billd766

I have a small problem in as much as that I have only my son, his long term girlfriend and several friends in the country that I actually care about and none of them are mentioned in my will.

When I die my wish is to be cremated at the wat near where my Thai wife, our son and I live and my ashes scattered in Thailand.

I deal with the UK embassy only when I have to.

There are several government agencies that already have my address and mobile number.

When I was in the military I HAD to do as I was told and that sort of included volunteering but now I am a retired senior citizen living in the country of MY choice and paying income tax to the UK government without any choice and NOT getting any increases at all.

Because it is voluntary choice then my option is to ignore it.

If the government wants to find me then it will without my help.

Screw 'em like they screw me.

I claim hero status as recently the Pension Service finally got their act together and transferred 5860 GBP to my offshore bank as they finally acknowledged I had been underpaid. My 4 weekly payment has also been upped by 120 GBP. It has taken 2 1/2 years to get a result and I guess that they only stepped on the gas because I stated that if the matter was not resolved by 1st November I intend to make a complaint to the Pensions Ombudsman.

Two events are worth recalling. The morons that inhabit the Newcastle HQ lost the copy of my marriage certificate and asked for another. I provided this and a translation certified by my lawyer. Asking by telephone why there was a total lack of action I was told that they were having the document verified and translated. I pointed out that they had been given a translation and I was told very tartly they they preferred to use their own translators. I expressed the wish that the translator was more motivated and efficient than the other staff appeared to be.

As part of the delaying process all the required documents are not requested at the same time but piecemeal. Although they had verified copies of my wife's ID card (they ask for the original but I pointed out that in Thai law she must carry it at all times - surely they must know that by now), they wanted verified copies of her birth certificate. Herself said she didn't have a clue where it was so off we went to Pattaya City Hall to see if we could get a replacement. We were directed to Banglamung Amphur who, helpful as ever directed, us to Prakhon Chai Amphur. Apparently online computers and/or telex hasn't reached local government yet. At Prakhon Chai they said that they had no record of her birth (part of election fraud?) and we would have to bring before them two close relatives and the local Headman to verify that she was in fact herself. What purpose does an ID card serve you might ask. The two relatives were rounded up but the local Headman was in BKK on business. His deputy said that he would only attend if he was paid 5K baht and I refused to pay up. All this was related to the Pensions Service and I asked if they really wanted me to put myself at risk of imprisonment for bribery to satisfy their over zealous requirements. I also pointed out that any information on a replacement birth certificate would be copied from my wife's ID card, thus the affair resembled a script written by Spike Milligan. I asked that if the person dealing with my application did not have the authority to make a sensible decision that the matter be placed before somebody that did. My guess is that the Ombudsman threat , the attendant possibility of public disclosure and that they would have to meet all the cost of an inquiry did the trick.

I now await the issue of a Social Security number for her that does the ironing. I shall be replenishing my ready use ammunition lockers until early in the New Year when maybe I shall be forced to let loose further broadsides.

I checked my UK bank account this lunchtime and the outstanding amount was sitting waiting for me.

It took 19 weeks to come through.

Loadsamoney.

Now can I spend it all before my wife finds out and kills me.

This is my dog.

He is the third generation and grandson of our first dog we got from the temple.

He was born with his left front leg like that in a litter of 6 and he is the sole survivor as we live on a country road.

He walks slowly and looks for sympathy (and food) all the time until he sees something that shouldn't be there and he will chase it off and completely forgets he only has 3 legs.

There is a guy in our moo ban that has one.

It is quite safe and happy with the family and when it is outside the home area it is ALWAYS on the lead with a family member. During the day it is in a large cage with shelter and plenty of shade and water but if strangers go there it goes crazy barking as it is protecting the house and territory. At night is is still in the compound but not the cage.

They have no problems with intruders and the neighbours don't complain as they also will know if strangers are about.

There was a thread a while ago on TV about the dogs and while they are good guard dogs the do need a lot of controlling.

I use a Garmin Nuvi 260 W and my maps are from Rottweiler who I found through Thai Visa.

The Rottweiler maps I have found to be very good and not that expensive though I cannot remember the cost as it was over a year ago.

I also use it on my motorcycle and in hindsight I wish I had bought a model with Bluetooth so that I can hear it.

All I can say it that the system works well for me though at times it misses a turn or tells me to go on a different road it is excellent for 99% of the time and the detail is very good down to 70 metres if I need it.

I have the Garmin in my ISUZI Pick-up,the touch screen KENWOOD,and it is crap,takes 1 hour to locate sats and always lose signal in Bangkok with the high rise buildings and SKY Train ect.I Drive from Hua Hin to Pattaya,4 hours and sometimes cannot pick up a SAt during the whole journey

Mine boots up in a couple of minutes if I don't use it for a few days but otherwise usually in a minute or less and I don't think I have lost a signal in Bangkok.

