samtam

Various websites seem to suggest that as I live in Sathorn I need to apply for a Thai Driver's Licence at

Bangkok Area 1
9/99 Bangkunthian Chaithalay Road, Kwang Thakarm, Bangkhunthien district, Bangkok 10150
Tel: 02-415-73378
Covers the districts: Bangkhunthian, Bang Bon, Jomthong, Thonburi, Klongsarn, Radburana, Bangkolaem, Tungkru, Yannawa and Sathorn.

or

Soi Wat Hua Krabu at km 4.5, Bangkunthian Thaithalae, Thakarm, Bangkhunthien, Bangkok 10150

Google maps say this place doesn't exist. Is it possible to apply at the Land Transport Office in Chatuchak?

How do you get a certificate of residency - viz what documents do the (British) embassy require or the Immigration Department? Is it better to go the embassy route or the IMM.

Is a UK Driving Licence OK, or do I have to apply for an International DL first?

Anyone recommend an agent to facilitate all of this?

Many thanks.

The problem with Uber is that you can't schedule a car to pick you up in advance - you just summon one when you're ready, and then hope the driver can make it through the Bangkok traffic to get to you in a reasonable amount of time.

A very serious shortcoming. Just the other night, I had an Uber driver accept my pickup request for Lotus/Tesco at Fortune Town, but then ring me to say she couldn't make it because she was stuck in a traffic jam and couldn't make her way down the exit ramp from the tollway. When I asked her why she accepted my Uber hail if she was stuck in traffic, she replied, "I have to, I'm given no choice."

My experiences with Uber in Bangkok have been good, when they can show up within a reasonable amount of time to pick me up. That's maybe 50% of the time.

Yeah, that's my only real complaint too - oh and drivers that are completely unable to read a google map or follow a gps. Then, I've had that in Singapore (twice this week), New Zealand and London too.

Although I love Uber, (as stated in an earlier post in this topic), I have found the unreliable GPS a problem, and I thought it was just me. 50% of the time the car goes to an address in Suan Phlu instead of mine, a soi off Sathorn Tai. The last time I used the service, it picked me up correctly at Central Chidlom, and the driver's destination was incorrect compared to mine, (she showed me her phone and I showed her mine). There is a discrepancy in the GPS co-ordinates, or in English it shows a different address to that in Thai. I think I have overcome the problem by keying in my address, (a soi number, 27/2 - which is the non-sensical Thai postal address), rather than the condo name, (which is correct in English, but completely different in Thai). I don't know who does their GPS co-ordinates, but it is certainly an issue, and the driver admitted as much. When I have given the feedback to Uber Support it gets answered in the USA I think, so has no local knowledge input. When it all works I love it, but I'm still tweaking with the service, for the reasons aforementioned.

The map information comes from Google. I've had to fix the Google maps entry for my house (and much else around here, but that's beside the point) and now it works perfectly. I gave my address a name of Home on my Google map and now Uber recognises that on my devices (I'm signed into maps).

The most unreliable GPS I encounter is Singapore. It can put you miles away.

OK, thanks for enlightening me on source of GPS co-ordinates, but I'm not sure why the English version of my condo name comes out as a completely different one in Thai. Is that Google maps too, or Uber? Can you provide this Google map neanderthal (moi) with instructions on how to fix the Google map entry?

Today my pick up was OK because I used the Thai version of my condo name. The return journey I did the same, but the driver didn't know where it was, which wasn't such a big problem because I was travelling with him, so could tell him; obviously slightly defeats the point of GPS, and it would be an issue if I didn't know the route to my destination.

This might help. http://www.tomsguide.com/faq/id-2379966/edit-maps-make-corrections-add-businesses-google-maps.html

OK, I'll try. The more I think about it, the more I think it's a translation issue between an English name for a condo and the Thai translation, (which is of a different condo), albeit nearby, but a different road (Suan Phlu, rather than my road, a soi off Sathorn).

How does it work? I need an account for Thailand, another for Euros, one for Australia, another for USA? Why can't they have one multi currency system? It's too confusing.

Use your credit card (registered on your Uber account) and pay any currency; forex conversion done by your bank wnen your credit card is debited.

