R123

Hello Folks:

Around next week I want to bring in the equivalent of @ 800,000 baht which I can use in February 2017 for my retirement extension money. My usual Bank is Bangkok Bank but I notice the rate is now just 1.375%

Can anyone recommend another bank for the deposit (for 10 or 12 months is OK) with a higher return but which deposit will of course be acceptable to immigration....

Many thx any input!

Last few days poor 3BB for me here in south Pattaya. Did a speed test and not good readings. Also noticed my "connection" sometimes disconnects.

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.

The BUPA platinum coverage which I took out in Thailand is worldwide except not for the USA. I assume I could get coverage for the USA from BUPA by paying extra. But I have no intention of traveling into the States.

Canuck50 bearing in mind your age and your particular requirements you really need to either direct your questions to an independent Insurance expert/agent with the necessary knowledge or to see if BUPA can help you, then talk to them directly.

Well I bought my BUPA policy in Thailand. My guess is the cost is perhaps less buying it here in Thailand than in other countries but really I have no idea, so maybe others can advise you on that. Alternatively if you are not in Thailand speak to your local BUPA office and see what they say.

I have had BUPA platinum here in Thailand for over 10 years. Made various claims and every time no problem, so i can fully recommend BUPA.

Problem solved!

And may i thank everyone above who took the time to give me valuable input; especially those who addressed the actual problem. In particular special mention to fasteddie who explained the likely source of the difficulty and phetphet whose suggestion- along with that of fasteddie- to try different servers until one works seems to have solved the issue.

And in the event last night I was able to get full live commentary of the early kick off match on BBC radio 5.

Have a nice day!

For a few years i have been able (here in Thailand) to get the BBC 5 radio live Premiership football commentary -despite license restrictions-by the use of various paid for VPN connections; both on my tablet and mobile. And that usage is not unlawful.

However for some weeks now the VPN connections are now not working and all when i try to use it all I get is a repeated message about "due to license restrictions..." I cannot get the live football commentaries from the BBC.

Now i know I can listen to the live football commentaries on Talk Sport for free but the BBC ones are far superior in quality.

Does anyone know how to get access to the commentaries, whether via VPN or some other way? I am prepared to subscribe if necessary.

Many thanks in advance!

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.....

Fixed now. After the helpful replies here i then contacted my condo engineer who found the problem as a broken cable. So no need call 3BB.

Thanks to all who helped me with their posts!

Mod can close this thread now.

Since mid afternoon today 1st Feb no internet connection. Anyone else with similar problem or is it unique to me.

Yes me too back now. Prior to that i sent off an urgent message on one of windows contact sites when i found where to write, plus earlier as mentioned an on line windows technician was given remote access to my computer etc.

Will see how long before it re-occurs or something similar. Its a crap email service and after them causing me considerable aggravation and time wasting, I have already started to arrange using another email and certainly not Outlook.

Cheers!

Thanks tyznd. At least I know that its not unique to me as earlier confirmed by Dmaxdan. I also today allowed a microsoft tech to gain remote access but they could not solve the problem. and said i should contact the "outlook" tech support team. But not so far able to get the right address for them.

I am in the process of changing to a different email usage. The problem is not only can i not access my emails (though new ones I can see and are arriving) I also cannot get contact details which are in my hotmail account to tell people to email me elsewhere.

If you or others get any more info, please do post here.

Thank you Dmaxdan and yes I too see the word "preview" appearing now.......so need to wait and see.....

When I get into my hotmail account the messages are displayed but I cannot open them. Nor can I type a "New" message. The same problem is on my phone and tablet. But I have another hotmail account which is working fine on the PC which suggests no problem with my browser etc.

Any suggestions to fix?

Thanks in advance.

And thanks to others for helpful replies.

Why is it so important to know if bars will be open on particular days? Do we have a population of falangs who can't do without their daily fix of alcohol? There is such a thing as a refrigerator.

My bad - forgot there are nationalities who like warm beer.

I started this thread. Nothing to do with doing "without a daily fix of alcohol". I have arranged tonight a farewell for someone who returns to is home country at the weekend. If I made aware about places being open or not then I would know whether to continue with the farewll today or change to another day before the weekend.

Kindly -bazza- think before you make postings as above.

But thanks to Jess for his helpful reply.

Merry Xmas to all!

There is today a ceremonial taking place for the funeral of a famous monk. It has blanket coverage on Thai tv as I write.I have been told some bars will be closed tonight but I do not know if this correct and/or if applicable to Pattaya.

Does anyone know?

Many thanks in advance.

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?

Very sad to read about the problems caused by the flooding. I stay in Pattaya in a condo, thus far am ok. Was previously considering moving to a house but am wondering if i would want that now.....

May I ask: does the house insurance give full coverage for flood damage, or not, and what is the situation? How much and in what amount can be claimed if any?

