SammyJ

Electrolux is the brand, not the model--they may make several various models offering different features--do you have the model number.  I would also add that it seems best to take a friend's recommendation, where you can go to see the dishwasher in action and if it does what you want--but also, Google the brand and model number for reviews.

20 hours ago, CMBob said:

Holders of Bangkok Bank accounts were notified (or supposed to be notified) that their accounts were transferred to the Bangkok Bank branch on the west side of Chang Phuak (approximately 700 meters north of Chang Phuak gate).  You can definitely get your bank letter there but may (not sure) get it at other Bangkok Bank branches.

Correct--i got that letter as i had an account that was transferred--i have gotten the letter from any bkk bank, but the statements must be ordered from the branch of your acct--and, as you said, it usually takes 5 days (i have seen it take a bit more or less, it's Thailand after all). And there are small fees for the letter and ordering the statements--i was told by friends that other banks have the capacity to print out the 12 months of statements right at the branch, but Bkk Bank must order them from bkk--seems ridiculous in this day and age, but it has been that way for quite a while and continues to be that way.

Hopefully, the OP has allowed time for ordering statements and has the international transfers which will show in the statements.

50 minutes ago, flare said:

It would be across the street from JJ, on the Lotus side- Kham Thiang Garden Market.

yes, that is correct!

On several of the lanes of the large garden shops out behind Lotus there are also pet shops, bird shops, etc--i ordered mine from Lazada--large selection and fairly inexpensive (as was the bird feed I also ordered) and delivered to my gate in just a few days.

Siam TV, Thai Watsadu, Global House, etc--but for reviews, Google can be your friend--enter the brand, model number and reviews, and it is likely you can find some independent reviews of the one you are looking at.  At home pro, and the shops i listed, you will pay top prices--there are many smaller Thai appliance shops happy for  your business that a Thai friend may be able to show their locations.

On 9/12/2022 at 11:30 AM, Bill97 said:

Absurd.  Racist?

probably not, but they usually don't need maps--they can stop and ask other Thai for directions and understand what they are told==gps on phones, tablets, cars, is so prevalent--is failing to get clear directions in a foreign country really such a huge burden?

Every major shopping mall i have been in here and in bkk and pattaya, all have the floor maps near the escalators.

Good luck to you!

On 10/8/2022 at 1:29 PM, TravelerEastWest said:

15,000 is a good basic salary in Chiang Mai.

 

More with degrees and skills.

 

100,000 is for very highly educated people or business owners etc

even highly educated does not guarantee a high salary--unless a degree in a highly sought after field

On 10/4/2022 at 9:33 AM, parafareno said:

just thinking about options....seems houses are way cheaper than in pattaya

i stayed in pattaya total 6 months, but never been in CM...i know there is more polution in CM, which is a big problem

i have lived in pattaya and jomtien in the past for many years, and now for years in CM==let me tell you that there is a lot more pollution in pattaya  in all kinds of ways.

20 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

They have Grab... LineMan...  RobinHood...  They all have an English option on the App.

 

Plus there are some others for supermarket stuff such as HappyBee etc.. all very convenient.

 

It’s great when we have friends around and run out of beer etc.. 

We can just ask LineMan or Grab to get us more beer !!... 

 

....Of course I’ll get slammed for this and the dumb-ar$es will suggest go get the beer yourself, or should have planned better etc etc... 

 

The convenience of the delivery services in Thailand is awesome... but, when you think I’ll order Grab tonight and then that becomes a hassle the ‘minor’ irritation is easily understood, even if you are one of the tools who is telling people to cook or go and get their own food !!! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aslo, have TUK, and i think it is Meals on Wheels 4U --which is run by a farang and all English menus and English speaking assistance--if one is looking for a farang friendly delivery--they have been around for quite a few years.

9 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

I don’t really want to do my job sometimes, either...  but...