The problem with Uber is that you can't schedule a car to pick you up in advance - you just summon one when you're ready, and then hope the driver can make it through the Bangkok traffic to get to you in a reasonable amount of time.

A very serious shortcoming. Just the other night, I had an Uber driver accept my pickup request for Lotus/Tesco at Fortune Town, but then ring me to say she couldn't make it because she was stuck in a traffic jam and couldn't make her way down the exit ramp from the tollway. When I asked her why she accepted my Uber hail if she was stuck in traffic, she replied, "I have to, I'm given no choice."

My experiences with Uber in Bangkok have been good, when they can show up within a reasonable amount of time to pick me up. That's maybe 50% of the time.

Yeah, that's my only real complaint too - oh and drivers that are completely unable to read a google map or follow a gps. Then, I've had that in Singapore (twice this week), New Zealand and London too.

Although I love Uber, (as stated in an earlier post in this topic), I have found the unreliable GPS a problem, and I thought it was just me. 50% of the time the car goes to an address in Suan Phlu instead of mine, a soi off Sathorn Tai. The last time I used the service, it picked me up correctly at Central Chidlom, and the driver's destination was incorrect compared to mine, (she showed me her phone and I showed her mine). There is a discrepancy in the GPS co-ordinates, or in English it shows a different address to that in Thai. I think I have overcome the problem by keying in my address, (a soi number, 27/2 - which is the non-sensical Thai postal address), rather than the condo name, (which is correct in English, but completely different in Thai). I don't know who does their GPS co-ordinates, but it is certainly an issue, and the driver admitted as much. When I have given the feedback to Uber Support it gets answered in the USA I think, so has no local knowledge input. When it all works I love it, but I'm still tweaking with the service, for the reasons aforementioned.

The map information comes from Google. I've had to fix the Google maps entry for my house (and much else around here, but that's beside the point) and now it works perfectly. I gave my address a name of Home on my Google map and now Uber recognises that on my devices (I'm signed into maps).

The most unreliable GPS I encounter is Singapore. It can put you miles away.

OK, thanks for enlightening me on source of GPS co-ordinates, but I'm not sure why the English version of my condo name comes out as a completely different one in Thai. Is that Google maps too, or Uber? Can you provide this Google map neanderthal (moi) with instructions on how to fix the Google map entry?

Today my pick up was OK because I used the Thai version of my condo name. The return journey I did the same, but the driver didn't know where it was, which wasn't such a big problem because I was travelling with him, so could tell him; obviously slightly defeats the point of GPS, and it would be an issue if I didn't know the route to my destination.

The problem with Uber is that you can't schedule a car to pick you up in advance - you just summon one when you're ready, and then hope the driver can make it through the Bangkok traffic to get to you in a reasonable amount of time.

A very serious shortcoming. Just the other night, I had an Uber driver accept my pickup request for Lotus/Tesco at Fortune Town, but then ring me to say she couldn't make it because she was stuck in a traffic jam and couldn't make her way down the exit ramp from the tollway. When I asked her why she accepted my Uber hail if she was stuck in traffic, she replied, "I have to, I'm given no choice."

My experiences with Uber in Bangkok have been good, when they can show up within a reasonable amount of time to pick me up. That's maybe 50% of the time.

Yeah, that's my only real complaint too - oh and drivers that are completely unable to read a google map or follow a gps. Then, I've had that in Singapore (twice this week), New Zealand and London too.

Although I love Uber, (as stated in an earlier post in this topic), I have found the unreliable GPS a problem, and I thought it was just me. 50% of the time the car goes to an address in Suan Phlu instead of mine, a soi off Sathorn Tai. The last time I used the service, it picked me up correctly at Central Chidlom, and the driver's destination was incorrect compared to mine, (she showed me her phone and I showed her mine). There is a discrepancy in the GPS co-ordinates, or in English it shows a different address to that in Thai. I think I have overcome the problem by keying in my address, (a soi number, 27/2 - which is the non-sensical Thai postal address), rather than the condo name, (which is correct in English, but completely different in Thai). I don't know who does their GPS co-ordinates, but it is certainly an issue, and the driver admitted as much. When I have given the feedback to Uber Support it gets answered in the USA I think, so has no local knowledge input. When it all works I love it, but I'm still tweaking with the service, for the reasons aforementioned.

