kinyara

51 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

That surprises me... of all the banks I thought they had the links to the revenue dept. I had to get an account with them to be paid a withholding tax refund years ago.......

You are quite right, however my success with them was doing it in person rather than online. I wonder if it was the timing issue mentioned previously.

I'd recommend saving yourself some time and just search and read the 100's of other threads on the same subject, inevitably you'll end up reading the same arguments for and against from the same people that inevitably will appear on here over the next couple of days, you'll just get there quicker. 

In short it's a personal decision based on your finances and preferred style of living - permanence or transient, I think other peoples experiences are irrelevant and will cloud your decision making.

3 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

The bus is much better then a private car or taxi.

Just like economy flights are much better then business class. After all, economy is fun.

If only economy flights had as generous leg room as the Airport Bus from Jomtien to Bangkok.

18 hours ago, Middle Aged Grouch said:

Private car is far better, more convenient and door to door service, with a very small price difference for a foreigner. But you have those farangs that are cheap jacks and prefer to save a few pennies I guess. Those are the quality tourists Thailand loves to encourage.

Getting snobby and superior over choosing to take a taxi rather than a bus is laughable. Even worse that you think that somehow qualifies you to think of yourself as a quality tourist as a result. 

Re the OP and the scenario you state, Jomtien to LK Metro is easy on a baht bus with minimal walking, off at Kiss on 2nd road and a short walk down Soi Diana, on the way back you take one along Buakow and change at the school right beside the ones heading back up the hill, don't know what is difficult about that. The same applies to any central location really using the baht bus.

I can't ride a motorcycle and I hate being a passenger on them as I just find it a horrible experience, I doubt I've been on them more than 10 times reluctantly in 25 years.  I've got a car which I use less and less due to the increase in traffic over the years, but since it's cheap to tax/insure and maintain it still serves its purpose of convenience for early morning supermarket runs and one off trips to the hospital, places off the main drags etc. I chose to live on the main baht bus route between Jomtien and Pattaya, most times I'm going into Pattaya for a drink so a motorbike wouldn't be an option anyway. If I want comfort or I know traffic is bad Bolt is a great inexpensive option. If I didn't have a car and wanted to travel further away for a break I'd probably just hire a car for the trip. 

Between walking around the main Jomtien beach area, baht buses when I need to go into Pattaya and Bolt for comfort and convenience for trickier locations or busy weekends I wouldn't find the lack of a motorcycle or car a problem. For me the most important decision for enjoyable long term living is getting your accomodation choice right, and it's location with regard to the transport options is a major part of that decision, get that wrong and you'll cause yourself unneccessary grief and hassle.

I live close walking distance to the bus station so it's pretty much a door to door service. The only time I'll take a taxi rather than the bus is when I'm flying in from overseas, I'm tired and just want to get out the airport and down the road as quick as possible. All other times I find the bus, airport rail link and MRT/BTS an easy option for a day trip, however the cost saving over a taxi means I'm able to spend a night in a hotel for the same money, so I get way more enjoyment and value out of a trip using the bus over a taxi. I actually view that bus service as a major plus of where I live.

1 hour ago, Pattaya57 said:

But you could have paid an agent 12-14,000 baht to do it for you and save you all that trouble 😉

Indeed, I've always earnt well but sadly never 1,000 baht a minute.

I went for my retirement extension renewal this week at Jomtien mid-morning, from joining the queue to get my ticket for desk 8 to walking back out after successful submission took all of 13 minutes, a personal record for me. Excellent.

3 hours ago, petermik said:

New building on the left

Thanks

On 4/1/2024 at 10:57 AM, BigStar said:

 

As do I, fields already typed it in, just change the date. Also have my phone number typed at the bottom. Anything to get outta the Immigration office quickly. 

 

 

Been a couple years since I received a bank book check notice. I'd ignore it anyway.

 

 

Exactly.

 

I get the bank book letter from the bank on my way to Immigration. They give me a photocopy of the updated last page.

 

 

If online doesn't work and I must go there, I print out a pre-filled TM47 and passport copies. Also my yellow book. Never done a TM.30.

 

I love surprising them.

 

 

What "extra" besides the usual acknowledgement slip w/ notice of your next reporting date?

 

 

Disregard my query, The Pattaya City Expats page had the answer to my question.

4 hours ago, Jingthing said:

So what's the deadline date this year?

Can't help you with that as I haven't received my own bill yet, but the obvious approach is to attempt the 2 bank options immediately you receive yours.

On 4/1/2024 at 10:57 AM, BigStar said:

 

As do I, fields already typed it in, just change the date. Also have my phone number typed at the bottom. Anything to get outta the Immigration office quickly. 

 

 

Been a couple years since I received a bank book check notice. I'd ignore it anyway.

 

 

Exactly.