I imagine sometimes airline pilots sometimes don’t feel like going away from their families for a few days, either... but... 

 

If grab had a known policy that their riders won’t deliver in the rain thats different - but they offer a service... People want to use delivery because they don’t want to go out for any reason... rain, laziness, tiredness or just simple convenience.... it doesn’t matter, a company is ’theoretically’ offering that service... 

.... But, if that ’service’ only operates on a ‘when it suits them’ basis, then I can understand the irritation of a potential customer (i.e. the OP). 

 

The other facet of this is the ‘game’ the drivers play. To work for grab they have to accept a certain amount of orders (or rides), then the start messing around, take too long to get to the restaurant, or call up and ask us to cancel etc...  they’ve accepted the ‘order’ knowing they don’t want to fulfil it. 

 

Not every moobaan or condo has a restaurant next to it...  They could also nip to 7-11 get some bread and and make toast....  

 

The point is that there is a service which markets itself as a ‘delivery service’ which only delivers when it feels like it.

 

And yes, complain about it on here... because thats what we do on forums... make observations, sometimes good, sometimes negative and we discuss them.

 

Agreed... there’s always plenty of options in the house... but if we just ‘want something’ then we order it. Thats the convenience of modern living.

... Sometimes I just want that ‘burger’ from a specific shop thats 3km.. to far to walk, traffic is too bad to drive... the convenience of being able to order something is welcomed in every city and town world wide. 

 

 

9 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

All of what you say had me agreeing--but, when you write:

 

" But, if that ’service’ only operates on a ‘when it suits them’ basis, then I can understand the irritation of a potential customer (i.e. the OP). "

 

I had to laugh, as i thought that you had forgotten where you lived, not your home address, but in the nation of Thailand.  "only operates, when it suits them" describes most every Thai worker i have seen in all my years living here--why would GRAB drivers be any different.  You certainly must know the saying, "TIT".  It explains all that needs explaining!

9 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

 

 

11 hours ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

Apologies : I will go down the Meechok now and tell the drivers that the rain isn't nuclear water and they dont have to hide from it and I will tell them to deliver your food immediately .

   They should give you a complimentary drink as well , what drink would you like ?

Most wanting money, aren't hiding from the rain, but as was suggested, out making deliveries. Those that simply don't want to go in the rain, nothing can be done.  I found GRAB not that helpful and they were in the news months back about how high a percent they were taking from the restaurants, and how poorly they paid the drivers, etc--supposedly corrected, but not sure.  I use Tuk and it seems ok, rain or not.

2 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Never suggested anyplace was issuing policies "to much older seniors regardless of pre-existing condition".  Rather, what I said, and what is true, is that Cigna will issue new policies to older seniors provided they do not have significant pre-existing conditions. And yes, of course, that is a minority of older seniors.  However unlike many other insurers, Cigna does not treat age itself as a factor for exclusion.

 

Referring here ti Cigna Global, I don't know what policy is for Cigna Thailand but I doubt it goes up to age 99/100 like Cigna Global does.

While I am not sure about "not treating age itself as a factor for exclusion", of course, they must--of course, they would never reveal how many more elder seniors they signed up, but do we really think most everyone else cuts off at 65, but Cigna is going to sign up those much older--again, pre-existing conditions or not--it just goes against the "for profit" model under which they operate--knowing the likelihood of payout out far more than ever making in premiums.

I guess we'll just agree to disagree.

2 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Again, pre-existing condition.

 

Insuring a completely healthy 70/80 year old, and insuring a 67 year old with hypertension, are entirely different matters from an insurer's point of view.

 

The premiums at those older ages are indeed very high. This already factors in the age element.

 

Should also consider that what a friend tells you, and what was relevant in the health history to the insurer, may nto be the same.

 

I assure you, they do issue new policies regardless of age. But  not to seniors with risk factors beyond age.

