raybingham

[Think Bendix is spot on. Much more chance of borrowing from back home, for all the reasons he gives. If they are struggling to borrow for some reason, then your friend borrowing on their parents' behalf may have a better chance of borrowing should they want to...?

WRONG and WRONG. You have both missed OP's main point (although he did not make it clear).

The parents appear looking for a mortgage and a Thai based lender would have the benefit of the security of the villa (not sure who's name it is being purchased in though as foreigners cannot own land) - we also don't know what the value of the property is.

A lender will look for a primary repayment source i.e. income and a secondry source i.e. something tangible to get their hands on if they don't/can't pay.

Would agree that it would be difficult for someone of that age to get a mortgage in Thailand (probably any country after the credit squeeze).

If they do have property in a European country it is likely to be unencumbered ad they could raise money on that and remit 700k Baht to Thailand.

I have deep depression returning home back in late January to UK after 9 months in Thaliand.

I do not know what to do?

I miss Thailand so much and really really hate it here back in UK. First day I got back waiting at a bus stop I had a kid in a car shout wanke_r at me.

I am not in my home town and in a really unfriendly place Poole Bournemouth.

Just got job.

Please any ideas how I can generate income in Thailand Pattaya or Bangkok?

You could try a PM to "Unhappyfarang" - he is also having problems adjusting to UK

Thanks

I've been to Bangkok, Samui, Phuket etc. before and it's all good, and fancy trying somewhere different for a few days. I'm interested in seeing historical stuff but more interested in playing pool, meeting people, beers etc. Would you say Chiang Mai is more 'off the beaten track' than those aforementioned places? I found there too many backpacking muppets in Bangkok.

also, is there much to do on day tours in the area?

p.s i'm a single 28 year old male, would be travelling alone.

thanks in advance for any advice.

I am there now,

It is a super place. Incomparible with Bangkok and don't even think about Pattaya. Chiang Mai is a diamond of a place for Falangs who want to see Falangs at every other corner !

For me Acylovir 200 mg tablets, local brand name is Virogon (Silom Medical - 25 tablets: 180 THB), works really well. At first sign of recurrence use 400 mg 3x per day for two days, then finish 25 tablets at 200 mg 3x per day. Also works well for Shingles and Chicken Pox.

Maybe best to see a Physician to determine if you actually have Herpes Simplex, and then ask for a treatment plan.

I also vote for Virogon - clears up every cold sore I have ever had.

Can you move your Nationwide Flex Account offshore also?

I don't think you're absolutely correct about paying tax on worldwide investment income jbaldwin, maybe only when you remit it to UK.

Doctormann, how did you acheive non-domiciled status?

My friend moved to Thailand over a year ago and completed the appropriate 'non-resident' declaration with HMRC. He tells me he could spend up to 126 days each year in the UK - I have not verified this.

Overseas investment income has to be included in your tax return as far as I know.

Wear would I find the most British people in Pattaya or Phuket.

And would they be retired or tourtist ?

I do not want to be in Bangkok , which would you recomend ?

Try CARREFOUR - you are falling over Brits everywhere in there

We have decided to go with the house plan No.8, looks really nice, with just a few mods here and there.

Gymshark - do you have a budget or a quote for your build ? Lite Beer indicated his house cost 1.2m Baht a year ago - are you in the same ballpark.

(I am particularly interested in house plan no 8 myself)

Thanks

I make about half a dozen telegraphic transfers of dosh every year, always in Sterling, from my bank in Jersey. When I banked with Thai Farmers the only charge that I was aware of was made by my UK bank, and this was always 15 pounds. When I moved to UOB not only was I charged 15 pounds by the UK bank but amounts between 500 and 1000 baht, presumably calculated on the transferred sum, were also debited to my UOB account.

I raised this matter with the UOB bank manager who insisted that the money was not retained by UOB. My UK bank also protested their innocence. After climbing into the upper echelons of UOB management and laying about me, they supplied me with the routing information. The money first went to Barclays Bank in London who transmitted it to Krung Thai Bank in BKK who transferred the dosh to UOB. The additional charge was levied by KTB. Why this should be so defies logical explanation since transferring money via an ATM between accounts at different Thai banks attracts a charge of an insignificant amount; not so if effected via a bank teller at the counter.

