Eff1n2ret

Indeed. Unfortunately our Government Departments are not really very joined up, and your tax coding is based on the assumption that you are paid the annual state pension increases. More than once in recent years I've phoned up to get my coding rectified. Some years the increase has been so small that I didn't bother, and as I've had to submit a tax return every year because of rental income the overpayment is automatically repaid. But with the "triple lock" and high inflation it has become more important for everyone to check their notice of coding.

My inbox 14th July:- [TM.47] (PASSPORT NO : ......) FORM FOR ALIEN TO NOTIFY OF STAYING LONGER THAN 90 DAYS HAS BEEN APPROVED

You're probably right. I don't believe there are any regulations which preclude banks from maintaining accounts for expat customers. However, it is reasonable to assume that they perceive a bigger risk with such customers and their criteria for keeping an account open may be much more restrictive. It would be nice if they were less secretive about those criteria, so we all know where we stand. But I would say that anyone who deceives their bank about where they are really living is not doing themselves any favours in the long run.

In the last few years of my retirement here I have written two novels and a couple of other works, which are sold through online platforms and the proceeds paid into my UK bank account. I wouldn't call that "working", even if my sales were 100s per month rather than the 1 or 2 I actually achieve. It's just something that gives purpose to my day and the satisfaction when someone bothers to read them.

We went to Koh Chang a few months ago via the route described by Dogmatix, and it is exactly as he said. At the mainland terminal you pay at a booth, then join the lanes awaiting the next ferry - no ticket issued. At the Koh Chang terminal you park in a lane and go to buy the ticket, which is collected as your lane is waved on to the ferry.

I don't think VFS clerks are expected to verify your identity. If the photos submitted do not approximate to that in the expiring passport, HMPO may require someone known to the applicant to certify that they are a true likeness. Lots of applications are made by agents without the applicant being present - otherwise, there would be no point in using an agent. Edit: I will be 85 if/when my passport needs renewing, and though I've made the trip to apply in person before, I too don't fancy doing it again.

I told them that when I came to Thailand almost 14 years ago.

I agree with you that if you are not a UK resident you almost certainly can not now open a new account, as my existing bank declined to do this for me a few years ago. But do you have any specialised knowledge of "banking regulations" or "current banking protocol" that leads you to imply that it is no longer legal for non-residents to hold a UK account and that those of us who still do are somehow getting away with it? The banks are obviously becoming more discriminatory about their customer base whether UK residents or not, but that seems to be for obscure commercial reasons rather than "regulations". On Page 2 of this thread I provided a link to the Banking Conduct of Business Source Book, where the only reference I found to customers without a UK address implies that the banks may deal with such customers. Can you supply any link that says they may not?

Thank you for that. Did they tell you that if your passbook shows a transaction every month then you don't need a statement as well? If that is the case then I am in the clear, as I use my BKK bank account for ATM withdrawals, nothing else.

Correct. We once fell foul of that - had to get off the bus and go to a local shop to buy an extra payment card.

I don't believe there is any law that says that if you are not a UK resident you can not keep a UK bank account - it is the banks who seem to be rejecting customers for whatever reason. How UK banks deal with their customers is set out in the Banking Conduct of Business Sourcebook - BCOBS.pdf (fca.org.uk) . I think you will not find in there anything which says that customers no longer resident in the UK must have their accounts closed. On the contrary, on Page 84 you will find this:- "This chapter does not apply in relation to: (a) an account held by a banking customer in respect of whom the main correspondence address held by the [bank] is outside the United Kingdom" i.e. the clear inference is that banks may have customers who are not living in the UK. I bank with First Direct, having done so for more than 10 years before I came to Thailand. They've not shown any sign of wanting to shut me down, but a few years back they stopped me from rolling over an annual savings product, because I'm not a UK resident. I looked through their terms and conditions, and there is a line which says your account may be closed "If you're no longer legally resident in the UK" - Now, you can argue that two ways, but I would say that's there to protect themselves against foreigners who overstay or otherwise infringe the Immigration Rules. As British citizens we have the Right of Abode in the UK and it should not be interpreted to apply to us. Perhaps some banks are doing so, and I sympathise with anyone who has lost out - there but for the Grace of God, etc.

Since about 2 years ago - see the link in Pib's post above. If you don't maintain it as per their requirement, expect to be refused an extension next time round.

When I had my problem (see above) the solar company put their hands up and admitted that they hadn't checked my type of meter when they did the installation, so they paid PEA to change it. Maybe yours will do the same?

I don't know if this is relevant to your case, but when I had solar installed 2.1/2 years ago, I noticed in the first month or so that my elec bill hadn't gone down at all. The reason was found to be the digital meter, which had been fitted a year or two before when a lightning strike blew out the original analogue box. The solar installers admitted that they hadn't thought to check the type of meter when they put the system in. I noticed that very sunny days registered a higher consumption rather than lower. There was a big pow-wow between the installers and PEA, who eventually fitted an analogue meter, problem solved. I don't understand enough about it to offer any explanation why the digital meter was incompatible with the solar installation.

Was that at Maptaphut office? If they are satisfied to see monthly transactions, then I don't need a statement. Thanks for the info.

A very good question. A while back I went on the HMPO website and put in as my country of residence South Africa and Brazil. In both cases an online application is possible. I think there are many countries from where an online application is accepted. I don't know why Thailand is singled out for the cumbersome procedure that we have to endure.

I know someone who recently tried this, to move the date of his annual retirement extension. He was told that if he did, they wouldn't grant a retirement visa, he would have to leave the country and start again. I'm not saying you're wrong, but if the OP gets an uncooperative IO who takes a dim view of this manoeuvre, he will have to try something else.

I like soy milk on my porridge, but prefer cow's milk in my tea.

Is that for a marriage extension? For a retirement one I think they require the full 12 months, which is what I submitted back in February. The OP discovered this week that they now want a bank statement as well, but it's not clear whether the same is required for marriage. When was your last renewal?

RBS is a subsidiary of NatWest

I didn't dispute what you wrote and thank you for your information. I was merely agreeing with the OP that the Rayong office appear to be tightening up on what they require.

Thanks. But the demand for a statement in addition to passbook entries is undoubtedly a new local requirement. When I did my extension in February the passbook on its own was all I needed, as I have done for the last 13 years. I'm careful to update my book every month. Overprinting of an entry can be an issue, though.

So to be clear, if you order a Bangkok bank statement a week in advance, it may not be dated for the day you apply for your extension but that will be accepted?

I had to replace a couple of tyres on my Isuzu DMax a few weeks ago and coughed at the price of Bridgestone and Dunlop, ended up with Nexen Rodian AT Pro at 6380Baht for the pair. They're quite chunky, Korean, reviews of quality seem quite favourable.

I had pretty much the same experience, ending up with an online reporting date of 16th July and a slip in my passport issued by the local office for 23rd July. At the beginning of the month I got the online reminder email, and did it on the 8th, approved last Friday 14th, with a next online date of October 5th. I no longer believe that the online reports are processed locally, but I may be wrong.