JimmyTobacco

Yeah I wouldn't mind to do a few things myself, but this time I had so much to fix that I thought it would work out cheaper if I had the mechanic do it all at the same time. Interestingly though here it seems they quote you a fixed price per job (tyre=1500, chain=350, oil=240, etc.) where back home they will quote you the price for the parts plus an hourly fee, so it makes it cheaper to do multiple things at the same time, since for example changing the chain and the back tyre both require removing the back wheel. Though with an hourly fee of around 3000 baht I think "cheaper" might not actually be the right word haha. so about the speedometer, perhaps you can give me some advice. the thing is that it is working, but it is showing only one digit, which more or less corresponds to the tens, but not entirely. it will be somewhere in the range of 1 to 11, but I would say it shows 11 when I'm driving about 90 kph. the mechanic was convinced it was the speedometer cable and replaced it, but it made no difference (I still paid 900 baht for the new cable which I didn't need). he said that พังทั้งหมดเลย (everything is broken) and quoted me around 4000 baht for the 37100-KPP-T01 complete Honda OEM measurement set. now I know it's not the digits on the panel itself which are broken because when I turn the bike on, it shows all the digits up to 188 or something like that. I am also not finding a lot of replacements online for the panel for the 2017 version (more easily for the 2018-2022 version). I'm not so familiar with drive units, not sure what you mean by that.

I recently bought a Honda CBR150 from 2017 for around 20k. I really love this bike, especially after I fixed all of its issues (new back tyre, new headlight, new gearshifter, new clutch cable, new chain, new suspension, oil change). The speedometer is not working properly. They already replaced the cable but that doesn't seem to work. I am looking to see if I can install some aftermarket panel on it and if that will fix the issue. Actually I was also surprised how cheap it was. The total bill was a little over 6000 baht. Back home that would have cost me over 40,000 baht for sure.

Hi I recently transferred a motorbike into my name and got the por ror bor sticker. Unfortunately I already lost it. I attached it to my license plate in a round plastic holder which seems to have disappeared. It might have gotten stuck somewhere behind another motorbike when trying to get out of a tight parking spot. It's hard to find info online but from what I've found so far ... is it true I need to go to the police station to report it and then go to the transport office to get a new one? Or is there an easier way?

Am I eligible for this visa or can I somehow get it if I am a self-employed professional in the translation/editing/copywriting sector?

Hi I would need to rent a condo for 1 to 2 months in the Jet Yod or Nimman area with someone who has a leg injury. So it needs to have an elevator and preferably also the least amount of steps or differences in floor level possible, at least between living/bedroom and bathroom. Other requirements are aircon, reliable wifi, cleanliness, and a basic kitchen with countertop, fridge and microwave. Preferably also a balcony and a desk. Any recommendations very welcome, thanks!

Coming from a western European country, one of the things that amazes me the most in Thailand is the abundance of staff everywhere: at the airports, at bigger shops, in the malls etc. Certainly staff in Europe is not so easy to come by and it is a big expense. Now I know Thailand has a very low minimum wage and relatively more young people than Europe. And also Thailand is more service-minded for sure. But for me this is not enough of an explanation. This weekend when we were at HomePro and looking around me in 360 degrees I saw about 20 staff members, all doing absolutely nothing. Earlier, when we were looking at vacuum cleaners, there were about 15 other staff standing around. Most of them do nothing. It was not busy in the shop. So cheap labor or not, it seems that having so much staff around is an absolute waste of money. My girlfriend suggested that having a certain number of staff might give the company some additional tax benefits or increase the company's value. What is the true reason there is so much staff everywhere?