There was a simple answer to this. Open a KTB account and when the money arrives draw it out, walk down the road and deposit it in the bank of your choice. KTB for their greed, or inefficiency, now have to maintain an account holding an absolute minimum credit balance i.e. it costs them money.

You have a right to be handed a copy of the routing instructions but you will have to fight officialdom for it. You will probably find it interesting and may even save you money. The route money takes depends on interbank connections and it seems that Bank of Scotland does not get into bed with any Thai bank, or indeed UOB. One would think that a link with a major Singapore bank would be worthwhile. Maybe the bank pooyais didn't go to the same public school.

Collecting THB here and depositing an agreed compensatory amount of Sterling in a UK bank is illegal, as a former bank manager should well know. The Exchange Control department of BOT are people I choose not to fall foul of.

I trust that you are not referring to option (e) in my earlier post.

There is nothing illegal about withdrawing money from a UK bank account via a Thai bank ATM.

Personally I only feel comfortable having as much as I need to live a few months at a time in my Thai bank. I keep the rest in my American bank accounts. If I lose it I won't be happy but it won't break the bank so to speak.

I don't think Thailand has a Bear Stearns ? (or Northern Rock).

Other countries only guarantee a percentage of deposits and up to given limits - in the UK I think first £2k is covered then 90% of next £33k and nothing after that.

Anyone know of the last Thai bank that went bust.

To relay on us to tell you if Thailand is good for business is a bit of a big responsibility to take up on Us.

What i think you should do is take same time off and came to thailand and do a little research,visiting people they are involved with your type of business and came up with your conclusion.

For what it concern the Thai Government i don't think Thailand can go for major change since America as been very much in control for many years in this part of the world. Same time they play a little to scare off same old and new investor but in fact nothing change.

America is not that important these days.

If you have a successful franchise business with a good product, then be prepared to work and you could make it work.

Thai people aren't nearly as stupid or inept as most expats think; and so expect some local competition. There are few product categories not already available here unless there is some regulatory or pricing issue that prevents them.

Same as anywhere; do homework, confirm market demand, outline supply, understand barriers to entry and then understand consumer behaviour and then lay out marketing and operational plans.

Regulatory environment I am led to believe is easier in most industries I work in here than Vietnam, but no idea about your particular product.

Can almost guarantee the majority of people cannot answer unless they know what product.

Would recommend checking out similar competing products online and seeing their relative success.

Difficult to make money selling most mass market products to farangs, the real money is in selling to Thais as there are so many more of them.

In view of the lack of responses, and in an attempt to be constructive, I thought this might help:-

THAILAND

Franchise Association

Somjit Likhitsathaporn / Managing Director

20/25 Seri Village Onnui Sukhumvii 77

Pravate – BKK 10250 - Thailand

TEL: (662) 321-5129

FAX: (662) 721-2795

Email: [email protected]

Corker...

I like what you have posted..

but living in Ireland and visiting here for a week, a couple of weeks, a month, or a couple of months is completely different..

Do you speak, read and understand Thai ? If not, then you really don't understand thier culture. Just what they want you to understand...

I also had visions of the perfect Thai world and how I would fit into it...but that was before I lived here..

No, not in Issan, but Chiang Mai. Lanna not much different, folks all the same.

My eyes opened allot more now then before I moved here, full time...

I believe that unless you live here day in and day out and have that daily interaction between your culture and thiers..your view dosen't hold that much water.

Keep posting, they are interesting to read.

And yes, never mind the naysayers..keep typing.

I think the views DO hold water. At least for me because I also only spend part of my life in Thailand (circa 5/6 months per year). I am also in that middle ground of being more than a holidaymaker but not up to fully resident standard. The point has already been made that if the comments fit then relate to them and/or apply them.

