TroubleandGrumpy

The banks, especially in the west, have been pushing people to use their App on their phones for a reason and it aint for the customers. Same thing with the ATMs - remember them when they first came out - now there are less and less branches (that was the plan mate).

So many ways that it is impossible to say which one was involved - but all it takes is pressing the wrong button or opening the wrong email or text or message etc etc etc. And then there is the additional problems/issues that arise when using the app to pay for something. Endless. Scammers and hackers are attacking phones relentlessly - for a reason.

There are only 3 banks in Thailand that are 'fully certified' in Australia which has one of the best if not the best banking syhstem in the World as evidenced by the GFC in 2008-2009. Bangkok Bank, Kasikorn Bank and Siam Commercial Bank. I cancelled my SCB account when they decided to only offer phone app banking to its 'ordinary' customers. Neither BKK or KB have gone down that road and probably they never will.

I suggest you immediately do one of two things. Go into the Jomtein Immigration Office and ask those questions and find out what is needed and how best to do it. Go and see an Agent and ask those questions and find out what is needed and how best to do it - and how much they charge for doing it.

You can take it as a rant or advice - totally up to you - not compulsory - but maybe read the headline again (and a lot of other similar stories). I see many Thais doing things I would never do (riding bikes without helmets etc etc etc) - that is not a very good example as to why to use an app.

I thought the same. Did he fall over the low balcony rail (which is common) or did he try to jump into the pool (perhaps under influence of some drugs). Either way very sad - RIP. Happens too often in Thailand.

Good point. Making up for lost profits during Covid ?

Especially the 'wrong' one - meaning someone in power/wealthy, or who has a relative who is someone in power/wealthy. Tread very carefully and avoid any confrontation in Thailand. It is like having an argument with your mother-in-law about something your wife said/did - you cannot win, even if you are 'right' - just do not go there you foolish man - suck it up and move on princess.

Yes and No - I did read the full article. The story states that it was a business matter that went wrong between business partners. People do not end up in jail in the west when there is a dispute between partners in a business. Unless that person has subsequently been tried and found guilty of fraud - and even then a fine and agreed payment of all/part of the disputed amount usually suffices. As far as I read it, this guy has been accused of fraud by the partner but has not been found guilty in a court. The 'business agreement' that was reached was that he would return home and work to pay off the disputed amount of money - but he was detained when leaving the country, and has been in jail for 2 months since then. But as you say, it is complex and it is clearly complicated. My point being that in Thailand Expats and Tourists can end up in jail for things that in the west are handled in a civilised manner. In fact you can end up in a Thai jail for the most ridiculous minor matter. Best example is the US bloke that spent Friday to Monday in a Thai remand jail for writing bad Facebook and Tripadviser reviews about a hotel (defamation). The only way he could get out of jail was when he agreed to and deleted the posts, and the hotel owner then withdrew the charge. The American subsequently left the country and will never return - nor will any of his friends and family.

Yes indeed - well spotted. Most of the blokes living off only their pensions should be fine - but for some of them 3,000 Baht a month is a worry. As someone who is bringing in a lot more, and with plans in some years to bring in a large amoun (car/property, etc), it is a big concern. Plus of course it is the principle of the thing, not just the principal amount - as someone once said.

Makro prices have definitely gone up over the last year or so. And given that the Govt reductions in diesel/petrol and electricity will not flow 'down the food chain' for a long time, if ever, prices are going to stay higher for a while - maybe forever. Funny how increased costs always quickly flow up the food chain and prices go up almost immediately, but it just not want to do the same the other way. Not just in Thailand - Worldwide.

Thailand, especially Pattaya, is a totally disorganised clusterpharrk of incompetent people 'managing' civil works projects. If I recall correctly, this 'promise' was made months ago promising that all the roadworks and flood mitigations would be finished before the high season. And if I recall correctly again, this seems to happen every year. But I am 'older' so maybe I am not recalling things like I used to do Many years ago we attended the first LPGA golf tournament at the Siam Country Club in East Pattaya. We booked a hotel near the course for the full 4 days of the event, and on the morning of day 1 we drove from the hotel to the golf course. Well we tried to do that, but on the road going around the lake they were working on a bridge - it was 'gone' and they were building/erecting a new one. Absolutely no thought that this was a major road and they really should do one side at a time - although there was a small 'bridge' for people and bikes to go over. It took hours to go back around the other way - the traffic was a nightmare. When back at the hotel the manager said that they have been working on that for a long time and it will be many more weeks before they finish - he said they work for a few days and then 'disappear'. He advised that if we had a bike we could ride 'through there' and it would only take about 10 minutes. Needless to say we hired a bike from him - and as an added bonus we were allowed to park the bike right near the gate - a short walk inside. Every time we go to the LPGA we now do the same - drive to hotel and hire a bike - because of the free and easy parking.

Never use banking app on a phone - or any payment apps - there are many potential downsides - it is a risk. And in Thailand, or any 3rd world IT country with a dubious banking system and very few legal protections and legal rights, it is absolutely a massive risk. I worked in IT for 30+ years and have been saying this for years - they are phones - smart phones - but still they are phones. I guarantee you that if any Company (eg. Bank) or Government Dept (eg. Tax) is offering you something for nothing that will "make things easier for you to live your life and fulfill all your goals and ambitions' - it is a croc of poo-poo. They are doing it for their own benefit - not you. Unfortunately these days with so many young stupid over-educated idiots - banking and payment apps are being used a lot on phones. Which is a good thing, because that is what the scammers and hackers are all targetting these days. Meanwhile all us old school dinosaurs using heavily secured laptops and paying for everything using cash (like many Thais) are sailing in far smoother waters - we still have got to be careful, but far less chance of a major catastrophy.

