melbat

1 hour ago, katatonic said:

Maybe both of you could bring your flights forward to the 10th? Thailand Pass is still valid for 72 hours either way.

Is this official or just " hearsay" some are saying you can only change your arrival 72 hours after your official arrival time. Wish someone could give the official version. My friend is due to arrive on the 11th Jan at midday.

generally, Eva has very competitive rates, but there are loads of special packages on offer now from many airlines so you should consult a travel agent or visit the airline websites directly. I saw a Lufthansa banner on the way here which mentioned Bangkok/London.

Cheers

I am flying with Areoflot to London next week. They are using new Boeing Airplanes. I am told that they have now got their act together and food entertainment are as good as other airlines. The flight has a short stopover in Russia (2 half hours) Cost return 27000 baht.

Retirement visa extensions can only be done from a Non-O visa.

When holding a tourist visa this visa has to be upgraded to a Non-O visa and then extended to a one year retirement visa.

Normally ( at Phuket ) people can do this all at the same time.

First you upgrade to the Non-O and with the new copy's you get the one year retirement extension. ( with the correct papers off-course )

Validation acceptance for the income is up to the officer.

Phuket advice on the income certification is one month. ( but this is a advise not a rule )

The English volunteer officer at the front desk at Phuket Immigration told me 30 days for the income statement as well. But I saw someone with one that was dated in March use it in June. It would be nice to know what the rule is as the Consulate outreach only comes to Phuket a few times a year. I don't really want to go to Bangkok when I could do it in Karon. A new rule they just made up according to the Thai officer and the volunteer is; when using an income statement you have to give a copy of an ATM card showing you have a way to get your pension.. This was on June 24th. And I was lucky this year as the consulate came to Karon the week before. When I go for my 90 report I will try to get an answer as to when the earnings statement must be dated...

"It would be nice to know what the rule is as the Consulate out reach only comes to Phuket a few times a year. I don't really want to go to Bangkok when I could do it in Karon."

As far as I know the above statement is not true. We have a British Vice Consul, Mr Martin Carpenter, who lives in Laguna and has a office there where you can get all income letters and documents validated for Immigration at his office. Tel number 0898749080 for more info

I'm currently with TRUE which I find excellent plus the service is A1.

However I am moving to an area where their max speed is 2meg which I couldn't live with.

Seems if I want a faster connection I have no choice but move to TOT.

Reading the comments on here all I can say is you're scaring the hel_l out of me

Today my TOT is running well just done a speedtest and it is registering 6.5Meg. I have a 8 meg connection. Yesterday it was running at less that 1meg for most of the day and improved in the evening to about 4 meg. Recently it's been up and down most days. I like to watch TV from UK but it's hopeless most of the time, just keeps stopping and starting... but when it's up to speed it's great. Not so often these days though!Best of luck

I have had TOT 8 meg for about 6 months now. It started off great with excellent speed and download. In the past month it's gone downhill fast. Today it's been really bad. Is it just me or is everyone having problems? I live in Chalong.

I'm still receiving a signal from DStv. Although the screen doesn't show a picture, the decoding is fine, the receiver is showing the EPG information for all channels.

Right now (still) working with sound+video:

SuperSport 1

SuperSport 3

History Channel

So it looks like the channels are still there, just the encryption has been changed. Looks like the same trick done by Telkomvision.

Is it possible to find out what encryption they are using? I'm sure some wag will find it if there is a way... It does seem strange that they have left 3 channels open. Don't want to raise hopes but if they are closing the Sat down why hav'nt they done it? It's a puzzle... maybe someone has an explanation..

I was under the impression that you had to use your local immigration office and could not obtain or renew any visa outside the province where you live. So I'm not sure you can even renew your visa in Bangkok. Or do I have it wrong?

Re read your blog and u said you fly back to phuket to renew! Apologies!

I was under the impression that you had to use your local immigration office and could not obtain or renew any visa outside the province where you live. So I'm not sure you can even renew your visa in Bangkok. Or do I have it wrong?