However, I would refute any assertion that ONLY the views of full time residents "hold water". I have seen some full time residents whose views I would not countenance because they are so wrapped up in their own little worlds that they are incapable of giving a balanced view of anything but their own rectum ! (thankfully the minority but you probably know who you are

I always buy well in advance. Its a lot easier to plan that way.

However, for the first time I am actually concerned about this strategy.

I always fly Eva Air, I have flights booked in advance (November, January) with them back to the UK.

They are losing so much money at the moment (see the Eva Air thread) due to the cost of oil (124 dollars a barrel?) that for the first time I am going to check my credit card terms and conditions to see what happens if they go bust!!

If you are booking only 5 months in advance I am sure there will be no problems???

Its a bit worrying though isn't it

EVA are part of EVERGREEN who are HUGE (big green metal boxes with "EVERGREEN" on can be seen all around the world.

If they go bust the last thing you need to worry about is your credit card - we will all be DOOMED

BBC News 08:15 GMT, Tuesday, 27 May 2008 09:15 UK

Faster bank transfers under way

While i appreciate this refers to the U.K. banking system, i think it will be of interest to all T.Visa members who use internet services to transfer money between accounts, pay bills ect., it certainly is good news for me, especially when i want to facilitate an urgent swift transfer at short notice.

Marshbags -

This will not help you with SWIFT transfers which are international.

It is an intra-Uk system ala BACS technology. It is currently working at the £20 level (wow) but will develop to £10,000.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faster_Payments_Service

Full marks for advancing to where Thailand has been for some time ! (Seriously, it is a major step forward).

For ages Thai bank account holders have been able to effect same day value payments to third parties - and through ATMs (can't do that in the UK). As an ex-UK bank manager it impressed me when I could tap in a few digits and send some (any) Thai girl 3,000 Baht from my SCB account to BKB same day.

I've enjoyed reading all the comments on this particular thread. Just one thing ......

bingo bongo - i strongly believe you also post messages as "koko the monkey" on this forum ( link attached ) .

http://forum.globalhousepricecrash.com/ind...1279&st=350

One that is exclusively pessimistic about global house prices .

And looks very much like this forum , which of course may just be a coincidence .

Good reading .

OOOOOOOOOH !

De'ja vue

Every girl in Pattaya is perfectly normal, it's we guys who are attracted to them who are abnormal.

AGREE - every girl I have met has been 'normal'.

The retards are usually white and western

thanks for all the replies! this has really set my mind at rest. it's been so long since i've flown anywhere that i've forgotten everything about it, heh

to answer your question, i will be heading on to chiang rai by plane from bangkok - i'll be spending most of my time up north and only coming to see bangkok towards the end of my stay.

cheers

Ignore comments about Immigration. I assume you are linking to a Thai Airways flight at Suvarnabumi in which case you will follow the 'Transfer' signs.

Enjoy your stay.

Surely what Corkman posted can be condensed down to common sense i would think,

Married before with Kids, no dowry again, up to you,

Mum and dad live in a shed on the edge of a run down farm? ok, build a decent place and clean up the farm, get them off susbsitance level to a profit making level, so now youve spent perhaps 800,000/1million bht,

Fast forward 3 months, have a look around the new house, is there litter everywhere? bottles of low cal ect? hows the farm looking, still clean and producing crops?

If not, and your common sense does not prevail, youve trapped,

Dont look at your GF with rose tinted glasses, look into her eyes, eyes are the window to the soul, and if she or parents cant look at you when talking, then they are hiding something..

I agree it could be condenced but so could 'War& Peace' but it wouldn't be as good a read. Give Corkman some credit Lickey.

Credit where credit is due, but to me because of the 2 different print types in the post, was it scanned in, copied from another site or what?

That's what I thought - this guy seems to think himself an expert but refuses to tell us how long he has actually lived in Isaarn for. Very opinionated with little experience of what Isarn people actually think, I'd bet.