Thailand has GrabTaxi Uber is not needed...

Major difference in car quality, driver professionalism etc, (the surcharge for which I am willing to pay).

Thanks again for your help. Grateful if you let me know come up with anything. No, I have not tried a generic driver AFAIK, but I fiddled around endlessly to get a driver that worked, so I may have done so. I think I'll stave off the scheduled upgrade again.

I was just checking Etihad after I wrote my OP, and yes, Emirates was on the radar. Thanks.

Epson EPL-6200L

Can someone with experience tell me if W10 is better than W7. I did the upgrade previously but with W10 my printer couldn't work so I went back to W7. If the free upgrade expires in July 2016, will W7 no longer have updates? Will it matter? Sorry, showing my ignorance here, but my brief encounter with W10 was not a happy one.

I think you downgraded too fast. The CD ( driver-outdated) that came with your printer might not work with Windows 10, but you can download the right driver and all is fine.

I've upgraded in July last year and did about 60 others. now when I'm using W 7, it seems like XP to me. Slowly and so different....

Windows did plenty of updates when it turned out that too many customers were not happy and you receive these updates without even knowing it.

I spoke to an Irish guy who told me that W 10 would be so bad and that he would ever do the upgrade. When I was asking him what operating system he'd have, he answered Google.

Similar to politicians, they talk about things they have no idea about.

Yes, I think that was the problem, but I couldn't find a suitable driver download, so it just seemed easier to go back to W7. I'm trying again tomorrow, and if the printer works I will give it a whirl, otherwise it will be back to the drawing board.

Can someone with experience tell me if W10 is better than W7. I did the upgrade previously but with W10 my printer couldn't work so I went back to W7. If the free upgrade expires in July 2016, will W7 no longer have updates? Will it matter? Sorry, showing my ignorance here, but my brief encounter with W10 was not a happy one.

Extended support ends: January 14, 2020

Extended Support means that the OS only receives Critical Patches / Updates

http://www.zdnet.com/article/when-will-microsoft-pull-the-plug-on-your-version-of-windows-or-office/

here the MS Page

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/lifecycle

Thanks. Very helpful.

I have flown Qatar to Edinburgh from Bangkok (via Doha) 4 times in the last couple of years and on Business found them to be outstanding. They do many email promotions, although the variance between the prices "from THB X" are usually all much higher". Fair enough. Now I find flights are not even available for a few randomly chosen dates in September and October. Such a shame. I can't bear the thought of having to go back to BA

Are other newly converted Qatar-ites also finding the schedules full?

Can someone with experience tell me if W10 is better than W7. I did the upgrade previously but with W10 my printer couldn't work so I went back to W7. If the free upgrade expires in July 2016, will W7 no longer have updates? Will it matter? Sorry, showing my ignorance here, but my brief encounter with W10 was not a happy one.

Not sure of the location: Soi 5 connects Rama I and Rama IV. This, and the extension of Benjakiti are very welcome additions to Bangkok.

Does anyone have experience of using an agent to do Extension of Stay? Does it make the process any less of a hassle, viz reduce the waiting time from 9 hours door to door to something more tolerable. Is their service the "Fast Track" system I am looking for and how much might it cost?

All completed today with the angst that justifies my heart-racing experience. Arrived at 10 am. Ticketing machine was broken. Heath Robinson replacement system meant we saw the IMM officer at 2.30 pm. Processed quickly...surprisingly. Re-entry ticket accepted at around 2.50 pm. No ticket could be issued (despite grovelling) without photocopy of Extended Visa presentation. Re-entry completed at 4 pm. Taxi queue thereafter meant taxi departed Chaeng Wattana at around 4.20 pm. Home (in Sathorn) at 5.15 pm. A great way to spend 8 hours? Perhaps not. There must be a better way! I would gladly pay more for fast track, if such a thing existed. No, not Thai Elite, but any other suggestions welcome.

