Pib

As Galong said, Manila is a middle man for on many SS issues for Baltimore. When you submit your application online and you have a foreign address such as in Thailand it is first reviewed by Baltimore....specifically, the SSA Office of Earnings and International Operations in Baltimore. If Baltimore needs more info/wants to verify certain things regarding your application they will electronically relay the application to Manila to typically accomplish a brief interview via scheduled telephone call. Manila will contact you with a date/time for the phone call....they will call you. This interview is brief and basically just verifies/clarifies some data on your application. And they may end up asking you to mail then certain docs like if a Naturalized US citizen they may want you to mail them your US passport (original) or a certified copy which the US Embassy -Bangkok can provide to you in person or via mail. Don't mail any originals to avoid their loss in the going and coming mail system; use the US Embassy certified copies method...more info at their website. It varies as to what additional docs "may" be required as it varies from application to application...it could very well turn out they don't needed any additional docs....or they need some simple form completed and then scanned/emailed to Manila. Once Manila is satisfied/accomplishes whatever Baltimore asked them to do, then Manila sends your application back to Baltimore for review again/final approval. Baltimore is the one that gives give the final thumbs up/approval. This relay between Baltimore and Manila is all done electronically; not by snail mail. Since you got an email within a week of submitting your application that probably a good sign as maybe Baltimore relayed your application to Manila already to check some issue....and Manila was able to accomplish such without telephone interview and sent it back to Baltimore. And this email you got was it from Manila or just a SSA email confirming your application had been received/is under review which is common with a lot of online applications a person submits....just a way to confirm/reassure a person that application you submitted was indeed received after you hit the final Submit button during the online application process. Webpage for SSA Int'l Office in Baltimore https://www.ssa.gov/foreign/

Yeap, that pumping in electrons fast!!!! I see the MG IM6 DC charging specs are up to 396KW which supports the results for 9 min 37 sec to pump-in 40KWH worth of electrons. But this charge rate would need to occur on a charger with at least a 396KW charging capability which is going to be harder to find than hen's teeth in Thailand. I used PlugShare to check for chargers with 350KW or greater charging capability in Thailand....results were only two locations in Thailand....one in Bangkok and one in Saraburi. I'm sure there are probably few more probably in the Bangkok area, but that just what PlugShare shows. Since the great, great majority of DC chargers in Thailand are 180KW or less....and actually it's probably more like 120KW or less...with that usually being shared between two connectors on each DC charger so a person would only get the full charger rate if another EV is not using the other connector. It's great newer battery technology is allowing batteries with HIGH charge rate capability. But even if a person had an EV battery capable of say unlimited charge rate that don't help much if the typical DC charger which has to pump out the electrons is only a 120KW charger like most PTT chargers as it's like filling up a BIG water tank with a half-inch water hose.....it's still going to take a while to fill up the tank due to the small hose capacity.

The change took place in 2019 per a new US Treasury policy regarding the transfer of funds "out of the US" via ACH. Use of the International ACH Transaction (IAT) format was required instead of the Standard ACH format. This was to better track funds flow outside of the US via ACH system, help stop transfers to bad guys, etc. Bangkok Bank did not change its policy regarding the need of a special, restricted account for US govt pensions sent via ACH thru the Bangkok Bank NY branch...doesn't matter whether the funds arrive via standard ACH format (some govt agencies still use this format) or the ACH "IAT" format. To implement the US Treasury policy Bangkok Bank NY branch just began enforcing the requirement for ACH IAT format unless it was coming from a govt agency that hadn't upgraded it's systems yet to use ACH IAT format. The US Treasury gave this waiver for those standard ACH payments to be allow thru. But if an ACH transfer is coming from a non-govt agency like a bank, brokerage, etc., then it must be in ACH IAT format or the Bangkok Bank NY branch will "not" relay it to the in-Thailand Bangkok Bank but reject the transfer back to the sender. Standard ACH format and ACH IAT format are similar but different animals...both use the ACH system but the format/coding is different. Kinda like comparing a Border Collie and a Chihuahua...they are both dogs but easy to tell they are different breeds of dog. And when it comes to IDD (SWIFT) transfers compared to ACH transfers....those are two completely different animals...have separate regulations/policies....like trying to compare a tiger to a horse. SWIFT follows international rules while ACH follow US rules. It's much easier for the US govt to claw back payments if required which are made via ACH than SWIFT due to this different rules.

