Foxx

Hair cutting is on the list of jobs strictly reserved for Thai nationals.  It makes me wonder how many Thai barbers and hairdressers are highly experienced in cutting Negro hair.

Dr. Sukamas Suwanwalaikorn at Samitivej Srinakarin is familiar with Caucasian skin having trained in both the United States and in Ireland.

https://www.samitivejhospitals.com/doctor/detail/sukamas-suwanwalaikorn

I went to see her for what I thought might be a basal cell carcinoma (it wasn't).  Happy with the experience.

1 hour ago, Haveasay said:

Installed the app. Still trying to understand it's use as I want to transfer funds from an Aussie bank to Thai bank. Why do I need their card? Can't I just specify an account to transfer from and to and walla? Any suggestions?

You can do straightforward transfers as you describe without the card (albeit only to Thailand, not from).  However, the card can be very useful if the Thai government starts taxing bank transfers to Thailand.  You can pay for everything (well, most things) using the debit card, get a decent exchange rate, and (probably) evade the new taxation.

9 hours ago, Startmeup said:

What do long term returns look like for the best performing Thai mutual funds?

See https://www.morningstarthailand.com/th/screener/fund.aspx#?filtersSelectedValue={}&page=1&sortField=gbrReturnM120&sortOrder=desc and click on "Long Term Performance".

I was pleasantly surprised to receive an email from Wise telling me that they'd refunded 40% of the transfer fees that I'd paid in November.  I didn't know they did that.  However, it's described at https://wise.com/help/articles/7dmzR1bODHUCVTvD52Qi8D/fee-refunds-for-customers-in-the-uk and is only for a trial group of customers in the UK.  Still, no complaints from me.

1 hour ago, JeffersLos said:

Do you have a link to a reputable asset management company, being able to open online would be a small advantage.

I can't really recommend a reputable asset management company.  However, let me relate my recent experience of opening a mutual fund account with Krung Sri a couple of weeks ago.

The Krung Sri bank app (KMA) has a section "Mutual Fund" and if you click on it there's the option "Open Account".  I clicked on it and then filled in a fair bit of information, including going through an (utterly pointless) suitability questionnaire.  At the very final step it said that the application could not be completed online.  The actual message said that I needed to have my identity verified and (another) photograph taken.

I visited a branch, and was told that it wasn't possible to open a mutual fund account online.  I then had to go through the entire process on paper (including the suitability questionnaire).  The whole process took over an hour, including several 'phone calls by the counter staff to head office.  The final hiccough was that they required me to invest in a fund immediately to complete the account opening.  Their website lists a range of perhaps 9 or 10 fund managers whose funds were available, and I'd previously shortlisted three or four funds, so that shouldn't have been a problem.  However, the reality is that virtually all the funds available are from Krung Sri, and only a token number of funds is available from the other fund managers.  Given that Krung Sri doesn't have a great reputation for fund management, this was a blow.  (In fact, they only have 3 funds rated 5-stars by Morningstar Thailand - that's out of 240 funds overall.  And all three funds are FIFs, so Krung Sri is not doing fund management.)  I've now realised that Krung Sri is no alternative to my regular Thai brokerage account which offers a much more extensive range of funds.

In short, I'd recommend opening an account with a full service brokerage (primarily not one attached to a bank).  However, if you go down the bank asset management company route, check how extensive the range of available funds actually is before opening an account - don't just rely on a list of available fund companies.

There's a list of brokerages at https://www.set.or.th/en/market/information/member-list/main

Note that whilst many of them are associated with banking organisations, you are unlikely to be able to open a brokerage account at a bank branch - you'll need to approach the brokerage directly.

You mention being on a non-O visa.  If this is for retirement, then you are going to find it very difficult to open an account.  I know, I've tried.  In the end I was only able to open an account by someone giving me a personal recommendation.

I would add that, given your apparent naïveté in such matters, direct investment in the SET may not be a good idea.  You'd probably be better off investing in mutual funds.  For these you'd open an account with an asset management company.  Banks have associated asset management companies and you can open an account at a bank branch (or even online).  Unlike the past, most banks now allow you to purchase funds from other asset management companies.

