MangoKorat

Doubtful, the line would be a pretty easy target.

If the Usufruct is correctly constructed and registered on the title, any new owner has to accept the rights granted by it. A change of ownership does not affect the rights of the Usufructuary. A Usufruct ends on the death of the Usufructuary or when they wish to end it, I have never seen one that has any stated duration - 30 years or otherwise.

I have no knowledge of forex trading or any form or currency trading. All I know is that when the pound dropped to 38/39 against the baht, a discussion was held on here regarding the future of the pound against the baht. In that discussion some of our resident 'experts' were predicting the pound would continue to fall against the baht, some saying the mid 20's were likely, as they said, the pound was doomed. Shortly after that the rate went back up to 40/41 and the trending rate has continued to rise. I believe that intitially that was more to do with the weakness of the baht but more recently, I believe the pound is strengthening. As I say, I'm no expert but at the time I said it would never happen and was met with pages of detailed examinations from the 'experts' - giving their reasons why it would. It didn't. So, I will repeat its 'Nice to see the exchange rate nudging 46 after all the 'experts' on here were predicting the £ would fall to the mid 20's a few months back.

Care to explain? I haven't mentioned the dollar.

Sorry, a quote not necessariy a rule. Where is it from?

There are all sorts of reasons being given for the air pollution the North is experiencing. However, those I know who live in the area place the blame squarely at the feet of the farmers who burn Sugar Beet. Seeing this going on a different area with less dangerous but significant effects, I tend to believe that explanation. So, as usual the Thai government is doing a lot of talking about how to deal with the air pollution when it seems that simple enforcement of the law would fix the problem. Just like tha annual 'Road Safety' 'announcements' which are almost due with Songkran just around the corner - there is no point in any 'discussions' or 'directives' - just bloody enforce the law! Why are these two items - road safety and air pollution the subject of these talks every year? By May it will all be forgotten about for another year but nothing will have changed on either matter.

Nice to see the exchange rate nudging 46 after all the 'experts' on here were predicting the £ would fall to the mid 20's a few months back.

That's not what I'm refering to. Before they updated their website, when I made a transfer the system was automatically set to 'Pay By Bank Transfer' - I presume that was because I'd always paid that way. After the update the default setting changed to 'Debit Card'. As can be seen in the screenshots below, it is very easy to change that but I didn't notice it because I'd previously just clicked through that step - I'd never had to change it before. Fortunately, as they don't have my debit card details recorded in my file, I was asked to provide them and that's when I realised the change. As you can see in the screenshots - there is a £4.18 charge for using a debit card on a £1000 transaction.

As you've seen in the post immediately after yours, I'm not the only one that's heard that more time may be given. Can you supply a link to the 'rule' you've posted please?

Guys, the OP is not asking how to try and get out without getting fined. He's asking if he'll have a problem with his embassy when he applies for a new passport.

I doubt most Thai's have any knowledge of that law. I also read somewhere that if the property proves difficult to sell and you can show that you are genuinely trying to sell the land, you can apply for further time. I would expect that in that case, you would have to be asking a fair price - not just asking way over the odds in order to stay longer.

Unfortunately, from what I'm told they don't require the regsitered owner to be present provided the person claiming to have bought the property has the Chanotte. Copies of ID card and Tabien Baan are normally accepted but I suspect that they will also want some form of Power of Atorney. They want that to transfer a car without the owner present so it would a bit strange if they didn't want one for land. Ultimately it is entirely possible for land to be transfered without the owner present (possibly brown envelopes involved) - as I've read of several fraudulent transfers done that way. There was a famous case where a Thai woman married to an American who's company owned a lot of property, forged her husband's signature and had it confirmed as true by a lawyer she was in league with. The pair transferred some of the American's property and sold it. Famous because Jonathan Head, the BBC's S.E. Asia correspondent reported on the story and was sued by the lawyer for defamation. Both the lawyer and the woman had been convicted of the crime but as you probably know - Thailand has some very odd defamation laws. I'm told that they sometimes want the phone number of the registered owner and call them - that wouldn't be too difficult to fake.

Not to mention that you could have killed someone eh?

The only problem I've had that's similar is that when they updated their website recently, the payment method defaults to 'Card'. I've never used my debit card to send money to my Wise account - I always make online transfers. The rate for online transfers is slightly better than using a debit card but if you are sending large transfers, that difference could be significant. Previously the default was online transfer - I presumed that was because that was the method I'd always used. I contacted Wise toaks why the system defaulted to 'Card' and was told that I can go into my account and delete whichever payment methods I don't want to use.

Yes, this is nothing compared to what those terrible foreigners do.

Will they be having a clamp down on these violent Thai's?

Road Map - doesn't say its happened yet.

