R123

OP: I would suggest that Pattaya is the best place for you to start. Acceptable and inexpensive gyms such as Tony's, plenty of restaurants and places you can go for walking; and the shopping is good enough.

Other amenities in Pattaya include decent hospitals etc

Can use your time in Pattaya to travel to other areas in Thailand to see if anywhere else preferable.

U mention "retirement" but u are not old enough for that Visa so u need to work out your visa status to stay here long time.

I agree with Joe.

I have gotten fed up with the way immigration staple (often violently) pieces of paper into my passport causing similar damage and mutilation of passport pages; so I try to get them not to use their staplers. I have a Brit passport and likely and luckily damage as per the OP's picture would be classed as "fair wear and tear" as the UK web site says:

"A damaged passport is one which is not in a condition to be accepted as proof of identity. Damage may include the following:
• Details are indecipherable.
• The laminate has lifted enough to allow the possibility of photo substitution.
• Discoloration to the biodata page.
• Chemical or ink spillage on any page.
• Missing or detached pages
• The chip or antenna shows through the endpaper on the back cover for the new style e-passports.
• The chip has been identified as damaged following investigation."

So if i read the above definition correctly the OP's passport as it stands and even with some transparent tape would not -according to the UK definition- be classified as a damaged passport.

Of course we do not know which country the cited passport emanates from but i guess the principle is the same.

Assayer writes:

"The immigration dept. had a chance to revamp and really improve the system when it changed locations. However it didn't and it is still a nightmare just to complete the 90 day reporting. The second time I used Promenada site I was there for 8 hours.

I also just went for my visa extension and just in case I thought I would go early. 4:30 AM should do right? Wrong I was number 25 in the line. Finished at 11:30 AM. That's seven hours just to complete an extension.

But, Thailand didn't ask me to move here. It was a voluntary act on my behalf. So, who am I to complain."

It also seems your "voluntary act" is really you making life difficult for yourself; spending 7-8 hours of your life to queue up for some very simple procedure. In Pattaya: visa extension recently took me less than 3 minutes; getting re-entry permit was less than 10 minutes and 90 day done on line.

Why don't you do a mail in /or/on line for the 90 day or get someone to go to immigration and do it for you. As to the extension then use an agent.....there must be easier ways....if people use their brains.....dear oh dear.....

losttoday writes:

"No one on Thai Visa has been asked for a TM30 to obtain a retirement extension at Jomtein when other documents such as lease or power bills have been available."

-So is this correct? Is there anyone here who has been asked at this immigration office at Jomtien for such a document?

As also mentioned in another post, easy for someone to ask direct from an immigration officer at Jomtien what documents are needed for retirement extension specifically for proof of address. One of the mods who claim to specialize on immigration rules could contact immigration and get a formal ruling.

I did my extention in February and all i was required to provide re my address was a copy of my rental agreement......... has that changed?

Successful for Jomtien.

I am reading that the 90 day reporting is coming soon, but when will it be available especially in my case for Pattaya? The link that follows seems to suggest its available already?

http://extranet.immigration.go.th/pibics/online/tm47/TM47Action.do

OP:

Thank you so much for sharing your story with us, as its a lesson for everyone.

A few observations, and i apologise if mentioned by others.

I assume that you have explored all legal possibilities of recovering your money including any possible personal actions against individuals who were behind the scam?

Sometimes the veil of incorporation can be lifted when criminality is at play.

In view of how you were robbed etc., what happened to you needs to get the widest publicity and those responsible named and shamed. Have you told your story to the likes of the British national press such as the money page of the Daily Mail?

You may get any money back but at least you know the crooks behind this racket are hung out to dry.

And I really hope any other people who are the victims of scams similar or otherwise will post their experiences so we can all be more cautious.

OP: Well I was at jomtiun last week for my 90 day report. Gave in the signed form only and nothing else. No other info was requested. i doubt if anything has changed since last week. Unless immigration request other documents no need to give any. I assume the OP supplied the other documents without any request.

Now that is silly.

In Pattaya there seems to be a frequency to these kinds of suicides. I wonder if Thai Visa might consider a seperate exclusive "Help Line" threat for any persons feeling depressed or suicidal to perhaps seek assistance. Maybe some experienced carers who know how to handle such individuals could be asked to monitor and give symathetic advice on such a thread. Thai Visa has a doctor on call for health matters and a lawyer for legal questions, so why not a professional able to handle those persons who feel they need to end it all.

Just an idea.

I have seen from a facebook video, late friday night in Pattayaland Soi 2 a fire brokeout in a well known guest house/hotel. A lot of smoke and firemen were called. Cannot find any news report so far.

Anyone have any further info?

You may like to consider the following place called the carlton hotel which is within walking distance to the hospital:

http://www.atsiam.com/en/hotels/pattaya/carlton_pattaya_hotel_thailand.asp

I have not stayed at the hotel myself but have visited friends there a few years back, and the room is adequate and I believe the price is acceptable for budget travellers.