1 hour ago, bignok said:

Thailand should advertise Pattaya as the hooker and ladyboy capital of the world. Promote it.

And the slogan should be "No matter how fat or ugly you are, and no matter how poor your personal hygiene, you can still get laid."

Wise digital credit card? Really? I couldn't find anything on their website about their offering a credit card - only debit card.

5 hours ago, littlepig said:

I'm in Thailand now so online would be the only option - unless I have to go back to a snowy UK to go physically into a branch.

Don't you have a mobile 'phone? At least 'phone them to explore the options.

Edit:  this website suggests that with NatWest 'phone banking the transfer amount is unlimited.

https://wise.com/gb/blog/international-transfer-natwest-uk#:~:text=Using telephone banking,to the amount

17 hours ago, john donson said:

I am an existing customer at Krungsri and I thought, maybe opt for that 0.9% per year savings account

Well, I opened five accounts with Krungsri earlier this week and wasn't asked for any ID beyond my passport.

Incidentally, if you're looking to park your money, why not go for a fixed deposit? 48 months fixed is paying 2.5% p.a..  If you don't want to lock your money up for that long, 14 months is 2.2% p.a..

Google Reviews:

https://www.google.co.th/maps/place/Phahon+Theater/@13.7925262,100.5461119,17z/data=!4m8!3m7!1s0x30e29c1712c79a17:0x338609ba24892d4d!8m2!3d13.7925262!4d100.5486868!9m1!1b1!16s%2Fg%2F11b69fqdkw?entry=ttu

6 hours ago, hotchilli said:

What was the "E-ticketing" system used for?

It was so that the authorities could more easily limit the number of people visiting a park in a day to prevent overcrowding and/or harm to the environment.

There are Google reviews as recent as two weeks ago.

Banks don't provide access to stock exchanges - brokers do.

I'd suggest Phillips POEMS - used to dealing with foreigners.  https://www.poems.in.th/

Even though banks often own brokerages it's (usually? never?) not possible to open brokerage accounts through your local bank branch.  You'd need to deal directly with the brokerage.

An exception is for UHNW individuals.  For example, if you've got 50 million baht in your bank accounts, Krung Sri will provide access to foreign stock exchanges.

On 11/15/2023 at 2:18 AM, Thailand J said:

You can transfer from Wise to IB if this youtube video content is true

You definitely can transfer from Wise to IBKR, and vice versa.  In my experience, Wise to IBKR is very quick, but IBKR to Wise takes a few days.  That's for GBP.  Other currencies may be different.

6 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Corruption 101 will be the 1st unit tought within the course.

Probably not.  Ethics and duties are only for the little people, and they are not supposed to be corrupt.  The kids of the wealthy in their expensive private schools won't be taught this fascist nonsense.

Is it OK to be gay in Iran? According to ChatGPT:
 

Quote

Iran has strict laws and societal norms regarding homosexuality. Homosexual acts are illegal and can be punishable by imprisonment, fines, or even the death penalty. The legal and social environment for LGBTQ+ individuals in Iran is challenging, and they often face discrimination and persecution.

I take that as a "no", then.

10 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Crick's PhD Thesis on DNA

He didn't write one.  His Ph.D. thesis was titled "Polypeptides and proteins: X-ray studies".

To get your account details, start by adding cash (GBP) to your account and select the option "transfer money from your bank account" then "Pay on desktop" "Make a manual payment instead".  (You don't need to complete adding cash if you don't want to.)

12 hours ago, Morch said:

 

She doesn't really over eat, the weight gain thing came (slowly) after being spayed.

Which is why it's good practice to reduce the amount of food fed after neutering.

Anyway, better late than never.  You can cut back the amount you feed her gradually over a couple of weeks.  Probably best to stick with dry commercial food for now so you can know exactly how much you're giving her.  (With my dogs I weigh the food to the gram.)

1 hour ago, JessieDog said:

The family are asking questions to my daughter about the matter 

The family are circling in the hope of a payout.

Is the daughter old and mature enough to fend them off?