Sorry are you using your phone, or your computer?

My download results on computer are:

96.3 on my computer (LAN)

and 299.9 on my phone (Wifi)

both through my NTT router

using testmy.net through Singapore

26 minutes ago, n00dle said:

oh really? it would seem my download speeds are better

 

https://testmy.net/db/8pLSVIY6u.NPl2gbMi0

Are you using a router?

50 minutes ago, n00dle said:

this is what i get with AIS

 

locally my connection is a bit slow today, but not sos you would actually notice during use:

If your testing AIS on Ookla, it's going to give you a very different result (vary favourable), to testing with testmy.net through another location, such as Sydney. Not all speedtest sites are reliable or accurate.

On 5/5/2023 at 2:15 PM, dinsdale said:

This is exactly what my Thai friend told me. It won't happen before the election but after. People are watching. I said to him it's happened in Myanmar but no countries seem to care. Will it be the same here? Interesting question he said but nevertheless Thailand needs to move forward.

My conspiracy theory if you like is China is backing this all the way. They want Thailand to be a military dictatorship. Big call I know but not out of the realms of possibility.

I see what you did there????

19 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Times have changed. I have now had chats with several Thai friends today. If Prayut elects himself back in via his paid off lackeys expect this country to errupt. I get the feeling that some on here just don't know how dangerous these people are and how much the people hate them or just don't care or think about the possibilities. The possibility of a revolution be it a peoples revolution or an armed uprising is a real. Prayut etc. (I say etc because best not to mention others) know this. This country is on the brink. This election may be the biggest turning point in Thailand's history.

16 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

In 1789 they solved the problems in a country...

Any serious violence will be catastrophic for Thailand. The events in 1789 did not produce stability for many generations, and what immediately followed was chaos. Ditto the events of 1917.

I have a British friend who lives in UK and wishes to retire in Thailand. What visa should he apply for, and is there a better consulate at which to apply, (from the perspective of user friendly)? He lives in the Midlands. The website suggests Non-Immigrant O when I specify the Retirement as the purpose, but then the qualification does not seem to refer to "Retirement", so does that come into force after one applies for an Extension? 

20 hours ago, proton said:

where to get it, been looking on the usual places but only have the older one

I watch on Cinema HD app.

"Why didn't they ask Evans?", the Hugh Laurie adaptation of Agatha Christie's book. Binge-watched this 3 episode mini series yesterday, but found it to be completely tedious, and looking back on it today, can't recall, (or care) why. Beautiful sets, in rolling Gloucestershire and Welsh countryside, but the editing was quite mad. I know it's supposed to be a mystery, and in that sense it succeeded. It still is. 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14829590/

23 hours ago, fulhamster said:

I'm told that if you do not receive any letter from DWP about claiming your pension, you can call and make the claim online.

If this is correct, does anyone have the number ??

And if they already have your address in Thailand, can you still call and claim if the letter is not delivered ?

Claim pensions on +44 191 218 7777  press #3.

Much easier to claim over the phone than by filling in the forms. But you have to answer a lot of questions, including when you started working in UK, when you ceased working in UK, when you started living abroad etc, (dates including day, month and year). So get all your details ready.

2 minutes ago, samtam said:

I turned 66 on 31 March, but delayed claiming until the new rate of GBP203.85 came into effect on 6 April. Made the claim, but I will only get the rate effective at 31 March: GBP185.15, which is not inflation adjusted for retirees living in Thailand.

Also currently payments are taking 14 to 16 weeks to be processed, so the claim I made on 6 April will be paid in August, backdated to my 66th birthday.

2 hours ago, bluemoonpattaya said:

My state pension started on the 3rd March this year, and missed out on the 10% rise by 1 month.

A few months before i applied for my pension by phone, to the International Pension Centre GOV.UK

+44 800 731 0341   I used skype and the call was free of charge, and i was on the phone for 1 hour.

 

I turned 66 on 31 March, but delayed claiming until the new rate of GBP203.85 came into effect on 6 April. Made the claim, but I will only get the rate effective at 31 March: GBP185.15, which is not inflation adjusted for retirees living in Thailand.

1 hour ago, Harveyboy said:

Ok wife's took over the driving just looked up numbers.. international 0044 800 731 0341..pension office normal 0044 800 731 7898 ..I spoke to these yesterday phone line open 8 am till 4 pm ..easy way go on Skype put these numbers into your contacts ..and call from there that way I'm 100% sure no charges ..H

The OP needs to first call the Future Pensions Centre on +44 191 218 3600. They will inform you of the amount you need to top up to get the maximum pension available for the years not fully paid. The best time to call this number, (and the DWP telephone number +44 191 218 7777 when making a claim) is at their opening, 08.00 (currently 14.00 in Thailand). You should get straight through. It's worth buying Skype to cover any prolonged calls, and I rang both places and HMRC several times.

1 hour ago, spambot said:

You haven't missed out on the 10.1% rise - You just get the lower payment for one month. Everyone receiving a state pension has this increase automatically adjusted and you will receive this for any further payments you receive after April 6th 2023.

 

The 'pre April 6th 2023', full new state pension (provided you have made the necessary NI contributions) is £185.15 per week. The rise of 10.1% is a rise of £18.70 per week to £203.85. Men are eligible if born after 6th April 1951., but you could receive less if you haven’t paid sufficient NI contributions and you could receive more if you’ve deferred (increase of 1% every nine weeks or 5.8% / 52 weeks).

