mhortig

Thanks for your comments. I should have mentioned the purpose of my POA. It is a GENERAL POWER OF ATTORNEY for my wife to be able to use "just in case" I'm incapacitated. It would probably be used for banking or with Immigration. 

Does a Power of Attorney need to be notarized ? I've researched this and some law firms say it is necessary, some do not.   Is the duty stamp required.  I am having a Power of Attorney drafted, by an expat lawyer and he has not mentioned doing these things. I want to know if it is required so I can make sure it fulfills all requirements.  Also has anyone had any experience with having a spouse use a power of attorney to act on their behalf with Thai Immigration?  I would appreciate your feed back if you have had experience with these issues.

If you have a US SSA direct deposit, the FIRST CONCERN is to find out if you are set up for IAT format or not.  The easy way is to go direct to your Bangkok Bank branch. Have them pull up your accounts on their computer, then pull up the most recent direct deposit transaction. They can then pull up details of that transaction. On the details page look on the right had side toward the middle of the page, there are some codes.  If you see IAT-Th, then you are OK. Your direct deposit is in the correct format and will continue as normal after April 1, 2019.  Not all SSA direct deposits are in IAT format.  Apparently some direct deposits were set up incorrectly (see preceding post) so you may not be OK. Your best recourse would be as per the above post and call SSA Baltimore.  I have talked with SSA in Manilla and they won't even bother to check what the format is, let alone assist with correcting it.  Bangkok Bank New York also will only tell you to talk to SSA and not even check your format for you.

I have been in contact with SSA Manila, and they are not really helpful about the IAT format issure in regards to Social Security direct deposit. They have heard nothing  about this from Baltimore head office and seem unable to even advise whether or not the IAT format is being used. I suggest that as many people as possible contact them and maybe they will look into it. Some posts say Social Security benefits will not be affected but so far I find no information to support that.

I buy occasionally from e-bay. According to my web research there will only be duty/VAT for item values over 1,000 baht. I have found this to be true.-I pay nothing on lower priced items. Occaisionaly higher cost items get bu without cost, but don't count on it. If you google them, Pitney Bowes used to allow you to check the duty on items using their calculator. Dont know if you still can. Googling "Thailand import duty and tax" can also give you an idea of what to expect.

I am now expecting my first order from Lazada and trust there will be no duties as a poster above has mentioned.

Here are a couple of  tid bit  about international shipping.  E-bay offers a global shipping and duty service on some of there items.  They quote you a cost to include duty etc. and state that, that is the max.  I have never used it yet, but its a useful service to reduce your surprise factor at delivery.  Also one thought about international shpping from e-bay. If the item does not have a tracking number it is probably going to go astray. (ie: get lifted by postal workers) I've had two untrackable purchases and both dissappeared. Fortunately e-Bay refunded my money. My trackable orders arrive O.K.

Can anyone reccomend a competent urologist who speaks good English for treatment of BPH. I have been to numerous Thai doctors over several years, spent considerable money and no relief. Thank you for your suggestions. Please include their location and contact information.

Need some local advice, please. We want to take a boat tour of Phangna Bay while in Phuket for Vegetarian festival. We want a big comfortable boat, I am a senior and DO NOT want a longtail boat, kayak or canoe, or expensive private charter. and I do not want a rediculous price. I've scoured the net. The only comfortable boat appears to be the junks and at 4,000+ a person that is not OK. I live in Thailand, in the past (long time ago) there were simple relatively comfortable (with toilet) tour boats and not so expensive, they took you all around the bay with no need for small boats. We have a car so we could get ourselves to Phang na if neccessary. Any suggestions?. Please include website or email info. Thanks.

Thanks to all contributors. Some very useful information, and varied opinions. I'm inclined to compromise at a full cleaning every two years and changing the filter more frequently if possible. We don't use the car excessively and at six years its still under 100,000 km. I won't trust the car to anyone other than Toyota though , it does seem a bit pricey. We want this car to last as long as possible.

We have a 6 year old Yaris which is in excellent condition. We have it serviced by Toyota regularly who I trust usualy. But they hard sell my Thai wife to have the air conditioner serviced. Not just a freon top up, a full cleaning etc. Cost over 2000 baht. We have already had this done two times, she wants to do it again. I don't think it is neccessary. The Toyota service book only reccomends checking and filling up the freon regularly. If it really is important to the long life of the car I will do it, but frankly I think it's a bit of a scam to sell uneccessary service. I've had many cars in the past and never ever had my a/c serviced and never had a problem. Any thoughts.

Thanks again Mac. I think why it did not show on other maps is because its not considered a good thorougfare. I had hoped it was something new and better.