DogNo1 - "skewed" means when the passbook was put into the machine for updating it went in/out incorrectly and the transactions and narrative was not aligned, missing out dates on two transactions including the crucial one of when the money was placed into the account; the bank print out showed the correct information.

Yes, I have two copies of the info for the Re-entry. Normally the counter service will not provide a ticket for Re-entry application until they see the Extension of Stay has been stamped in the passport, but you seem to be suggesting otherwise, and that the likely missing of the number being called is not an issue. Surprising news, but time-saving if it works.

Thanks OP for your update. I'm about to re-do my 9th Ex of St next week. However much preparation I make, the process never fails to get my heart racing, for no other reason than that's the way I'm programmed. Little incidences like IMM not knowing what a Fixed Deposit is, and debate about whether it was acceptable for the 3 month THB800k deposit, (it was after a bit of barny, but that was years 1-3 ), and a whole deal of hoopla last year when my savings passbook which was updated by the clerk at Krungsri was skewed so the transactions and narrative were not, but which was backed up by a signed and stamped letter from the bank showing the same transactions unskewed; each of the three IMM officers queried it, and the supervisor made me go out and wait whilst they decided whether it was acceptable; it was.

I did all the paperwork yesterday, but just to ensure I'm not blase about it, can someone confirm the passport pages I am photocopying are:

1) Name & details & photo page

2) Only travel stamps between the last Extension and Re-entry stamps

3) TM.6

3) Issuance of first transfer of Visa from old passport to new

Thanks.

Thanks elviajero and MickeyM.

I saw from archived post that it was possible to do Extension of Stay 45 days before expiry in Bangkok. Is that still valid? Anyone who has recently done this successfully?

Thanks.

Which Skytrax survey?

Not this one, surely?

This shows BKK at number 37 out of 100...

I came in on business class yesterday with a Fast Lane voucher and entered through the archway. The lines to the Immigration desks were 10-15 deep, packed with many (Chinese and Indian tourists - no racism intended), the former who were clearly part of a group tour with a leader waving a flag and shouting rather loudly. They seemed to proceed rather easily to the Immigration desks without being asked for their (illusory) Fast Lane card. As the two channels have cut-through from normal Immigration counters, the separate entrance to the Fast Lane section is pointless, as in the whole concept, if Immigration does not enforce qualification. "Fast Lane" obviously needs to be in Chinese and other languages too. There were a number of other Fast Lane voucher holders obviously annoyed at the poor management of the system and they let their views be known. But as I have long learned here, there's no point in discussing it with someone without any authority. It would however be nice if they could tighten it up.

On Friday police said that Segarra had transferred and started to withdraw almost 37 million Baht from the Singaporean bank account belonging to the victim, David Bernat.

The withdrawals took place from various ATMs in Bangkok and Ayutthaya.

The reporter could have prevented all our speculative posts if he/she had written:

On Friday police said that Segarra had transferred almost 37 million Baht from the Singaporean bank account belonging to the victim, David Bernat.

Some withdrawals of an undisclosed amount took place from various ATMs in Bangkok and Ayutthaya.

Still watching it @ 12 noon through binoculars from my condo on Sathorn Tai, and it's raging fiercely on the top floor. Looks as though the roof will collapse as the water jets are not able to reach the top. So very frightening and sad.

The saga continues.

Having sliced and diced the Receipt of Notification for insertion into the passports, I noticed one states the next 90 day report is:

3 March 2016 (correct) and the other

3 February 2016 (incorrect).

So for the incorrect one I suppose I'd better try and report again in February, (assuming the system is date sensitive and permits me to do so), or should I just ignore the incorrect date and assume it should have read 3 March aswell? (Both Receipts of Notification are correctly dated 2 December 2015.)

As per the incorrect date on my second application, (3 February as opposed to the correct 3 March, so 60 days rather than 90), I thought I'd better just check that the print out was date sensitive - and it is. I have therefore filed the 90 day report today (after 60 days), and the application is now pending.

So check your dates carefully when you receive the Receipt of Notification. It is obviously input manually and therefore with the potential for errors. Let's hope I get 90 days this time.