Galong

No updated info here. This was a complete waste of time reading. 🤦

All of my Social Security codes are BTN (Baht Net), which is used when funds are sent via the Bank of Thailand. I did my direct deposit through BKK Bank a bit over 3 years ago. I was assuming, due to so many people telling me, that I wasn't going to be able to get/move money unless I go in person. It turns out, my DD account works the same as my regular deposit account. I can easily move money around. I don't have a card, but I don't want a card. It's strange how the same bank with direct deposit can function differently... I assume the timing of setting up the account is the main factor. I just asked for a 'direct deposit account for my US Soc Sec'. After much wailing and nashing of teeth the main branch in Phuket Town suddenly understood. It was as if they'd never done or heard of this type of account before. It wasn't a language issue. They didn't understand what their own bank offered... and several people got involved. But, at the end of the day, it works smoothly... sort of. 🙄

What time of the day does your transaction usually take place? Looking back, mine are always within a couple of minutes of 10:30 am. I'm guessing you'll get it shortly. Hang in there.

GOT IT!!!! 🥳 It arrived at 10:29 am today (Thursday the 5th).

Yeah, this should all be automated and not be affected by the bank being closed or anything else in my opinion. The US "My Social Security" site said it was paid out on June 3rd. The US side did what they were supposed to do... or at least that is what they claim. 🤔 I'll check just after 10:30 am this morning (the normal time when past deposits were made) and if it's not in there is a Global Payment Services Department, Bangkok Bank Headquarter at (tel) 02 230 1323. I'll pester them a bit and post here if there is any worthwhile insight.

I got one once that arrived on the 5th of the month. 99% of the time it arrive on the 3rd right around 10:30 am. Oh well, so the waiting game begins. 🤞

OK, then I'm in the same boat as your wife... It's not JUST me. 😉 I'll relax and wait. Thanks for your input, buddy!

It says BTN or TRF or TRW. I've never changed anything, so I have no idea why the code would change.

I'm not actually sure if mine goes through NY. I assume all BKK Bank transactions go through NY on the way to being a Direct Deposit here. I set it up 3 years ago. It has been trouble-free for the most part. It's been at least a day day a few times and two days late once.

Thanks, Mike. 🙏 I worry too much. Then again, BKK Bank has given me reason to worry in the past. I'll hang in there.

I realize yesterday was the Queen's birthday, so the banks were closed. However, every other time this has happened, the SS direct deposit was paid by 10:30 am the next day. Bangkok Bank isn't showing mine yet. Is anyone else's a bit late? "My Social Security" shows that it was paid on the 3rd. I assume this is just BKK Bank being BKK Bank. 🤦

Weed??? Do explain to the rest of us how YOU KNOW THIS IS WEED-RELATED... we'll wait. Alcohol, ya ba and other drugs makes people act like this. Weed simply doesn't. Learn your drugs, dude. 🤦

It's finally settled: I used VoIP.ms for SMS and Voice Mail. I use Viber for calls. I've called my mom a few times and it works very smoothly. I tried an 800 toll free number and it was loud and clear too. Chat GPT gave me some horrible advice all along the way. I would give it criteria and it would suggest app that weren't even close to what I wanted/needed. Oh well, live and learn.

Yeah, at worst it'll merely be another hoop to jump through and another bit of money to hand over for the cert. It's a bit interesting that since it has become so prolific and according to some here, there are "addicts" all aboot, there oddly hasn't been an increase in crimes (especially violent crimes), nor any measurable impact on the wonderful 'live and let live' society that we all enjoy.

Not me. I was hoping Skype would have given us the option of simply paying more. My criteria is that I can set the program up without a lengthy setup hassle (SIPs, Softphone coding, etc) and that it works, period.

I'm looking into Sonetel at the moment. It seems to easy to set up. It gets a lot of bad reviews, but good apps sometimes get bad reviews. I remember looking a Vykes before. I'll give that another look if Sonetel doesn't pan out. The good news is that I'm to the point where I don't really need to worry about the OTPs. So, basically, I want to be able to call my mom and US toll free numbers. The SSA, IRS, and Schwab don't require me to use my phone for verification. And, as I'm not a 12-year-old, I block anyone like Jake who talks down to me about my 'drama'. I'm far from computer illiterate. My brother and I did everything correctly. A couple of times we were on the service's 'live chat' having them walk us through it. Tello, in particular, was bad at helping. They said, "you're [my brother] in a low reception area." No, he was in a major city with 5g.

