Mali1964

I've suffered depression for 30 years diagnosed bi polar 10 years ago.

The best thing for me is herbal medicine called 5 HTP 1 tablet a day & 30 minutes to 1 hour in the gym with a nice swim & sanna,so a mixture of meds & self help work well but as some point out there are different types of depression.

If I let myself go then it can take weeks/months to get back into self help mode as you fall into a black hole.

Liverpool give 90 day single entry if you show £3000 in a UK bank account.

Sorry yes non o

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

I've just been to the Liverpool consulate today for my single entry tourist Visa as you know you can only do postal applications to the London embassy.

Two lovely ladies in the office told me there's no need for proof of flight or hotel for tourist i was in & out within 20 minutes £35.00 including £10.00 same day fee great service.

Also i mentioned retirement visa now I'm 50 they say they can issue single entry only with a pension income proof of £1300 or £3250 cash in a bank account seasoned for 3 months.

Its right in the city centre makes for a little day out, Liverpool as change a lot great looking city.

Where is "Issan"?

Back of beyond(tee noooon).

North east Thailand bordering Cambodia & Loes, Nakon Ratchasema is its largest city, may be to be the new capitol 1 day they say.

Here's some Etan's hard at work some were coming in carrying well over 3 ton of timber on the weighbridge you could hear them coming to the yard for a mile away.

Hard work transshipping to our Hino had fun that summer.

Couple of pictures of an engine for those that are interested.

All taken in Roi Et

This was all in Roi Et in 2008.

Thanks,

So it looks like Savanakhet i'm heading for.

Is there some where i can check exactly what paperwork I need.

I found one on this website,

My main question now is do I need my wifes' origonal tabian bahn or

will a copy do.

I also want to fly from Bangkok so which is the nearest airport to mukdahan in Isan

Can you not fly Lao Airways direct to Savanakhet they fly from Bangkok.

2 tickets please for me & my lady

Can anyone tell me the current price to plow land? ....3 times

Thanks

Prices tend to start around 200 baht per rai don't go for any that charge by the hour.

Been doing this for 4 years now & its very hard to make a profit, maintenance costs are very high plus the price of diesel is set to rise when the government stop subsidising it. We may sell up later this year after the Main Harvest.

A link to my You Tube account some vids of my set up though your are opting for the much smaller harvester here.

shaunleigh75

There are definately 2 cards out there that will be cheaper than the NW debit cards but they both happen to be credit cards.They are the Saga platinum Visa (have to be over 50 I believe) and the Halifax clarity visa. Both cards have no loading on purchases and the saga card charges 2% on cash witdrawals(up to 250 GBP max a day) and the Halifax card 1% on cash withdrawals.There are no interest charges on either card provided you pay off your o/s balance in full each month.The future cost of the NW flex card will be 2% plus 1 GBP per withdrawal so the Halifax is far better and the saga leaves you better off by a pound per atm transaction. The halifax card will give you 5 GBP cash back per month provided you spend at least 300 GBP each month and if you open a bank account with them and pay in 1000 GBP a month you get another fiver back.I have done this today and they paid me 50 GBP cash just for opening a bank account with them so I stand to get 170 GBP cash back in the first year which should offset a few charges.

But theres more ..I spoke to Saga this evening and provided you have a credit balance on their card..set up a payment transfer from your current account for example to top up each month,then you will not be charged anything,that is 0% on your ATM withdrawals in Thailand(Thai banking fee excepted of course).

Does anyone know if the Bank of Ayuddyha is still free for NW flex visa debit cards.A friend told me his Co-op visa card was also free to use at the BOA but that was back in April.

This is a copy from Martin Lewis on Moneysavingexpert.com it clearly states that all these credit cards including the Santander zero charge interest from the day you withdraw up to the day you repay in full but they may all not be able to charge this if your already in credit as Saga as confirmed to you.

Still at £3 for £300 over 1 month it will be cheaper than Nationwide from November.

Top open-to-all: Halifax Clarity

Worldwide 0% load & no cash withdrawal fee.

The Clarity card from Halifax has no foreign exchange fee anywhere in the world, so you can get the best rate possible. Plus it doesn't charge for cash withdrawals, although you will be charged interest even if you repay in full.

The rate for cash withdrawals is a fairly low 12.9% APR (this rate is 'typical' which means two thirds of those that are accepted will get it, the rest will be charged up to 21.9%). This works out as around £1 per month for every £100 withdrawn.

Cost of £100 worth of... Spending: £0

Cash w/ds: £1/mnth

This card is top for spending abroad and can only be beaten by Nationwide debit card for ATM withdrawals within Europe (see below).

