chrisdom

38 minutes ago, Guderian said:

I've explained on here before that raising the issue of expats not having access to the NHS is a red herring. Just as in Thailand (though far more effectively), the UK government purchases the vaccines on behalf of the health system and then distributes them. HMG could decide to send 100,000 doses to Thailand tomorrow, if it so chose, and without bothering the NHS in the least but, as the Consul says, it is currently not their policy to do so. The question then is: how do we get HMG to change its policy on this matter? It can only be via communication, so get writing to your MP, to the leader of the opposition, to your devolved government if you come from outside England, and to the newspapers and other media, basically anybody you can think of. Ask friends and relatives to write on your behalf, politicians don't usually pay much attention to orderly, quiet groups of people, to get them to take notice we need to make a lot of noise.

This is the best advice but success is unlikely.

Remember

1) that the UK govt would only change policy for all ex-pats anywhere in the world - not just for Thailand. This would be far more than 100,000 doses.

2) that many tried to change the policy on pensions and failed.

No taxation without representation. Its a one way street.

4 hours ago, pops1 said:

Here's silly old me thinking they want to help us stranded with no vax but no. I go to the website and they want money. Typical bottom feeders. Profiteering off of misery. 

BCCT membership is NOT required to register so the reference to "want money" is incorrect and the reference to profiteering off misery is unfair.

6 hours ago, Bim Smith said:

So the UK government are targeting vulnerable groups overseas but want to mass vaccinate its own population including children with an emergency use vaccine still under clinical trials. 

BCCT is NOT the British Embassy or the UK government. 

It is a private membership organisation based in Thailand trying to help as much as it is possible to do so. This initiative is for all ex-pats (not just BCCT members).

4 hours ago, samtam said:

 

I haven't been able to get to a hospital choice because the "registration" keeps telling me it is incomplete. When I go back to edit/check details, the system has "dropped" 5 items:

1) Nationality

2) Province

3) District

4) Sub-district

5) Organisation

repeatedly. When I try and re-register it tells me I'm already registered. So I'm both registered and my registration is incomplete. Ergo, I cannot to proceed to make a booking....at any hospital in Bangkok, or choose vax, or choose date, or choose time.

The issue is the information keyed in is not being retained. I have tried Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and yesterday until it closed at 3.00 pm. In between all that time it has had tweaks, so the "faults" vary.

I get exactly the same. I would like to scrub it all and start again but it seems impossible to do that.

Thanks Ubonjoe.

You are a great help.

Looks like I'll have to get an ordinary visa there and try to convert when back here (my WP runs out this Friday so will be invalid by the time I get there and can't get a WP3 until I am out of the country I'm told)

Onwards and (hopefully) upwards.

If I get a Visa (Ordinary travel or Non-Imm B ) I assume I don't need a re-entry permit to get back in.

Thanks - I prefer Penang because I've been there before (not very adventurous these days am I?)

I've tried to find agents but no one replies to emails, messages.

Sorry should have said Jim's Place. Also any advice on where to stay.

Does anyone know a good reliable agent in Penang who can help get a new Non- Imm B Visa? (Have tried Banana - no reply and Big Jims same)

What docs will I require from the company?

Is Penang the best place (I am based in Bangkok)?

How long does it take? (I will be there on Monday).

Never done this before so need someone who knows what they are doing.

Reason for this is that my Visa extension was rejected yesterday for a wrong document or an error. I have never had this problem before.

Passport stamped must leave the country by 6th Feb.

Any help gratefully received.

Sorry if I've posted in the wrong place.

Can anyone help.

I have been refused a extension to my non-imm B visa and been told I must leave the country to get a new visa by 6th Feb.

Any advice, guidance gratefully received.

1) Where to go

2) Documents needed

3) Agents in Thailand who will assist

Company accountant who was dealing with this for me really screwed up.

Thanks for any help. Not trying to skip paying but have no idea where to start.

Thanks for your help. I know Penang a little bit but not Vientiane so maybe better there. Is there a good company you could recommend who might help with this?

Can anyone help.

I have been refused a extension to my non-imm B visa and been told I must leave the country to get a new visa by 6th Feb.

Any advice, guidance gratefully received.

1) Where to go

2) Documents needed

3) Agents in Thailand who will assist

Company accountant who was dealing with this for me really screwed up.

Thanks for any help. Not trying to skip paying but have no idea where to start.

The Visa people at the UK Embassy are basically concerned with weeding out the non-genuine applications from the genuine ones. A well-constructed genuine application will succeed unless there is a clear anomaly.

Include everything you think is relevant even if it isn't specifically asked for. Photos demonstrating the long-term relationship always help. Family photos (dogs, cats too) show reasons for returning. Trip itinery, places you'll visit etc.. A good letter from you to support her visit too. Details of your life in Thailand will help (to show you are not a dubious character really). Your business card and so on. In fact ANYTHING - in this case too much is better than too little. It shows commitment

Go down the route suggested by her boss and she might find she's turned away at entry (remember you won't be with her at that point). A visa doesn't guarantee entry and if found out the consequences going forward could be dire.

