MangoKorat
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Google Wallet
MangoKorat replied to scubascuba3's topic in Jobs, Economy, Banking, Business, Investments
Fully aware of that - as you say, it was a famous case at the time. But no thanks, I don't want an iphone. However, and I have no intention of getting into an argument on this but just as the FBI couldn't crack that iphone, Whatsapp claim their messaging is 100% end to end encrypted. Yet there are reports that the Mossad, the Israeli Intelligence agency, gained access to Whatsapp messages on over 1400 phones. -
Car tax ticket & car tax itself
MangoKorat replied to Robert Paulson's topic in Thailand Motor Discussion
Am I right in saying that if you don't tax your car for 3 years, its de-registered? -
Google Wallet
MangoKorat replied to scubascuba3's topic in Jobs, Economy, Banking, Business, Investments
Its absolutely true - it was done as I stood there. The phone was a fairly basic Samsung - around a 2020 model with a 6 digit lock code. I'm presuming he entered some sort of code, he wouldn't let me see but he had my phone for less than 2 minutes. This was at the Samsung Repair Centre in Leeds UK. Think about it though - if thieves couldn't gain access to phones or they had to re-install software, the phones they steal would be worth very little. Look at the software that car thieves have now - many keys can be copied as long as they're close enough to the computer with the software on it. They also have devices that can 'read' car keys from just outside your house and then relay that reading to another device being used to start your car. Each time security of any sort is upgraded, the bad guys find a way around it. -
Just bring them in yourself. You would not believe what I've brought in.......................including a 5 ring gas burner, TV, full house worth of electric plug sockets and back boxes, roll of copper gas pipe, front and rear seats for my bike, set of brake and clutch levers, full CCTV system, vintage hifi separates system and speakers......................never been checked. All in checked luggage/oversize baggage. If you do, just to be on the safe side make sure you have an invoice with you which I'd suggest is for a much lower price. Nobody's going to question a set of shocks at 1/4 of the price your paying.
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Google Wallet
MangoKorat replied to scubascuba3's topic in Jobs, Economy, Banking, Business, Investments
Hardly, are you not aware of how these people operate? They choose people who are on their phones at the time so they're not likely to be locked. In addition, a guy in a phone shop opened my locked phone in a few seconds - he wouldn't show me how he did it. Probably by entering some code or other and you can bet your bottom dollar that phone thieves will have access to that information. -
Russian Businessman Arrested for Alleged Assault, Illegal Weapons
MangoKorat replied to webfact's topic in Koh Samui News
555 So now they're moving their entire operations to Thailand. Breaking News! Putin annexes Phuket. -
Google Wallet
MangoKorat replied to scubascuba3's topic in Jobs, Economy, Banking, Business, Investments
I won't rattle on about that too much as we're way off topic but I've seen clear evidence of Thai's hiding their actual income. A few years ago I bought some jewellery at a gold shop and when I attempted to pay with my Thai debit card, I was told they'd have to charge me an extra 3% (I think 3) for using my card. I questioned this because that usually only applies to credit cards. I ended up paying cash. A few days later whilst at my local Kasikorn branch, I asked the assistant manager if they charged businesses for debit card transactions. I was told that they don't. I raised the matter of what happened at the jewellery shop, he told me that's normal - "they do under the table sir". As it happens, the jewellery shop also banked with Kasikorn and he told me that the man in question regularly comes in to the branch and deposits large amounts of cash into his personal account. So he actually records his potentially (almost certainly) tax evading income but thinks its safe in his personal account...........bah mak! They clearly aren't checked (yet) like we are in the UK - black money is black money and must stay that way. If the RD gets serious, and I suspect they will - as I say, I suspect cash will start to become more popular again. -
Russian Businessman Arrested for Alleged Assault, Illegal Weapons
MangoKorat replied to webfact's topic in Koh Samui News
If you were sending officers to arrest someone under suspicion of gun running, who would you send? -
Russian Businessman Arrested for Alleged Assault, Illegal Weapons
MangoKorat replied to webfact's topic in Koh Samui News
Yes, I wonder if 'ordinary' Russian people ever questioned just how many millionaires were created, almost overnight when the supposedly almost bankrupt communist system collapsed. They were most likely gangsters before that event and it seems a relatively small number of them carved up previously national assets. I doubt many Oligarchs have decided to move their 'Superyachts' to Thailand but as with all gangsters, they have their lieutenants who carry out their dirty work. I think its a fair bet that its those lieutenants that are flocking to Thailand - the outcome is predictable. Great move from the inept, cash is king Thai government - give Russians longer visas, lay on special flights for them, etc. etc. They complain about the number of Western criminals that make Thailand their home - they ain't seen nothing yet! -
Google Wallet
MangoKorat replied to scubascuba3's topic in Jobs, Economy, Banking, Business, Investments
When I'm in Thailand, between Pak Chong and Khao Yai - currently on and off but I'll be making the move later this year. Currently far enough away from Mitraphap not to smell the petrol and diesel fumes but near enough for Lotus and Makro to be 10 minutes away. However, I'm within 500m of the new M6 motorway and I will reconsider things when that opens - I have a potential move under consideration. When I bought my current home, a major consideration was that its well South West of Pak Chong and the prevailing wind is also South West. I'm rarely exposed to any air pollution from the city area. Its also not a big Sugar Cane/Cassava area, I've never seen any crop waste burning locally. The downside of that its that Bangkok is also South West and I have on occasion noted a slight yellow haze. As I say, its a compromise, if I wanted the cleanest air possible, I probably wouldn't choose Thailand at all. As with many things, the Thai government does a lot of talking about air quality but in reality, does very little. -
Google Wallet
MangoKorat replied to scubascuba3's topic in Jobs, Economy, Banking, Business, Investments
The value of my phone is very little, I believe I paid 5500 baht for mine and it does all I want it to. A friend always buys the latest iphone and pays a gazillion baht for them. I'm yet to see him do something with his phone that I can't do with my cheapie. We all, to a greater or lesser extent, rely on our phones for so many things these days. I choose to keep that to a minimum but even then, losing the content on my phone would be a major inconvenience. I periodically transfer photos and documents from my phone to my laptop but it would still give me major hassle if I lost it or it was stolen. For now, I think I can live without things like Google wallet although I'm aware things are changing fast. I doubt that cash will become obsolete in Thailand in my lifetime. The Revenue Department is currently looking for additional income and if/when they start looking closely at the financial activities of the millions of Thai's that claim to earn less than the tax threshold, I think cash will see a resurgence. -
Google Wallet
MangoKorat replied to scubascuba3's topic in Jobs, Economy, Banking, Business, Investments
Thought so. -
Google Wallet
MangoKorat replied to scubascuba3's topic in Jobs, Economy, Banking, Business, Investments
Air quality comes close to the top of the list when choosing where I live. However, as with many things, it can be wise to compromise. For me, the compromise is between pollution and convenience. I don't want to be miles away from shops and facilities etc. but I certainly would want to breathe the air in Bangkok for example. I'm not keen on carbon monoxide. -
Google Wallet
MangoKorat replied to scubascuba3's topic in Jobs, Economy, Banking, Business, Investments
Almost certainly sarcasm but on the off chance that you are serious, just Google it. -
Google Wallet
MangoKorat replied to scubascuba3's topic in Jobs, Economy, Banking, Business, Investments
Agreed, I also use cash as much as possible in the UK. Any form of payment where you don't see the money actually leaving you risks you losing track of what you spend. I do like the Kasikorn notifications system though - each time I use my card or a Direct Debit/Transfer goes out (or in), I get a notification of that transaction and an up to date balance.