As an additional bonus, if you have a Halifax Reward current account and you apply for the Reward Clarity* you'll get £5 each month you spend over £300 on the credit card (ensure you repay in full every month). Read the Best bank accounts guide for how it measures up.

If only hold a UK bank account I'm afraid to say that Nationwide is still the cheapest option to transfer small amounts into Thailand.

Barclays, Natwest, Santander and all the other banks are more all more expensive than Nw. I work for the biggest card scheme and I can see the rates that most banks applies....and NW is still the cheapest.

If you can pay by card (and if you can request a card) then ask for an Halifax Clarima, Post Office Mcard or Visa Saga. No fees on card purchases.

For cash transactions you should stay with Nationwide as from the banks I came across as part of my work...

I think that NW was forced to raise the fees for two reasons:

1) NW pay 1% to Visa for each transaction that is done outside the VE Region

2) NW pay around 1EUR to the ATM owner (acquirer) for each cash withdrawal that is made on the card (so if you take 20GBP out, then it cost 20GBP+1% FEE to Visa + 1EUR to the atm owner)

They probably had too many people using their cards just for overseas withdrawal and this was costing them too much.

giruzz

I Agree NW is still the cheapest but £7 which was 6 months ago nil plus the 150 Baht fee (£3) is a lot to withdraw £300. Halifax standard card is 2.75% + £1.50 ATM fee making them £2.75 more expensive than NW for example.

A point on the post office account credit card they sting you on the exchange rate by some 2 baht under the TT rate you get when using your NW debit card, not sure how the other cards work, as anyone any experience with them & can post the rates they got as nothing is ever free these days, just a smoke screen these commission fee free cards are from my experience.

This is a copy from Bangkok Banks website on the charge made when they receive funds in Thailand.

Transferring funds in Pounds Sterling (Conversion in Thailand)

• Bangkok Bank’s London branch will deduct a transfer fee of GBP 20 before sending the funds in Pounds Sterling to Bangkok Bank in Thailand.
• Bangkok Bank in Thailand will then convert the funds from Pounds Sterling to Thai Baht using its daily TT buying rate in Thailand.
• An international fee of 0.25% of the transferred amount will be deducted before crediting funds to the recipient’s account (minimum fee 200 Baht, maximum fee 500 Baht per transaction).
• Funds will be received in Thailand within five business days after the London branch receives the money transfer from your UK bank account.

Thanks Mali!

So my best option is open a Thai bank account then do an online Swift transfer - my bank is Nat West, I'm sure they have this.

Yes Nat west will have this service but they will charge a lot more, Barclay's charge up to £45 for the same service & it has to be done in branch not online,set your self up with a basic Halifax account then you can transfer funds from your Nat west acc then on to your Thai account this way all can be done from Thailand when funds are needed with the click of a mouse.

I'm sure Nationwide was the only bank that did these free withdrawals abroad - it's a shame.

How would you recommend I bring over 1500GBP to spend in Thailand?

Halifax online swift transfer, if you have access to a Thai bank account, this must be transferred in sterling to benefit ,the charge made is £9.50 & up to 500 baht at the Thai end your £1500 if drawn after 1st November would cost you £50 If you took the maximum £300 daily ATM limit.

The TT rate applies to your transfer this is as good as the ATM rate.

"Just open a Halifax current account online your wish can come true, the basic acc is all that's needed then you can do online transfers for free from your main acc at RBS to the Halifax acc then transfer from the Halifax acc online to your Thai bank this leaves your main account free to use as you are now direct debits etc"

In order to open an account online you will have to send proof of ID and address verification. The latter is a problem if you are not already having all your bank, credit card statements sent to a UK address, they will also check the electoral roll. Why not have a look at Halifax International, Isle of Man. A foreign address is no problem, and their regular saver account pays 4%. SWIFT transfers up to £8000 cost £20, and can be sent online in Sterling.

Food for thought - All the best

That's a good saver rate i take it that's with instant access? Good option as you say if you have severed all contacts back in the UK.

I,m not on the electoral roll at my registered address had no problems opening an account, yes a copy of your passport is needed this can be posted/ faxed i understand that not all have kept an address back home so this would cause a problem for some.

I use my Nationwide Flexaccount debit card. I was advised by a contact at the Nationwide that the cheapest way to use my account in Thailand was by cash advance. I go to the Bangkok Bank hand over my card and passport and tell them the amount I want. I have withdrawn amounts from 50-150,000 baht. I do not get any charges from the Bangkok Bank for the transaction. The Nationwide registers the transfer at midnight UK time so it is debited from my account the day following withdrawl. The exchange rate used is as good as any rates for that day. This avoids using my card in an ATM and incurring 150 baht charge and transfer charges if I was sending to a Thai Bank. It's worked well for me for 12 months.