1. To Lickey – Is this the type of font difference that causes you concern? I typed it out myself - which I noted in the original post to which you refer - it is a different font type because I used MS Outlook - which is my primary word processor (i.e. email editor). Why did I do that - because as I originally noted in my post, I typed it out in sections - which I noted because there may have been some discontinuity in tone etc. which would have appeared fragmented. It took a while to type it out - I gave it a bit of thought - and I am at work, so I typed it out as and when I had the chance. I can assure you, I did not copy anything from another site - if I had I would have just referenced it, which would have been allot easier. If you read through it, and read through my other posts, you will hopefully see I use the same type of language and phrases throughout - the same type of punctuation - the same type of tone, and make reference to the same type of situations. If I had copied what someone else authored then I would need to be a pretty clever mimic to pull that off. So hopefully this explanation will alleviate your concerns?

2. "This guy seems to think himself an expert" - I have repeatedly stated in no uncertain terms that anything I type is my opinion, my personal belief, and that anyone reading should not take me literally or try to apply anything I write, to their own situation. I have further stated numerous times that I am not qualified to pass judgment on cultural practices of Thailand. All the replies I have put forward since the referenced post have, for the most part, been in response to other peoples queries / comments (all be they long winded). When people started "praising" me and started calling for my post to be pinned - I again asked that it be re-read with a little objectivity and highlighted that it is just the opinion of one person, and that my opinion, as should everyone else's, be taken with a pinch of salt. If I am an expert, in my own eyes or anyone else's for that matter – then I am an expert only in my own affairs, not in the affairs of others. I am a very pensive person – I think everything through, I try to consider all outcomes and eventualities and subsequently plan and do and say things that I feel represent a satisfactory outcome. To me, satisfactory means that I am happy with a result – and in the context of family members I would not be happy unless everyone was happy – unless a compromise that is satisfactory to all is reached……… in my little world, to do otherwise would simply spell future disaster if "bones of contention" keep rearing their ugly heads. What is wrong with that I would ask? I try to be master of my own destiny – not anyone else's…….. think myself an expert – I certainly do not.

3. "but refuses to tell us how long he has actually lived in Isaarn for" - I have never refused any such thing - I could be wrong, but I am pretty sure that I typed somewhere I am a 30yr old Irish man, living in Ireland. I have spent considerable time in Isaan - where I own a modest home - I travel out twice a year - sometimes for a week - sometimes for a month - sometimes for several months…. Whatever work allows. I do not consider myself an "Isaan Resident" - but I am far from a tourist, and far from being unfamiliar with the area or customs. I have no secrets or ulterior motives, as your statement would seem to suggest. What possible motive would I have for that?

4. "Very opinionated with little experience of what Isarn people actually think, I'd bet." - very opinionate..... what's wrong with that - you see I have an opinion on a larger issue - you on the other hand have an opinion about me...... my opinion on that is found on the basis of considerable time spent in the region and socio-economic impact it has my marriage, my wife, my children, my life and my bank balance - what is your opinion of me based on? An hours worth of typing on an internet chat forum where we are all protected by the anonymity it affords us...... pot calling kettle black, no? As far as knowing what Isaan people actually think - who really knows that only Isaan people? I do not try to "know what they think" - I simply 'respond to a stimulus' as they say - what people treat you in a sincere and loving way, it is easy to recognise - that is how I am treated, as a reward for showing or at least trying to show that I have more than a superficial understanding and appreciation for their way of life. I go about my business, and conduct myself in a manner which I have best tried to describe in previous posts - it has worked for me, and that is all I have tried to say........[/size]

I have tried, in a sincere and honest way, to impart the things I have learned and observed over the last 6yrs or so, through a medium of this general discussion board. I have tried to temper my opinions by repeatedly stating that whilst I have had "success" (if that is the appropriate term) in integrating my culture with my wife's, that my approach is not for everyone – and by no means is it the right or wrong way to go about anything. An opinion is just that, an opinion – it cannot be right or wrong. I have put my opinion out there as honestly and sincerely as I can – I would hope that it would provoke thought in those who read it, and I accept that people will agree or disagree with anything that I have said. I think at this stage, perhaps I have become over involved in the topic. I come here to involve myself in general matters – not to be ridiculed or criticized at a personal level. To that end will refrain from typing further on the matter (other than to possibly defend myself, should same be required), since my ramblings is obviously causing offence. To anyone that I have offended, I sincerely apologize, for it was not my intention – I only mean well. Finally, I would conclude on the something which I have tried to highlight through – anything I type is my opinion – just that, an opinion – take is as you will, it is neither right or wrong, just my own interpretation of things as I see it – in the context of my personally situation.