Still pulling out what little hair I have left... I bought a Tello sim and sent it to my brother in the US to activate. Tello customer support said it was active, but it never worked. That was perhaps two hours of my life wasted. My brother in the US spent a long time over several days trying to get Google Voice to work for me. He has used it in the past for work without issue. For some reason, we could not get it to work again. he was signed in on my Google account using his US IP address... we tried everything including opening 3 new accounts... nada. Next was VoIP.ms which Chat GPT recommended. OMG, what a freaking nightmare that app is. Starting with their Windows 95-ish outdated UI, nothing about this app is intuitive. After much wailing and gnashing of teeth, I got SMS and Voice Messages to work. To get calling to work requires a 3rd party SIP program. Tons of categories to fill out and most of them had unfamiliar terms that I had to look up. I would have to tweak my DNS, firewall, and router setting... screw that!!! Next was LocalPhone. It said from any country to any country when I signed up, then suddenly it said my 'region' was not supported. It suggested getting an 'internet phone number' through them. Then, it was a full screen of freaking coding that had to be installed to get it to work... no instructions on how to do this were included. I just looked into Viber, but the reviews turned me off. It seems highly unstable and calls get dropped. Sonetel was my next try... bad reviews there too. I have no idea what to try next.

I assume a lot of you got this email today. It contradicts EVERYTHING THAT SKYPE HAS BEEN SAYING!! This makes it sound like the web portal will remain viable/functional. If it does and I can keep my US Skype number, that's great. It even says I can add funds to my account. What do you guys/gals make of this update?

Yeah, I've still got a bit of credit $ too. I'm so pi55ed off at Skype for all of the hassle that they've caused me that I want nothing more to do with them, Teams, dial pads, web portals, or anything related. I'll call my mom and eat up what remains instead of handing it back to them or moving the money. I'm going to go with Google Voice with the help of my brother in the US to help be set it up via his mobile, then I'll stop the automatic forwarding to his mobile and make sure I ONLY use this app when I'm on WIFI. Everything is free if I do it correctly... according to everything I've read and Chat GPT. 🤞

I just bit the bullet and took the L with Tello. I deleted my account that had $20 'pay as you go' credit. There is no easy way to contact them without jumping through hoops or calling their US toll-free number. I accessed a live chat feature once, but can't find it now... what a poorly setup site! I know this is unprofessional, but when I got an email response from them when I blocked my Tello number (the only option was to say I lost it [eye roll]), I got a robotic email response. I responded: "Contact our Customer Service team" is a FAQ page, NOT CUSTOMER SERVICE! If I could actually talk to a person I might try to salvage my My Tello account. Unfortunately, you've made an enemy with your dreadful service.

Tello is crap! I bought a SIM card and had it sent to my brother's house in the US. It's a long story, but the card doesn't work. The Tello chat agent says it is activated, but it doesn't work on two of my brother's spare unlocked phones. It's proven to be a waste of a little bit of money and a LOT of time. I think I'll try Google Voice next.

Viber doesn't even seem close to a replacement for Skype for the things that matter to me, which are a US Skype number, OTPs, and calling toll-free US numbers

Yes, this truly sucks. Skype did it all. I've decided on Tello. I'm getting a US SIM card and T mobile number sent to my brother (should be there today) and he'll express it to me here. It should work in my unlocked Thai Samsung phone. I'm doing this for OTPs mainly, but it can be used for 800 numbers as well. I sure hope this works... what a time-consuming hassle this has been. 🤦

I decided to go with Tello. I ordered a US SIM today. The process went smoothly ordering it from my computer using my Thai IP address. I'm sending it to my brother's house. I'll have him activate it before posting it to Thailand. I did call Tello's toll-free number using Skype while setting everything up. Their customer service was good... immediate response, no background music, etc. The guy from Tello was very helpful. Still, it was a bit of work and all because Skype couldn't figure out how to stay in business. 🤦

Since Skype is shutting down, I'm looking at every possible option for signing into Schwab. Right now, they're fine sending me OTPs on my Thai number, but in case that ever changes I'd like an alternative. I've read good and bad things about Symantec VIP Access App. Does anyone else use this authentication app on a Thai phone? Thanks.