TGIR

Speaking of empty, I'm the only guy on here at 6:52 pm......where is everyone?

I'm loving our almost empty golf course........ a bunch of Older Thai men showed up from Bangkok last week, but they started late when we were coming off 18.

On 9/12/2020 at 12:31 PM, Jingthing said:

Oh geez.

He just didn't know.

It can happen. 

I know. 

You know.

Not everyone knows. 

Its really too bad immigration can't make humanitarian exceptions and have the power to say, you messed up, you should have known, so we'll let this go the one time but don't ever do it again.

I see zero social value in the way this is being enforced but hopefully some people that didn't know before will know now. 

When I got my last extension I switched to the 800K method.  When the Officer stamped my renewal he looked directly at me and said: you have to have at least 400K of this in four months.  Come back to this office with proof you still have the money in the bank.  I'm willing to bet they have given these instructions to everyone.......somehow this guy hasn't been paying attention to the discussion of this process all these months?   He doesn't know he has to keep it in the bank? 

I feel sorry for him that he is apparently not too bright, and I apologize for saying that, but bringing this to the forum he just doubled down on being dumber than a rock.  I have done similar things in my life but have had the good fortune not to advertise them.

Pay Attention Guys.........the folks at Immigration are not your friends.

redpill17, you didn't read my post.......I am talking about transferring money from California to Thailand.  I did write them a check, in fact I wrote them two checks.  The first one worked perfectly and took 31 days to clear......the second one ended up in the boonies and I had to chase it around for a week......so yes, it can work, but it can also be a big pain in the rear.

18 hours ago, RichCor said:

Very odd.

 

From what I've heard the sender’s international financial institution (Bangkok Bank, Thailand) will have a corresponding bank in the U.S. they can wire to, which will forward the funds to Navy Federal Credit Union via domestic transfer using routing number.

 

Maybe you should inquire at another BBK branch and see if *someone else* can assist you.

I'm sure some "wise" person will have a better idea than this,  but here is what I have done.

This is all B.S. and an unnecessary Pain in the Ass!  Wells Fargo and Bangkok bank have a relationship that used to work just fine until this "IAT"Format came along.  I could transfer money from my Wells Fargo account to Bangkok Bank in about five seconds. 

Now, because I haven't lived in the U.S. for fifteen years and don't want to bother the few people in the U.S. that could possibly pretend to be me in order to get a U.S. Telephone number, I have resorted to getting cash advances on my two U.S. credit cards and then paying them off right away.....not cheap but fast with absolutely no hassle.  Both my credit cards have $15,000 max and I can draw $3,000 on one and $4,500 on the other.  That gives me enough baht for about six months living expenses.  We buy gold in 5 baht bars so I use this method to get the cash for that......Gold shops won't take credit cards for baht purchases.

Brits can easily use Transferwise, but for me it's a no go because of the requirement for a phone number.....plus I'm not comfortable using a British company, a Thai Bank and a U.S. Bank to get a simple money transfer from one of my accounts to the other.  

I tried writing a check on my U.S. Wells Fargo account and depositing it directly to Bangkok Bank....worked great the first time, but on the second try it got held up when it got to the U.S. (where I only have an account with no Branch I.D,) No-one in the U.S. could I.D. me so it ended up with someone in a branch very near where we used to live agreeing by telephone to help me out and "identify" me...... it is the least expensive alternative and you can get as much $$ as you want.  Just don't expect it to be time sensitive.

I hope this helps any U.S. persons that are in a pickle with this problem.  If you think I'm an idiot please be specific in your reply as to what you think I should do differently.

I use Priority Mail for anything I mail to the U.S.   Of course I don't mail much, but it has always (14 years here) been a bit risky sending things by regular mail.  32 years ago I would send and receive regular "Air Mail" to my soon to be bride, and it always got delivered promptly both ways.......You know how long ago that was......only fifty cents from California to Here!!  They didn't have Priority Mail then either.......I always used FedEx for important mail.

