prakhonchai nick

Obviously neither him nor you know that you CANNOT own land here in Thailand. Why would you think he could have his name on the deed?

Whilst a foreigner cannot own land in Thailand it is possible to have your name of the land title (chanote). I did, and it gave me much security.

If you lend money for the purchase (or bailing out ) of the land, you can be the mortgagor, and have your name shown as such on the chanote. Also since you have advanced money on the land, you are entitled to hang on to the chanote in the same way a bank would do.

It cannot be sold until you sign that you have received your loan back. You are then in the driving seat!

Mate of mine's in a similar situation, 62 and new baby. Looked into the widow's pension etc, apparently they've changed the rules fairly recently. First he'd have to go back to England with wife & baby, live off his private pension for 6months, then apply for all the usual through the benefits system, few more months waiting for replies. BS postal address, preferably family so mail could be forwarded, as if they catch you out of the country for longer than 6months all claims declared null & void. Decided just 6months breadline living back there would break him and therefore unfeasable.

You are not correct Milo.

If the new family want child tax credits, child benefit, unemployment benefit and sickness benefit YES they must go to the UK and stay in the UK

But if they are content to stay in Thailand, then a British male is entitled to the state pension at 65 (currently) if he has made enough National Insurance contributions. If/when he should die, his LEGAL Thai wife will receive Widowed Mothers allowance on behalf of her child and as and when she reaches UK state retirement age (sometime between age 60 and 68 depending upon her present age) she can claim a UK state pension in her own right based on her husbands NI contributions.

There is no necessity for either the wife or the child/children to ever set foot in the UK

The only thing to bear in mind is that at the present time, pension and Widowed Mothers allowance once paid out are frozen at that rate. this may change later once the European Court of Human rights consider the matter

I have Thai residency. Had it for more than 17 years. Was easy to get then. But I would ask you why you want it? Apart from not having to obtain visa renewals (probably annually and within Thailand if you are married or will be), and not reporting your home address every 90 days (not a hardship since this can be done by post), there are basically no benefits.

And at around 100,000bt + all the extras is it worth it.

I originally obtained it since there were strong rumours that the then 500bt annual visa renewal fee would be drastically increased. This never happened, and visa renewal fees have increased in line with inflation.

I would not go through all the hassle again.

Doesn't even guarantee Thai prices to national parks zoos etc. A Thai driving licence at 100bt will do just as well!

Nellie

Your main concern seems to be for the child if and when father in law dies.

If he is legally married (at the Thai amphur) then the British government will pay the wife Widowed Parents allowance till the child is at least 16. The amount is quite significant for Thailand. (around £400 a month) Furthermore maybe father in law has a pension from his former employer in the UK, and they too might pay a widows pension.

Worth investigating.

Today had a problem with the receiver. UBC arranged quickly for an engineer, but when the engineer called from Buriram, they demanded a 500bt payment.

I have told UBC I will not pay this. It is their receiver that is at fault and I am renting it. Is this a scam by the Buriram agent?

UBC said maybe it is a long way to come. So F.....g what! They soon installed at the outset. If they are not prepared to give service they should stick to Bangkok

Told them to cancel the engineer and my subscription

Have now heard that the engineer will come tomorrow. No pay!

Posted twice. deleted

Today had a problem with the receiver. UBC arranged quickly for an engineer, but when the engineer called from Buriram, they demanded a 500bt payment.

I have told UBC I will not pay this. It is their receiver that is at fault and I am renting it. Is this a scam by the Buriram agent?

UBC said maybe it is a long way to come. So F.....g what! They soon installed at the outset. If they are not prepared to give service they should stick to Bangkok

Told them to cancel the engineer and my subscription

Have now heard that the engineer will come tomorrow. No pay!

maybe your missing the psychological piont. the sin sod maybe a face saving as her family may not know shes a bar girl so to pay her sin sod they carry on living the dream . pos??

Unlikely the family are unaware that she is proficient in horizontal dancing, but you can be absolutely certain that the rest of the village know beyond doubt.

Hi All

Well I have resurrected this thread as Chris made a going concern of Red Ribbon and then moved on to The Sawadi bar/restaurant on the other side of town, that did not work out for him and he has moved on.

Doe's anyone know if he has resurfaced in Buriram? If so whats he up to and where? As I could do with a fix of Steak & Kidney!

Thanks

TBWG

I was in the Bamboo on Saturday night and the friend I was with telephoned Wan (Chris's wife) Apparently they are selling Thai food somewhere in Buriram (possibly from a push cart -unclear), but no decisions made re the future. She said they may go back to making pies, but nothing definite

The gold card is usually issued by the hospital nearest to where you live. Only need to take the House registration Book.

Service at Government Hospitals is generally poor, with overworked and many under-qualified doctors. The better doctors also run local clinics, so they generally work from 7am to 8pm 7 days a week. Not surprising they frequently mis-diagnose.

But I suppose for the Thai people it is better than nothing, even if they are only prescribed paracetamol for a heart condition!