43Kw AC chargers do exist....they are used for heavy duty vehicles/trucks/buses/etc., which have such capability. Now regarding DC chargers say in the 20KW to 40KW ballpark which are becoming more common (a lot of them used by the iGreen+ charging network here in Thailand that seems to concentrate on chargers for condo buildings) such small DC chargers are good thing...better than having 7/11/22 AC chargers. And these small DC chargers are only little larger than AC 7/22KW chargers. Small DC chargers are for a specific market segment; not really for the fuel station segment where people want fastest possible charge while they take a bathroom break, grab a bit to eat before continuing on down the road. Say you had a EV that had 7KW AC charging capability (which is very, very common on EVs like Atto, Dolphin, Neta, just many, many models) "and lived in a condo" which only had space and electrical wiring to support up to around 30KW (AC or DC) as installing a BIG DC charger of 50KW or more takes more room, heavy duty (and expensive) electrical wiring hookup. And the condo may only offer limited charging/reservations windows of say 2 hours in order to allow more condo EV owners to have a shot at charging their EV while parked in the condo parking area. Would you rather be able to hook your EV with 7KW onboard charger into an AC 22KW charger and only get a 7KW charge rate which would add around 10% charge per hour.....OR into a DC 20 or 40KW charger and get a 20-40KKW charge rate (a much higher charge rate than AC charging) as the EV onboard charger is not being used/required, but the DC charge is coming directly from the DC 20-40KW charger. Plug me into that small DC charger. Yea, small DC chargers are becoming more numerous in/around condo type building and even small businesses which want more than AC7/11/22KW charging capability and can't afford (nor want) a BIG six foot tall charger with all its heavy duty (and expensive) wiring/transformer requirements. Example of 43KW AC chargers Example of a DC 20-40KW charger when side by side with a 7/11/22KW AC charger and a big DC charger

Approx how long did it take Bangkok Bank to spot you were sending a reoccurring govt pension to a regular acct? And where you say they put a stop to your debit card and online capability how did they notify you of the change? Some kind of notice and asking you to come in to fix the issue, etc?

I think you are saying you accomplish a "wire" vs ACH transfer. Two different animals. And the image above shows "wire." A "domestic wire" still flows via ACH but in a different format from a standard ACH transfer...and also typically has a higher priority as most (not all) financial firms/banks charge a wire fee. And an "international wire" (a.k.a., SWIFT transfer) usually comes with a fee higher than a domestic wire. And when using the IDD terminology (International Direct Deposit) that relates to US govt payments like SSA, military retirement, VA, etc. I'm unaware of any private/civilian company using the IDD terminology.

