Pib

Was this possible human's name "Sid?" Sid was the name in my re-instated acct response. And my response was short and sweet....could have easily been a bot response...a bot named Sid....or, maybe Sid was human.

BYD sales "within" Thailand may be down compared to the overall Thailand BEV market but on a worldwide basis BYD sales are booming...growing....a 41% increase from 2023 to 2024. And regarding BYD sales in Thailand, well, there is ton more competition...a bigger, wider choice of BEV brands to choose from...many more brands in Thailand now compared to a year or so ago. But BYD is still the 800 pound guerilla in Thailand for overall BEV sales. And let's not forget falling sales for ICE and EV in Thailand over the last year or so due to high household debt, much tougher financing rules, etc. https://tridenstechnology.com/byd-sales-statistics/#:~:text=BYD sold a record 4%2C272%2C145,claiming the Global Sales Champion!&text=Battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales,%2C up 12.1% from 2023.

See below Autolife 10 Mar 2025 media release for full details regarding Jan and Feb 2025 100% electric/BEV R.Y.1 vehicle category registrations. https://autolifethailand.tv/ev-register-feb-2025-thailand/ Note that in "January," 1 of every 5 newly registered vehicles in the R.Y.1 vehicle category was a 100% electric BEV vehicle....a good start to the year....result of end of 2024 promotions I guess. January was a BIG month for BEVs. BYD Dolphin and BYD Sealion 7 are the number 1 and 2, respectively, most registered BEVs so far in 2025 with the MG4 Electric coming in at 3rd and closely followed by the Deepal S07 in 4th position. Total registrations of 100% electric vehicles in Thailand in February 2025 totaled 5,164 units | Decreased by -58.3% compared to the previous month and increased by 42.1% compared to the same period of the previous year. BYD Dolphin is the champion, followed by AION V / ORA Good Cat / MG 4 / AION HYPTEC HT Total car registrations in the 100% electric vehicle group (BEV: Battery Electric Vehicle) in January 2025 total 12,376 cars (accounting for 22.1% of the total car registrations in Thailand, R.Y.1, totaling 55,923 cars) https://autolifethailand.tv/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/EV_feb_2025_table-for-facebook.jpg

A lot of people think that any US govt agency (like the SSA) can see/access all data collected and maintained by another US govt agency (like State Dept, IRS, etc) and this thinking is incorrect. While some US govt agencies do share certain info it is specific and limited in scope....only what is needed for a govt agency to do its job and then it's usually limited in scope. Basically on a need to know type basis kinda like access to classified material and privacy data. Some database info is readily shared but other info is not. You get the idea. What is SSA does sometimes in requesting certain forms/docs is just obtaining documentation for "their system".....info that might be maintained in another federal, state or local govt system but that info is not available to the SSA. So, the SSA will ask the applicant for docs to provide the info they need. Heck, when my wife applied for SS pension which would be based on my record since she fell a half year short of having enough work record to earn SS pension based on her work record the SSA Manila sent me a simple one page form to confirm I was still married to her, when and where we got married, etc.,...I completed/signed it and sent it back. And Manila even had the wife fill out the form to apply for a SS number although she has had a SSN for decades and decades....but the SSA needed that form for "their records" and which also ended up in her getting sent a new SS card---not a new number, just a new card. The Manila rep told us although there is indeed proof in other govt systems of this-and-that, the SSA does "not" have direct access to those systems. No one should think that just because you have a US passport issued by the US State Dept that the SSA can see/confirm such by the SSA looking at some State Dept database...nope, it don't work that way. Maybe is should but we don't live in a "should" world. Heck, the Manila SSA Office is part of the US Embassy - Manila which is part of the US State Dept....that Manila SSA rep can "not" just go across the hall to the Manila Embassy Passport office and ask that they provide confirmation/ a copy of the applicant's current US passport from some St Dept databses...nope, it don't work that way....maybe it should....but we don't live in a "should-world"....we live in the real-world like it or not. Each applicant is different.....each has had a different life....some are citizens by birth....some are naturalized citizens....some have paid social security-type taxes to other countries which can complicate an application....some are applying for benefits based on their own work record while others are applying based a current or former spouse work record.....etc.....etc......etc.....etc.....etc. Oh my gosh, there are some many life and work record issues that can possibly apply to each application. And due to all the variables you read and hear all types of stories about SS benefit applications. For some applicants the process went quick & smooth and for others the process was filled with lot of additional docs and a long wait as SSA evaluated and/or waited for the additional docs which were to be provided by the applicant or another agency. So, if you get asked by the SSA for a certain doc/complete a certain form that makes you scratch your head as to "why" it's needed because you can't figure why it's needed or why the SSA doesn't have readily access to the info maintained in another govt database, I would recommend you do yourself a favor and just provide the requested doc/form. Complain about it later if desired if that makes you feel better, but to keep you SS application moving along just provide the doc/form.