From a reply I typed previsoulr (post #187):

"it is a dangerous persuit to try and portrait one mans opinion as fact - it is equally dangerous to live your life by another mans rules....... "Rules are for the obedience of fools and guidance of wise men" is something that springs to mind here. This is a sensitive topic, and I doubt very many people here are qualified to lay down the rules about what's right and wrong, and what should and should not be done - my approach is a very personal one - those less learned in the ways of Isaan etc. might take away some useful information from this, and it might be a good starting place for them...... for others it might not"

Frankly Corkman I dont think you need to justify any of your posts to anyone. That is not sycophantic praise just the simple acknowledgement that this forum, or any other forum, is about opinions. No one expects them to take on biblical significance - it is literally "up to you" for each reader to take what they want from such posts.

I'm coming to Thailand (from the UK) for the first time, and I'm feeling a bit nervous about travelling so far on my own.

What element concerns you in particular? Many airport signs are written in English. Do you have onward plans from the airport? If you are picking up a car at the airport don't forget your driving licence.

I was just wondering, does anybody have any advice on what to expect at airports with regard to visas etc?

All very straight forward, if in fact you even need to get a visa....

I will be applying for a 60-day tourist visa in the UK before I leave.

There are many threads here detailing the 30 day visa-exception on arrival given to EU passport holders, and the 90 day within a six month period limit that is currently enforced. If you are planning to stay only 60 days you might find it cheaper to simply cross a border half way through your holiday, Laos, Burma. This might fit in with any travel plans within Thailand to see other parts of the country rather than just one place.

Will they want to check my visa and all my documents etc? Does it take long?

If you choose to get a Tourist Visa in your own country before travelling, at Thai Passport control they will only be interested in the Visa stamp in your passport - they will not be remotely interested in the supporting documentation. It might help to open your passport at the visa stamp page when handing it to the immigration officer to ensure they see the stamp and give you the correct 'permitted to stay untill..' stamp. With this in mind check that the date stamped into your passport is correct before you leave that desk - as it can be difficult to correct mistakes afterwards. So work out what date you expect to be stamped in your passport before you fly and write it down - mental arithmitic can be difficult after a long flight.

The queue at normal passport control can be 5-10 minutes during busy periods, if travelling first class the passport control generally does not have a queue apart for other first class passengers that you shared a golf cart with. Processing your passport etc. will take 3 minutes tops. Ensure that you have completed the arrivals section of the card given to you on the plane (can be collected from just before passport control if you loose the one given to you), the departure section is stapled into your passport. Do not loose this during your stay.

I've also heard that you need to prove how much money you've got to sustain yourself whilst in Thailand and you need to show your return ticket. Is this the case?

You are coming from a European country with 'good' reputation of tourists - there will be no question as to whether you have enough money to support your holiday. There are many other threads talking about access to funds via ATMs and travellers checks etc. I suggest you have primary and backup ATM cards and credit cards. Unless you are travelling out on a single flight ticket this is not a problem, no one will be interested in your return ticket.

Suggest that you register with your airline's frequent flyer program, the airmiles can be useful if you get the taste for long haul flights.

HTH

On arrival follow the herd, it is about a 10 minute walk to arrivals. There is a right turn that you need to be aware of at about half way but most people are heading for arrivals anyway. You will already have filled in your 'blue card' (check both sides of arrival and departure parts).

Just to manage expectations - I have never had a 5-10 minute wait at Immigration. Plan for up to an hour from the time of getting off the plane to reaching the luggage carousel. Anything else is a bonus. At busy times the Immigration arrivals area can be heavily congested and patience is a virtue.