Thank u.

Successful for Jomtien.

Exposed: the rip-off investment 'advisers’ who cost British expats billions

Following decades of financial scandals, Britain has become a safer place to invest. The standard of financial advice has improved and so has transparency. Sales commissions are all but banned, and, as a result of this increased openness, the cost of investing has fallen.

But much of that protection falls away once investors leave our borders. Many of the 5.5 million Britons who emigrate, retire overseas or work there temporarily find they are stepping back into a financial Wild West. High-risk investments, often lightly regulated or not regulated at all, are commonplace – as are huge commissions paid to the salesmen who recommend them.
Today a Telegraph Money investigation sheds light on a multi-billion pound industry in which savers are regularly paying up to seven times more in investment charges and commissions than they would in Britain.

Recent pension changes, giving those over 55 free access to their entire pension savings, increase the risk. Not only will many existing expat retirees access their money – and need somewhere to invest it – but others will be encouraged to move abroad as a result of being able to take their pension pot in one go.

They will be attractive to a global industry of “financial advisers”, many of whom claim links to established British firms but who are in fact barely regulated and relatively untrained.

In one case seen by Telegraph Money, a Briton working temporarily overseas was urged by his “financial adviser” to transfer a final salary-type pension, worth hundreds of thousands of pounds, into a risky fund where none of his retirement benefits would retain their guarantees.

The charge for this risky manoeuvre was more than £45,000, or 12pc of the value of the pension.

In another case an investment was sold where, after five years, the saver was faced with an exit penalty of 99pc of their fund. Trying to withdraw capital would, in effect, result in its complete loss. In another example investors paid commission of 7pc to the salesman.

Scores of savers who invested abroad have contacted our offices to say they were not made properly aware of the charges, risks and commissions involved.

Some of the firms involved in the provision and distribution of these savings plans are foreign arms of British regulated companies, while others have deliberately adopted similar-sounding names.

By setting up operations overseas, financial firms can sell investments to British savers without being regulated by the British watchdog, the Financial Conduct Authority.

Savers are particularly at risk in regions such as Asia, Africa and some countries in eastern Europe, where there is little or no financial regulation. Providers and salesmen can legally deduct large upfront commissions and hire salesmen with few recognised investment qualifications to sell their products.

Sarah Lord, head of financial planning at Killik & Co, a British FCA-regulated firm, said: “The operation of offshore advisers, in the main, is totally unscrupulous. In many offshore jurisdictions, such as Dubai and the United Arab Emirates, there is very little requirement for disclosure of remuneration, with up to 15pc of assets being advised upon being taken in hidden commissions. The requirement to demonstrate suitability is negligible.”

A former employee of a large international advisory firm told Telegraph Money how he and his colleagues sold investments with no financial training other than a week-long course. While on the course, he claimed salesmen were instructed how to “psychologically manipulate customers into handing over their money”.

He said: “We were told to prepare clients’ paperwork and put it in blue folders. But after [the customer] had signed on the dotted line we’d slip extra pages into the folders that they hadn’t seen before, which included details of the charges. It felt wrong. However, the life assurers [that supplied the products paying high commissions] were as guilty as [we] were of mis-selling and overcharging.”

Full story: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/investing/11726158/Exposed-the-rip-off-investment-advisers-who-cost-British-expats-billions.html

May i say thank you so much for everyone who has posted a reply to my initial post, namely, Sheryl, Gary B 1263, Chiang Mai.

And Sheryl you are doing great work so hope it continues!

After reading all your posts this morning i made an appointment for my friend with Dr Karnsiri at BPH earlier today. My friend says the doctor and the nursing staff are efficient, knowledgeable, and very professional.

It is fortunate my friend went when he did as his reading was down to 35, but he was stabilised and the reading normalised thereafter.

The doctor has changed the dosage of the insulin and the oral meds. There was an interview with a dieticien and a 2 page diet sheet given.

A diabetics manual was provided for a record of all meds and readings to be taken.

There is another appointment in less than 2 weeks.

So far so good. And the total bill was very reasonable in my view.

How much better than the un named hospital he initially went to in Pattaya which had little of the professialism experienced at BPH. At the first hospital he was seen by a non specialist who appears to rarely be at the hospital, and when he was rushed there by ambulence a few days ago. he was kept overnight but in the morning presented with a bill for almost 20,000 baht.

In any event i will not dwell on that right now; my friend is special to me and because all your prompt and helpful replies he is much better off now than he was a day ago.

So: thanks again!

My friend is currently receiving treatment for diabetics at a private hospital in Pattaya (not BP Hospital) but the doctors treating him appear to be non specialist. His monitor readings are over 400 and he was recently rushed to hospital having gone unconscious due to an adverse reaction to insulin.

Can anyone recommend a specialist diabetic doctor at Bangkok Pattaya Hospital?

Many thanks in advance.