We want to drive from Huay Kon/Nguen to Luang Prubang. In looking at a newer road map it looks like there is a new road ROUTE 4B that goes directly to Luang Prubang. You do not need to go via Sayanbury as before.

Has anyone actualy driven this route recently?
-Is the road paved and in good condition?
-Is it mountainous?
-Is it safe?
-Gas stations?
-Border crossing at Huay Kon: Can go in and out of Laos, can I get VOA there.
-What is the distance?

Previously we had planned to enter at Tha Li Loei, but want to drive as little distance as possible in Laos. Any first hand experience would be greatly appreciated.

My Thai wife and I will be visiting Laos soon for 12 days. She has a Thai passport but it expires in September. I know with my US passport, it must be at least 6 months to expiry. Is this the same for Thai passport?

Again, thanks to all. The pix of the road look a bit daunting, but I take it that was a a few years ago. I would like to know if it has been improved?

THANKS TO ALL FOR YOUR USEFUL CONTRIBUTIONS.

We are now thinking of entering Laos in Loei at Tha Li. Has anybody actualy driven this route from Tha Li to Luang Prubang?

What are the road conditions?

Is it Safe?

In August or September would the rain make any of the road impassable?

I understand you have to cross the Mekhong by ferry. Is this always available, or is there a bridge there yet?

We have heard conflicting stories about driving in Laos. My Thai wife is a very capable, safe driver, but would feel more comfortable with first hand information, before we decide to make the trip. Any more info would be greatly appreciated.

We are planning a driving trip to Luang Prubang from our Home in Phitsanulok. We do not want to go via Vientienne if possible. Has any one done this?. I ve checked google maps and they show a route, but no info about border crossings etc.: Take Route 11, Route 1246, Route 1214 and Route 1047 to Route 4 in Kengsao, Laos to Luang Prubang.

Where exactly do you cross the border?. Can a falang cross there? Is a Visa available there? Google shows that there is one place where a ferry must be used, any info? What are the road conditions. Any special documentation required for our car? I would be very appreciative of any first hand information.

Thanks for your contributions. I would appreciate any more specifis (forms, documents etc) from someone who has actualy filed a claim from Thailand. The VA site info is a bit unclear.

I need to have my hearing tested to support a disability claim with the U.S.Veterans Administration.. Has anyone had this done in Chiangmai? The requirements are very specific. Must be a liscensed audiologist and two tests are required 1) Maryland CNC test 2) Puretone audio metric test.

I fanyone knows of such a facility please let me know. I live in Phitsanulok and would prefer to have it done in Chiangmai but I would consider other locations. Thanks.

For anyone who is considering getting their India visa in Chiangmai, note that the requirements have changed. Now you must complete the application ON LINE then submit at consulate with copy of Air tickets and confirmed hotel booking.

This is a bit more than previously required.

QUESTION has anyone made an application recently and did they ask for hotel conifmation? I assume you can just show for your arrival days, as it's not practical to prebook all your hotels. Any insight on this would be appreciated.

Help! My microsoft word 2010 software is in Thai. I want to change it to English. I am not computer smart nor do I speak Thai.!

Can someone "walk me" through the steps: ie: go to the third word on the toolbar, click the third word down etc. etc. I would be very grateful,

Please take a look at the recent thread I started: Cataract surgury, my experience. Had mine done in Chiangmai which is actualy a more interesting place than Bangkok, and a lot easier to get around.

I don't know where your friend lives but if he is in the north consider Sriphat medical center in Chiangmai. I recently had cataract surgury there and the Dr. and staff were excellent and reasonably priced. I understand Rutnin is quite costly. If you want more info let me know.

While participating Thais may receive their health care for free( or 30 baht) be aware that many ladies who have a falang consider it a status symbol "na yai" to go to private hospitals and clinics. They will often fabricate stories about why they can't get free treatment and meds. This is not an exaggeration on my part. The reality is that the same doctors who work at the private venues almost always work also at the government hopitals, so the quality of care is quite similiar. In fact the government hospitals often have the most advanced equipment. The only real downside is that patients often have long ques, and the accomodations are not five star..

Mine was extremely painful as well. They prescribed painkillers and antibiotics to treat the infection. The pain then was almost non existent and the antibiotics effectively treated the infection causing the abcessin about 3 days. No more discomfort throughout the process

I am going to Chiangmai and want to buy a Meyer lemon. I will go to the Kamthieng market. Does anybody know if there are any shops there that sell the Meyer lemon seedling? If so I would appreciate its approcimate location in the market. Other than Kamthieng are there any other places I might find one?.

I live in Phitsanulok and we have a smaller garden market where I was sold a " lemon tree". After a long time it turned out to be a citron, not a lemon, and except for the skin they are not very useful-little meat and very sweet and bland..