You have not said where or how you are travelling on to. The journey to Bangkok is a piece of cake - the adventure starts in Bangkok or Pattaya or wherever you are going. If you are not being met by someone then I would suggest you post again for advice.

With its seedy rep, increasingly violent and sexual crimes, do you always admit you live and/or visit Pattaya? Have you ever said you are from Chonburi? Bang Sare? Sattahip? Other?

I'm a proud Pattayan but I also admit I'm addicted....

I have to be grateful to Pattaya for getting me to Thailand in the first place. Now......

.... now I think it is where the worst of the East meets the worst of the West. It is a rich feeding ground for the lies and deceit that form the foundation of the Thai girl/Farang guy relationship horror stories. I have been happy renting the 'other side' of the Sukhamvit Road and have enjoyed the Thai culinary delights of Third Road and the back streets where many Farang would not be seen dead.

However, I now find the main Soi's boring and I fear that the increasing greed of the girls will eventually back-fire as the rising prices (across the board) push some the old regulars to other developing countries.

After a couple of years it is time for me to move on. Pattaya is not Thailand (in fairness it does not profess to be, it has been happy to be dubbed Blackpool with sex - and sun !) and Thailand has so much culture and beauty on offer.

I would also be the first to admit that without finding a girl in Pattaya I would not have been introduced to the "REAL" Thailand.

Thanks for the reply egg.

Ray I didnt come on here to make friends, this is a discussion forum usually people discuss things on here. I think maybe its time you and the other ladies on here to have your tea and scones now.

Me and the girls have finished the Earl Grey and cucumber sandwiches (you know, the ones with the crusts cut off) and concluded that with 207 views, and F*%k All by way of responses, you may be better advised making fiends FIRST, then asking for advice.

It is an old fashioned business principle that clearly is not required in Vietnam.

Hi Ray - I like option E - but of course, with no disrespect intended, I'll have to decline

Oh and seeing as this thread is making me look like I don't plan anything - here's the story....

I live in Taiwan, have done for the last year.

Booked a surgery a while back to be undertaken on September the 24th.

Got an email from the Dr 2 days ago to say he had a cancellation on the 12th of June and did I want it?

I checked the flight was available, it was, so I booked it.

I'd planned to withdraw all my money from here (Taiwan) and then convert it to baht - HOWEVER, the exchange rate is awful! 0.84 baht to the TWD!!

EDIT: Actually - I think I might be getting confused ...

If you check the rates here - http://www.scb.co.th/html/exchange/bk-txtexchange.htm

The buy rate for TWD is 0.84 - does that mean I multiply the TWD amount of 0.84 to get the amount of BAHT, or divide?

(ie if I sent 30,000 TWD - will I get 25200 BAHT or 35714 BAHT?)

BB,

I think you will get 25,200 Baht for 30,000 TWD.

I read the link as SCB are 'buying' TWD from you so you take the last column (they also have T/C rates quoted for buying).

£3,000 for the surgery @ 62.305 = 186,915 Baht @ 0.84 = 157,008.6 TWD

If that looks expensive I am happy to keep option (e) open. Trust me - I used to be a bank manager

Good luck with the surgery - hope it goes well.

I have read quite a few questions in regards to matters of business in Thailand and have a couple of questions. What I would like to know is how do people feel in relation to the current climate for setting up business in Thailand, is it good or is it still a bit unstable for a foreigner. At present I own a business in Vietnam which is part of a worldwide company that deals with supplies to large and small offices. Our company has a worldwide trademark and if I were to setup business there I would become a master franchisor covering all of Thailand. So anyone who is in business there could you please advise me if you think that business in Thailand is a reasonable propersition or would staying in Vietnam be a safer option. I have visted Thailand on a few occasions and would like to look at starting something there but if it is a risky thing to do I would rather leave it alone.

Thanks in advance for any answers

Stay in Vietnam.