My girlfriend actually told me she prefers to be with a Farang BECAUSE a Farang does not expect to pay everything for his woman. She thinks that most Thai men are old-fashioned in the sense that they will expect to pay for their woman, making her dependent upon him. She told me that with me, she can feel like she contributes as much financially as me, and feels she is her own woman more than she ever could with a Thai man. I couldn't believe it when she told me, he had to ask her for clarification about 3 times before I was convinced I had heard it right and it was not just something else getting lost in translation. Normally we use an app to split our expenses 50-50. Food, rent, everything. I do sometimes offer to pay for things which I know are expensive for her or that she normally would not do or get if it wasn't for me. But we are generally talking about relatively small things. Pizza, massage, something like that. And no we are not married, but she tells me she is not so interested in marriage in general. You'd be surprised how independent some Thai women are, especially if they have a decent income themselves. And with all of this, my gf still does not expect or even want me to do half of the household, like an independent woman in my country would. She honestly treats me like a <deleted> king. If I attempt to clean up, she will tell me "go rest, you are tired", even though she works more than me. She won't take no for an answer. She does so much for me. I do make sure I give her some good D in return most nights. I've had one relationship before with a western woman and it was the total opposite. She was arrogant, terribly lazy, expected me to clean up after her, just horrible. Didn't want sex most days cause she was too tired. I will likely never go back to western women. Sure, many Thai women who are with westerners think of the whole picture; the prospects of maybe moving to a better house or being able to travel a bit do help, but mostly Thai women are interested in being with a decent guy who doesn't drink too much, doesn't beat her and doesn't cheat too much. However, I will also admit that I like being with a Thai woman because of the entire picture, including the fact that it makes it easier for me to live in Thailand.

Hi. What is the process for transferring a second-hand motorbike from another province and which documentation should I bring? I was made aware by someone that I will need to visit the DLT twice: once to transfer the bike from the old to the new province, and then, a few days later, to transfer the ownership of the bike to my name. I was also made aware that the seller does not need to come (he lives quite far away) but will need to provide me all documentation (signed copy of ID and tabien baan) twice, once for the transfer of the province, and once for the transfer of the ownership. Has anyone done this kind of transfer before?

Thanks for this. This is probably the best piece of information in here. Could you perhaps recommend me an agent?

Is a COR a different thing, or did I just name it wrong? No offence, but it is named Certificate of Residence almost everything that I've checked, including on this forum.

Ok! I was at the one near the airport

Thanks. It seems like before though, it was possible to get the expedited service at the desk at the immigration for just 500 baht. I don't know where that money went, but it might be that they changed their policy a bit ...

Hi Thanks. Alright, I will not request another COR then and will try to use the one that will hopefully soon arrive in order to transfer the bike as well. Yes, all threads and websites on the CM immigration mention 500 baht for one-day service, but I asked and was told there is no such thing

I recently went to CM immigration to obtain the CoR. I am on the DTV and want to try and open a bank account and buy a motorbike in my name. They asked me the purpose for the CoR but when I said I want to buy a motorbike, she asked to see the purchase deed of the bike, to which I replied I haven't bought one yet. In that case it was not possible to get the CoR for the motorbike, she said. She could however issue me a CoR for opening a bank account and they would send it to me in 10 to 14 business days. I asked if an expedited option was available (since I read everywhere you can pay 500 baht and get it the next day) and she told me that no, cannot. I still haven't received my certificate thus far (it's been 11 business days). A few days ago, I finally bought a motorbike. I am still quite confused though about the COR and the "purpose" that one wants it for; will it state on the COR what the its purpose is, and will the transport office refuse it when I try to transfer the motorbike, because its purpose was to open a bank account? Is it better to go back to immigration and get another certificate, even though the first one hasn't arrived yet? And why do all websites and friends here tell me that I can get it the next day for 500 baht and at the office they tell me it's not possible? Should I go at a time that it's not so busy? 😉

Things are safe until they are not.

The thing is that Thailand usually has two sets of traffic lights, both before and after the intersection. So even though you might not have run the first set of lights when they were red, you definitely ran the second ones in front of you (the ones in the red circle). Even though it might not have been your fault that you had to stop suddenly because traffic before you had come to a halt, it is still your duty to anticipate if you can quickly cross the intersection when entering it, and otherwise not enter it, especially on the orange light. The orange light only means that you can drive on in case it is impossible for you to stop safely before the light.

Don't look at her peers too much, would be my advice!

Although this does happen occassionally in Thailand, this is more a question of not knowing where to find the good deals and cheaper places to stay than people actually cheating or overcharging you. Also in my experience, overcharging happens a lot less in Thailand than in nearby countries like Vietnam, Cambodia and especially Laos, where it seems there is some guy selling tickets for every waterfall, hike and hotspring, and they like to throw you off the bus before the final station to force you to take an expensive tuktuk. Also, learning some basic Thai and saying sawadee krap, kop khun krap etc. does help a LOT. I make sure to always be polite and friendly and learned some basic Thai even before my first trip here. People will treat you fairly most of the time. I would say Thailand offers amazing value for money, especially if you bring in western money. Back home, if it is even possible to find a place to live, it will cost you anywhere upwards of 40,000 THB a month, including utilities. That is IF you find a place. In Thailand it is no problem to find a place for less than 10,000 THB a month. If you are willing to spend 40k, you can live in a small palace with a huge garden and pool. Even the garbage and water tax back home cost me over 20k THB yearly. To own a small car, I pay 4000 THB in monthly taxes and insurances. And this is one of the cheaper models. That doesn't include maintenance, which on average cost me 30,000 THB a year. Add fuel, 80 THB per liter of petrol. Going out for some food back home also sets you back at least 600 THB, if you are able to find such a deal. If we are talking about value, I don't think anyone would argue that Thailand offers amazing and cheap food and also some fantastic housing (but also very <deleted>ty housing of course).