Farangs can use the government hospitals, but they must pay (usually cheap however) OK in the main for accidents rather than sickness.

Don't forget the spirit house too!

Great night Martin. Thanks to you and the other organisers.

Didn't realise Thaddeus was there. Been hoping to meet him for months. Maybe you'll pop down the Shamrock one friday.

Both sides (PAD and DAAD) need to stand down NOW, obey the rules of the state of emergency and solve their differences peacefully through the ballot box.

~WISteve

The government do not want another election. They have not yet recouped the hundreds of millions they forked out to Isaan villagers for their votes, and if a fresh election is called, with no money the people might just vote for some decent people for a change.

A democratically elected government, as Samak seems to think he leads, is not democratic when it was elected corruptly.. His party certainly won the most votes BUT HOW? Throughout rural Isaan, (and no doubt elsewhere) voters were not just paid 200,300,400 or 500bt to vote for a particular candidate, but it was done with threats. They would not have access to the village fund if they did not vote for the nominated candidate, they would lose all future entitlement to vote (and thereby to receive further cash handouts)

If there was no vote buying, no doubt millions of people would not have voted at all (those who have no knowledge or interest in politics), whilst many more would have voted for those who appealed to them. The result would likely have been very different.

With free and fair elections without corrupt politicians paying to be elected, the Thai people would not have to suffer the current problems, and the later effects when international income starts drying up.

But sadly, for millions of voters money is everything! Nothing is likely to change

This morning at 5am, on my way back home to Isaan, and completely sober 3 wild adult pigs and 2 piglets crossed in front of my car on the road between Tapppryha and the Big Buddha. An amazing sight for a built up city. Anybody else come across them?

Phanom Rung was open Monday this week - never heard of it being closed.

Strangely though I have never seen so few people. Not a single bus or minibus, and just 5 cars in the car park!

No problem gaining Thai admission price, with a few well chosen sentences in Thai.

I stayed there 6/7 weeks ago. 2200bt, but was disappointed. This is not cheap, especially for Isaan, and I expected more.

Agents web site implies a room with bath-tub, but all we got was an 80cm wide shower. (It later transpired that only the 4 much more expensive rooms had bath-tubs)

2 boys around reception, but neither took our bags and showed us the room. I was handed the key, and off we set. Nearing the room, the receptionist came running up and offered to carry the bags the last few metres.

Nice balcony magnificent view, but no chairs to sit on!

Enquired at reception about advertised boat trips, and was laughed at and received comment "no have". Later we had no problem securing our own boat trip.

I took these points up later with both agent and hotel direct. Received profuse apologies (and lame excuses) from both but alas no compensation.

Gents...FYI

This type of case has been fought and lost already...

Frozen PensionsState pensions to UK residents in South Africa are not increased annually in line with inflation. Instead, they are frozen, either from the date the person first became entitled to a state pension, or from the date that they left the UK, depending on which is the later. Some pensioners living overseas do receive increases that keep their pensions in line with inflation, but only in those countries where the UK has reciprocal social security agreements. This is not the case in South Africa.

The issue of index-linking state pensions was the subject of a landmark Court of Appeal decision in the Annette Carson (UK resident in South Africa) case. This confirmed that the Government has no duty to up-rate state pensions to those living abroad where there is no legal requirement to do so, or where there is no reciprocal arrangement in place. An appeal lodged by Ms Carson was rejected by the House of Lords in May 2005.

This is correct, BUT the matter has now been referred to the Court of Human Rights, and is likely to be heard later this year. So there is still hope!

Nick, South Africa was mentioned as there are about 250,000 people living there drawing UK pensions and do not get the increases, This saga has been going on for years and know a bit about it as my parents are UK pensioners living in SA and have signed the petitions, letter etc.

If these people lived in Austrialia they would get the increases as believe the reciprocal agreements are in place. If Thailand does not have a similar agreements in place.....People "officially" retired in Thailand will not receive the increases either....think the whole issue around this is the feeling is people are being discriminated against based on the country they are retired/resident in (rightly so, I might add)

If two sets of people make the same contributions in the UK and one set retire to SA - No increase

Other set retire to Aussie - Get the increases

Obviously not a fair arrangement.

I think Brits living in Australia also have frozen pensions, although the Aus gov't do help out. Canada is another country where the pensions are frozen, but if you go to the Phillipines, you get the increases. Have a look here

http://youle.info/bpia/

With regard to some other postings where it is suggested that you do not disclose that you are in Thailand - I would strongly advise against.

The claim form asks very clearly whether you live or have ever lived overseas and requires detailed info. If you lie this is fraud. All government depts (even at a local level) have their computers interlinked, and it will only be a matter of time before you are found out. (Why for example are you not on the electoral register; if you have children why don;t you claim child benefit (and if you do and they want to see birth certs, they may find the kids were born in Thailand and likely still there) They will eventually catch up with you and then you will be in big trouble!

DON'T DO IT!

As far as the age of pension for men is concerned, i'm sure i read on something official looking recently that it will go up from 65 to 68 in 20 years or so. Or did i misunderstand?