Pretty much the exact same thing happened around 18 months when I hand-worked a neighbor (a dual US/Thai citizen) thru the process. He applied online....about two weeks later he got an email from Manila saying that Baltimore had relayed his application to them for some action. And in that same email was an telephone interview appt about 2 months down the road. When telephone interview occurred (Manila calls you) it only took about 5 minutes to confirm a few things and Manila required him to provide his US passport (original or certified copy) via mail and email. I think they also asked for a completed IDD direct deposit form since he want direct deposit via IDD. He had already got certified true copy of his US passport from the US Embassy - Bangkok and had the direct deposit form complete to include the bank's part. Since he was a Naturalized US citizen Manila required him to provide his US passport "or" Naturalization Certificate just as I told him Manila would probably ask for such based on 2 other Naturalized US citizens I hand-walked in applying for SS pension. But if a US citizen by birth it's unlikely they will ask for your passport.

It's my opinion/based on my experience with my BYD Atto Extended range 60.5KWH battery EV when comparing remaining range guesstimate when in Standard or Dynamic range modes that it does not really make any difference in remaining range guesstimate once your SOC of is approx 75% or less as there will just be a few kilometers difference between the two---or at least that's been my experience. And once you get down to around 10% SOC (about 50Km range remaining for my Atto) both Standard and Dynamic range modes will both estimate almost exactly the same remaining range. Every 3 to 4 months I take the SOC down to less than 10%...usually down to around 5%.....one time to 2%....and one time to a mere 1% and the remaining range estimate between Standard and Dynamic range mode were exactly the same. When I fully charge to 100% if in Standard mode I get a 480 NEDC estimate since my Atto Extended range has a 480Km NEDC rating (420 WLTP). If will "always" be 480Km when in Standard mode....I've never seen anything other than 480. It's like a 480Km estimate is triggered when the SOC reaches 100%....it would probably do this even if the battery was 20 years old and only had a real remaining range of 100Km. But start driving a little bit the range estimate would drop like a lead weight. However, if in Dynamic range mode at 100% SOC the reading varies.....typically some where between 485-498Km (usually in the mid 490's)....my Atto is now 17 months old. And once I saw 503 and a 505Km when the EV was only a couple months old. But once I start driving say 5Km real world per the odometer the remaining range estimate can easily drop 10Km due to the the top charge capacity of not being very linear at all...for the first few percent the battery voltage will drop quite a bit before stabilizing and presenting a pretty flat voltage curve until you reach around 10% SOC when it will start dropping off pretty fast but not so fast the SOC and range meter can't give an accurate reading. Yea, between around 98 to 100% it seems that's a tough area to get a good range estimate due to the battery voltage dropping pretty fast until the voltage drop flattens out....it's just the nature of lithium type batteries. Yea, I think when EV manufacturers give a person Standard and Dynamic range mode options it really just to satisfy customers who think the Dynamic mode gives a more accurate estimate which I'm doubtful it does. But I leave my EV set to the Dynamic range estimate mode as I know once I get down to around 75% or less SOC the Standard and Dynamic modes are giving almost exactly the same remaining range and at around 10% or less that are jointed-at-the-hip in their estimates. Plus, unless I'm intentionally discharging to less than 10% so I can then recharge to 100% to recalibrate the SOC/BMS electronics I never drop below 25% SOC whether just driving locally or on a long trip.

You can apply online from outside the US....like from Thailand. A SS online account is "not" needed to apply. Once submitted "if", repeat, if Baltimore needs to relay it to Manila for some processing such as doing a telephone interview you will get an email from Manila saying such along with a date/time for the telephone interview. What documents, if any, SSA may need to support your application varies from individual to individual. Apply online starting here: https://www.ssa.gov/apply Once again, you do not need a SSA online acct to apply online. In case SSA does ask you to provide them the original or certified copy of some documents like your passport you can get such from the US Embassy/Consulate in person "or" via a mail-in process discussed below....since you are applying for federal benefits the service is free other than mailing fees. https://th.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/local-resources-of-u-s-citizens/notaries-public/notaries-public-2/

Many, many, many organizations/companies (government agencies and civilian companies/organizations), like state and city governments now use IDme like unemployment benefits, IRS, etc....etc...etc. IDme is like the 800 pound guerrilla in the US when it comes to identity verification and acct login management. And when I say identity verification I mean not just a one-time verification to do a one-time event but to logon certain sites like the IRS. That is a person still goes to a certain organization's website to click the login button which then takes the person to the IDme portal for login using a person's IDme login credentials and then the IDme routes the person back to the website they wanted to log into like a person's IRS acct, VA account, etc....etc....etc account....they are now logged into that acct. Many organizations have just contracted-out to IDme the responsibility of verifying a person's identity and the login process. It's kinda like IDme is now the doorman/bouncer at a club's entrance....you can't get into the club without going thru the doorman/bouncer first. Preaching to the choir I know....this is just for others who may not know how IDme, Login.gov, etc., works....why they exist....what they do.