If they would only use a Highway Patrol like in the U.S. they would knock that 20,000 a year down to at least 15,000, maybe more.  With all the police we have to usher the Royal Family and important people around there should already be a good number of people to do highway traffic control.....even a minimum number of officers would help a lot in my opinion

Just an ignorant American attempting to help, so no rude comments please.   Have you spoken to Thai Officials about how to handle this situation yet?  Seems like it would be the first thing to do.  If you can't go anywhere because of both governments what would they expect you to do?

You say your Truck is only three years old.  Why not take it to the dealer?  You'll probably spend more time and money chasing around to different shops.

You can tee of at Dawn, or a little earlier if you like playing blind for a hole or so.  

Will someone familiar with this family please provide the family's address and name. Or, if possible, would some responsible adult please open a bank account for the girl and provide information privately to us (wife and I) so we can contribute small sums to help them out.  Thank you.  reply to me by [email protected]   Thank you.

This was several years ago but I lost my number when I had plenty of money and time left. Apparently you have to USE the phone once in a while.  Others may say nay, but I had the same number from 2006 through 2013 (I think), and had to go back to the U.S. for three years on a temporary project.  I kept my number valid, I thought, by having a friend top me off at 200 baht I believe every second month.  At any rate, since I didn't actually use the phone they took my number (AIS), and I had to get a new one.  Things may have changed but double check whatever you do and keep checking it.

No posts here for ten days or so.......looks like we need a new conversation.

I have always walked about in my home even if I had no clothes on.  I do keep an eye out to make sure I'm got giving someone a heart attack but unless you're a pervert catching a quick glimpse of someone shouldn't be a big deal.   If you have more robust activities close your curtains.

Figures don't lie ...... but liars figure.  If you're going to start posting numbers

, post them all.

13 hours ago, wasabi said:

I hate to say it but if Amazon were available in Thailand that would improve my happiness here more than almost anything else I can think of

Amazon IS available in Thailand.  In the past year they've even upped the ante by providing more vendors who will ship to Thailand.  Of course with Lazada a lot of times you can find things cheaper and without freight/customs charges, but if I can't find it there I can always find it at Amazon.

9 hours ago, bhatmasterson said:

TGIR- Sorry to hear this news. Can you tell me if this was mandatory in regards to your wife being able to receive SSA Supplemental Income? (She was also notified that she should apply for a "My Social Security Account" by computer which could be used to ask questions and assist her and the SSA in processing anything to do with Social Security.) 

The My SS account is voluntary and informational only.   As far as I know the two applications are completely independent of each other.  When you apply for any SS benefits they ask you to file for the My Social Security Account theoretically for your own benefit, i.e. a place to ask pertinent questions on benefit qualifications, getting your annual letter of what your payment will be, etc.

Frankly, I am mystified that my wife's application for benefits was just apparently abandoned.  I used an old mailing address which may have caused the problem, because I didn't want them to process her application with an address in Thailand.  They said in the letter they sent me they would contact her if they needed any other documentation (like a marriage license), and we never heard from them again.  Perhaps my thought that they would email us for info was not something the processing clerk wanted to do.   I didn't give them a phone number or an address where mail coming to us would necessarily be forwarded, thinking that would force them to use email.  I've decided to get after them tonight because now I've gotten mad all over again for my wife's sake.  I get the feeling from other things I've read that "overseas marriages" aren't looked upon favorably in certain places.

It's not always easy so be prepared for some headache/heartache:   Sorry this will be long-winded but it won't help anyone if they can't see exactly what happened.

My wife and I have been married for 31 years.  She lived with me in California from 1988 until we retired and moved here in 2006.  She never worked a job where she had taxes taken from a paycheck.  She cleaned houses with a friend and is a seamstress, which never garnered enough money to file a business tax return or to include in our income taxes.  She has has a Social Security number since 1989.

She turned 62 in January and was anxious to file for her supplemental social security as my spouse.  I suggested she wait as she would get more money later but she wanted to file and start getting a check of her own.

