photocopy of the registration book (bank hold original) to tax office and renew alone

Advice please

Also visited ludos at Bankadan ( Time Out) also congratulations to Ludo, he also serves dammn good food and good selection of beers, drank all his cider, and a damm nice guy and atmosphere. brilliant on a sunday when he has his live music.

One bar which serves brilliant thai food is the Lakeside, superb food and cheap as chips well worth a visit.

Time Out at Bankadon is indeed a great place, well worth going out of your way for. Ludo and partner Yai put a great deal of effort into it and fully deserve their success.

Which lakeside bar would you be referring to? A new Lakeside bar/restaurant, Paradise Lake, has just opened on Prakhonchai lake, run by a Dane, Lars. Good atmosphere, excellent food and very cheap.

Rather off-putting is someone who pulls you up over your apparently incorrect usage of English words, then a day or 2 later does the same thing himself.

The UK Tax Office say that if 'you're in the UK for more than 183 day you're resident for that tax year'. Which clearly means you're not resident, if you live abroad for 183 days. So why does the Tax Office deduct tax when I'm not resident in the UK ? If I am classed as resident due to my paying tax, why is my pension frozen because the DSS class me as non resident. Confused.

It doesn't matter whether you're resident or non-resident - any income generated in the UK is taxable.

If you complete form R85 you can get interest paid to you without tax taken off. This is useful if you are unlikely to have income over your annual limit.

So instead of claiming back the tax every year, you only have to declare it when your income goes over your annual limit, e.g. about 6,000 GBP for a single person.

Or ~9000gbp? if you're over 65.

Actually the tax free allowance of £9000+ is available for the entire tax year in which you reach age 65. So if your birthday is for example 4th April. you would enjoy the higher allowance for the full year before you reach 65.

BUT YOU HAVE TO CLAIM IT!!! They won't be doing it automatically

One of the problems of BOGOFS, or special promotion prices, is that there is usually a limit to the number of items you can buy. Sometimes 3 and sometimes 6.

Many Thai people however disregard the notices, and waltz through the check-outs with a trolley full of these items, and the cashier does not say a word. They do however refuse the farang in similar circumstances.

When I raised the issue with a manager, (having found the item out of stock, but Thais walking round with trolley loads), he told me "Thai people get angry if we restrict them". My response was that "I was bloody angry and only wanted 1 item!" As usual - fell on deaf ears!

AND ALWAYS LAUGH WHEN YOUR MATES ARE BACK HOME WORKING THEIR NUTS OFF ON A COLD WINTER DAY,THEN ASK YOU IF YOU GET BORED IN PATTAYA,NOW THAT MAKES ME FEEL SO GOOD

Who was it that blasted me for beginning a sentence with AND?

This post is not intended to come across as a rant although if it does, then so be it. rovision of medical services in LoS.

A rant indeed in my view, but nevertheless some very valid points, although quite irrelevant to the topic.

I took my wife to the hospital recently, as she was suffering stomach pains, in the area of the appendix. I went in with her to see the Doctor, and told him I thought she may have appendicitis.

He looked through her records, saw that she had given birth twice with caesarean section, and suggested that it was highly likely that the appendix was automatically removed at that time. He said he would check. However some half hour later my wife was shown into another Doctor, who made no comment on its possible previous removal, but said she did not have appendicitis.

Having now spoken with various locals, most confirm that removal of the appendix when giving birth by caesarean section is quite normal.

I wonder how this can be possible. Whilst I understand the appendix has no useful purpose, and it clearly makes sense (and saves money) to remove it when the stomach is open, I am more than annoyed that this procedure is carried out without any pre-consultation, or authority being given.

I would be interested to hear the views of anybody else who has been similarly operated upon.

my friend i want put your english down like all these other people are doing.you are in a bit of a pickle though mate.i will not give any advice my friend .i just wish you luck.

With respect, buffaloe, your English is not exactly the best. And might I also respectfully suggest, that you keep the word "dear" which crops up in most of your posts, for your female friends. English speaking men do not normally go around using that endearment towards each other, unless they happen to be katoeys.

And by the way, does your keyboard not have a shift key?

Maybe a business opportunity for the girls to transport some the better-known Bangkok/Pattaya services to the sticks

Maybe. But since their potential customers are unlikely to have any spare cash, having returned home with no work, I wonder whether they will trade their services for a somtam?

Nick - I was thinking more of servicing the Falang market, and as you know, any prudent Falang will keep something in reserve for that special occasion

Since the farang is, in my opinion, more prudent than the Thais, I would imagine he would not wish to "shit on his own doorstep", and would be happier if the girls remained in anonymity where they already are.

Maybe a business opportunity for the girls to transport some the better-known Bangkok/Pattaya services to the sticks

Maybe. But since their potential customers are unlikely to have any spare cash, having returned home with no work, I wonder whether they will trade their services for a somtam?

Regarding Ya Ba and Lao Kao abuse.

He is a lao kao drinker for sure but not to excess except at weddings, funerals and parties.

Isaan village life consists of little else but weddings funerals and parties!

Seriously though, my view is that having been given enough warnings, any physical attack on anybody should result in the "Boys in Brown" being contacted, and he being arrested for assault. A few days (or longer) in the lock - up may see him come to his senses.

About 25฿.......................................60฿ is a fair price, same as us. But as you say it is in the middle of no-where. It cost money to bring goods to the middle of no-where.

Regardless of the price and the mark-up, drinkers are able to vote with their feet!. But it's a bloody long walk to Pattaya!!

The restriction also applies before 11am.