Yes a Farang get a credit card....generally if you here on a work permit for any length of time banks like SCB will give you one

I have a Thai American Express Card. No need for work permit

Start by telling us what kind of visa and/or extension of stay you have for Thailand.

I have a Retirement Visa and have had it for 8 years. I have to report ever 90 Days and renew my Visa once a year.

I also have a Filipina wife living with me here. I have a retirement visa too. When you go to immigration with your wife if she has a non immigrant visa take along your marriage certificate and your wife will receive the same visa as yourself as your dependent. The cost is 1900 baht same as yours. The 800,000 baht you need income is for both of you.. not per person. Best of luck.

www.bitcomet.com

So sad we lost... We paid our contributions like everyone else.. and the UK government save a fortune on our not using the NHS or claiming heating allowance etc etc etc...

A footnote..... Don't forget if you have a dependent wife (any nationality or age) you can up to April 5th claim 57 pounds a week but you must get your claim in before April 5th. If you need more info.. message me.. I have the forms too for you to claim. If you are successful you will receive the allowance until April 2020,

Today Uk pensioners lost their battle to win justifiable increases in their state pensions. The European Court voted 11-6 in favor of the British Government. A sad day for all us overseas pensioners.

Don't forget all pensioners who have a dependent wife to support can claim a extra 57 pounds a week. This allowance stops on April 5 this year but if you are successful with your claim you will receive the allowance till April 2020. If you require any more info .. message me. I have copies of the form to claim.

"I'm sure they must be under contract to DSTV ".

What, you mean the cable providers in Thailand? I can assure you the majority of them are getting it in the exact same way as you and I; either through card sharing or through having purchased (illegally, as it can not legally be sold to Thailand) a card from them.

I'm not sure you are right... cuz if you are they surely would be showing premiership soccer... and they don't.. because True visions have the rights to English Prem and not allowed to show..If they were card sharing they would definitely wouldn't care about True Visions.

I know peope will shout me down but I have been thinking.... I am one of the people that have 'Multichoice' from DSTV. I will be very sad if in May/June the service is terminated. What is going to happen to all the cable providers that use Supersport and other channels from DSTV? I'm sure they must be under contract to DSTV and also sure there will be many lawsuits if the service is cut off. I know also many other cable providers from other countries must be using DSTV services who are not going to be happy. Another thing.. would'nt it be convienient for DSTV to let people think they are teminating the service just before the world cup? I mean all those people who are pirating will be clamoring to get hold of a DSTV Card and receiver just to see the world cup. Not talking about people in Thailand.. I believe DSTV dont care too much about Thailand... They don't even have an office here to sell their service... No it's the people in Africa or where they sell their service is where they want more subcribers and not Pirateers.... Well we will have to wait and see what happens in June or whenever... would not suprise me though if NOTHING HAPPENS! Maybe just hoping!!!!!

Confirmed with Newcastle... NI number is allocated on submission of correct documents. Your wife does not have to be in UK to receive NI number.

I'm a bit baffled by this thread. Are you guys "ordinarily resident" in the UK? And if not, how do you get increases to your UK State pension? I've only been in Thailand for about 18 months and The Pension Service has decided I'm not eligible for the annual increase as I'm not "ordinarily resident" in the UK even though they know I pay £75 every month for furniture storage and I told them I have every intention of returning to live in the UK.

This is for pensioners who have a dependant wife who has no income. It don't matter if you live in the UK or overseas you are entitled to claim this additional allowance. You are not entitled to annual increases if are residing overseas... well not at present anyway.. A european court will give a judgment in March/April on whether the UK government have to give overseas pensioners the increases. As for the allowance if you are married receiving a UK government pension you can make this claim up to April 5th 2010

Confirmed with Newcastle... NI number is allocated on submission of correct documents. Your wife does not have to be in UK to receive NI number.

your wife needs a N/I number as well,before you get your pension increase.

