curtklay

I can wire money from my BoA account to Kasi, $ 45 to wire in USD, then Kasi does the exchange rate for a much better rate for me. If BoA does the exchange it's only $ 35 fee but I lose almost 1 % ! Must have a BoA SafePass card to do it all online. Maybe too late for you but just FYI.

I was doing this too, and it worked well. Recently my SafePass card's battery died, and BofA will not send a new one to Thailand. They also refused to send it to a friend in the US to forward it to me. Without a SafePass, they limit you to $1000 at a time and a maximum of $2500 per week, and charge $45 each time! Have you run into this yet?

Visa and Extension of Stay terminology does confuse a lot of people...definitely confused me early on. But basically a Visa is obtained outside of Thailand and an Extension of Stay obtained within Thailand. And of course somewhat different paperwork requirements, with the Extension of Stay being very lite on the paperwork since it's partly based on the Visa which gave you the initial stay period/authorization, where the long stay Visa is normally not as lite on the paperwork (i.e, medical exam, police record check, etc., needed). Kinda like how "initially" getting a driver's license includes paper and road tests (kinda like getting the Visa) where the "renewal" normally don't require any such tests but does have certain requirements (kinda like the Extension of Stay). Heck, about the only real requirement to get an Extension of Stay is the income requirements which is proved through XXXK baht in a Thai bank and/or home country embassy income letter.

Ah, I better shut up...I'm probably just confusing the terminology even more for some.

Pib, you get an "A" for effort for trying to explain the terminology. It is indeed confusing, and takes a while to understand. They should just change the name of the dam_n thing to "retirement visa" and be done with it.

Do they send new cards by currier, or by snailmail ?? does it cost you to have cards sent to Thailand ??

Some use courier, some use snail mail. None have ever charged me to send them here.

Interestingly I think these fraud detection algorithms work by detecting deviations from usual patterns. So, I opened a Capital One credit card a few months ago and have used it only here in Thailand. They have never asked questions or frozen my card, even though my address of record is a US address.

I've been using a CapOne credit card (no foreign transaction fee and pays 2%/1% cash back) here in Bangkok/Thailand for approx 18 months....never a problem...knock on wood. About 95% of its use is here in Thailand...from day one of receiving the card...and its never been refused nor has CapOne asked about my location. The other 5% is online/Ebay type buys paid via PayPal with the CapOne card being the funding source. I use it for as many buys/day-to-day living cost items as possible since no foreign fee is applied and I get cash back on my purchase...it's great getting 2% cash back for my Chang beer buys at Lotus/Big C. In fact, all my Lotus/Big C buys earn me 2% cash back; other purchases like petrol, medical, restaurants, hardware stores, etc., earn me 1% cash back.

I also use CapOne Visa for almost everything with no problems. The money back and the no foreign transaction fee are big benefits. My only issue is they won't send renewal cards to my Thai address. When my card expires, I have to have them send the new card to a friend in the US who forwards it to me. It's a pain, and I have discussed it with them but they won't budge. They have no problem with me living here or using the card in Thailand, but won't send me a new one. All my other credit cards do send new cards to my Thai address.

It seems nothing is necessary in Thailand...pools don't need chemicals, electricity doesn't need grounding, roofs don't need to be leakproof, traffic lights can be ignored, and on and on it goes.

They seem to live on faith alone.

Call your bank, let them know where you are and they'll open the door.

100% correct, I have to call my banks every 3 months to update them on my whereabouts. The "Verified by Visa" & Mastercard thingy are smart, one call and just say you're out of the country on business AND WILL BE RETURNING on XX. Don't tell them you live in Thailand they'll freak.

I have numerous credit cards from US banks. I have informed them that I live in Thailand, and changed my address to reflect that. None have freaked. I use the cards constantly without problems, online and in stores.

I was not charged for installation when I got the gold package from True Visions.

This is all very well, but is your home actually earthed

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Thaivisa Connect App

Thai electricity different mitter - no need earthing.

