jaideedave

19 hours ago, nauseus said:

 

And ask the airline to organize it.

I've done that(wheelchair request) with Bangkok Air from Phnom Phen > Bkk. It's very tedious as I tried to explain my "spinal stenosis" to the agent.She finally agreed when she realized I was 72 at the time. I was on the phone for over 45 minutes.Persevere and It will work.I can walk just fine but only for about 10 minute segments and then I need a quick sit down somewhere and the long lines at the a/p would do me in.555

56 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

I'm no expert on this but you certainly need more than just a piece of paper with your wife's signature on it.

 

Inquiry at the local Land Office would be a first step. Lawyer thereafter, I think.

 

 

When I bought my house in Pattaya I had a 30 year lease drawn up. I hired a lawyer to have the house put in my step daughters name.All registered at the Land Office. My name is on the chanote as the lessee. About as bullet proof as you can get IMHO.

 

 

 

4 hours ago, Mike Lister said:

I'm now on my 21st extension. I used to do my own but I finally grew tired of the run around that Immi used to give me, every time I went to extend. There were never enough copies, there was always always something that had to be copied. One year they asked to see my lease, without any warning and when I mentioned it on here, everyone said I was lying or crazy. Pretty soon, everyone had to produce a lease or similar. One year in Phuket the IO didn't like the fact my bank letter was one day old and since my bank was HSBC in Bangkok, that  meant a new return trip to Bangkok, a new letter and another immi appointment. In another year, my bank letter showed my total assets with the bank in Thailand, rather than just 800k, it had never been a problem before. That year the IO wanted me to reconcile all my bank books and accounts, back to the letter, it was like teaching accounting 101 to a kid. There were numerous other things also.

 

Eventually, things got to a point where we were required to start queuing for a queue number, in the parking lot of Immi, at 4 am and I finally said borrocks to that. That was when I started to use a well regarded legit agent and now they do everything Immi related for me and I only ever set foot inside an Immi office, once a year, for five minutes, to get my picture taken. Best investment I ever made.

I'm with you on this.I did my own for a few years and after one bull<deleted> copy this or that or some minor item I just gave up.I now pay a popular agency and and nowadays don't even have to go for the pic and as a bonus they do my 90 criminal report also. Money well spent IMHO.

PS: The signature on my visa stanp is exactly the same as the one from when I did it myself. That in itself tells me a lot.

51 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

I didn't know that.

I remember a few years ago a friend who is a football coach went to Italy and said the pizzas wernt what he thought they would be 

 

I wonder where the Hawaiian pizza started 

 

Back in the day I worked for the Italian oil co.ENI. The pizza they served on their vessels was just plain bread dough and tomato sauce.

I was a little surprised.

I'm interested in renting a 1br condo in the Orient Spa Condo complex in Jomtien.

6 monthe beginning in February or March to start. A washing machine would be a bonus.

I don't care which floor and it doesn't have to face the pool.Just looking for peace and quiet.

I own and live in my house at Susabai Villa and they've built a  brand new 5 br "pool villa" next door which is rented out via Booking.com and pool parties are quite common in the wee hours.A new gang arrives each week. Regularly getting woken up at 3 am is no joke.Thats what I'm escaping.

14 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Maybe try 5 Star on beach road, near mike shopping mall, good views

Thai little place has been there for decades. I recall it being in the same spot in the early 90,s. It's got legs.

10 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Never got to see the 1st class bar upfront but spent a lot of time down at the back bar (business). 

 

My favorite airline flying on my all time favorite aeroplane. Emirates A380.

Flew many times Dubai to BKK, BKK to Dubai. 

 

Couldn't resist the Grey Goose within the mini bar in the flat bed business 

Like you say, arrived well lubricated. 

 

 

24 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

My company buys the cheapest tickets at times so cheap I can't upgrade. 

 

Anyway, when I started flying Emirates I was only a silver member. 

 

Emirates allow silver members with economy tickets in the business lounge Dubai 

 

I guess I was lucky because some companies I worked for only supplied economy tickets as I was always allowed to pay for the upgrades. That spoiled me for econo tickets. Even in retirement I paid for bc even if it was a stretch. I found a company online that bought/sold points and I travelled 1st & bc with those a couple times for steep discounts.