But if you buy 10 litres + (2 cases of beer), then there is no time or day restriction. That is of course unless there is an election, a big Buddha holiday or some big Royal event.

Surely there are some farang run drinking establishments in Nang Rong, Nonki, Ban Kruat, Lahansai and Satuk, as well as possible other places all in Buriram province

Between Prakhonchai and Prasat, there is Ludo's Time Out which I think technically is in Buriram province.

Rippoff pure and simple, get a lawyer.

Would you trust a Thai Lawyer any more than a Thai developer? There are good and bad everywhere. I once threatened a Pattaya lawyer, with legal action if he did not return 10,000bt he had stolen by altering a land office bill. The cash was returned within 6 hours!

Why throw yet more money away?

Just refuse to pay - at least until you are in occupation and the services (lighting, rubbish collection, swimming pool etc are in operation). Then ask to see a list of charges etc, and pay not more than 1 year in advance. But make sure everything promised is provided.

If the development is only 20% sold, then charges will of course be higher than when fully occupied.

Have also stayed a couple of times and think it is okay. As stated, the rooms differ in size and style and some are better than others. You'll see from the website that the proprietor has an artistic bent. In the end I took to staying at the Nong Khai Grand because I thought it was better and still only just over 1000 baht

I too have stayed there a couple of times. We have a big family room with 2 double beds, bathroom with bath and lots of hot water. TV and computer with internet connection in room. 1000bt/night direct internet booking. Excellent, and just a short stroll to the river.

Breakfast is 150bt, but offered at 100 if booked on the internet. I would suggest pass on this, as it is NOT farang orientated, and expensive for what is on offer. Plenty of eating places in the vicinity.

Hi prakhonchai nick

Thanks for your input but I was shocked to see the permitted loan rate of 28% - which appeared to me to be very high. I'm not sure if that is a max rate for credit cards or what? Anyway, decided to track down the rate and according to section 654 of the Civil and Commercial Code it states the maximum being 15% p.a and any contract above that would be reduced to 15%. The section is under the heading of "Loan for Consumption". Could you clarify the source of your quoted 28% rate?

Thanks

Isee

I mentioned the 28% maximum rate as in all honesty I recall reading this last year (must have been in 1 of the 2 English language newspapers.) Furthermore, shortly thereafter I recall being told that the local gold shops had reduced their rate for taking in gold from 3% a month to 2% to comply with the new ruling.

Having searched the internet thoroughly, I cannot find any suggestion of this rate, and the rate of 15% under the Civil and Commercial Code would appear to be the maximum.

Having said that however, why then have Kasikorn bank (K Bank) recently announced their maximum rates for credit cards has been reduced to 20%

Whatever, the Loan sharks continue to operate and generally quote rates of 5% a month up, with no problem from anyone.

The people are definitely nicer here but I often wonder why the hel_l I'm here.

I think that most of the guys here are here because their wives make them come here. They then go on about how great it is but really would rather be elsewhere but are under the thumb.

If it was as expensive here as say Phuket, no one would be here.

After living 14 years in the Pattaya area, I was grateful to leave and have somewhere else to live. It's true my wife, like most other expats wives and girls in the area, were born and bred here, but I don't believe they MAKE us come here. Like most here, I visited, looked around and It was ME that suggested re-locating. Of course there are probably better places that I could have moved too (I rather like Nong Khai), but I'm sure it is preferable to have one person who belongs here.

Those that are "under the thumb" here would be "under the thumb" anywhere!

I used to be a Bangkok Post afficionado, but find that there news is anything up to 24 hours late. I much prefer the Nation, but do not know whether this is available locally. The Nation web site is updated regularly throughout the day, (as is the Bangkok Post - but generally hours behind), but neither take the place of a conventional newspaper. An electronic paper as outlined by Rayban sounds good, but if only it were the Nation!

Also, loan sharking is a good business in Isan.

Typical rates would be at least 1% per month, usually much more. It would probably be a bit hard on the health though!

Typical rates were from 3% up a month. I say "were" because most moneylenders are no longer lending due to the impending recession. Some would be borrowers who have been used to paying 5% monthly are now so desperate for cash that they are offering to pay 10% a month, and still finding no lenders.

In response to Isee's earlier post, the maximum permitted loan rate is 28% a year, which equates to approx 2.4% a month. Most (but not all) village people have no idea of this legal maximum, and when in default, have neither the will nor the money necessary to contest it. They will just forfeit their land or any other guarantee given.

I had a couple dozen turkeys in Loei province. They looked exactly like the ones in the pictures. There must be several different breeds and I had the wrong breed. I can assure that mine were every bit as tough as the village range chickens. The Thais don't like to eat them and no way would I have sold one to any friend of mine. My wife got to eating the eggs and wouldn't allow the hens to sit on any eggs. We had an awful time getting rid of them and this New Years we got rid of the last pair. The only way to eat them is to make laap out of them.

They are very easy to raise but they are noisy and were fond of sitting on top of my car and truck. Their claws are like nails and they scratch the paint. No more turkeys for me.

With all tough old birds, the solution is to boil them first (a pressure cooker for smaller birds) then roast them. Usually very succulent, and generally have more flavour than the ready roasters.

If you think you may have dengue fever, be careful where you go to check.

After having told the "doctor" at the local hospital that I suspected dengue fever, he assured me there was no trace of dengue, but that I had a sexually transmitted disease

4 hours later I was in a private hospital with hemoraghic dengue fever!

Perhaps a little black magic or voodoo is needed to bring out the crowds for the next Buriram meet! More realistic would be a bar with a few scantily clad waitresses! And a few eggs to rub over their bodies too!