MaiChai

The real question is how many people are getting really sick and ending up in hospital? If the numbers are small its not worth worrying about.

As you get older the cover will reduce and the premiums will increase. It will get to the point where you play cat and mouse on what is or not covered and you will need to be a legal eagle to read the fine print and fight the legal battles to make your claim. If you are a long term traveller instead build up and maintain a fund for health care. Also refrain from dangerous activities and taking risks. With age comes experience.

On 4/10/2023 at 4:43 AM, harleyclarkey said:

Start your insurance journey with;

The purpose of any insurance company is to decline your claim and maximise their profits. 

You have a chance to succeed if you really persist. I did....twice. 

 

Stupid, stupid declines over obviously genuine claims. I made a formal complaint to the UK Head Office and lo and behold....an immediate settlement,  an apology plus €200 extra.

 

 

 

Some facts rather than hearsay or theorising. I have little faith in insurance companies and prefer to self insure. 

There is a simple fix. Thai gov have a campaign to educate people not to overtake unless they can see ahead there is nothing coming. This is the most frustrating thing i see driving in Thailand: dangerous overtaking.

I will be amazed if a popular people party with people friendly policies is allowed to stay in power. We shall see? Also why does it take 3 months toget the results?

Has anyone mentioned the Thai obsession with food? On a positive note that means its a fantastic place to live but on the negative side it means people are constantly eating and, well getting over weight. I am currently in Vietnam where there is a much larger population to consume a smaller amount of food, and it shows. Also Vietnam exports alot of its foods so there isn't much left for the locals!

I do remember 30 years ago Thais were also much slimmer having a mainly fish based diet, but the country progressed, more food was made available, everyone is generally better off and can spend more on food.

What to do? Sugar is definitely a problem; force manufacturers to use less sugar and replace it with artificial sweeteners? Educate mothers and grandmothers to stop spoiling boys (food and other things)? Tax sugar in drinks?

What amazes me about Thailand is the extremes of poverty vs wealth. As a european where we vote for our governments and in return receive some benefits from the state, I find the uncaring nature of unelected Asian governments concerning. Which is why these young ladies enter prostitution; the alternative is quite miserable as noted by other posters.

The dinosaurs in charge borrow expensive watches and clothes to show they dont have hidden wealth when they are on government salaries!

7 hours ago, ukrules said:

Anyone can buy anything they want in the UK, there's no limits and nobody cares.

 

You don't have to step foot in the country to do it either.

 

I read about a case involving an ex politician who bought/sold a property which was owned by a company in the Virgin Islands, the transaction was completed by selling the holding company so no stamp duty payment was required, caused quite the scandal a while back.

 

It's a free for all and always will be. Maybe they want to keep the Russians out but they definitely want their money.

 

Ah yes, I looked it up - it was Tony Blair and a 6.5 million pound office building owned by a Bahraini Minister  through a British Virgin Islands company, lol - they're all at it. Why would they ever stop it?

So much to socialism! Labour party members want to rich just like everyone else!

110; is there any immigration officers left?

I guess Willy won't be behind his computer reading the comments here! On a serious note you have to wonder on his immigration status and if the publicity will get him kicked out and blacklisted.

I have been reading these types of stories about corruption for the last 30 years or so, and it will still be going on when I am well and gone from this world. If you are not paying through the nose for doing things officially (eg the government officially robbing you) then its under the counter in an unofficial manner. I guess you choose what you are prepared to pay for and take it or leave it or go elsewhere? Does it go on in the West? I am sure it does too!

I suppose you could buy 13 Toyota Vigos new for that kind of money. What is the expression: a fool and their money are easily parted! Also Thailand is a bit weak on consumer law, so tough luck!

On 1/14/2023 at 3:26 PM, NorthernRyland said:

I'm not rich and probably never will be but isn't 500k USD a lot to invest for a measly 10 year visa into a country like Thailand that flip flops at break neck speeds as we saw recently with the COVID requirements?

 

If this whole thing blows up how do you get your 500k out of the country now and is it even liquid or will you get stuck with bad investments? Seems mighty risky to me.

Thats why you don't need to be rich to live in Thailand, and there are other visas that are much more friendly to the wallet. Alot of people are rich because they are smart or simply good with money rather than wasting it on visas like this. The 400k/800k in a Thai bank makes it very easy for immigration to confirm you have enough money to live on here rather than trying to comprehend peoples wealth and background.

Its all about money whether its a brown envelope to smooth the way or showing you have enough money to stay. Thailand needs tourist money even though they hate the foreigners staying. Then you have those running away from dictator regimes. What to do?

2 month overstay isn't exactly a big crime. Just get him to pay the overstay and deport him. If they start treating western overstay tourists as criminals then Thailand will get a bad reputation, which will be bad for tourism. Just saying...

To balance all the Thai generalisations there are good and bad people everywhere as well as lazy and hard working people. Btw i do all my home building and diy as i cant find a local to do it well or at a fair price ????

Seems strange Thailand want tourists but make it hard for tourists and foreigners to get money from abroad? Hope they dont clamp down further to get money from abroad?