You have not specified the dates wanted but be aware of heavy bookings in the high season.

Have you contacted the hospital and asked them? I have on and off been a patient at the hospital for many years and they can be very helpful and ought to also give recommendations.

Good luck.

It seems to me one of the acute dangers of the internet is the capability of various unregulated persons and companies to get way with making outrageous claims regarding high returns. Such claims are in many instances totally fake and false, resulting in many cases with total loss to those who "invested" their hard earned cash. Aiding and abetting the fraud there will sometimes be called "financial advisers" etc., who are also often unregulated and whose sole agenda is receiving fat commissions at the expense of their clients who are beng duped.

So it is very important that on forums such as this we do everything we can to help each other bring to the attention of fellow posters examples of the various scams, lies and deception being advertised on the net and elsewhere.

ps to triplebank 999 I send you a pm. with the link. I had posted the link in my number 3 posting but without my permssion and for reasons not known someone called CharlesH removed the link.

In my post number 3 i gave the link but someone called CharlesH for reasons never told to me removed that link. I wonder why? perhaps something to do with the fact the company advertises heavily on this web site?

within the web site the company offer 10% pa on a 9 year investment see:

9 Year(s) 10% 135.79%

Within the web site ostensibly for health insurance, they claim to offer 10% pa guaranteed

The following company is advertising heavily on the net:

https://www.nowcompare.com/thailand/en/health-insurance?

One of the many "investments" advertised is a guaranteed 10% annual return on deposit.

This sounds "too good to be true"

Has anyone any experience with this company?

If you go to the BPH web site they clearly show the different specialities, and any potential patient(one with reasonable intelligence) can in many cases easily find a specialist to deal with his/her problem. And then arrange an appropriate appointment with the specialist. It is patently wrong to suggest that in most instances that it is necessary to only be "referred" to a specialist.

As to the OP, his thread is one of the most annoying that i have read in a long time. Had he bothered to behave sensibly he could easily have find a specialist at BPH to deal with the specific problem.

That's not the situation here. You can walk into BHP and ask where is the Cardiology Dept and you will be told. There you can make an appointment but if you are a walkin you will be evaluated, screened, fill out detailed questionnaire, etc. Here the OP playing doctor walks in with his child and demands to see a podiatrist, a specialist that they don't even have.

If I walked into BHP and wanted to see a cardiologist because I have been having some chest pains recently, the procedure would be to do a full medical evaluation first, anything less would be medical negligence.

IT IS the situation here. I have lived in Thailand many years. On different occasions i have needed specialist assistance. I simply go to the BPH web site, find a specialist(often doing a web search to determine who is considered the best) and then make the appointment, which I usually get the same or next day.

For instance: if I have a skin problem I know the speciality and book it. If I have a gastric problem I know the speciality too, etc etc.

Your example of chest pains: most sensible people know to consult the specialist cardio pronto and direct and that specialist cardio department will do the evaluation. With respect you are spouting crap about medical negligence.

Just look at the BPH web site: patients book their own appointments via it.

You cannot seriously suggest that patients are unable to book direct appointments with specialists?!

Now of course for someone who is new to the hospital or a new patient or clueless to which speciality is needed, or the symptoms are inconclusive re speciality maybe a screening process is necessary. But intelligent people would know in most cases which specialist is needed and go direct to them.

Kindly DO NOT misrepresent the situation at BPH.

If you go to the BPH web site they clearly show the different specialities, and any potential patient(one with reasonable intelligence) can in many cases easily find a specialist to deal with his/her problem. And then arrange an appropriate appointment with the specialist. It is patently wrong to suggest that in most instances that it is necessary to only be "referred" to a specialist.

As to the OP, his thread is one of the most annoying that i have read in a long time. Had he bothered to behave sensibly he could easily have find a specialist at BPH to deal with the specific problem.

raro writes:

"Those who keep bashing a profession that is harder to learn than regular MD (Dr Leoni in Bangkok has a comparison chart in his office) have apparently no clue what they are talking about."

-It is not a real profession but just another branch of quackery. And it is shameful that you as a so called Global Moderator are using that position to peddle what most medical people (apart from a few cranks) know is fakery.

You are a moderator NOT an advocate;

Using your position to advocate con artists : now that really is unprofessional.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/unreasonablefaith/2009/04/7-things-you-need-to-know-about-chiropractic-therapy/

The above article says it all.

The OP article says:

"Thaivisa has learned that Immigration is likely to enforce this nationwide."

I am in Pattaya. So does anyone know if I can take my passport to the immigration here and get a certified copy of my passport from them?

Thank you.

Years and years of taking in conversations between bar beer gals.

The problem with this method is you learn to speak like a bar girl. And unfortunately easy to know which ones have learnt the language in that way.

Better to find a qualified Thai teacher or similar to learn to speak Thai above beer bar level.

Link removed, topic closed.

Well done QPR.

Its goals that count.

Rangers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nobody mentioned yet that the security guard fancies the OP.....