Sorry, i just disagree--I have had extensive years working in the insurance industry, and don't question your medical knowledge---it wasn't just what a friend "told me"--I had seen his written application--it is just isn't common sense, nor risk to profit, to issue policies to much older senior, regardless of pre-existing condition--when you say seniors with "risk factors"  someone at 80 alone has a risk factor that insurance companies rarely, if ever, will take on for NEW coverage, continuing coverage, yes, but with extremely high premiums.  And, honestly, do we really know many 80 plus who don't have some kind of pre-existing conditions?  And those may be minor for a younger person but not for someone 80 plus. These situations are far more common in the US, then here, or in the UK/EU due to national health--in the US, minus any national health, young and old, seeking private insurance (again for older, depending upon qualifying, or not, for Medicare) denials are not uncommon.

Besides CIGNA, from my direct contact with brokers and company agents, Pacific Cross, Aetna, LUMA, CIGNA thailand, AXA, all stated clearly, NO new policies written for those 65 and older--why are they doing that--they simply don't even want to consider and play the game with what pre-existing conditions one may have--they don't assume the risk as their analysis tells them overall it's a financial loser for them.

3 hours ago, jerrymahoney said:

I was approved for CIGNA Global at age 67 but, when I applied, they knew I had a 10 year no-claim track record with pre-AETNA BUPA Thailand. Some ask for current health insurance status and some don't.

I don't recall a question about current or previous insurance, but it might have been there and i just don't remember.  

3 hours ago, jerrymahoney said:

RAND  study from 2010

 

Extending U.S. Medicare to Mexico
Why It's Important to Consider and What Can Be Done

 

https://www.rand.org/pubs/occasional_papers/OP314.html

Yes, probably never in my lifetime--that study form 2010  a dozen years ago.  Also, the fact that Tricare is available to some US citizens, but not others????

1 hour ago, jerrymahoney said:

Your friend at the time of applying to CIGNA had no current healthcare insurance?

My friend had a retirement benefit from his former company in the US--it covered health care until he reached medicare age--he paid for services here and then could file for reimbursement--but once, 65, he lost that benefit--decided to self insure when he researched (ph calls, emails,) directly with brokers and leading Thai insurance companies--many,m highly thought of--Pacific Cross, Aetna,. LUMA, AXA, CIGNA thailand--I think those were it--all were told, no new coverage age 65 and older--so, he went the self insure route, then got more information about trying CIGNA international/global--and was told that they would accept applications up to age 70--spoke to agent directly--but, now see that they say, they will accept applications even beyond 70, but accepting an application, which is then turned over to their underwriting dept, and being offered a contract of coverage are two different things.  So, my friend, now age 67, completed an application and submitted--expecting that there may be some exclusions for HBP---my friend, NEVER a bout with any kind of cancer--never had a heart attack or stroke, and HBP controlled well with medication--but, underwriters came back and declined to offer any coverage.  The agent had no explanation other than to say, sorry, underwriters make the decisions, not her.

Also, to think that any company will offer new insurance, not to an long time ongoing client, but new coverage to an individual 75, 80 or beyond defies simply how "FOR PROFIT" insurance companies operate--even without getting into any sophisticated explanation of what they consider, simple common sense dictates that offering an individual of 80 plus years health coverage is a non-starter--the premiums would have to be astronomical --sure the 80 year old may not mind paying 500,000 or more a year in premiums, knowing that they could have millions in coverage--well, of course, the underwriters know this---the do not assume the risk of millions in payout, when the odds of collecting enough in premiums over how many years make it good the carrier--and if there were multiple claims, etc--underwriter's job, not to assume unreasonable risk for their company,

So, again, NO, my friend did not have insurance when applied, and was denied--he has returned to the self insure plan.  Remember, that most coming to Thailand from the UK/EU have a national health program of some kind--in the US, there is Medicare for retirees--but neither Medicare nor national health help retirees here--strangely, US military and some US federal employees may use TRIcare, which will cover them here--good for them--I find it ridiculous that for an American citizen who has paid into Medicare one's entire working life, not to be able to access it regardless of where one lives.  Overall medical care here is less expensive and would save the medicare system money as opposed to having treatments, surgery, back in the US--seems unfair and makes no sense to lose such an important benefit that one has paid toward all their working lives??