I also had silver status with Emirates, one of my favourie airlines.

PS:Did you have the priviledge of flying their 380 bc with the bar/lounge at the back? I arrived in Dubai well lubricated to say the least one morning.The so called "good old days"

2 hours ago, Sheryl said:

 

In emergencies yes, often the case

 

But I think it is true that the appearance of government hospitals as well as the crowds and forms, signs etc usually  being in Thai  only is off-putting for most actual tourists. And very hard for them to navigate the red tape etc. (again, tourists -- expats are a whole other story). 

You are correct.A foreign tourist won't have a good result going to a gov't hospital in most cases.I only go yo Queen Sirikit hospital in Sattahip with my wife or at least a Thai speaker.You will be lost otherwise.I've been using them for a few years now.

On 12/20/2023 at 9:44 AM, fondue zoo said:

 

They tried this on with me every visit to an ophthalmologist, white coat syndrome had my blood gushing out of every orifice according to their test(s). They got me to lie down for 20 minutes it somehow went higher. The looks on their faces, how can you still be conscious?  can you see through the red mist?  I got out of bed and did 3 star jumps (no lie), nope I'm good.  I was feeling extra saucy that day. They then insisted on a wheelchair, which I took because it looked like fun, knowing that every little thing was going to be on my bill.

 

I then actually paid attention to how they applied the cuff, and as someone who has been on the administering side an age ago realised that some staff do not get much training. 

Not all cuff sizes are the same, even if adjustable. Turns out they had mixed up the kids cuffs with those used for adults resulting in see-saw results. 

 

 

side note:  my lady ophthalmologist was a smoke show, hot dam, Dr Butternut.

 

They try that crap on me also. My bp is always high at the hospital. Years ago I needed a work related dental exam for a job application.I went to Pattaya Memorial, My bp was high as normal and they wouldn't let me see the dentist unless I saw a Dr first.I grabbed my papers and left. Went to a local clinic and done in 15 minutes.

Like you sometimes I overhear the nurses talking in whispers about if I'm going to make it out of the hospital without heart surgery. Laughable  really

On 12/19/2023 at 12:47 PM, edwardflory said:

Most foreign people do not know that you can use a Thai Military Hospital. Many of the doctors were trained in US or UK, thus speak good English.

 

You have to register and get a hospital ID card ( free )- passport needed until registered, then use Hospital ID card at the hospital.  

 

Military hospitals are slightly more expensive than civilian government hospitals, WAY WAY WAY LESS expensive than private hospitals, you pay the same cost as Thai civilians using the hospital.

I use Queen Sirikit Naval hospital in Sattahip. I've had surgery there.Unfortunately I pay more as a resident foreigner by about 50% I believe.Its posted on the wall.There are 3 tiers of fees.

The Dr I see semi annually told me to get my meds at Fascino because as a foreigner I pay more.

At the end of the day its just a gov't hospital at a ton cheaper than private.My 5 minute Drs visit takes until noon after arriving at 8am.But they must wait for lab blood test results. I now don't go anywhere else. Do youself a big favour and avoid going into a ward.It was a horrible experience and I could hardly wait to get a private room of which there are very few.

 

 

10 hours ago, CanadaSam said:

Write to AirBNB and inform them of the problem, and your intention to sue them along with the house owners.  You'll be pleasantly surprised at the response!

Excellent suggestion.It's actually listed clearly on Booking.com.

Complete description along with house number and all so there would be no confusion or mistaking the place.

What I have to do is record some of the parties (3am) because I can't make allegations without proof.It was built by a Chinese investor couple under a shady agreement with the moo ban manager lady.(Thai name proxy)

Listing as 10 pax maximum 5 br @ 21,598 for 2 nights.

It ain't cheap so they want to get their moneys worth. Almost always single guys who probably get their temporary "friends" on Walking Street.And no, I'm not jealous because I've been there and done that in years gone by.555

1 minute ago, AlexRRR said:

Just leave a snake in the pool for the guests return from a night on the town, id think 2 or 3 times and enough bad reviews will be left to deter future bookings...

555 I love your suggestion Arrr ...2 issues here, 1 the owners already know know we're not happy about the pool parties, 2nd, I'm terrified of snakes. Hoping that the window/wall upgrades do the trick.