I know Payboy is being humorous, but why the hell do Thai "electricians" even say such stupid things? Do they really believe that electricity is different here from the rest of the world? I had air conditioning units installed in 6 rooms, and they never grounded any of them. I called them back out and made them do it. When I pointed out that the installation instructions say emphatically that the outdoor units MUST be grounded separately, they just laughed and said "no do in Thailand". You'd think that with as much lightning as they get here, they would eventually wise up.

I'm afraid you might be the only farang in Phrae, I visited once!

Nice around there though.....

You're not the only Farang in Phrae. But I and the other one I know both have DSL from TOT. It seems to be the best option

hmm...

Medical certificate is still required at Nan immigration for retirement extension.

YES. The internet has been really screwed up for several days. I have TOT DSL, and it's been way up and way down. From the many posts on TV, it seems many are experiencing the same. Pages opening slowly or not at all, worse in the evening, worse on international sites. Last night and today seem better. No clue as to what's going on. Thought it was just TOT, but now it seems to go beyond them.

3 kg. every 2 days is about right for your pool. The total required will depend on how low your alkalinity is. If it's still at 15ppm as you earlier stated, it's going to take about 10 kg. It's normal for a new pool to have a large acid demand for a while, then taper off as the plaster/gunite/cement cures. At that stage, your routine maintenance will change to smaller amounts of acid to lower PH weekly. The acid will also lower alkalinity which must be brought back up to stabilize the PH. Raising alkalinity is an ongoing chore as it tends to drop naturally, and with acid additions. But once you get it up to 80-120ppm, it will be easier to keep it there with weekly additions of bicarb. When it drops very low, it's harder to get it back up and takes large quantities of bicarb, added over time, to do so. The bicarb should be broadcast over the pool surface, not dumped in.

Normal maintenance of a plaster pool over 1 year old usually consists of weekly additions of small amounts of acid to lower PH, weekly additions of bicarb to raise alkalinity, (I know this sounds counterproductive, but that's how it is) and shocking every 2 weeks. Your test kit is your best friend, and once you find the pattern for your pool, it will become routine.

Shocking is not done with sodium bicarb. It is accomplished with large doses of fast dissolving chlorine, liquid or granular.

Adding some extra bicarb won't do any harm. Any time you add acid to the pool, you can expect alkalinity to gradually drop. Adding bicarb will be regular maintenance. Not sure about quantities available at Tesco. Maybe they can order it? Next time you hit the big city, I would get a 10 lb. bucket at a pool store to have on hand.

BTW, I don't agree with the 4 day period of raising alkalinity. Yes, it can be a slow process, but in pools that were down very low, I have added 10 lbs at one time and more over the next few days with successful results. I worked in the pool industry in California for 25 years, and never heard of waiting 4 days between applications of bicarb. (and unless your pool is very shallow, I wouldn't stand in the deep end)

For your 20,000 gallon pool, you can expect 3 lbs. of bicarb to raise your alkalinity 10ppm. You could add that daily, rechecking with your test kit until you reach 80-120ppm.

When you get an alkalinity tester, you may be surprised at how low it has gotten. But if the water is clear, and not acidic enough to burn your eyes or skin, you should be able to get it in balance without too much trouble. And you should see a reduction in chlorine consumption.

You are probably not adding enough bicarb. It takes 1.5 lb to raise alkalinity 10ppm in a pool with 10,000 gallons. Find out how many gallons your pool is, and add enough to get you between 80-100 ppm. Probably at least 10 lbs for an average pool. If you're down to 15ppm, it will take a lot more. Broadcast the bicarb into the pool with pump running. Don't add any acid until you have the alkalinity up to standard. Then lower the PH if needed, while keeping your eye on the alkalinity. It will take some juggling, but you should be able to reach 80-100ppm alkalinity and a 7.4-7.6 PH. Check both weekly, and keep them in this range.

