mosquitobill

I saw someone started a thread about should prospective forum members be given an IQ test. Maybe that idea could be expanded, every country should give passport applicants an IQ test.

What is the point of giving applicants an IQ test as it has nothing to do with common sense and as a mate of mine used to say back in England about a work colleague who was brainy but thick"He can work out the cubic capacity of a jam jar but he cant get the lid off".

This is the method I have been using for 5yrs and it takes about 5wks for the money to arrive in your Thai account so its not quick but its simple.I just pay into my Thai bank a Natwest cheque made out in sterling and payable to myself and thats it like I say not quick but simple.

Oh Oh Oh sorely tempted or as they say up North you get nowt for nowt.

My daughter arranged for a transfer of £5K into my foreign currency account last week --- it never arrived. She just checked with her bank in the UK and they said it was blocked by SCB, reason given "The Baht is too low" !!!!!!!!

Any similar experiences or helpful comments?

Surely the bank cannot block your transaction because the Baht is low as it has nothing to do with them

and its your money and up to you if you are happy with the exchange rate or not.

I have read the rules concerning foriegn exchange but can someone please answer for me the following questions.A friend is bringing me about 8000 GBP in cash which is not dodgy money but thats the way he wants to do it and as I do not have a foriegn currency account but just a savings account with TMB can I just walk in my bank and deposit the GBP and my account will be credited with Thai Baht. Thank you in anticipation.

I used the TMB in Jomtien the other day and when I tried to withdraw 10000baht with my Natwest switch card it said I could only have 5000 baht which I took and then put my card back in and got the other 5000 Baht !

I have lived in Thailand for 5yrs on a retirement visa and as such have no credit cards either but I kept my Natwest bank account open back in England as I have a goverment pension paid into it which I can withdraw from ATM machines using my Natwest Switch card.Natwest have my sisters address in England which they use as my contact address although most of my contact with them is online.I opened a Pay Pal account here in Thailand using my switch card and just gave them my name and number as detailed on the card and my contact address in England which was verified when Pay Pal confirmed my Bank details. Hope this helps.

Bill

Had a long interesting chat last night to a very good friend based in the Philippines. This is his dilemma.

Being over 60 he still holds a job and in fact subject to health expects to continue working for another 10years. his monthly salary is equivalent to 140,000 Baht per month. He is married to a Thai lady and they have a 23 year old son who is working.

He has a lovely house in Manila that is valued at 15 million Baht, however he has a mortgage of 747,000 Baht to be paid.

He has never been a free spender, doesnt visit bars or take part in such activities that drains the bank balance.He has lived very carefully and he says apart from his mortgage owes no debts.

Now after attaining the age of 60 last year his UK pension kicked in, he had a lump sum of GBP12,000 plus a monthly pension of almost GBP 400, which he has not touched and sits in the bank.

Earlier this year, sadly, his Father died and he was left GBP50,000 payable immediately (after probate) with the chances of another large sum if his 80 year old Mother should pass on.

So in his words " The money is starting to stack up in his account" and he has no idea what to sensibly do with it.

Never being in that position I couldnt answer him, but I am sure people on here would have advice.

Being a 60yr old British ex-pat myself I was under the immpression that the UK pension is still payable at age 65 and not 60.

We plan to move home soon. Is there a way my wife (Thai ) or I (non Thai) can open a bank account in Thailand and transfer (deposit) cash?

When I moved to Pattaya about 4yrs ago I opened an account at TMB with a couple of thousand Baht and was given a ATM card.I have kept my Natwest account open in England as I get my civil service pension paid into it and to save all the hassle with Swift transfers and passwords etc every so often I just go to my Thai bank and give them a Natwest cheque made out to myself in sterling and thats it.This is only a good option if you are prepared to wait about 40 days for your money to go into your Thai account but with a bit of forward planning its easy and hassle free.

I have been living in Jomtien 4yrs on a retirement visa and use the 800,000 baht in the bank route but as a retired civil servant I recieve a pension of about £750 a month paid into my English bank account which I would now like to use to offset the amount needed in my thai account and I believe I need a letter from the British Embassy confirming my pension.If anyone knows how to get this letter would they please let me know. Thank you in anticipation.

Bill