Yes this is another good option, do Nationwide still charge the 1% using this method ? as i think visa is not involved in this transaction maybe its free.

UK EXPATS USING THE NATIONWIDE CASH CARD TAKE NOTE IF YOU HAVE NOT YET BEEN MADE AWARE.

My link

NOTE ! anyone using the Nationwide cash card (cirrus card) will find a new card being issued to their registered address from 1st June 2010 to September 2010 now called the cash card plus, the sad news is that the cash card plus cannot be used in ATM's abroad not even Europe,but can now be used to purchase items.

So the only card that was truly free of charges is to be no more.

Note this does not affect the Flexaccount debit card which as charged a competitive 1% fee for some time now.

Most banks in the UK charge at least 2.5% to 5% commission plus the merchant fee ie visa m/c, only Nationwide is 1% all in, Abbey is free with a special account that includes having a mortgage & i think a minimum balance of £1000.

The post office credit card is commission free but the exchange rate is bad to make up for this.

Take note only the Nationwide offer the best rate's but for how much longer who knows as i hear their profits have halved.

Halifax online swift transfer is another good option especially if you transfer at least min £1000 each time,swift fee £9.50 equivalent to 3 x 150bt atm withdrawals with no need to go in branch compared to Nationwide fee of £20 done by post or in branch only.

The charge for say Bangkok bank to convert your Sterling to Thai Baht is 200bt min to 500bt max i think the rate they use is 0.25% max (500bt) so at the moment around £1700 could be sent with only a 200bt fee plus £9.50, on these figures it only saves around 150/250 baht compared to foreign ATM card withdrawals but the more you send in one go the more you start to save, as long as you don't then go using other Thai bank or out of province ATM's you will get your withdrawals free from your Thai bank.

I have the Flex card and use Bangkok Bank for receiving GBP. I've checked the 'rates' and I don't think that the ATM rates (you can get these from "Exchange Rates Visa Corporate" are as good as those that BB give...what do you think?

Anyway what you have detailed is very useful..thanks. Wish I could transfer for £9.50..it costs me more than twenty with the Royal Bank of Scotland.

The rate you get from Thai banks seems as fair as your likely to get & the only one who has your sterling to convert, its pot luck what the rate will be in the 3/5 days it takes for them to receive your swift transfer, if you want more control over that & can play a waiting game then open a foreign deposit acc at Bangkok bank or Kasikorn then pray with little chance that the rate go's back at least into the 50 plus baht region soon then convert.

The visa site is a waste of time.

Try this site to follow the rates you should get rates close to these.My link

Just open a Halifax current account online your wish can come true, the basic acc is all that's needed then you can do online transfers for free from your main acc at RBS to the Halifax acc then transfer from the Halifax acc online to your Thai bank this leaves your main account free to use as you are now direct debits etc.

Note do not use the Halifax ATM card to withdraw from Thai ATM's they charge 2.75% plus £1.50 fee your Flexi will still be best if you need quick cash.

Also the figures above are based on using the Nationwide cash card (free) not the Flexi acc card (1%) for ATM withdrawals so you can add another £17 (800bt) to the costs of using your flexi card to withdraw £1700 from ATM's making total savings of around 1000 bt with a swift transfer.

I'm looking at £2000 min transfers now anything you can send above this you just go on saving money.

UK EXPATS USING THE NATIONWIDE CASH CARD TAKE NOTE IF YOU HAVE NOT YET BEEN MADE AWARE.

My link

NOTE ! anyone using the Nationwide cash card (cirrus card) will find a new card being issued to their registered address from 1st June 2010 to September 2010 now called the cash card plus, the sad news is that the cash card plus cannot be used in ATM's abroad not even Europe,but can now be used to purchase items.

So the only card that was truly free of charges is to be no more.

Note this does not affect the Flexaccount debit card which as charged a competitive 1% fee for some time now.

Most banks in the UK charge at least 2.5% to 5% commission plus the merchant fee ie visa m/c, only Nationwide is 1% all in, Abbey is free with a special account that includes having a mortgage & i think a minimum balance of £1000.

The post office credit card is commission free but the exchange rate is bad to make up for this.

Take note only the Nationwide offer the best rate's but for how much longer who knows as i hear their profits have halved.

Halifax online swift transfer is another good option especially if you transfer at least min £1000 each time,swift fee £9.50 equivalent to 3 x 150bt atm withdrawals with no need to go in branch compared to Nationwide fee of £20 done by post or in branch only.

