samtam

No, the line was checked this morning (again), and it's OK.

Sorry, my OP was long and very difficult to understand.

I asked why a new router couldn't be provided when the technician called this morning, (by the technician), when I had explained the problem was with the nlink router, which is a POS. They did not know the answer.

The co-ordination of service seems lacking. It's an observation. Hope that's OK.

Carry on now. Do

Why has True Series got some pillock providing limited voiceover for the Emmy awards tonight? You can't hear anything the presenters are saying whilst the v/o drivals with the actor/tresses, provided in English too, completely destroying the broadcast.

First time I've watched this channel in months. Time to ditch the whole thing I think.

I kept getting repeated cut off from my True router nlink, so having had the box replaced several times, I had the technician visit this morning. He came to check the ADSL line and generally bu**er about, and then told me what I had asked when I made the appointment - that I needed a new router. I said I'd already explained that and hoped he was bringing one with him. He said, no I had to go to the True shop to "sign a new contract" and get a new router in person. So I trooped off there this afternoon and returned with the ZyXEL. Tried to set it up, but was unable. Rang True and through my telephone call to their technician, we were unsuccessful, so I am now awaiting a technician to pitch up tomorrow to install. I asked why this couldn't all be accomplished at the same time - such as this morning when I'd already explained the problem, and the poor quality of nlink routers. "Don't know, will discuss with technician team, blah, blah". "Signing a new contract" was in fact nothing of the sort, except my acknowledging that "I have a new router and a new contract, (written in my own hand)".

I can see where this could be a good step toward utilizing technology. My only concern is I always apply for a multiple re-entry permit after I get my 1-year extension based on retirement. Because I don't know how long the extension will be, how can I make an appointment online two days in advance? What if I don't make the reservation and then I am behind all those who made the appointment online?

I do hope they bring some automation to the 90-day report; however, I am guilty of not using the mail-in option.

I think you mean "because I don't know how long

it will take to get the extension of stay....

and I agree on that basis....

If you're in "arrears" by THB5k, then your deposit should cover that, so don't pay them the "arrears" and don't expect a refund of your deposit. In fact, why not tell them that you'll keep the box until they honour their agreement to give you the discounts? Unless I've misread you, you have the advantage, (albeit paying for two months you thought were free).

Trying to give a certain prediction about weather seems a pretty silly thing to do, so that's perhaps why he didn't. "10 storms", (which means exactly what?) Surely the amount of rainfall is the relevant factor, however unpredictable. "Very unlikely". But possible, or not, depending on the weather really.

Thank you Sateev.

I live in Sathorn, north of Yenakart. In this area there is a military base, (airforce?). Over the last week there has been daily and frequent shooting practice from early in the day until late. Previously there used to be the sound of gunfire from intermittent shooting practices.

I don't suppose we'll ever know why there is a spike of activity, but it is nevertheless both irritating and slightly worrying, given the country's unstable history.

Are others in the neighbourhood suffering too?

OK, thanks. I'll try that.

Yes, but some of the downloads wont go onto USB, and even if they do, they don't play on the TV.

No, not using Princos, but Imation. How on earth would I find the eraser head?! I tried the erasure manually and it worked. Thanks for everyone's advice.

I think the issue is that it's not cleaning (erasing) information on used DVD-RWs. It keeps requesting me to insert a new DVD for burning. As I said, it worked perfectly well, but has recently started to be uncooperative.

I recently bought a new HP laptop Windows 7 and was easily able to re-write DVD-RW from downloaded movies on Vuze. Now my computer doesn't recognise DVD-RW, even brand new ones. It does however record on DVD-R. Is there any programme I can use to restore the RW function? thanks.

I was driving along Sri Chan road in Khon Kaen late at night a number of years back and saw this security guard at the SCB flat out on the pavement. My wife insisted we stop to see if he was OK. Snoring away like a good 'un.

lol

Where I'm currently staying, after midnight we have two different yam posts and both of them are out cold. I have to open the gate to drive out by myself because the gate guard will not wake up once he's out. I find it hilarious.

Is "yam" Thai for security guard?

Did your sources indicate a timescale for such a change?

No, but I shall inquire further, and advise.

I have heard that there is a draft bill to consider changing the Condo Act to require the percentage of foreigners in a condo to have the same percentage on the committee of the condo, (or 49% of the condo should require 49% foreigners on the committee). Has anyone else heard similarly?

Mission accomplished, but not quite as easily as I imagined. For some reason I imagined that transferring stamps would be handled separately to the normal visa extension section, so my arrival 10.30 am meant that I was not seen by an officer until 2.45 pm. I was then in rather rush to get out and was on my way down the drive in a taxi towards Chaengwattana Road, when I realised my Re-entry permit had not been transferred. So I returned and the officer told me to go that section (C2), and I explained the need to transfer. There was a delay, as my old passport didn't have its corner cut, so I was taken back to the visa section, and cut the corners, and then returned to C2 where they transferred the Re-entry. So a tip here - remember to do the Re-entry permit! Door to door a 5 1/2 hour experience. Yikes.

Thanks gentlemen!

I sent my renewal papers for my British passport on 20 July via DHL to Hong Kong, and the new passport arrived yesterday, within 2 weeks. I now need to transfer Extension of Stay (for Retirement) from my old passport. I have completed the "Transfer Stamp to New Passport" form, but unsure about reason, "because....", but I assume "issuance of new passport" will suffice.