 

 

 

The increase is only available to those whose 66th birthday is after 5 April 2023, if you are not a UK resident. (See above.)

My understanding is that deferment would only get you the 5.8% increase for 1 year, and only deferrment until 2025 (2 years after your 66th birthday). Thereafter, as a Thai resident, you would revert to the amount payable on your 66th birthday. 

My online 90 day report submitted on 20 March was given its next report date as 18 June, well past my Extension of Stay renewal on 30 April. This is at Cheangwattana, (Bangkok).

18 hours ago, BritTim said:

There is one major consideration that is almost never mentioned in all these discussions. Neither an agent arranged extension, nor doing a retirement extension yourself, is a secure long term solution. It deals with your immediate need for the next 12 months, but no one can predict what will be available next year. I am actually pretty surprised that the requirements for a retirement extension with money in the bank have remained unchanged for 25 years. The requirements for a Non O-A visa were changed to include 3,000,000 baht health insurance (possibly with the ability to self insure by placing this amount in a Thai bank) but the requirements for a retirement extension are little changed since 1998. It is highly likely that the requirements will change in the next few years, possibly in a way that makes compliance by most expat retirees very difficult to comply with. Even agent organised extensions may either become unavailable, or far more expensive.

 

That is where a 20-year Thailand Elite membership becomes attractive. It provides certainty. You know that conditions for entering Thailand and getting in-country extensions will not change for the duration of your membership.

It is possible the terms of the Thailand Elite membership change too.

3 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

The immigration officer was wrong. 

Doesn't help the guy much however a TM30 was not required.

 

Strange he didn't do the TM47 online. 

As I noted, that's why I decided 3 years ago to use an agent to do all things related to IMM (at CW). He is up to speed with whatever shenanigans there are at CW, and I fulfill my financial obligations (correct funds -THB800K) permanently in the bank, and all the letters from said bank, including a 1 year statement, plus passbook, plus letter etc etc. His fee is money well-spent as far as I'm concerned, and good for my blood pressure.

30 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

I've lived full-time in the same place in BKK for my entire duration in Thailand, many years...

 

Never filed any TM-30 or was ever told I needed to for the better part of a decade until, as you noted, someone at Immigration got on their horse on that topic some years back and began requiring them big-time for a period of time. Caught me in that sweep as well, wouldn't do a new retirement extension without one...

 

Since then, heard nothing further about TM-30s...

 

The whole history of the TM-30s here seems to have been mostly arbitrary and capricious.

 

 

Exactly. I think the TM.30 has gone into hibernation again, to be brought out when another big joke is required.

I use an agent now for all things IMM related. We live in Bangkok, and filed the TM.30 when the furore first arose, (pre-covid), and have lived in the same address. Last year in May we went to Koh Samui for 3 nights at an hotel, where they probably filed a TM.30. Upon returning to our address in Bangkok I asked the IMM if I/he needed to file a TM.30 or not.

He said "no". In October last year we went to Spain and upon return I again asked the same question. Again, the same answer: "no". Since the May trip, I have obtained a new passport and the stamps were transferred without any issue, and my agent has filed all the 90 day reports since, with no issues. I don't even pretend to understand when, why or how the TM.30 needs to be filed now.

On 3/11/2023 at 9:43 AM, vivananahuahin said:

not necessary let us breathe deeply, no sides effects ????????

Except PM2.5????

Can you not block them? My Dtac & Samsung S21 blocks all spam calls as spam. Not sure how that identification works. WhatsApp you can block, if they use the same number each time.

1 hour ago, newnative said:

Don't 'discuss', do something already.

They have to discuss the date for next year's meeting.

15 minutes ago, JimTripper said:

Slide the trays into the isle and see how fast they are cleared.

I wouldn't hold my breath.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

UPDATE:

 

Thai Airways Orders Pay Cut for Negligent Flight Attendants

 

BANGKOK, Feb 22 (TNA) – Thai Airways ordered one-month pay cut and suspension from work on board for flight attendants, who failed to collect used food trays from passengers' foldable tables before landing.

 

 

The investigation came after a TikTok video showing food trays left on the foldable tables while the flight from Singapore to Bangkok was landing.

 

Thai Airways International Plc. On Tuesday reported its investigation found that flight attendants were negligent in their duties, so the company has imposed penalties of one-month salary cut for them and they have been also suspended from their duty on board for one month.

 

Full story: https://tna.mcot.net/english-news-1120078

 

-- © Copyright Thai News Agency 2023-02-22

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

The most versatile and flexible rental investment and holiday home solution in Thailand - click for more information.

 

What about the (chief) purser? He/She has the responsibility, but I suppose only takes the salary, not the accountability.

Wash, rinse, repeat. Burn, rain, repeat.

On 7/2/2022 at 5:07 PM, TantrikLvr said:

Highly recommend Dr. Apivat Pothikamjorn, at the Thai Eye Center. Half the price of Rutnin. Several friends as well as myself, had both eyes done, new type of Tri-focal IOL implants there by him. Can consult with him at Samitivej soi 49, then operate at his Uncles center. About 75k baht.  Tell him Michael recommended you..

Is Thai Eye Center "his uncle's center"?