TroubleandGrumpy

Sorry mate, but you have no idea - see my last response and 'study up'.

Long way from being right - that statement.

Maybe you do not know what I am talking about - this is for yourself. Deposit Protection Agency (DPA) If you understood the banking system in Thailand and others around the world, you would know what I mean. Thailand's banking system is not 1st world - only 3 banks have 'decent' international deposit acceptances (over a certain amount). There are no Thai banks operating in any 1st world country - that I am aware of last time I read up on it.

The new rule starts 1 January 2024 - anything remitted into Thailand before that date remains under the old arrangement. Any money remitted into Thailand after 1 Jan 2024 is under the new rules/regulation.

Yes indeed - just organised my last transfer. Next year I will only remit into Thailand my Pension - no retirement savings - until things are clarified and certainty is obtained. Anyone bringing in a large amount of money in 2024 is obviously either brave, stupid or a gambler (or all) - or they are not aware of the issue. I am not sure that it is not possible to be aware - but I do understand that some retirees here are just 'having a party'.

Many ways - just alone compared to what the banks in Australia do and how they operate - let alone all the limitations and exclusions in Thailand. But I will give you one - Govt Guarantees - in Thailand the Govt guarantee is 1 million baht - that is it. Many more - but perhaps 3rd world was harsh - lets make that 2nd world. One more - when all those Expat's money was stolen by a bank staff member in Pattaya, did they ever get their money back? I recall that for years they were protesting. One more - UK bloke had his house 'stolen' in Phuket by ex-wife who is now in jail, but he cannot get house back - new Thai owner took out large loan from a Thai bank and they refuse to lose that money. Lots more - easy to find.

IMO this is viable and will probably go ahead - if/when China and India economies recover post Covid and they can pay/invest most of it. Part canal and part rail/road - IMO definitely achievable and worth it for the smaller cargo ships - but not the huge ones - they will continue to go via the Mallacca Straits. The Malacca Straits has about 300 ships per day - it is becomming more and more of a problem. China and India and many African countries are increasing their trade links - that alone makes it viable. Add to that the growing trade being undertaken between China and many African Nations, and it is even more viable. But IMO there is no way that those countries investing in this will let this be done by Thailand. They will employ Thai labour but there is no way they will let Thais control and manage this project - the evbidence is all around you of all the failed/collapsing infrastructure projects run by Thais. They wont admit it - but in the past this has been a major blocking point for this project - the uber wealthy Thais (you know who) want to control (and milk) the project. Hopefully this new Thai Govt will just do what Panama and Suez Govts did - let the experts (China) manage and pay for everything - take the workers salaries (no cheap Myamars, Laos or Cambodians), and rake in the ongoing fees and taxes.

I feel for you Bro. I have a top denture that over the years just keeps getting bigger as I lose more teeth, and clearly I am headed in your direction. Some years ago my Mother was having some troubles with her full dentures, so I took her to a recommended denture specialist - that was all he did. He said the dentures she had were cheap and not really the right type - so I got her a totally new set. They were a massive improvement for her and they lasted until she passed away over 10 years later. Maybe go to a denture specialist and get a new denture - that will probably be better than trying to 'glue' an ill-fitting set in every day. He/she will also know what is the best denture adhesive to use.

Sorry mate - all I know is that the Thailand banking system is not 1st and probably not fully compliant as a 2nd world system - and not being able to do this is one of the many reasons why. Citibank had an international banking accounts system whereby you can put money into an account here and transfer it to the Citibank account in Aust when the conversion rate suits you best. But NAB recently bought them out - so maybe not anymore. Maybe check out HSBC.

Until things change drastically I will never use an App to access my banking funds in Thailand. Besides all the obvious idiocy and constant IT failures here - as an Expat I will have SFA change of getting things sorted quickly and correctly - no access to Tribunals or whatever. The recent move by Thailand to join the EU world banking reporting system, hopefully means they will actually look into the rigour of their banking onlinbe security systems and processes.

Here in Thailand it is a total waste of time. They have implemented things to try and reduce the death toll on the roads, but just like all bureracracies all over the world, they have implemented something that looks good, but actually makes little/no difference. Employs more public servants, costs tax payers a lot, and forces impositions on the people - but it does not work - and it is not done 'properly'. There was an older guy in the queue ahead of me doing the tests - he failed the colour tests, he was too slow on the reactions, and he seemed to fail the peripheral vision (hands were going upo and down a lot - guessing?). They were extremely sympathetic and helped him and passed him. Wife said he probably just drives from his farm to the local market etc. I said he would not need a licence to do that and that I hope he does not drive a truck full of crap down to Bangkok. The 'solution' to reducing road deaths is simple - one for riders and one for drivers. Force all bike riders to wear an approved (decent) helmet - no exceptions. Implement nationwide random booze buses, with severe penalties for massively drunk drivers (including jail). That is all that is needed to massively reduce the toll. Added to that I would implement red light cameras - but not speed cameras - that should only be done by policemen on the roads in cars or on bikes. All the rest is bureacucratic crap - designed to rake in more and more money.

All good no problemo.