You don't seem to have the patience for making friends in Thailand

Argh this is all becoming far more complicated than it should be in this day and age! I'm tempted just to make one transfer of £3000 and say "to hel_l with the consequences!"

Issue with travellers cheques is the 1.5% charge in getting them - plus then having to pay (50p?) per cheque to change them - 25 cheques ...

Let this be a lesson to people - your life is never going to be simple if you live in one country (Taiwan), bank in another (UK), get paid from another (US) and then go for surgery in another (Thailand)

Any other comments anyone might have, gratefully received

Didn't realise you lived in Taiwan, blimey - I am not sure that instructing Nationwide from Taiwan is going to be a stroll in the park either

Hi Guys,

Been reading as much as I can - but just need to confirm a few things.

1) I need to transfer £500 from the UK to Thailand (whilst I'm still in the UK) - I understand the best way to do this is SWIFT, specifying the "intermediary" bank so as to get the onshore rates. I will be going from Natwest to Siam Commercial Bank. The sticky has the details for the America intermediary, but not the UK one - does anyone have these?

2) I also need to get another £2500 out there - am I right in thinking I can just walk into a Siam bank with my Nationwide Debit card and just request this amount? Or would I be better ordering £2500 in travellers cheques and getting these exchanged directly in the bank?

At the risk of sounding harsh - why have you left it so late to sort out your finances for this surgery ? A few facts:-

1. You can withdraw 18,900 per day on your Nationwide card (Flex Account ?) based on today's rate of circa 63.

2. It will cost circa £21.509 per SWIFT transfer (based on HSBC rates).

3. You will need to remit in Baht if you have an exact amount to pay.

4. You will get screwed on the rate - probably around 60/61.

5. Last SWIFT transfer I made was at 3.00 pm on a Wednesday in UK and I could see it on Siam Commercial Bank's internet banking the next day ! - not always that quick.

5. I am assuming that you do not have a Thai bank account or a Thai wife/GF (with an account) that you would be happy to trust to make the payment in Thailand.

6. Nowhere have you suggested that price is a factor in this transaction.

7. I have sent emails to SCB on 3 occasions and not once have they managed a reply - good luck if you want to contact them for advice. I think the card over the counter is a red herring - I accept I may be wrong but I would not recommend relying on it.

8. You appear to arriving on Monday 9th, paying by Weds 11th (surgery day) and flying out on Friday 13th (bloody brave of you, after surgery - clearly not superstitious

9. I don't know if you are going straight to hospital, staying in a hotel, with wife/friends etc

OPTIONS:-

a. Send the £500 via SWIFT on Tuesday 27th, it should hit the good doctors account by Thursday, he should know by Friday at the latest (try and make sure you do an 'interactive' transaction whilst sat with a bank clerk rather than fill out a paper form - that could go anywhere.

b. Either you trust this transaction or don't. If you do, then instruct the next transfer during the week commencing 2nd June.

c. If you are not sure, or want more control, take travellers cheques, But - they will cost you a fee, you will have to go to a bank after arrival.

d. Take Sterling cash you will get a better rate but not as 'secure' as T/Cs

e. This one you will really like but you will need to PM me. I am going out on 30th May. Pay in £3,000 to my Nationwide account and I will transfer (via my SCB account) £500 to the doctor on 31st May and the remaining £2,500 when you instruct me to do so. Probably free of charge as it is SCB to SCB.

Think about how much in a single year, you may have to pay in tea money. The total isn't much.

Contrast with back home:

-Thugs who can legally wheel clamp and hold you to ransom.

-Traffic wardens and jobs-worth attitude.

-Concealed speed cameras.

-Compulsory vehicle recovery from motorways (at your expense).

-Expensive insurance premiums.

I'm not saying corruption is this or that blah blah Thailand BiB and so on, instead, I just want to point out that the potential (and often real) costs of motoring back home is significantly more than in Thailand. With this in mind, tea money doesn't really irk me like it used to.

When it happens, getting stopped in Thailand is as irksome as being stopped in the UK.

The difference is about 3500 baht and penalty points on your licence