If I keep getting woken up from this I'll notify the "old boot" that I'll be moving out to a (hopefully) quiet place to round of my time .

PS: How to deal with the security cameras that they may have and where do I source live snakes that won't bite me. 555

21 minutes ago, samtam said:

 

What is it with this "hospital fee"? I too pay a "service fee" at my hospital, (plus the doctor - 500, 800, 1000, 1200, depending on the phase of the moon), also plus a nurses fee to take my blood pressure, which by the time I'm more than completely effed off, is verging on the stroke level.

 

Of course, as new Thai taxpayers, all of these foreigner fees will disappear...

Same here, when I visited PIH in Pattaya they made me pay get the bp test right after checking in. Of course it always reads high.I just got off my motorbike after running the gauntlet of 2nd Rd.

There's a nurses fee involved.It's only 300 baht but I feel it's a wee bit of a rip off.

7 hours ago, Presnock said:

Check out your country's DTA with Thailand - if they don't tax it, and it meets the Thai threshold then the Thais most ikely can legally tax those funds.

23 minutes ago, JimGant said:

 

According to the Thai-Canada tax treaty, Canada has exclusive taxation rights on both government and private pensions:

 

Thus, per treaty, your Canadian pension(s) are not "assessable (taxable) income" for Thai tax purposes, and thus there would be no reason to file a Thai tax return showing such income strictly for information purposes. At least under current guidance. 

JG..thanks so much for clarifying this for me. I've tried to decipher the gov't docs and my "cognitive function" cells shut down.

That gives me peace of mind for now. cheers

15 hours ago, Guavaman said:

Regarding the tax exempt status of gifts of income from abroad:

 

According to the Q&A that the Revenue Department published on its website (translated by Mazars), income from abroad will not be subject to tax, if such income is eligible for tax exemption under the general rules.

 

https://www.mazars.co.th/Home/Insights/Doing-Business-in-Thailand/Tax/Q-A-published-on-foreign-sourced-income

 

Following the issuance of the Revenue Departmental instruction number Paw. 161/2566 ("DI. Paw. 161") in September 2023, the Revenue Department published on its website this month a Q&A concerning the concept, conditions and clarification of tax treatments on foreign-sourced income under the Revenue Code.

 

Q1: What kind of income shall be taxed upon bringing into Thailand, according to Section 41 and DI. Paw. 161?  

A: Foreign-sourced income subject to Thai personal income tax upon bringing into Thailand is an assessable income under Section 40(1) to (8) of the Thai Revenue Code.  

Assessable income under Section 40 of the Revenue Code: 

    1. Employment 

    2. Independent personal services 

    3. Goodwill, copyright and other (intangible) rights 

    4. Interest income, dividends and capital gains 

    5. Rental from property 

    6. Professional services 

    7. Hire of work (i.e., services contracts) 

    8. Business, commerce, agriculture, industry, transport, etc. 

 

However, if the income is eligible for tax exemption under the general rules, such income from abroad will not be subject to tax under DI. Paw. 161. For example, income regarded as a gift from parents, descendants, or spouses in an amount not over Baht 20 million per annum is exempt from personal income tax. 

Well Gman, that's it in a nutshell in plain English. No mention of pension income. Now let's all sit back and see how the RD f,s this up.

I foresee a bureaucratic nightmare on the horizon. Another useless paper copying exercise aka visa renewals and lets throw in translation services.

In my case as a non resident of Canada my pensions are subjected to a 25% withholding tax.

However because my income is below a certain threshold my income is tax excempt. I pay zero taxes. (Form NR5)

How do I convince Somchai or Noi at RD about this legal decision?

I do have the letter stating this fact but thats all.

Fingers crossed this whole thing just fades away.

14 hours ago, CanadaSam said:

Sad.  If the family can read this, move him to a Government hospital, they know how to deal with Dengue at much cheaper rates.

Good advice but I'm thinking they'll use him as a hostage until they get paid off. TIT

1 hour ago, keith101 said:

How do you intend to stop farmers from cutting down trees and burning especially after harvest

Yes old Wongsawan is quite the story teller.A real knee slapper.

Has he been to the Chiang Mai area in the past few years to witness the farmers slash and burn activities?

A few years ago from the temple at Doi Suthep you couldn't even make out the airport bepow.