If it gets checked or not, I don't know, but obviously they could potentially find out if you are currently in the country or not. Otherwise they might notice at the airport when you re-enter on the DTV visa, that it was issued at a time when you were supposed to be in Thailand. Better to go to Laos, Cambodia or Vietnam and apply there. The money does not have to be in a Thai bank account. I sent them a 6 month statement of my brokerage account (with associated IBAN number) with plenty of funds throughout the entire period, but I don't think there is a golden rule for it. It might depend on the overall strength/quality of your applicaiton, the amount of money, etc. My application was probably overall quite strong, in the sense that I've been a proven self-employed freelancer for 15 years, I have more than enough funds in the account, etc.

At the IO in CM they told me that there was no option to pay extra to get the COR immediately. I read everywhere I could get it the next day for 500THB, but they told me it's not possible. I'm lucky to have my Thai gf here, so if I need to purchase a motorbike, we can first put it in her name and then look at putting it in my name later. I am also looking into the Tabien Baan and (pink?) ID card. Is this possible on a DTV without being a tax resident? (so staying less than 180 days per year)

It is funny that my IO did not request a letter from the bank, but when I mentioned wanting to buy a motorbike, they asked for the purchase deed of the motorbike. Since I didn't have one, they told me I could only get the COR for the bank. I also asked the IO in CM if an expedited procedure for the COR is possible, but they told me no. The only possibility was to have the COR sent to me, at the earliest 10 business days after the request. It seems a bit weird that one might need to apply a couple of times for essentially the same document and has to wait 10 business days every time, especially if it involves something that might require some urgency. Say I want to buy a motorbike off Marketplace and need to close the deal.

Getting a Thai DL was next on the list, but perhaps I should have done that before attempting the bank account, since the DL seems quite easy to get. However, I was foolish enough to apply for a residence certificate with the sole purpose of making a bank account, and I am still awaiting that one, so I am not sure if that residence certificate will be valid for the DL as well, or if I need to apply for a new one that states the purpose of the DL. At the immigration office they told me that a RC needs to be made again for every different purpose, but that might not be entirely correct. I hadn't looked into getting a yellow book yet, but that might be a good idea as well. I also heard that some people got bank accounts on the ED visa through their language school. Some schools seem to have a link with specific banks. However, I am not sure if the bank account can also be created for people at the school who are not on the ED visa.

Thanks for your reply. I wonder if it will be possible if I bring my girlfriend who has an account with their bank as well (she has just about any bank, so that gives us a few options). Or if I state certain reasons for wanting the account, like the intention to buy a condo or something like that. It's a mystery to me though why a bank would refuse a paying customer who is going to keep money in their bank. As long as it doesn't involve creditcards or overdraft, I am not sure what risk the bank would run in this case.

Has anyone managed to get a bank account on the DTV? I saw on Reddit that for many people it was a little problematic. I just applied for the certificate of residence here in Chiang Mai and hope to get it within a few days, so maybe that will make it easier to get an account.

Question: I got the DTV and will be staying with my gf in Chiang Mai for about 75 days. We will then travel abroad and come back and I will stay with her for another 75 days on the DTV. But during the time in Thailand we might also make short trips to other provinces. I won't require a visit to immigration for any extension of my visa. How does that work with the TM30? Is it even worth it to bother with getting one? In all honesty I stayed with her last year and this year for a total of about 50 days and never got any TM30, since we weren't aware of its existence. Nobody's ever said anything, but I suppose that's cause I didn't visit the immigration office. Is the only thing that could happen a 1600 THB fine, and is this likely to be applied even for periods in the past? To be honest the fine is so low that it beats figuring out the bureaucracy around getting a TM30 and possibly getting a new one if I leave the country or province for a few days.