For funds that are leaving the US (like transfer to Thailand) the standard ACH transfer method via Bangkok Bank NY branch stopped working in in late 2019 "unless it was a US govt payment like SSA, military retirement, etc. as the US Treasury gave US govt agencies a waiver until they could get govt system upgraded to utilize the ACH "IAT" transfer format. So, if a person was transferring funds from say his US bank like Bank of America, Schwab, Capital One, etc., unless those bank offered/utilized ACH IAT format Bangkok Bank NY branch would reject the transfer. But as mentioned US govt agencies had a waiver. Unfortunately, few US bank use ACH IAT format except for certain business type account at some bank. As mentioned ACH could still be used if the ACH was in the IAT (International ACH Transaction) format which is basically the standard ACH transfer format but with additional info required like address, phone number, etc. Let's just call this method the "International ACH" transfer format which is different from the "Standard ACH" transfer format used to transfer funds between banks "physically with the U.S." The ACH IAT format is similar to an international Wire/SWIFT transfer format. More details here: https://www.bangkokbank.com/en/Personal/Other-Services/Transfers/Transferring-Into-Thailand/Transfer-money-from-US-to-Thailand-via-Bangkok-Bank-NewYork-branch When you go to your Bangkok Bank branch many of them will only offer/talk the original ACH transfer method for a US govt pension as that method still works for payments from US govt agencies such as SSA, etc., however, you must open a special/restricted Bangkok Bank acct. Bangkok Bank prefers this method because it earned them fees as the payment passes thru their NY branch and a receiving fee at your in-Thailand Bangkok Bank branch. Now if you want to use the IDD method a different form is required as stated before and then the payment flows via the SWIFT system with the last leg of the transfer occurring over the Bank of Thailand "BAHTNET" transfer system which interfaces with the SWIFT system. When arriving your bank via BAHTNET the coding on the acct will reflect BAHTNET in some way....like Bangkok Bank and some other Thai banks use the coding of "BTN" for BAHTNET. Transfer via BAHTNET are reflected as "domestic/intra-Thailand" transfers although the funds could have originated outside of Thailand. If you want to use the IDD method to your "regular Thai bank acct" just use IDD. Complete the SSA IDD form for Thailand to send to the SSA. Now banks may not want to complete/sign their section of the form as it's not a Thai bank form....it will vary from bank to bank as to that policy. If that occurs you can complete the part at the bottom without the bank signature block completed but including a memo with the form you send to the SSA that the bank will not sign a form that is not their own form, but you are confirming the SWIFT code and bank acct number are correct. SSA understands some foreign banks will not sign certain forms that are not a form utilized by the bank. So, if you want to use the ACH method with the special/restricted acct provisions you still can when it's a US govt payment as the US govt has a waiver from having to use the ACH IAT format. Or, use the IDD method and then the funds can be sent to any Thai bank (including Bangkok Bank) to a regular Thai baht acct. Up to you.

Whoever is giving you that info at your particular Bangkok Bank branch is not fully informed/trained on the bank's policy. If you are regularly receiving a government pension such as social security, military retirement, etc., and you wish to have this govt payment sent to Bangkok Bank via ACH, repeat, ACH, repeat ACH (i.e., using the Bangkok Bank NY branch ACH routing number and your in-Thailand Bangkok Bank account number) Bangkok Bank requires a person setup a special restricted acct to receive that reoccurring govt pension payment. Now depending on how smart your local branch is regarding this HQ Bangkok Bank policy is a different story. Some people say they receive a reoccurring govt pension via the ACH method to their regular/unrestricted Bangkok Bank acct no problem. Then others run into a brick wall shortly after attempting to have their pension ACH direct deposited to their regular Bangkok Bank account....by running into a brick wall I mean one day your payment does not post at its regular date....you check with your bank branch or you get a letter from your bank branch notifying you its on-hold since its a govt pension being sent via ACH to regular acct which is not allowed....and what you must do now is go to the branch to open a special/restricted acct to receive the pension. Happened to me around 15 years ago when I decided I want to have my military retirement pension sent to my regular Bangkok Bank acct...1st monthly payment posted no problem, but 2nd monthly payment was put on-hold....got a letter from the Bangkok Bank main Silom branch where I have my accounts saying I needed to come in and open a special acct for the reoccurring pension...once doing that they would release the funds to that acct and I could notify pension paying agency of the new acct number for the next payment. If not coming in within two weeks the letter said they would reject the payment back to the pension paying agency. I went in an opened the special acct....and then future payments arrived no problem....I did that for about 6 months before switching back to having the funds go into one of my US banks. But I've kept that special acct open along with maintaining a small balance just in case I might need it in the future again....I also have multiple other regular Bangkok Bank accts. Now my wife also use to have a special/restricted acct to receive here SS payment via ACH but once IDD came out she switched to using the IDD method in order to get rid of the restrictions such as no debit card allow, can not do online transfers out of the acct, etc. She had that special/restricted acct converted to a regular acct retaining the same acct number and IDD payments have been arriving no problem for years and years now via IDD...she has a debit card for that acct and full mbanking/ibanking capability with that acct as it's just regular acct now. Bangkok Bank really wanted her to open a new regular acct acct which would come with a new acct number as it would have been easier for them "paperwork-wise" (they told us so), but she insisted on retaining the same acct number as she already knew from a Bangkok Bank employee the bank just needed to lift the "O" restriction within the bank IT system on the special/restricted acct that turns it into a regular acct....just a little extra paper-work required...took about an extra 20 minutes of work....appreciate the bank doing such. But your results may vary if trying this approach of wanting to retain your current special/restricted acct number if it's important to you to retain that same number. AND KEEP IN MIND, if you have an IDD payment go into a special/restricted acct the money going into that acct via whatever method (such as ACH or IDD) still has the same restrictions....it's the acct that has the restrictions and not "how" the money arrives into it. Anyway, if trying to have a US pension sent via ACH, repeat, via ACH to a regular acct "sooner-or-later" Bangkok Bank will spot it....not sure if that responsibility is left up to the local Bangkok Bank branches or periodically HQ Bangkok Bank in Bangkok does scans to spot and stop such reoccurring US govt pension payments going into regular accts. Now, you can have a reoccurring govt pension sent to a regular Bangkok Bank acct (i.e., unrestricted, not special, just a regular acct) when using the IDD method which uses the SWIFT system vs the ACH system. You can have it sent to "any" Thai bank (K-bank, Krungsri, SCB, etc) regular Thai Baht acct; not just Bangkok Bank if using the ACH method as Bangkok Bank is the only Thai bank having capability to receive funds via the ACH method. But there are two different forms for the ACH and IDD method. The ACH method uses the regular SSA-1199 geared for the ACH system (i.e., uses ACH routing number) but the IDD method use the SSA-1199-OP107 for Thailand form geared for the SWIFT system (uses SWIFT code). And you need to have your Thai/foreign address onfile with the SSA to using the IDD method. https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-1199.html