A seriously doubt a hardware passkey is going to help from possibly get temporarily suspended unless when selecting as passkey as one of the 2FA methods available on IDme that use of a passkey overrides/prevents use of any other 2FA method such as Google Authenticator, SMS, etc., which I don't think it does. But a "passkey" does greatly help in phishing/using a fraudulent, fake website as doing the passkey setup the correct site to log into is part of the passkey setup....and a passkey can negate the entry of a person's login User ID and PW....it basically like going "password-less." And some websites, like some banking websites, are now starting to offer "software-based passkey" login where one of your devices, like mobile phone or computer, acts as a "passkey"...basically it simulates a hardware-based passkey. Software-based passkeys may make hardware-based passkeys unneeded....and software-based passkeys are free; can't say the same for hardware-based passkeys. IDme article on use of a passkey on IDme https://help.id.me/hc/en-us/articles/10295798300951-Setting-up-passkey-multi-factor-authentication-MFA

You said earlier you did a video chat to get re-verified...to get back online. How did you do that? I tried to get a human again during a chat all kinds of ways but couldn't....was stuck with Roy, their "virtual agent," I even tried trying in things like "representative, agent, etc...etc....in initiating a chat to see if that got a human into the chat which works on other websites I've used over the years. But no, I had to deal with Roy, say what my issue was, and then Roy would answer with a Link to click to continue like a link for a suspended acct. It was frustrating not being able to get a human....and as mentioned they do not provide phone support....they say such on their website. And a person can't create a 2nd IDme acct as that's forbidden. And the only way I could find to do a video chat from looking at the IDme website/help articles was to schedule one but that required you to login into your IDme acct to schedule the chat which I couldn't do because of the temporary suspension which prevents login. And such a video chat seemed to be for verification....like initial verification or if IDme sent you correspondence you need to schedule a reverification video chat for some reason. Yea, it was frustrating. Hopefully it will not happen again. But if/when it does I now know that that immediate assistance is probably not available...it's set back and wait for a IDme reply which took a week in my case. Just glad I'm back online. I logged into my acct again a few minutes ago....forth time today....two times directly into my IDme acct and two times when logging onto my IRS acct....all VPN connections. Will keep my fingers crossed it don't happen again.

@Galong A week ago I too started getting the "temporarily suspended" notice when trying to login via the ID.me portal....I always use a US VPN connection....have had an ID.me acct for around 4 years....logged in many, many times to certain sites like IRS, VA, etc., that use/require ID.me for login. I could not contact/call/chat/arrange a video call with any ID.me human. Just had to deal with the ID.me "virtual" agent named Roy. Submitted a trouble report via that process where right after submitting a report you get an automated email from ID.me where it has you answer a half dozen or so questions and then reply. Your report is now finalized....now is set back and want for ID.me "human assistance, some reply, etc." After a few days and no reply...submitted another report....and submitted a 3rd report a few days ago. I even did a password reset which didn't help. Just crickets from ID.me until this morning when I got an ID.me response by an ID.me human (I guess) to my 1st trouble report submission around 1 week ago. That response today said my account had been re-instated and I could indeed login again....logged in several times today to some sites via the ID.me login process.....and these logins I was using a VPN connection with US IP address. But you can also login without a VPN connection. I don't know what triggered this temporarily submission as some of the ID.me "automated" responses/help articles said a temporary suspension could be caused by various reasons to include ID.me thinking someone might had obtained your ID Login credentials....it's not like you have suddenly turned into a bad guy, but ID.me just became suspicious of the login and temporarily suspends your acct. And I expect logging in via VPN could sometimes could trigger such if ID.me suspects any connection, VPN or not, might be up to no good. Summary: I too am now back online with ID.me account. Just wish the ID.me assistance responses came with a day or two versus a week. And from googling this issue many other people have run into the same problem over the years...it's nothing new.....some people on Reddit and other social media accts say they never got a response to their temporarily suspended accts "but every person's situation is different/get suspended for various reasons."

For IRS acct logon, ID.Me is the one and only option. Login.gov is not an option. I read something around a year ago that since Login.gov didn't have the capabilities of ID.me, especially video chat verification to accomplish verfication for people who do not have a US drivers license, th at IRS was sticking with ID.me but will hopefully add Login.gov as another login option once Login.gov expands its capabilities to verify people who have challenges in getting verified like not having a US drivers license/State ID.

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.