samtam

I do not understand the exorbitant amounts it seems to suggest I need to pay to fill the shortfall. I will try and get someone on the phone early morning their time.

That may well be the case. It would be great to talk to someone at the NI office. Will go and top up my phone and waste another 500 baht waiting on the line.

Thanks. I changed my original reply. The shortfall seems to suggest I need to pay about GBP800 pa since 2005, which is completely barmy....about GBP12,800!

Thank you. I completed, and I too find that I have a shortfall to complete my forecast, which surprises me, as I was informed in 2009 that I was fully paid up. In order to achieve the forecast, I have to contribute a further GBP800 per annum from 2005 to 2021. This does not make any sense to me!

Thanks, I thought it was ambiguous too. I will try that one. I called several and was finally given: +44 800 731 0341 (International Pensions Centre) where I waited, and waited.

I have to have a UK address to do that. I do not. Even applying through your website suggests that you have to have pension paid into a bank account abroad. I want it paid to my bank account in UK. I wonder which number you used. I tried the one of their website which was in an endless queue. Also, I'm not clear whether you can claim 4 months prior to your 66th birthday, or only after your 66th birthday. The claim from abroad also requests employment history abroad. I worked abroad for most of my life, but paid voluntary contributions to the maximum, which I had completed in 2009, (fully paid up).

I just got a new passport yesterday. About to be picked up by my IMM agent for transferring of stamps. He said I had to go in person, but as I've just had eye surgery, and look a fright, a sweetner will take care of my absence. Once that's done, I'll begin the laborious process of informing the banks where I have accounts, and completing the screeds of paper to effect that, a joy I will delay as long as I can. Agree, this is the ideal. However, the turnaround on passports, (cif above), is nothing to be proud of, sadly. But I suppose I was relatively lucky, as it only took 7 weeks. My UKDL took an inordinate amount of time and the tracking, (it was posted by my brother) showed it sitting at some Royal Mail office in the ulu for about a month. Yes, I know RM is not a government department. ...or the ones who travel have a gofer to do the donkey work. That's how I operate, as much as possible here now.

I turned 65 in March this year. I know my UK pension, (which is fully paid up), is not payable till my 66th birthday in March 2023. However, I'm not clear whether I have to complete a Claim Form, or whether they have my records on file (!). I stopped contributing in 2009. I checked online, but I'm not sure whether I've located the correct URL. Has anyone here done this recently, (claimed and successfully received), and can they share their experience please, and relevant URL? Many thanks.

What sort of anesthetic did you have? I only ask because mine was the injection into the eyeball, which broke a blood vessel and my eye is a complete mess. Luckily the actual cataract removal and replacement seems to have gone ok, (It's only 2 days since.) But I shall be keeping a low profile until the dracula look has dissipated, in about 3-4 weeks.

I think this newspaper needs a new calculator... I think this newspaper needs a new calculator... Sorry to hear. Would you describe yourself as being in the "vulnerable group" with comorbidities, and were you vaccinated, (with which, and how many doses)?

Notification today at 15.22 that passport received at VFS, so taken 7 weeks. I have 30 days to collect, which is just aswell, as I have eye surgery on Monday, and will need to convalesce for about a week plus. Anyway, good news.

Had my prelim bloodwork and EKG. I was told after the bloodwork, (for which I fasted), I could go and eat, and I specifically asked if I could drink coffee. "Yes". Of course it effed up my blood pressure, on top of the pressure of schlepping over to Asok by 8.30 am, and successive attempts at readings made it worse, so that I had to go an obtain a doctor's letter from another hospital. I am in the process of doing that. My own doctor at said hospital wouldn't give it to me based on 3 or 4 more attempts with high readings, so I now have to monitor over 24 hours, and if I fail, the operation is off. Today's little exercises cost about THB8k, so extras, on top of the cataract surgery are around THB16k so far. My BP always spikes anywhere near a hospital, but obviously my doctor wants to get me on meds, which I don't want to do. Rather jaded, and poorer, by the whole experience.

Sounds very similar. I went across the road for a cup of coffee from 7-11 and it was a struggle, as I didn't bring sunglasses, essential in these circumstances. Luckily the zebra crossing rules were being observed and there were a few of us crossing, so I survived in the pack.

I went 28 June aswell. There may be a more complicated procedure for your own case, but I couldn't comment. My preliminaries before seeing Dr Roy included several people (4 or 5?), and took a total of 5 hours. Whilst this is a bit of an ordeal, (espcially when you're pupils are so dilated), it is reassuring to know that their assessment is so thorough.

I just received an estimate from Rutnin for monofocal @ THB95K to THB100K. My pre op consultation on Tuesday cost around THB7500, and there is an op prelim (bloodwork, EKG etc) which I imagine will be around the same price.

Still no! But still less than 7 weeks, so within their prescribed 11 week wait.

Coincidentally I had problems getting an OTP for my UOB yesterday afternoon on 2 occasions. First time OTPs came several minutes after request, second time requested 3 OTPs which never came, and then gave up until 9 pm. System obviously not that robust on a day that it needs to be.

When I initially said I did not have proof of address with me the clerk asked about my EoS validity, and said that "might be accepatble". In the interim, I managed to get a copy of a recent bank statement, so any posible delay was averted, as she allowed me to go and download the LINE message with the photographed copy, have it colour copied in the nearby office. So, in answer to your question, I think she probably would have allowed me to proceed with my application on that basis. Anyway, It's still "only" 6 weeks since I made my application, so theoretically only just over halfway through my waiting time of 11 weeks.

I was at the hospital in BKK this morning having a medical check up, and I suggested to my cardiologist and subsequently to my doctor, that it was time we removed masks. Both responded that it was a good idea to keep wearing them...I said "forever?". There seems a very well established mindset that mask wearing is a good thing, but I am not clear why. If God had intended it, he would have created a skin flap that covered our noses and mouths. Of course I still oblige the "rule", "law", "guideline", (not sure which it is, BTS claims it's the "law"), but I think the lack of critical thinking persists, and will do so for some time to come. I walk on the wild side, and now don't wear my mask when I'm in the park, but still do, when I'm walking in the streets, (rarely in this heat).

No.

I think we know Thailand struggles to make things easy. Why not have more fun filling out mindless redundant forms, such as the forest required at IMM on Extension of Stay; there was even another new one thrown in to the 20 page mix I submitted at the last episode....I [name] confirm that I [name] am [whatever] residing at [whereever] am who I say I am. Confirmed by me [name] during the bluest of new moons in the age of Aquarius ... etc etc, blah, blah blah, signed, and please add your mobile number....

I think 1) is for VFS, but not sure why, as you have to pick up the renewed passport in person at VKS in Sukhumvit. I omitted to read that section of the notes, and did not have proof of address. Luckily however, I rang home and my spouse photographed my latest bank statement, which I then took to a nearby shop on the same floor, and they colour copied it, which was accepted. The passport has your current Extension of Stay / or Visa and that alone should be proof of residency in Thailand. But hey, why not overkill with documentation.

The latest information I can find is this link from Richard Barrow: https://www.richardbarrow.com/2019/06/a-quick-guide-to-renewing-your-british-passport-in-bangkok/ Can anyone who has done this recently, is this still current? Thanks.