35 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

More likely they all had significant pre-existing conditions.

Some yes, but not all--personally, in the US, no carrier would underwrite NEW coverage for an individual 70 plus, 80 plus, --again, individuals, but for most, who have qualified for Medicare, that is not an issue, otherwise they couldn't obtain or afford insurance.  Like I said, i believe your experiences, but would love to see the individuals who are 70, 80 plus still be underwritten with new coverage--that's what you have seen?  The simple reality is that even without fairly significant pre-existing conditions, insurance company underwrites know that anyone that age is a likely (yes, there are exceptions) ticking time bomb for health issues and to underwrite insurance--gosh, the premium would be exorbitant--and yes, a broker can help but nobody overrules the underwriter--I actually helped my friend talk directly to the CIGNA global broker we used, asking, why could the policy not be written with exclusions--btw-none of the pre-existing conditions involved cancer of any kind, but fairly common HBP, which so many seniors have--the broker apologized and was sympathetic, but said, it was not her decision--they simply did not want to assume the risk--and this friend was only 67 years old--go figure??

4 hours ago, Sheryl said:

I know for a fact that they do accept people of those ages, provided no serious pre-exisitng conditions. And they accept some with pre-existing conditions, but with exclusions.

 

The premiums are much higher for people that age, and this takes care of the  likelihood  of claims. Issues arise  when the individual applying is at above average risk for their age because of specific conditions.

 

And the problem of course is that few people reach such ages without having developed underlying health problems. So in practice nto many people that age can find insurance. But the age per se, is not a barrier for Cigna Global.

I certainly believe you, of course, to your experiences, but in dealing with CIGNA global my experiences, and those of several expat friends, who went to them, thinking they would be accepted=-=-all rejected??  So, just goes to show that there is not, it appears, a consistent practice.

15 minutes ago, jerrymahoney said:

Elite Health Plus Rider

Long-Term Health Coverage
Insurable age is until the age of 90 with coverage period until the age of 99.

https://www.muangthai.co.th/en/health-insurance/elite-health-plus

 

The life insurance policy I have had a max application age of 70.

I would wonder in much older years, that, like CIGNA did, allow applications but then turned

it over to underwriting and they reject it outright or exclude so much that the policy is not worth having--it is just common sense for a profit company--do we really think they are going to accept individuals in their 80's and 90's when the payout risk is so far greater than any premiums paid?

1 hour ago, jerrymahoney said:

That assumes you are getting the life insurance just to be able to get the health insurance rider. Some may have life insurance plans already without ever thinking about the health rider. 

Absolutely correct--and i am not familiar with these companies' rules--do they allow adding the health insurance rider at any time, regardless of age? 

28 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

Thai practices and regs are quite different. It is a whole other experience than being insured by an international company.

 

Insurers are explicitly allowed by the Insurance Commission allowed to raise premiums on an individual basis based on claims history, on top of age and inflation hikes.  This has huge consequences and IMO undermines the whole point of being insured. This is not allowed by Western insurance regulators.

 

Thai insurers often deny claims on grounds that something was pre-existing despite having supposedly done full medical underwriting in which the client's medical history was accurately reported. Often the grounds for saying something was "pre-existing" are shaky or downright irrational, medically speaking; these determinations are made by persons with no medical background. For example, I have seen claims for cardiac problems denied because the person acknowledged on their application that they had ever experienced reflux/heartburn (who hasn't?). Claims for respiratory problems denied because the application form stated the person had "ever": had a common cold (who hasn't?) etc etc. Similar irrational links made from things they find in the medical records.  Application form health histories are poorly designed, and poorly understood/interpreted by the insurer.  There is of course some variation in how bad these sort of practices are by company, and such behavior is more likely with claims occurring in the first year or two of being insured, but there are some companies who seem to do this pretty much all the time throughout the length of the policy. And they all do it at least sometimes.

