lexilis

I second the recommendation for Chouquette Bakery (SiPhum corner of moat). Excellent food, bakery, deserts.  Baguettes are very crusty. Croissants are delicious! They are closed for renovation until Friday I think. 

1 hour ago, DeaconJohn said:

Befixed

Mee Chok Plaza, 1st floor.

Khun Oh, a competent and honest man who fixes mostly computers but a variety of other things as well.

He might do it.

I have been wondering about that shop. Anyone with personal experience there?

I have used the same agent in Chiang Mai for seven years. I meet all of the financial requirements so no funny business. She picks up all the documents at a coffee house near my house. Later that day she calls and says be at immigration at some time the next day. I go at that time, meet up with her or her staff, get shown to a desk, take photo, and pick up my passport. This year was typical and I was in and out in less than ten minutes. One trip. No hassle. Well worth it.

The stopover in SF seems excessive (over 6 hours). There must be multiple flights per hour SF to LV.

Pib: BTW, regarding the online My Social Security account, my understanding (from a few years ago when I tried) is that you cannot get an account if you have a non-US address. Is that (still) true?

Thank you Pib for the helpful and informed response. I get it: two separate issues. I sent the 7162 in back in June or so and did NOT get a separate, follow-on 7162 in Sept or Oct so I assumed they got it. If the Feb deposit does not show up I will have to go through the reinstatement process which will be a real drag for a couple of months but it will not be a catastrophe. Thanks.

18 hours ago, Pib said:

Yes, the COLA increase is effective 1 Dec 2023 and payable Jan 2024...so, your Jan payment does reflect the COLA increase.

OK, thanks. The COLA increase started 1 Dec. was in the Jan deposit. As I understand it, the Jan deposit was for the month of Dec 23. However I have STILL not received the COLA letter (in CM). I am still a bit worried that my payments will stop in Feb (payment for Jan and first deposit for 2024) for some unknown reason. We will see. 

Still waiting on mine in CM. BTW, my understanding is that the Jan payment is actually for Dec 2023. If you don't get the COLA letter (lost in the mail, whatever) you wont know until Feb what your 2024 amount is. 

The Grab food delivery service is acting up for me. I have used it many times but not in a few weeks. Always pay cash on delivery. Today though it says "This method is not supported" and prompts me to enter a credit card which I do not want to do Anybody else have this problem? It doe not seem possible to contact them (in English).

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Highly recommend Bliss Clean and Care in Chiang Mai (Google for website). They came to my house and did a deep clean on a 10 year old fabric couch that was stained and dirty and that I was was about to get rid of and buy a new one. They did a fantastic job. The couch is as good as new. Cost less than 1500 Bt. They probably can recommend repair options also.

Thanks for the good report. I'm in Meechok Plaza often and have been curious about BeFixed. Next time I have 'puter probs I'll keep it in mind.

Star Visa Chiang Mai was always very good service when I used them a few years ago. Office behind Tesco Lotus on the "super" highway. Another office in town I think. I dont remember what they cost.

What Sheryl said is true. I went to the Chiang Mai SS facility a month after I left my long time employer (this was about 5 years ago) and was initially told in one office that it was "not possible" and "the policy was changed" and that farang (and presumably all non-Thais) would not be able to get Thai SS after employment. That was very disappointing. I wandered around the building and found another office and asked there. No problem! There was some forms to fill out and they needed various information from me. Took about an hour but it all worked out. A few weeks later I got my blue plastic SS card in the mail. I pay 432 Bt. per month (can pay at any 7-11). In Chiang Mai my assigned SS hospital is Lanna Hospital. In five years I have only used it once for an outpatient procedure with a specialist (I have been very lucky healthwise). Did not cost a single Baht.

For routine tests, consultations, or diagnosis I pay for them myself and go to either Bangkok Hospital or CM Ram. This is because the initial entry process for Lanna is so crowded and annoying. I will use SS when I need in-patient treatment or an operation. 

What is the name of Dr. Tawatchai's clinic on Loi Kroh? Thanks.

I am looking for some business in CM that will come and pick up a disabled motorcycle on short notice and transport it to my Honda dealer in CM for repair. Could be a small bike shop with an appropriate truck or whatever. The pick up would be either at my home or (hopefully not) at the side of the road somewhere. My bike is too big to put in the back of a songtaew. Googling did not help. Lots of entries but they were all for long distance (to Hua hin! Bangkok! by train!) even international. This would be a situation where the bike dies and I need to get it to the CM repair place ASAP. I'm just looking for info so as to be prepared if something happened.

27 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

That's interesting.  Wise must be using International Format for that ACH transfer - most US banks don't and such transfers are no longer accepted for forwarding to Thailand.  Although you will not get the same exchange rate (you are sending USD) and there will be a BBL NY fee charged it might remove the risks for some.  But if Wise is not using international ACH format and just luck that funds were transferred on by NY might not be so risk free.  You are doing this and these are recent transfers?

 

Yes it works. I tried a couple of times a year or so ago and then again twice in the past month. Use the BBK NY ABA code (026008691) and it will automatically get forwarded to your BBK Thai account as FFT. Obviously this will only work if you are transferring from the US. 

5 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

"Long term stay" never worked with Kasikorn, it's a Bangkok Bank thing. With Kasikorn they should recognise the Wise code used and so know it's International 

I know that. I should have been clearer. The transfer was to my BBK account. Wise sent the money to Kasikorn (one of their three partner banks). Then it came to my BBK account as a domestic Thai transfer. The  "long term stay" option was supposed to signal Wise to only transfer through BBK. That does not seem to working now.

They have been having issues for a couple of months. I have used the "long term stay" with a tagged account in Bangkok Bank for a couple of years and it always worked (came in as "International" FFT). But in August I wanted to change the transfer to another of my BBK accounts. Set up a new Recipient with the new account info. I e-mailed them and asked them to tag the new account. Then did a bunch of test transfers (selecting "long term stay") and they ALL came in as a DOMESTIC transfer through Kasikorn Bank. No good.

One option that seems to always work is to use the Bangkok Bank New York office and make your transfer a US domestic ABA transfer from Wise to BBK NY. The NY branch forwards the money to your Thai BBK account automatically. It always comes in as FFT. Takes a couple of days and I am not sure what the fee difference is but it works.

It seems every time it rains I cannot get a food delivery from Grab. This has happened at least a dozen times. I live near Meechok Plaza and the restaurant is only about 2 kilo away. I know there are a bunch of Grab drivers sitting at Meechok. I usually order 3-500 Bt of food and I tip well. What happens is that the order is not confirmed and after 10-15 minutes I get a message saying "sorry cannot fine a driver". Really ticks me off. Never happens on Food Panda. Unfortunately some restaurants I like do not use Panda. Grrrr...

Will the service departments of official Honda dealers in Thailand install aftermarket modifications? For example: different exhausts, handlebar riser extensions, etc.

Sorry to hear that. For many years Galare was my home when I visited CM. Very nice people, great location, good value. I haven't stayed there in maybe 5 years since I live here now but I always recommended them to visitors. Maybe the owner couple just decided to retire during covid. Wish them (and their employees) the best.

I am buying a used motorcycle from a guy. I need to know how to go about changing the Green Book to my name. I presume I have to go the nearest Dept. Land Transport office. What documents do I have to take? Obviously passport and Green Book. What else? Thanks.