The charge for say Bangkok bank to convert your Sterling to Thai Baht is 200bt min to 500bt max i think the rate they use is 0.25% max (500bt) so at the moment around £1700 could be sent with only a 200bt fee plus £9.50, on these figures it only saves around 150/250 baht compared to foreign ATM card withdrawals but the more you send in one go the more you start to save, as long as you don't then go using other Thai bank or out of province ATM's you will get your withdrawals free from your Thai bank.

UK EXPATS USING THE NATIONWIDE CASH CARD TAKE NOTE IF YOU HAVE NOT YET BEEN MADE AWARE.

My link

NOTE ! anyone using the Nationwide cash card (cirrus card) will find a new card being issued to their registered address from 1st June 2010 to September 2010 now called the cash card plus, the sad news is that the cash card plus cannot be used in ATM's abroad not even Europe,but can now be used to purchase items.

So the only card that was truly free of charges is to be no more.

Note this does not affect the Flexaccount debit card which as charged a competitive 1% fee for some time now.

Most banks in the UK charge at least 2.5% to 5% commission plus the merchant fee ie visa m/c, only Nationwide is 1% all in, Abbey is free with a special account that includes having a mortgage & i think a minimum balance of £1000.

The post office credit card is commission free but the exchange rate is bad to make up for this.

Take note only the Nationwide offer the best rate's but for how much longer who knows as i hear their profits have halved.

Halifax online swift transfer is another good option especially if you transfer at least min £1000 each time,swift fee £9.50 equivalent to 3 x 150bt atm withdrawals with no need to go in branch compared to Nationwide fee of £20 done by post or in branch only.

The charge for say Bangkok bank to convert your Sterling to Thai Baht is 200bt min to 500bt max i think the rate they use is 0.25% max (500bt) so at the moment around £1700 could be sent with only a 200bt fee plus £9.50, on these figures it only saves around 150/250 baht compared to foreign ATM card withdrawals but the more you send in one go the more you start to save, as long as you don't then go using other Thai bank or out of province ATM's you will get your withdrawals free from your Thai bank.

NOTE ! anyone using the Nationwide cash card (cirrus card) will find a new card being issued to their registered address from 1st June 2010 to September 2010 now called the cash card plus, the sad news is that the cash card plus cannot be used in ATM's abroad not even Europe.

So the only card that was truly free of charges is to be no more.

Note this does not affect the Flexaccount debit card which as charged a competitive 1% fee for some time now.

Also the Halifax quote above of only a £1.50 fee is misleading this is only Halifax's foreign ATM fee that is shown as a separate fee, there is also a 2.5% exchange fee built into the exchange rate, most banks in the UK charge at least 2.5% to 5% only Nationwide is 1%, Abbey is free with a special account that includes having a mortgage & i think a minimum balance of £1000.

The post office credit card is free of fee's but the exchange rate is bad to make up for this.

Take note only the Nationwide offer the best rate's but for how much longer who knows.

As stated above the Halifax online transfer is another good option especially if you transfer at least min £1000 each time.

Has everyone forgot that Ayudhya use DCC (low exchange rates for US & Euro cards)

This may be OK for us brits though.

Hmm, what a strange rule! Do you think there's anyway they misunderstood? Perhaps they thought that you wanted to withdraw money (and then the limit often IS 20,000/day)? Like someone said, maybe it does have to do with the debit card involvement. Maybe they consider a transfer from your debit card the same thing as a withdrawal using your debit card?

I use Bangkok Bank, and make monthly transfers over 20,000 baht. I just did it last week, no problem. So I don't really understand what's going on here. But, I do it differently. I just fill out a form (which the HR person at my job assists with) and indicate how much I want transferred. The money goes direct from my Thai account to my foreign account. No debit card involved. Unfortunately I've never gone into the bank to do a transfer in person, so I can't give advice in that area. But maybe you could figure out how to set up a transfer that way, without the use of a debit card?

I hope you figure it out! I really don't believe that there is a rule against transferring more than 20,000 baht/day! The transfer fees alone would kill you.

He's transferring in not out of Thailand.

I presume you have online facilities with your bank in the UK? Just initiate the transfer from the UK to your Thai account at SCB. Minimal cost and is in your account in a few days.

Unfortunately my Uk bank doesn't permit international transfers online (Barclays). I know there are some Uk banks who do, but I'm loathe to change banks after 45 years with the same branch. And it would require a trip to the Uk to do so.

But thanks for the suggestion.

Barclays allowed me a £5000 transfer by using their central call centre whilst in Thailand 2 years ago maybe things have changed, worth a call though you will have to set up security passwords etc first if you haven't already.

I liked the bit about remitting money overseas.. yeah I can just see that.. Farangs sending money out of Thailand...

Yeah currently 7 million baht in & 1000 baht out when i once tried my Kasikorn bank card in a UK ATM they must want that back then, cq's on it way