 

The above sort of thing is why one reads so many posts claiming "health insurance is a scam" or (in effect) "there is no telling if they will actually pay out on a claim."  This is all coming from people's experiences with local companies.

 

By contrast, international insurers tend to have very clear health history intake forms, identify at the time of policy issuance what, if anything, is considered pre-existing, and unless there was something omitted or wrongfully stated on the application, there are not going to be any surprises later. 

 

Again, i cannot dispute what may happen per UK/EU regs--but what you describe is what happens in the US--especially with individuals seeking insurance.  In the US, is a horrible system--i am from the US and lived the system and worked it for many years on behalf of employees, so i know it well.  There is no national health--Medicare, which is not entirely free--requiring older Americans to by supplements for the 20% of inpatient coverage not provided--and, crazy, but in the US, that 20% cost can be huge to a patient---plus, one must pay additional for outpatient and prescriptions--the good thing is there is no exclusion for pre-existing conditions with Medicare, or Medicaid which is for those that simply cannot afford any private insurance and their employer, if they have one, does not provide coverage.  Employers, can often negotiate, it they have a large pool of employees, better benefits and window enrollment periods where one cannot be denied because of pre-existing conditions--but individuals are often at the mercy of the  insurance carriers.  I have actually found most Thai companies i have dealt with BETTER than the US.  But, again, the US is foolish for how it offers health care--why some politicians wanted a "medicare for all" or offer to expand medicaid, so less fortunate may also be able to have access to decent health care--but, other politicians, and for the life of me i don't understand, an expansion of health care for US citizens.  Ridiculous--it's not politics, it's basic human decency.   

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

Yes, one would have to also qualify the life insurance, and the same health conditions that make it hard to get health insurance will likely be barriers to that.

Exactly, and that is why that additional "barrier" or cost, may make such plans not all the bargain that some may think!

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

You are referring to  Cigna Thailand, a Thai company. Cigna Global will accept applications up to age 99 or 100 (I forget which).  And are more likely to over insurance with exclusions than referuse cover altogether though it will depend on the nature of the health conditions. In addition they come under UK/EU regs nto Thai insurance regs, which is a big plus.

 

Accepting applications and actually offering coverage are two different things.  I also tried with CIGNA global and got the same rejections, based on pre-existing conditions--and, from their end, it seems perfectly reasonable--they are "for profit" businesses--we all know if someone is 60, 70, and certainly 80 or more, the claims are likely to be coming in and be expensive and far more payout than any premiums collected--and then the premiums are also likely to be so expensive that few could realistically afford them.  Better to put the money aside and self insure--as it goes back to paying very premiums to pay for coverage that excludes your primary health care concerns.

Can you tell me what about being under the UK/EU regs is a big plus--from the Thai regs--I see that most private insurance companies operate primarily in the same fashion--i am not familiar with UK/EU regs, but am familiar to US and Thai practices seem to be quite similar--the US companies would love to be more restrictive, but there are limitations, but not many.

There is, of course, no national health--Medicare is overall very good, but not free, as many may think it is--inpatient coverage, if one paid into it, is covered up to 80%, but outpatient care and outpatient prescription coverage must be purchased--as US medical costs are simply outrageous and outpatient dr visits and prescribed medicines are so expensive, one needs that coverage, where in Thailand, outpatient costs are much more reasonable.

18 hours ago, jerrymahoney said:

AS to above, doesn't seem to me that the AIA Happy premiums are that far out of line with those other providers:

 

This is for the health insurance "rider", correct--you still have to qualify and pay for the life insurance premiums each year as well, correct or not??  That increases an overall cost.