You serious?? Mate - under the UN Human Rights Convention all signatories must provide 'aid and assistance' to all 'refugees' (illegals) claiming to be refugees - while their claims (and years of appeals) are undertaken. Once approved or allowed, they have a short waiting period (each country different) before they qualify for social welfare benefits. Very few get rejected and deported - many 'rejected' ones just disappear. It is an 'industry' mate - some say it is an invasion.

The biggest drains on economic productivity are becomming far too large and unaffordable. Those two main draws are social welfare and public servants. Basically they are all the people that got paid during Covid, when many of the productive members of society lost their jobs/business. There are too many unproductive people in UK and most other western countries, and they are growing in numbers every year. The fact is that many illegals also go to those countries, not for the opportunity to work, but for the social welfare benefits they can get. But the bigger problem is all the people who believe that the Govt owes them a living. As USSR and all the other failed Socialist countries find out - it does not work in the end.

As someone that has ridden bikes for over 4 decades, I can first hand state that there is no such thing as an expensive helmet - after you fall off at high speed. It is unlikely that anyone in Thailand will ever reach the speeds of Eastern Creek or Phillip Island, but there is no such thing IMO as spoending too much on a helmet. The only thing they cannot fix or replace (within reason) is a head. In Thailand IMO the brand must be an overseas made one - any of the big name brands. Arai and Shoei have been the best over a long period of time. Given the speeds likely here, a top of the range helmet that racers get is not really that necessary - but if you can afford it, then get it. The main things for me (at my age) are a full-face (due to much slower reaction times) and one that has great ventilation.

You have reminded me of an issue that has long annoyed me - that mosquitos have not been eradicated. Flies perform a useful function, as do all the other insects, but WTF do mosquitos do. The reason I am extra annoyed is that they can eradicate them. There has been a gentic modification discovered that goes one step beyond the one that steralises the males in the local area. I remember reading the scientific report over 10 years ago. It was shelved for 2 reasons. One being that it is inhumane to eradicate a species - that one I did not and will not ever agree with. Number two being that they are not certain if somehow it could spill over to other species - I can see that. But IMO it is worth the risk. People claim Religion has killed more people - but the fact is that since we first became civilised (farming etc), more humans have been killed by mosquitos than anything else - by a long long way. And 1000s of times that number have been made sick. AND they have also killed many more of the other species of mammals. IMO time to bite the bullet and just eradicate them.

Not in Thailand. They are way more 'active' at night here than any dogs I have ever lived with or near in Australia. One reason I think that applies in Thailand is that they sleep a lot during the day here.

On a serious note - I have been thinking about getting one of these devices to stop the neighbour's dog. Crisis of Conscience – Ultrasonic – awesomedogs I have even thought of what would be the 'best' way to use it. My devious black heart said to turn it on all day full blast so the bastard animal cannot sleep, and then he will be too tired at night to bark at anything and everything that moves. Perhaps that is going a step too far??

Not sure what happened there - but that is not my comment - it is the OP. My only comments have been trying to get the details of the bank - or which ones it was not one of (big 4). Your comments are right - within each branch would be routing type device/s - but not a full blown server.

All this is good to know about - lots of good advice. I would add that it is very important to give feedback - it is when people give bad reviews that bad sellers are shown for what they are, and good ones too. And never buy from someone with only a few feedbacks.

Yes you need a medical certificate in Rayong - why I do not know, but Covid sounds as good a reason as any.

Yep - some things are best not bought online.

Us Expats will never really understand why the Thais have such a reluctance to 'put down' stray dogs. Their beliefs are very alien in many ways to ours, and this is one of the most stark differences. We used to live in a cheaper gated community where there was a dog that regularly escaped, and would chase and threaten the kids playing in that street. One Expat who lived a couple of houses away from where the dog was located, was very worried about his young kids. We talked about it one day and I agreed with him that it was a huge risk and that it was just a matter of time before the dog did hurt one of the kids. I said he has two choices - get rid of himself (move) or get rid of the dog. The problem in getting rid of the dog of course, was that the neighbours would know and there would be trouble - even catching it and taking it away somewhere, would be problematic. They were renting and so he moved out of the village. That was one of the many lessons I learned about why buying in Thailand is not always the best option - and if you do buy a house, make sure it is in a gated community that 'manages' any dog issue quickly and firmly. Likewise for buying a unit/condo - make sure soi dogs are not going to be an issue - especially barking at night.

I previously obtained a car and bike licence in Chiang Mai - and it was the same smooth process with efficient staff and processes - with less testing than at Rayong. Seems to me that all the Immigration Offices I have visited over the years could use some 'advice' from the Transport/Licence Office on how to do things easier and better (and nicer). Rayong Immigration Office is good, but many staff in the others are not so good. IMO it all comes down to their dress In the Transport/Licence Offices they are all dressed 'normally' and they therefore act normally and nicely. But in the Immigration Offices they are all dressed like little effin Generals with medals and regalia all over themselves, and they act like self-important a****** (not all - but many). In fact, I think they should ban all Thai public servants working in public facing roles (including politicians, teachers, etc.) from wearing any unforms - I think that may stop them getting a 'little hitler' syndrome. The people at Rayong Transport/Licence all had yellow collared shirts, but clearly they dont suffer from the mental issues of those that wear military uniforms and medals/etc. Just a thought.

That is why I was hoping for a 'Yes' or 'No' - to the question.