It will rise gradually from age 65 to 68, but I don't know when it will start - doesn't concern me as I get mine at 65

www.thepensionservice.gov.uk This web site has all the relevant info

3 MEN GO INTO A HOTEL. THE MAN BEHIND THE DESK SAID THE ROOM IS £30.00 SO

EACH MAN PAID £10.00 AND WENT TO THE ROOM.

A WHILE LATER THE MAN BEHIND THE DESK REALIZED THE ROOM WAS ONLY £25.00

SO HE SENT THE BELLBOY TO THE 3 GUYS' ROOM WITH £5.00

ON THE WAY THE BELLBOY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO SPLIT £5.00 EVENLY

BETWEEN 3 MEN, SO HE GAVE EACH MAN A £1.00 AND KEPT THE OTHER £2.00 FOR

HIMSELF.

THIS MEANT THAT THE 3 MEN EACH PAID £9.00 FOR THE ROOM, WHICH IS A TOTAL

OF £27.00, ADD THE £2.00 THAT THE BELLBOY KEPT = £29.00

WHERE IS THE OTHER POUND?

Instead, they are frozen, either from the date the person first became entitled to a state pension, or from the date that they left the UK, depending on which is the later.

Can anyone confirm that this is definitely the case? I always thought the freezing occured from when you first started receiving the pension, but if it's from the date you left the UK, it would make the pension pretty worthless for someone like me who left the UK in their 20s.

Your info is not correct.

Regardless of the date you left the UK, you are entitled to the full pension at age 65 (but this is dependent on your NI contributions) If you are aged 65 before April 6th 2010, you need 44 contributions to obtain the full pension. (minimum 10 contributions) If you are 65 on or after 6th April 2010, you need only 30 NI contributions to receive a full pension, (For each contribution you will receive 1/30th of the pension.

Once you receive the pension, irrespective of how much, it is currently frozen if you live in Thailand. But for any time spent in the UK* you can ask to receive the higher amount.

* This would probably also be the case if you were to spend any time in the EEC or any other country where the pension is not frozen.

If you do not have enough contributions you can make voluntary contributions. Class 3 NI contributions cost around £380 a year.

Hope this helps

2 points to consider.

1) The Human rights Court are due to consider frozen pensions sometime later this year. They MAY find against the UK government, but the result is apparently not legally binding.

2) For anyone living in Thailand, married or with a permanent partner, it is possible to claim an additional pension (worth some £50+ a week!), provided you reach 65 BEFORE 5th April 2010. After that the additional pension is not claimable, but those already receiving it will continue to receive it until April 2020, unless their wives/partners either die or can claim a pension in their own right.

Another point worth noting is that for any time spent in the UK (holiday or otherwise) after receipt of the frozen pension, you may claim the increase for the time spent in the UK. Best to notify them of the dates before you start your journey.

The road which is best is go to Surin from Grasang is to get on on highway 226, follow it through Surin and cross the railroad tracks out to Patamon Road heading past Toyota, stay on that road out of Surin for about 27 kilometers. North of Chompra there is a turn -- it's about about 9 kilometers up the road. See the signs that point that way to the left that takes you to Tatoom and then on to Ta Klang. From the turn it is 27 kilometers. Elephant shows are daily except for Mondays. In November for round-up in Surin all elephants will be in Surin. Usually there are between 70 and 94 elephants at the elephant study center. The road was considerably improved last year just in time for the princess' visit. The number of potholes is down considerablyas the road has recently been resurfaced. I have been going to Ta Klang regularly for the past 4 years and have been there over 30 times as we frequently have foreign visitors and that is definitely a good place to take them followed by a visit to the silver village at Khao Surin and then on to Tatsawang (silk village--- also known as the brocade silk village. The highway is the same number as the road going to Gap Choern (214). A stop at Farang Connection, just down from the bus station in Surin for lunch is a definite plus as well. Great food there and Martin is a fine fellow and a great host. The 30 minute elephant show is free but you have to be there by 10:00 a.m. Elephant bathing in the afternoons is nearby as well. Elephant rides for foreigners, aged 12 up are 200 baht per person for about a twenty minute ride and for Thai's it is 100 baht. Foreign children ride under 12 ride at the Thai rate. Souvenirs are not too expensive: elephant hair rings, ivory and bone bracelets and rings as well and of course t-shirts 150-200 baht.

Thank you very much for the detailed report.

Clearly I must travel via Surin as you suggest.

I did make a brief visit to the elephant village last week, as I wanted to know whether it was open daily. I have my daughter and family visiting in a couple of weeks so I did not want a wasted visit. I was assured there were 2 shows daily 10am and 2pm, but the main thing is that my grand-daughter can have a ride. We also tried to look at the silver village, but there was no sign of anything silver related. And as you rightfully suggest no visit to Surin is complete without a visit to FC. We were there last week, and I will take the family too.

Thank you all for your advice. Looks like I will have to take the Surin - Chom Phra Road, which urgently needs to be made into a dual carriageway with the volume of heavy traffic.