The filing process seemed pretty easy and I processed the one or two page form for her and submitted it.  She got a notice in a few weeks that they had recieved it and gave her a date of November 21, 2019 as the official date of her application.  She was also notified that she should apply for a "My Social Security Account" by computer which could be used to ask questions and assist her and the SSA in processing anything to do with Social Security.  I attempted three times in one day to file it but never could complete the form.....it asked on the third page of three which of five credit "companys" she had used.  Since we don't have any debt save for two Visa cards we were unable to complete that page..........thusly, the application for her "My Social Security" account was simply not processed.  On subsequent days I attempted to file it again, every time running into the issue with no credit reference.

After a month or so went by we had heard neither from the SSA on her Supplemental Income application, nor had I been sucessful in figuring out what to do with the My SSA account problem.

I spent the next two weeks calling Social Security offices in California, the Phillipines and God knows where else trying to figure out how to solve these two (I thought independent) issues.  

Two people told me since we didn't complete the "My Social Security" application in three tries we would have to ........wait for it.............................Go to America and refile there, as the My SSA process was only for applicants who LIVED IN THE U.S. !!!!  Of course being the dummy I am and trusting in my Government, I said "surely there must be some other way to get this done?"............Sorry Charlie, that's the way it is!  I was told.

To make matters worse, one of the two ladies I spoke with looked into my wife's actual SSA Supplemental Income application for us, and told me she thought the clerk who had the file was "going to throw it away".   I tried to call the particular office in California three times and they never returned my call. 

It is now FIVE Months passed and we never heard another word from any of these people.  I am assuming the "clerk" mentioned did, indeed, <deleted>can my wife's application!!

At this point I am not sure what I'm going to do, but for this year, at least, I'm going to lie low and see if we ever hear from anyone......I have a very real fear it is going to end up In tears, as the Aussies say.

Hopefully this story will help some of you as you face the same problems.

This is so lame it is laughable.  If there is any "game" that in and of itself lends to distancing it is golf.  

After golf and cleaning up, I went to Market Village hoping to find myself a new alarm clock.  If you think the golf deal is ridiculous just head down to your nearest Big Store Mall.  All of the small shops that are undoubtedly difficult to keep in business are closed.  Got a problem with your cell phone.....not sorry, entire 3rd floor is closed.  Want an alarm clock.....sorry, 3rd floor closed.  Want some new clothes other than those in Tesco?  Sorry, closed.  Want some good shoes or a good meal........so sorry, closed.  

You know what's open?  Of course, the big stores:  Tesco, Power Buy (gotta have those TV's for sale....you know it's an emergency when your TV goes out), Home Pro for all of your other needs of course.  All of the little shops....that, buy the way, rarely have even ONE customer.....sorry, closed.

I have asked everyone I know.....not a single one of them have even heard of anyone in Hua Hin or Cha Am that had, or knew anyone that has had COVID.........WHAT THE HECK ARE THEY THINKING ??  Your friendly Government wants to make sure you are very, very, very, very safe.........and apparently we all are.   Some of us that aren't expats are having a hard time finding money for food, gas for the motorcycle and medicine.............but hey, they are safe from nasty COVID-19 !!!!

I love the advertisements of the guy mowing a golf course.  This "easing" is plainly aimed at commerce on a large scale.....the whole thing is ass backwards.  Places where you exercise to stay fit are much easier to do distancing than standing in line at checkouts wouldn't you think?

How about opening the GOLF COURSES.........putting them last is about the most ridiculous thing I ever heard of !!!!!!

NO <deleted> GOLF !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On 4/6/2020 at 1:51 AM, ChouDoufu said:

yes.  serious.  many small towns losing population.  kids head to the big cities for school or career, don't come back.  many houses empty.  expect more to pop up when the full effects of the oil bust are felt.

 

i bought mine in 2000 for $10k.  small house, 10 years old, 900 sq.ft, in good shape.  i know of two for sale now for $20k.  checked a few websites last night, cause why not, found 250 acres and a cabin (probably a dump) with well and electric for 100k.

I suppose you're right.....I've lived in California most of my life and I never lived anywhere in property was that cheap.  So what state are you in?