Monti

So where are you now as  know that applications in London have to be done online which is a nightmare

Have to say tried to apply for a visa using the new online Royal Thai Embassy London application and it turned out to be a nightmare.They don't reply to your emails as stated and if you go there you will see no  queue because everyone is quickly turned away.

They tell you to go to an internet cafe but its so unsafe disclosing all your confidential papers to an unknown computer

You really need a lot of time to study the requirements and its so complicated to do.You have to have all the correct documents and be able to scan   them to the application using the correct format and size .

In the end after spending hours on the phone had to go to Liverpool at their suggestion .They have a lovely web site but .....just have a look at some of the reviews

Phone Liverpool they will be able to help

Transferring in British pounds sounds a very good idea and you should  get a much better rate of exchange.Otherwise just transfer in tranches which hopefully will spread the risk.Dont use a uk bank to transfer the money without comparing their rates with other options

Driving License.Best thing to do is go to where u are going to take the test and they will give u a form telling what u need.You might need a medical certificate which u get from your local doctor or hospital at a cost of say 100 bahts and also a cert from Immigration confirming where u live.If u also have UK car driving License might as well do both at the same time.

No need to get them translated and the driving test will most likely jinclude an eye test proving u can differentiate between red and green and also a brake test.You will also have watch a video for about an hour telling the correct way to drive which is actually very good

Hope this helps and it just depends on what the test centre requires which they will tell u as most speak very good English

Does that mean u are putting in half 250k.I think it sounds interesting.Watched a program about pig farming in Spain the other night.It was the poorest region in Spain and the farmers didnt realise how much there pigs were selling for.These were the wild type -black rather than pink.Keep researching and keep your options open and good luck.

I know the feeling.Took my car to the car wash a few weeks ago and left it there while I went to play golf.Put my telephone headphones which were in the central consul inside the glove box.When I came they had gone-Couldn't be;believe it as only worth about 200 bahts.Told the workers as no boss seemed to be around and they just looked at me in disbelief.Went back a few times to complain to the boss but didnt seem to be anyone in charge there.

Decided not to go back again just in case things turned nasty.Just seems crazy that someone would risk loosing their job etc for so little..

Regularly use collegan ,mk4 and vitamin d3 supplements which are difficult to find here.Want to order online via Amazon.com.

Has anyway tried this and what happens about customs and taxes etc .Do this when in the Uk and they generally arrive in the post with nothing further to pay and hope the same will happen here in Chiang Mai

This is just unbelievable.I hope the powers that be will investigate and resolve.Even Putin is giving pardons.

I believe thailand does not have an insurance policy for people over 65?.Also looking at one of the replies which said 3rd party motor insurance should be pkay for motor accidents .Does anyone know if this is correct and what the cover is?

I also married a reasonably wealthy Thai and she has asked me say I spend a substantial amount of money each month if one of her friends asks.

This is because she doesn't want her friends to think I live off her as they seem to have a poor opinion of most of the farangs here.

Got to say compared to the rich Thais most of the farangs I know seem to be very careful with their money apart from those spending it at bars and one night stands.

Their life style is shall we say second class . Most of them think they are rich but everything is relative and this is because they've never mixed with anyone who is wealthy and educated and most likely never will.

To cap it all their knowledge of Thai females is governed by the people they mix with.They think they know it all but they don't.

thank you everyone for replies.Nationwide have now apologised for this problem and will replace my card but will only send this to my UK billing address.They have also said they will refund any charges if I use my flexi account for any retail transactions.

All in all have now responded positively to my concerns and lets hope everything else goes according to plan .I have this suspicion that there is more than one type of block on the account and they are not aware of it but for now consider the matter closed.

Thank you for all your replies and understand about the charges which is not the issue.My first transaction which was for Bahts 8000 went thru without a hitch and without any charges the other end or this end and I might add at a great rate.It was all the subsequent purchases which were declined and i am dealing with the online help desk.it seems to have come to a stalemate as they think everything is okay and now want to speak with me on the phone.I even tried to use it again at the golf club today and tried without it being swiped first and it still came u p 'do not proceed' I've got to say I do not understand the VISA input to this and maybe they are doing something Nationwide are not aware of

Having a big problem with my Nationwide Visa Credit Card which offers no charges on transactions.Unfortunately altho my first purchase went thru without any problem subsequent purchases have been declined.First of all Nationwide said it was a Pin Lock and now say everything is okay but when I use my card it comes up 'do not proceed' .I was even asked to make a cash withdrawal which I did resulting on a 150 baht fee at the ATM and a £3.00 fee on my bank statement.Nationwide have now asked me to phone them!!

Looking thru past forums I have read that nationwide would only work on machines which required a pin number which so far has not been requested.Has anyone had this experience and found the answer.

Why pay every month?

I bought the equipment installed it and done, never pay again.

If you havent done so already please tell me more

Monti