I know of several blokes who are doing same - Cambodia or Laos. They plan to return for no more than 179 days each year - 2 times on a Automatic Visa (hopefully 90 days by then). As one bloke said - I can always pop over to Thailand for any required medical procedure, and the Loas, Cambodia and Malayis emergency services are OK - keep the money in Thailand to pay for things if/when needed. One bloke said he is going to check out all the neighbours including Malaysia (not Myanmar) - then back to Pattaya/Jomtien for 3 mths at a time. TAT will be happy - more tourists - and each Expat re-entering Thailand 2 times a year counts as 2 tourists

It was actually 'Pay the 2 dollars Roger" - but I accept your point. It would be OK if they wanted just a few dollars - but it looks like maybe they are after a lot more. As Dusty said - Wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin'

More of the amazing Thailand on show in the media - day after day after day - and they wonder why 'real' tourists are reluctant to come. Maybe finally they will listen to what Expats have been saying for many years about all the crime, graft and dangers. Only kidding - they will never listen - and there is always some reason outside Thailand to blame.

Phuket = Island of corruption and scams. We will NEVER again visit there - from being hit by the taxi mafia on arrival to all the rip-offs and scams, it was extremely annoying. Annoying to get them thrown at you every day, but even more annoying seeing dumb tourists paying up without complaint. Great beaches and some fantastic spots - but when even the leader of a Military Junta is told to 'shove off', you know the corruption is endemic and will never change. If it sank into the ocean, as long as all the Expats, tourists and Thai workers survived, I would be very happy.

That is total BS - both in terms of information and your p-poor attitude. Australia, New Zealnad, USA and most of Europe do not have dual-pricing because it is illegal. Did you know that it is technically illegal in Thailand? But of course in Thailand they get away with it - and the Courts have ruled it is OK 'because farang have more money and it is good for Thai people'.

Yes indeed - that is when Expats sometimes get caught out - when doing a 90 day report.

Good point - and we both know that they have not even thought about that 'conflict'. However - there is a way around the TM30/28 'problem'. Are you married or have a Thai GF. If you do then open booking account/s in her name. Make the booking/s in her name - herself plus 'husband' (no name asked for) When you arrive she goes and checks in - stay back in the foyer/etc and dont go near the counter/desk. The hotel does not want all the crap with TM30 reports etc - and if booking is in a Thai name for 2 people, there is no problems for them. Only downside I can see is if you have a car accident or get into trouble with local officials - not having reported you being somewhere else - but IMO they would likely be less than interested in getting involved in that and you have bigger problems anyway.

Yes indeed - that is the way to go. I find Agoda and Expedia are the best options - there is often some hotel under booked and they offer serious discounts to get more visitors on those days.

I agree 100% about how the Thai Immigration system treats long term Expats living in Thailand - utterly contemptable and ignorant. Could I ask what the 15K Baht costs are? I thought the Marriage Visa was 5K Baht. Are you including travel and accomodation costs maybe?

This is just another example of why all Expats in Thailand have to be very very careful when doing any business deals here - including when buying or selling a property or a business. Not only can things go pearshaped very quickly, but you can end up in a Thai jail - and you do not want to go there - just ask Stig.

I just had to check out this latest TAT BS - and yes it is total BS - yet again. The TAT 'deal' is offering 42% discount on a rooms with BF at Hotel in Bangkok - 2800 Baht (no names). I just looked at Expedia and the same room (with BFast) at the same hotel is 2600 Baht. TAT are truly amazing - in that they still exist and still waste a lot of Thai tax money.

We have agreed before and diagreed before too - but on this one we are in agreement mate. First time 2010 - went back in 2017 (for Pension) - back again last year. I have a few regrets here, but nothing too big to mention :) Pension and Self-Funded. I (and then we) used to go back every year to visit, but now both my parents have passed, so going forward I have no plans to do so again. My kids and friends all have an open invitation to come and stay as long as they like - we communicate via emails and Line etc. The only serious negative here is how I am treated by the Thai Immigration 'system' - not by the people. I have to 'report' like a parolled criminal every 90 days, complete a TM30/28 whenever I holiday somewhere or change my address, request permission to leave and re-enter when we decide to holiday outside Thailand, request permission to stay another 12 months. And I have to do that all again, and again, and again. But in return I get zero legal rights and no Govt benefits, and I am forced to pay extra for things because I am not Thai. We budget to spend about 1 Million Baht every year in Thailand, and that I have to go through all of that is seriously annoying. Meanwhile they beg and plead and throw offers at Chinese Russian Indian etc. tourists to come to Thailand and spend 50K Baht each (on average). I am worth 20,000 Tourists and I am here all year every year - and there are a lot of Expats just like me - and in the years when we buy a car or a house/condo, we spend a lot more. Effin annoying. This upcoming possible income tax imposition is IMO a deal-breaker. If I am forced to pay income taxes, given all I go through as detailed in the previous paragraph, then we are leaving Thailand. My wife has never paid income taxes in Thailand - like the vast majority of Thgais - she (and I) pay VAT. There are actually two deal-breakers if they become compulsory - Income taxes and Thai health insurance. I have said enough about income taxes, but with regards to Thai health insurances we refuse to pay for something that is not worth the money paid, and which is not guaranteed or regulated, and which will inevitably involve massively increased annual premiums as I get older. We are self-funded in that we have a separate bank account with a pool of funds for 'emergencies' - including medical. Yes I love the place and want to stay - but there are reasons we would leave. Where too? Philippines, Malaysia (Penang), Indonesia (Bali), and in the future we may even go back to Australia (we are both citizens).