What photocopies do I require to take to Immigration to effect the transfer?

so far I'm not too thrilled by Krungsri......

firstly they told me that we (my wife & I) could only have one ATM card on our joint a/c - something they later saw sense on & reversed the policy......

then they claimed (& still claim) that we can't have internet banking because we have a joint a/c (why? I wonder)

lastly, of course, one year after the takeover, the minimum a/c balance requirement kicks in (I'm not clear on whether it's 2, 3, or 5MB) if you wish to maintain so-called "Exclusive" status (the benefits of which have so far escaped me). With HSBC "Premier" a/c status was automatic as long as you qualified for it with an a/c in another country.....

So HSBC's claim that customers would not be in any way disadvantaged or inconvenienced by the deal looks, from my point of view at least, to be very shaky indeed. I think they were just relieved to get shot of the business.....

Glad you got the ATM card sorted out for your joint account. We didn't have a problem with that, or with getting internet banking for the joint account. Didn't you do the account transfer with your HSBC relationship manager?

I agree, the terms of service will change after 1 year, and I think it's THB5m per person (for a joint account that's pretty hefty). I do not intend to take up this offer, and it does indeed stuff up the Premier Relationship that was afforded us previously by virtue of large deposits held within your HSBC branches overall. I have no intention of having so much THB doing bugger all. HSBC is not exactly a name to conjure with at the moment with all their compliance issues in the USA, and the hounding of its previous chairman, Stephen Green. But then again, no bank really is, and HSBC does have the edge on a number of its services, and if they weren't up to scratch I could always get satisfaction. I am hugely disappointed they have closed here, (and in Japan too), where they were the first bank aswell. As a shareholder I do of course understand the need for this change, but it is sad that banking has lost its focus on customers, and because of its involvement in businesses it had no right to be involved in, we are paying the price, so obviously I don't think it's altogether a good thing. The share performance is pretty dire too, but so are most, in every sector.

Bit early to say, but my HSBC relationship manager has transferred to Krungsri in the same capacity, and she was great at HSBC, so I would expect the same. The systems at Krungsri are not as user friendly as those at HSBC - linked accounts etc.

No, Krungsri - (Bank of Ayuddyha), as of 30 June 2012. HSBC, Thailand's first bank does not see any merit in personal banking in the kingdom.

The fundamental question is –are the majority of the 75% happy with the output of the management process. Do you have happy co –owners?

If so then I can only suggest that you let sleeping dogs lie.

"Happy" within the context of Thailand, and Thais' reluctance to rock the boat. They are appalled by the behaviour, but given the prominence of the family, it is easier to say and do nothing.

Note : Committee members only have a 2 year term. That can be over –ridden if no other candidates volunteer. If you volunteer officially at a general meeting then your application must be accepted. If your inclusion takes the total number of committee members over the figure of 9 then an existing member must stand down. This will be that member with the longest service time.

Ideally at the next AGM you require 9 volunteers –then you can replace the entire committee (assuming that all the existing members have done their 2 year stint)

Tried that, but given the context...also many who might put their names forward do not because they are wary of ending up dealing with the same chairman.

I guess one of the problems is language. Given that we are in Thailand then use of the Thai language by Thai people is reasonable.

If you are the only native English language speaker then change will be difficult-probably impossible.

The Thais in the 75% will not want an all Farang committee. That said if the 9 volunteers are Farang then there is nothing that anybody can do about it. The 9 are in.

Yes, language is an issue and the chairman is on record (in writing) as saying he does not want any farangs on the committee because they do not speak Thai...and (essentially) "ask questions and do not accept his views without question"...I'm paraphrasing.

You say ‘and having their business adversely affected’

What business are you referring to?

Their running of commerce, trade etc within the normal context, (within which they have to trade with companies of the prominent family). It's an implied threat, rather like the mafia.

Perhaps you could detail symptoms of poor quality

more than one building manager per year, huge staff turnover.

maybe –dirty pool –lack of cleanliness –unkempt gardens etc.

But to sum up . If you have at least 20% of the co –owners who demand change and are confident that you can win a vote for change at an EGM(a winning vote with at least 25% of the total condo vote)and have an effective plan for the future –then it can be done.

Whatever you do ensure that you are not’ jumping out of the fire pan etc.etc.’

I have no confidence in winning a majority to oust the chairman whatsoever. Not because 75% of co-owners want it, but because they are afraid to make any concrete moves to effect it, for the reasons given.

No our system is a complete shambles. It is not atypical. The building was developed and built by one of the richest Thai families and they have always had a majority percentage of committee representation, (even if some of those committee never attend meetings and do not even live in the building), although their percentage holding of properties is only about 25%. Because of who they are, most of the other Thai owners toe the line, because they are fearful of upsetting the family and having their business adversely affected. There is nothing we can do to get a fairer representation of all co-owners. It is a sad reality of owning property here. The Condominium Act is quite lukewarm, and allows a lot of loopholes, and even if you wanted to argue the case with the Land Department, they would dither endlessly, (as they have for us), and they will inevitably bow to the poo yai. In fact I think it's the single biggest risk of buying a condo in Bangkok - you rarely know the full picture of other ownership, their character traits and their control over the system. Sometimes you can be lucky with a benign and intelligent person, but the member of the family that has been chairman uninterrupted almost since the building was built is not fully blessed with a full set of marbles, and the family are quite happy to let him run this condo as his toy, (to perhaps keep him out of the main business), and to give him face. He is now almost universally loathed, and is really rather a pathetic figure.