It sometimes gets confused if I stop at a junction under the Skytrain but picks up as soon as I move off.

It works in Thai but my wife won't use it as she "knows the way anyway".

AFAIK in order for the benefit to be paid your wife requires a National Insurance number which requires you to send her original birth certificate to the Department of Pensions in the UK. I used the EMS post.

They will get it translated and return the original to you by a courier company.

When they have done some work on it the send it to the Department of National Insurance (sorry but I am not sure of the correct name) and they take 8 to 10 weeks to complete their part.

/

They then confirm your wife's NI number to the DoP who then come back to you and it will be backdated to the date you receive your pension OR depending on how long you left the claim for a period of time that they determine.

I started mine off in June myself and I am still waiting so don't hold your breath for an instant fix.

My documents, and those of others I have assisted were all returned through normal postal channels. One set of documents reached the pensions dept (I have proof of this) but have become lost within the pensions office complex in Newcastle. New certified copies have had to be provided adding to the normal delay. Once the pension is sorted I propose claiming compensation for lost documents.

Stick to certified copies! THEY WILL ACCEPT THEM! Costs more at the outset but worth it.

The problem with certified copies for me at least is that I have to go to BKK to get it done and I am having problems getting my yellow tabien ban due to the guy asking for a translation only and then changing his mind and wanting certified copies of everything in sight. He also wanted everything stamped by the UK embassy but the only deal with UK documents.

I hope you have good luck in claiming compensation but I wouldn't hold my breath on that one either.

Cheers

I use a Garmin Nuvi 260 W and my maps are from Rottweiler who I found through Thai Visa.

The Rottweiler maps I have found to be very good and not that expensive though I cannot remember the cost as it was over a year ago.

I also use it on my motorcycle and in hindsight I wish I had bought a model with Bluetooth so that I can hear it.

All I can say it that the system works well for me though at times it misses a turn or tells me to go on a different road it is excellent for 99% of the time and the detail is very good down to 70 metres if I need it.

I joined on 11/11/2003 and have 1878 posts (plus this one).

Thank you for your interest Chaimai

The allowance (or dependents benefit as it is called) can be as much as £57 a WEEK if you have full NI contributions (44). This allowance will be paid until April 2020, or until your wife reaches 62 if earlier. Over this period you could expect to receive 1,500,000bt+

The claim will likely take 3/4 months to process, and will require many translated and certified documents -and patience. If you are interested I have successfully obtained this allowance for a number of Thai based farangs, and can offer you this service for a nominal inclusive fee.

No claims will be entertained after 5th April next.

AFAIK in order for the benefit to be paid your wife requires a National Insurance number which requires you to send her original birth certificate to the Department of Pensions in the UK. I used the EMS post.

They will get it translated and return the original to you by a courier company.

When they have done some work on it the send it to the Department of National Insurance (sorry but I am not sure of the correct name) and they take 8 to 10 weeks to complete their part.

They then confirm your wife's NI number to the DoP who then come back to you and it will be backdated to the date you receive your pension OR depending on how long you left the claim for a period of time that they determine.

I started mine off in June myself and I am still waiting so don't hold your breath for an instant fix.

Not yet mentioned; the large used book shop on the 4th floor of AMARIN PLAZA, accessible from the Sky train walkway going from Chid Lom BTS towards Central World, left side. There is a big sign on the front of the building.

I can't remember the store name but the selection of books is large and varied. They frequently have a B100/kilo promotion.

One major annoyance is that nothing is arranged alphabetically by either title or author.

I went there on Monday morning but unfortunately they are not a second hand bookshop however they do sell old books.

No sign of a promotion though.

I am 65, retired and unfortunately I don't have the time or inclination to be bored.

Thailand is a beautiful country and now I have the time to look around at it.

I have a motorcycyle and a wife who is quite happy for me to go off on my own for a few days as in her words "you have worked hard all your life, now enjoy the rest of it".

Sorry UG, Stickman is not 100% correct nor I suspect from the people that I know anywhere that figure.

I remember that episode very well and it was reported on both English language papers at the time.

AFAIK nobody was ever prosecuted or charged with anything and it was during the time that (PC now) Thaksin Shinawat was the prime minister and it happened when he was close by the scene.

Unfortunately I like a lot of other people live in Thailand and are subject to the vagaries of the UK civil service.

Granted they are polite and helpful but there are 2 different departments involved with different agendas and timescales and this is where the problem lies.

I will call them again in about a week and then once more before Christmas and post the results here.