 

I get the bank book letter from the bank on my way to Immigration. They give me a photocopy of the updated last page.

 

 

If online doesn't work and I must go there, I print out a pre-filled TM47 and passport copies. Also my yellow book. Never done a TM.30.

 

I love surprising them.

 

 

What "extra" besides the usual acknowledgement slip w/ notice of your next reporting date?

 

 

Do you pick up your queue number for Desk 8 from inside the main building as before,  or is it from the new building on the left opposite the new 90 day report building ?  First time doing it since construction of the 2 new offices. Thanks.

36 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

I'm skeptical if the QR codes don't work, which they don't.

If anyone tries this, please report about it here.

I've done it by 3 different methods in the past, in person at City Hall, across the counter at Krungthai - that payment method was/is detailed on the bill, and using my Krungsri Bank App. However with both the Krungthai and Krungsri methods there is a deadline by which payment needs to be made, beyond that neither method works and you have to pay it in person at City Hall. I learnt this as I was out of the country when my bill was delivered, tried Krungsri when I got back and it didn't work - I couldn't understand it as it had worked previously, went to Krungthai and the helpful staff informed me of the deadline. 

That's just my personal experience, since I'm here this year I'll try Krungsri first, Krungthai second and City Hall if the first 2 don't work for some other reason. City hall was painless last year, the other options are just more convenient.

Pretty sure you can pay it across the counter at a Krungthai Bank, which may be more convenient than going to City Hall depending on your location.

10 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

I might try this guy today

See if I can get a appointment 

There are no appointments as such, it is first come first served. I'd recommend getting there at 4.30 so you have a chance of getting the first number in the queue as is gets busy quick. Small waiting area inside and plastic chairs set up in the outside area beside the pavement.

22 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Thailand has been facing a decline in Western tourists for a decade now. There are a dozen good reasons why Westerners don't visit Thailand as much as they used to. I was recently in Phuket and I would estimate the population of foreigners was 40% Russian, 20% Arab, 20% Malaysian and Chinese, 15% Indian, and about 2% Westerners and a sprinkling of some others. It was a low end crowd. 

 

The sad truth is that Thailand is not doing anything to improve itself they are making absolutely no effort to tackle air quality environmental issues traffic congestion or any other problems plaguing the nation. It seems to be a combination of sloth lack of vision and extreme arrogance. 

You can say that as many times as you like but it will never be true. Western tourism to Thailand has risen over the last decade.

I'd normally expect a detailed analysis to be supported by statistical evidence to support the case being put forward, surprise surprise nothing provided by the Pattaya Mail. A case of Mr Kenyon trolling again for clickbait for his comic of a publication.

After Soi Naklua 18 on Naklua Road if anyone else like me was wondering :))

Evidence if it was needed that forum traffic high season is over. Captain Fiction in daily full flow.

10 hours ago, thailand49 said:

Correction!

March 8th. Return went down Monday the 11th, told it isnt necessary. 

My brother same!  Went to Renew his marriage.

Thanks for that, always helpful to hear what the actual situation is currently from someone who has experienced it first hand.

Why is it people with a heightened sense of their own importance always feel the need to announce their supposed departure, yet they are never the ones to actually leave ?  Is it a trolling way to build up hope for others ? You see it in real life and online forums, facebook groups etc. The genuine people who are serious about it realise it's only important to themselves and quietly do it with no grandstanding fanfare.

On 3/25/2024 at 7:07 AM, hotchilli said:

Not bad considering that before covid tourist numbers were almost double what they are now ?

It's currently much better than that, February 2024 tourist numbers were 3,352k compared to 3,601k in Feb 2019, so now recovered to 93% of 2019 even with the lower rate of Chinese.

Interesting to see those high occupancy rates at hotels commanding 5k+ baht per night, seems like wealthier tourists are in fact visiting Pattaya and Thailand in their numbers contrary to what some on here believe.

2 hours ago, impulse said:

 

Interesting that Trump was really talking about a bloodbath for the US auto industry when addressing tariffs on Chinese imports assembled in Mexico.

 

But the lefty media carrying water for the Dems makes it into something else completely.

 

"Those big monster car manufacturing plants that you're building in Mexico right now and you think you're going to get that, you're going to not hire Americans and you're going to sell the cars to us? No. We're going to put a 100% tariff on every single car that comes across the line, and you're not going be able to sell those cars. If i get elected. Now, if I don't get elected, it's going to be a bloodbath for the whole -- that's gonna be the least of it. It's going to be a bloodbath for the country. That will be the least of it."

 

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2024/03/16/trump_if_i_dont_get_elected_its_going_to_be_a_bloodbath.html

What I'll never understand about his hyperbole such as this, is how that principle relates to successful American companies like Apple whose manufacturing base is China. Is he also going to impose a 100% tariff on an Apple product assembled in China, products so loved by the American voter. Where is the consistency ?