Thanks for that weblink. Based on the point scale of 1000 the difference between the top ranked Toyota at 897 and last ranked MG at 882 is very little. Seems to be one of those surveys that doesn't want to offend anyone so the end survey results has everyone ranked very close to each other.

Why do you want to contact the SSA Central Customer service? Did you monthly payment stop, want to change direct deposit bank, etc...etc...etc? Why not contact the Manila SSA Office which is responsible for this part of the world? They can work any issue/problem you have....actually, more than the central customer service could probably do as the central customer service is focus on people living in the U.S. and typical type issues people may have with SS in the U.S. Manila SSA webpage. https://ph.usembassy.gov/services/social-security/ Recommend you contract them via email "and be sure to include the identifying info they recommend you provide otherwise you may never get a response. And trying to call them during the limited days/hours they accept calls is probably a losing bet due to the volume of calls and limited call hours.

Congrats. But now a touchy question: Did she return home with that handsome young man giving her flowers or did she return with you? 😉😜😁

And that info is what is in the DTAC weblink I gave in my earlier post with examples. The 004 method is a cheaper since lower priority lines are used.

Confirm you are calling the correct way like using the + symbol to begin with...see DTAC instructions below for more info on how to make an international call when using DTAC. If you are not calling the correct way you could very well get the response you are currently getting. https://www.dtac.co.th/en/idd.html And there is a chance the SSA "1800" number is setup to reject calls from foreign numbers. If that's the case then you could try the SSA Int'l Operations number in Baltimore who have a different number, a non-1800 number. If you have a non-US address onfile with SSA then the Int'l Ops division is the one that would most likely work your issue. HOWEVER, BUT, it can be hard to reach a human...and you can only contact them during their Mon-Fri business hours. See their webpage below. https://www.ssa.gov/foreign/#:~:text=You may also contact us,4:00pm Eastern U.S time.

I've never seen in "specific/dedicated" function within any of the 6 charging apps I use to solely report a defective charging station. All you can do is look at the Help/Customer Service selection in the app where you will give you a phone, email address LINE address, snail mail, etc., contact point which you use regardless of why you want to talk to customer service. I've contacted customer service a few times over the last year wanting to see how responsive (or non-responsive) customer service may be and it seems using any LINE address they give works best. I've also found calling the customer service number seems to be focused to Thai language (understandable)....sometimes no option to select English. But if just wanting to report a defective charger be sure to be specific as you can as to which charger it is since there are many chargers. Just reporting that the charger at the PTT station in western Bangkok next to the 7-11 probably isn't going to hack it. Expect it's best to report the charger/location info taken from the charging app....like a snapshot from the app showing the charger location/name and then sent via LINE or email.

BOI LTR office move happening soon https://www.facebook.com/LTRVisaThailand/ An 18 Feb 2025 updated heads-up. A 11 Feb 2025 heads-up