Honesty is definitely the best policy!

I love the comment from K. Santa that houses definitely won't flood! My house floods regularly and I am in a small sub-soi behind Big C Ratchada. The drains are blocked with all sorts of rubbish - every small food seller throws their food, rice and other rubbish down at the end of the day, the local garage dumps its old engine oil down there plus many more bits of unwanted rubbish. Throwing stuff into a bin is fine - except there aren't any.

Reporting to BMA is pointless - if I'm lucky a crew are sent to dig out the drain outside my house - but that is useless as they leave the other 30 or so drains untouched so everything continues to back up. The house is at ground floor level and the water overflows into the house so no flooding? I wish.

BMA could solve this problem by preventative maintenance and drainage clearance (big lorries with vacuum pumps clearing drains once every 6 months) but trying to educate people not to do what they've always done is just a cop-out.

I agree - I simply do not understand the point.

Sometimes I get the feeling that people have to say something rather than nothing.

This is nonsense - unless he can substantiate what he claims.

Thanks for the info. Before posting I contacted TV and was told to post.

I am not concerned about there being 2 posts as the more people who know about this, the better.

Happy if you disagree but I don't feel any need to justify myself. The issue is far more important than petty points!

Correct - totally immoral..

They have been hit once and now face another hit.

This will ruin some of the old guys (ex-service men) who choose to live here at the butt end of their lives and can just about manage on their pensions at the moment.

UK government choose another soft target but ignore the many sponges on the system.

They sure do. But I am sure they will find a way to spin this to their advantage.

The most vulnerable are Thai based UK state pensioners and there are many who rely on their meagre pension to live here. They are already hit by the refusal to up-rate their pensions and now they want them taxed from the first £. Someone on £10,000 a year pension is going to be hit hard.

WRt at the Heating allowance I don't know but you only get that I think if you have a UK residence anyway.

WRT Mr Snottgoblin you are totally and absolutely wrong!! Not connected in any way with IFAs or any other form of "financial advice".

Your sense of smell is failing you!

This needs to be spread far and wide (could affect all ex-pats anywhere in the world not just Thailand).

In summary HMRC (the tax collectors) very quietly announced in March that they would "consult" on how to remove personal tax allowances for ex-pats thus costing every ex-pat who receives money from the UK £2,000 every year.

Pensioners who receive £10,000 per annum or less will suddenly find the are taxed on every penny whereas now they pay nothing as their personal allowance allows them earnings up to £10,000 tax free.

Hidden away in the HMRC document is paragraph 2.67 which states:

"The UK personal allowance and people who are not resident in the UK -

The UK now has one of the most generous personal allowances in the world. To ensure this remains well targeted, the government intends to consult on whether and how the allowance could be restricted to UK residents and those living overseas who have strong economic connections in the UK, as is the case in many other countries, including most of the EU."

My comment:

At the moment, all UK residents and UK and other EU nationals living outside the UK can offset the personal allowance against UK sourced income. The way the above paragraph reads, this might remove the allowance from anyone in receipt of personal or company pensions, the state pension or rental income, for example. This is an issue which has slipped under the radar and needs to be brought to the attention of UK expats.

If you have been out of the UK for less than 15 years you can still lobby your MP at your last address in the UK.

If you feel inclined, check on how to register your views, write to the Prime Minister etc.

If, like me, you paid (and still pay) Income tax and paid all required National Insurance you will feel the great sense of injustice that lies beneath this. Everyone is at risk if they receive taxable income from the UK.

We are in a developing phase and predictions suggest that within 50 years nations will be fighting serious water wars. Now petro-chemical needs dictate international policies but increasingly, in the future, it will be water needs dictating these.

We already see inter-nation conflict when the construction of a dam to conserve water in one country, restricts the flow to bordering countries and thus conflict.

Effective de-salination is the only viable long-term solution and countries that lead in this field will become water independent and economically self-sufficient.

Thailand needs to see this as a top priority.

Management of existing resources is only a start and much more long-term planning is needed.

Behind all,of the rhetoric in this is a grain (sorry) of truth.

The Dems have a wonderful opportunity to set out real policies.

What is missed in politics here is that people WILL vote for you if you show them real and deliverable policies and promises that you keep.

The Dems repeatedly seem to miss this.

Make policies and promises and ultimately assurances that you will adhere to and people will support you.

Where are these? Are you REALLY anti-corruption Abhisit? How will you deliver that? Are you really going to sort out the mess that is Thai politics? How?

Can you really deliver a solution? No signs from you that you can! Or will.

Or are you simply a party trying to gain power on the back of discontent with PTP?

That is just the same old same old and Thailand has gone beyond that.

Your expensive and privileged education should have taught you better than that.

If you have something to offer - make it clear.

If not, get out of the way and allow others to take the helm.

Put up or get out of the fireplace.

Search for The Guardian Dave Sherman

Interesting article on the current situation.

Anyone know anything about power shutdowns in Ratchada area? A van just passed announcing electric shutdown at 9.30.