Not sure that's correct but it would depend on which country the OP wants to export his bike to. Is there no distinction between commercial and personal imports in the EU? For the UK: I used to import cars and there were major differences between what was required for a commercial import and a personal import - basically all you had to do for a personal import is make sure it passed a UK MOT test and pay duties. An import has to pass an MOT under rules as they stoood when it was first manufactured. Type Appoval regulations used to apply but only to commercial imports and had to be applied for from the manufacturer. If no Type Approval existed for that particular model, it could not be registered in the UK. A mate of mine who was in the same business once got stuck with about 5 Opel Corsa's. That model was actually called a Vauxhall Nova in the UK at the time - no Type Approval existed for a Corsa, even though they were the same car and could be ordered from Europe in right hand drive form (minor trim differences). He eventually got that sorted through importing them through Ireland, Northern Ireland and then on to the UK but I doubt he made a bean on them in the end. My ER6 in Thailand is identical to a UK bought bike. Even the digital speedometer can be switched to miles per hour so as far as I know, it will pass a UK MOT. I know there have been some changes to the rules but I don't think a personal import is particularly difficult, there are plenty of US bikes still being shipped to the UK. The thing the OP has to consider is that there will be VAT and import duty to pay. No Idea of those rates in the EU but for the UK - VAT is currently 20% and import duty is 8% under 250cc and 6% for over 250cc. Duties are levied on the total import value, including shipping costs. When I was importing cars the duties were based on the invoice price which could be, shall we say, 'adjusted'. However, these days I believe they use trade guides such as Glass's for values. Unless we are talking about a particular model that is either very expensive, has sentimental value or is not available in the country he wants to export it to, its probably not worth the hassle. If the same model is available where he plans to take his bike, shipping, VAT and import duties will probably wipe out any saving he may be hoping to make - if that's his aim. EDIT: Just seen the OP's reply that he's not intending to register the bike abroad - I'll leave the above information in place as it may be useful for others. No idea what his position will be - almost certain that he will be able to ride it into the EU as a visitor without any duties but there will no doubt be a time limit after which duties may have to be paid. Considering the amount of movements of vehicles between different EU states, I'm not sure how they could check on that.

And just what does he think will happen to future tourism when today's tourists arrive and see how things are? How will people feel when they find the mountain views the glossy brochures promised can't be seen and they are advised to wear masks? Bitter tastes tend to last a long time.

Ahh the 'Main Dealer' myth. The best mechanics normally start their own businesses. When I was at college, just about all the 'useless' students worked at Main Dealers. Also, as Main Dealers are more expensive, people tend to go to independents when cars are older - therefore Main Dealers often don't come across some of the faults that can develop on older cars. In general, independents have a much broader experience and are likely to diagnose a fault faster. As with the cars themselves, there are good and bad repairers of all types but I'd pitch a good independent against a Main Dealer any day of the week.

Its not difficult. I didn't own a Chevrolet when they pulled out of Thailand but I remember reading on here (then ThaiVisa) that they had stated they would guarantee the provision of spare parts for at least 10 years. I simply did a Google search and found GP Auto Parts very easily. The Sonic by the way, is not US engineered. Both Honda and Toyota have generally good reputations for quality but they are not perfect. Toyota for example have had several recalls in recent years for airbag problems. Both Honda and Toyota have had problems with their CVT transmission systems. I think the decision on which brand to buy when looking at secondhand cars should also take account of the price. What would usually be a reliable car can depend a lot on whether its been serviced correctly or not and Thai people are not particularly known for servicing their cars (although I think that situation is improving). When I bought my Sonic, alternative brands such as Toyota were commanding 50-80,000 baht more and that gap has now widened considerably in some cases a comparible Toyota model is now more than double. There's no guarantee with any brand that the claimed service history is correct. I would not be at all happy to pay 250-300,000 for a 10 year old Yaris for example but that's the price range many are asking. I guess I'm lucky, I'm an ex mechanic, although I'm not up to date with all the electrickery on up to date cars, I can usually spot a lemon or a car that's been poorly serviced.

What are 'lingering charges' - ones that hide behind parked cars ready to jump out when you pass?

Yes, according to the news there's been more of other nationalities but its interesting that the according to a news report on here today - the authorities are focusing their clampdown on Phuket. Why could that be? As for Putin sending his operatives, unlikely - him and Srettha are very chummy at the moment - Thailand is buying some of the oil Putin lost due to Russian oil being sanctioned over Ukraine. Now he's just 'won' another term in office, Putin will already be writing out orders for the next batch of canon fodder - he won't give a damn who tha includes. Just a thought though, if you're a Russian and you get drafted whilst living abroad, would they ask you to/demand that you, return?

I think you're refering to US cars in the main. GM have applied the Chevrolet badge to several brands that they bought. Some brands/models are terrible some are OK. BMW are regarded by many as a quality brand but you wouldn't accept that if you bought a 2007 to 2012 2.0 diesel engined BM with the single cam chain engine that disintegrated. You might also be an unhappy chappy if you'd bought one of their Mini's that have been afflicted with serious engine faults and electric power steering that packed up. I have a Sonic 1.4 non turbo hatchback and its fine. I've driven Toyota's equivalent, the Yaris and I wasn't impressed especially as they cost at least 50,000 more (secondhand). GM pulling out of Thailand lead to some scaremongery on parts which has in turn lead to lower values across the range. Some real bargains can be had - depending on the model. The Captiva has a pretty bad reputation but Colorado's and Trailblazers shared a lot of parts with Isuzus - they're pretty decent and as I say, I'm very happy with my Sonic. GM may sell under one brand name in some countries but use a different brand name in another. The cars they make in the US may not be any good (no idea on that) but quite a few of the other brands/models they sell are fine. I have a Peugeot Van in the UK that is actually made by Fiat and has a Ford engine. My Citroen (UK) is also branded as a Peugeot and a Toyota - its actually made at a Toyota factory in The Czech Republic. Peugeot, Citroen and Vauxhall (GM) share the same floorpan and engine and some other parts in many versions of their 208 model. Manufacturers are sharing all sorts of parts these days - its not really possible to state one brand is good or bad.

AC Delco are owned by GM - Chevolet is a GM brand. GP Autoparts sell both AC Delco and specific Chevrolet branded parts. They are Chevrolet's official parts stockist in Thailand and as I've stated a few times, I've not had a probelm obtaining anything I've ordered from them and the parts I've ordered could hardly be described as 'service parts'. So far I've ordered: 1 x Gearlever complete (auto) 1 x Upper L/H engine mounting 1 x Upper R/H engine mounting 1 x Lower engine stabiliser 1 x Set, radiator cowlings All parts were available ex stock immediately. The engine mountings and a kit to repair the gear lever were also available as after-market parts should I have chosen to go down that route.