You are correct to a certain extent.. but what happens is your wife will be allocated a a NI number on a successful application.

only if you apply for it, seperate application from pension.

Not true.. I spoke to Newcastle last week... they assign a NI number to to all successful applications. Call them and they will inform you.. but just to make sure.. I will call them again to clarify.. and post here.

your wife needs a N/I number as well,before you get your pension increase.

You are correct to a certain extent.. but what happens is your wife will be allocated a a NI number on a successful application.

Not all pensioners know this but if you are married and your wife is not working.. you can claim an extra 57 pounds a week on your pension. The problem is that if you don't claim it before April 5th 2010 you will lose it forever. If you can get your claim in before 5th April.. you can claim the extra allowance till April 2020. The form you need is IPC368A. They don't have this form on the web site.. you have to request it from Newcastle.

The problem is they are not in a hurry to send it. I have requested it 4 times now and still waiting. But I have a copy now.. and have sent my claim in. My friends claim went through and he was paid 2000 pounds back benefit too.. If you want a copy of the form message me and I will forward a copy. Remember you have to be receiving your pension now or before April 2010 to claim. It makes no difference what nationality or age of your wife but you must have a marriage certificate and a birth certificate for your wife. If you need any more info contact me.

Mulitchoice is showing all the rugby internationals... Along with cricket, Prem soccer and many other sports. Send me message if you want more details.

YES!!! ToT is absolutely terrible. I experience problems with our connection since more than 3 weeks. After visiting the office at Chalong they told us they have strong problems with some numbers and they will give us a discount.

Yesterday they called and ask if it is better. NO it is not. Sometimes absolutely NO CONNECTION, sometimes only some pages from Germany loading but TV and Gmail doesnt work. End of this month is end of my contract with the telephone (un)organisation of Thailand. I will change to TT&T, my friends there doesnt experience the sme problems.

Problem is they put too many users on one line.

Try a Pingplotter, its free and you can download it HERE but you need a working internet for download.

My Pingplotter shows me the ERROR is at 118.173.80.1

I just changed from Maxnet to TOT (hahahaha) Wish now I had stayed with them. 3 days of frustration with TOT. Came back on last evening (sat) about 9 pm. I don't know what problems they had... but it drove me up the wall.... Don't know now where to go.. stay with TOT or CAT seems to be the next option but expensive, and 1 year contract. If u pay up front for 1 year works out about 1650 baht per month with discounts. Only 2 meg but heck anything for a quite life! Friends tell me CAT is the most reliable and stable in Phuket. No doubt others will have a different opinion!

btw, TOT means DEAD in german

I have TOT 3 meg in Phuket. When I do a speed test i get good speeds nearly always about 3 meg download. The problem is my pages wont load or cannot get into some sites at all. If I do manage to get into some pages I cannot load pages from the site i'm in. Is this a problem with my modem/line or is it a problem with TOT internet? I just canceled Maxnet and gone to TOT because of same problem. This problem seems to be in afternoon and evenings.. mornings are ok.

Hi,Thanks for your info.I qualify on all counts for the benifit and would appreciate a copy of the neccesary form,or info on how to obtain one.With my thanks in anticipation for any help you can provide Sincerely,Dave Andrew.s

UK goverment web site.

This form is not available on the Uk Government Pensions website nor is there any information about this benefit. You have to request it.

Are you a UK pensioner and married to a Thai (or any other nationality) Are you getting the increase in benefit for your spouse? Even if you think you are, you should check as this allowance is not well known. You must claim it now as you cannot claim after April 5th 2010. If you get your claim in time you will receive an extra 57 pounds a week until 2020 when it ceases to be paid. The form you require is IPC 368A. If you would like a copy please private me and I will get a copy to you. You will need your marriage certificate and your wife's birth certificate. Please note this allowance is only available to UK pensioners over 65 before 5th April 2010. If you require any further info just drop me a message.