I don't know that I agree with your assessment that most people are using nominees as you describe. As trogers states, if you give money to someone to buy land that you will lease, then (strictly speaking) I would consider that you are using that person as a nominee unless you pay that person an additional amount of money, for a realistic price, for the 30 year lease. Likewise, if there is someone that already owns the land and is willing to let you rent it for 30 years for a reasonable fee, then that person will not be a nominee.

I gave money to my wife to buy land for us and our kids to use. Just letting you know where I stand on the issue.

I did exactly the same a few years ago and my wife generously allows me full use of the land (10 rai) especially when it comes down to clearing all the brush and scrub which gives me a couple of hours exercise 4 or 5 days a week.

Should anything happen to my wife I am also the guardian of our 5 year old son.

She is the owner and our son is the heir.

I don't know that I agree with your assessment that most people are using nominees as you describe. As trogers states, if you give money to someone to buy land that you will lease, then (strictly speaking) I would consider that you are using that person as a nominee unless you pay that person an additional amount of money, for a realistic price, for the 30 year lease. Likewise, if there is someone that already owns the land and is willing to let you rent it for 30 years for a reasonable fee, then that person will not be a nominee.

I gave money to my wife to buy land for us and our kids to use. Just letting you know where I stand on the issue.

I did exactly the same a few years ago and my wife generously allows me full use of the land (10 rai) especially when it comes down to clearing all the brush and scrub which gives me a couple of hours exercise 4 or 5 days a week.

Should anything happen to my wife I am also the guardian of our 5 year old son.

I am attempting to claim the dependents benefit for my wife.

I wrote to the department in Newcastle in June after phoning them to be sure of what they required which was our marriage certificate and both mine and my wife's birth certificates. All must be originals. I also sent a scanned copy of my wife's birth certificate as well.

After a short while they sent all 3 back and when I rang them in July they said that they required my wife's original birth certificate for translation I pointed out that they had recived it once but I sent it off again by EMS.

They did return her birth certificate

That was in July and they said it will take between 10 to 12 weeks.

I rang again in September and it was "in progress".

October "still in progress".

Late October " Oh we sent it to the department for the National Insurance people in September and it should be back in 6 to 8 weeks".

Early November " Sorry it isn't back yet and we will send you a letter to let you know when the benefit will be paid".

Last Friday " Sorry nothing from the NI people yet but we will let you know when you will be paid".

The good news is that it will be backdated to the date of my pension back in May.

The possible downside is that the exchange rate may not be as good when it finally comes.

My best advice is to keep chasing them once a month and don't hold your breath while you wait.

I drove to the immigration office today. Going south on the hiway through Nakohn Sawan, at the light at big-c turn right, continue on this road until you see the police station on the left. Take a left on the soi before the police station, about 100 yards down this soi look to the right, you will see immigration, there is a sign in english.

Thank you very much for that information.

I will pass it around my friends who are not on TV.

I was in Khampaeng Phet on Chakungrao road on Saturday afternoon and while I found the Corner restaurant they told me that the Eagle was at the market area and I still can't find it.

Whats the Corner restaurant like?

I was there about 11.30 am and it was closed and they were cleaning up.

It looked nice and tidy though.

I just went to the 7/11 and bought a 1 2 call Sim and 600 baht worth of air time.

I asked for the package of 250 hours internet for 500 baht a month which is too much really but for 2 baht per hour is a good price and then just log in and I am away. if I walk away for a couple of hours the cost is miniscule really and it works out to be around 33 baht or 1 large bottle of beer a day.

Also tell AIS the phone model and they will send an SMS to set the phone up.

Did you download the Nokia PC suite OK?

Cheers

Sorry Chris

I missed you post but dave_boo is spot on.

I am using a Nokia 3310c and that works with either AIS or DTAC.

Depending on how much internet time you use I find that AIS is better for me plus I can see the cellsite from my house.

DTAC was good also but was about 2km up the road and a busier site.

2 min. walk from Corner

Which way?

I come down the road and the Corner is on my right with soi 1 just behind on my left.

The price of cassava where I live near Klong Lan in the central region is 1,550 baht this week.

6 km away in Klong Lan it is 1,600 baht.

I was in Khampaeng Phet on Chakungrao road on Saturday afternoon and while I found the Corner restaurant they told me that the Eagle was at the market area and I still can't find it.

Whoopeeee

It will save me driving that Tak/Mae Sot nightmare road.

I came out of Bangkok yesterday heading home via Aythhaya and just about 1 km before I turned up the route 32 on the left was a shop with about 9 second hand Phantoms for sale.

I have the GPS location and a photo of the shop if anyone is interested.