I read this advice on technique somewhere on the internet from a guy who claimed to maintain YMCA pools.

"While your filtration system is off and the water is motionless, stand in the deep end of the pool and sprinkle (don't dump the product or go too fast), the Sodium Bicarbonate or Alkalinity Up. Allow the water to sit for 2-3 hours, then turn the pump back on and allow the pool to fully circulate, usually 4-6 hours, then re-test your pool's alkalinity balance. Doing this technique will increase your alkalinity without much happening to the pH level."

I have not yet tried it. Indeed my pool has tended to alkaline for its first year of operationhas but turned to the acidic side in the last month. It may be the rainstorms (since the rainwater and my well water is on the acidic side) or more likely Total Alkalinity has fallen (I have noticed that my pool's chlorine consumption has doubled in recent months). Am waiting to get a Total Alkalinity test kit and then will get cracking when I get back from the UK in 3 weeks time.

Meanwhile, before I set off for the UK I would like at least reduce the acidity level/raise ph. The pool equipment installer left a sack of Soda Ash (Sodium Carbonate, which I gather is different to Sodium Bicarbonate/Baking Soda and will address acidity but not tackle the Total Alkalinity problem if there is one).

Does anyone know a sensible try-it-retest-redoseasnecessary level for a 20,000 gallon pool, using soda ash?

Use your PH test kit to determine how low the PH is. Add soda ash 1 lb. at a time, recheck the next day, and repeat the application as needed until you reach 7.4 to 7.6. But you really need to adjust the alkalinity first. If the alkalinity is low, the PH won't stabilize, giving you readings that tend to bounce up and down. Rain water is acidic. Your chlorine consumption is increased due to low PH. If the PH is low, the alkalinity is almost certainly low as well. The rule is adjust alkalinity first, then recheck PH. A good test kit is your best tool.

You are probably not adding enough bicarb. It takes 1.5 lb to raise alkalinity 10ppm in a pool with 10,000 gallons. Find out how many gallons your pool is, and add enough to get you between 80-100 ppm. Probably at least 10 lbs for an average pool. If you're down to 15ppm, it will take a lot more. Broadcast the bicarb into the pool with pump running. Don't add any acid until you have the alkalinity up to standard. Then lower the PH if needed, while keeping your eye on the alkalinity. It will take some juggling, but you should be able to reach 80-100ppm alkalinity and a 7.4-7.6 PH. Check both weekly, and keep them in this range.

My wife's US passport is in her married name. Her Thai passport and ID card are in her given name. Our attempts to change everything to her married name were met with resistance. Thai authorities at the passport office and local amphoe said "keep everything the way it is. When in the US, use her married name, when in Thailand, use her given name". We have never had a problem, and have given up trying to correct it.

Airline tickets are purchased using her married name. She shows her US passport when entering or leaving US, and Thai passport when entering or leaving Thailand. Rarely has she been questioned about the names, but when she is, she shows both passports and that ends the issue.

Same thing happened to me. I had to take my phone to a phone dealer, and have them terminate the service, which they did for free. Any of the shops within Tesco or Big C can do it.

I have no idea how I got the service, but suspect I pushed a wrong button when trying to delete a spam message. Once you have it, there's no way you can get rid of it without a dealer's help.

It seems to be the standard operating procedure in Thailand. Even in restaurants, they don't give you any time to look over the menu after seating you. In stores, I have even said "I'm just browsing right now", but they don't go away. I don't like it and feel uncomfortable, but it's just another thing I have to get used to.

You are in a very, very difficult position.

Only you can make the best decision.

I'm sorry. I lost track of this thread while enjoying the sunset.

It pays to shop around for the best card. The card I use in Thailand does not charge a fee for foreign transactions, converts purchases made in baht to dollars at current exchange rate, has no annual fee, and gives me 1% back in cash. My bank does not charge me to transfer money to the card company.

Other cards I have charge 3% for foreign transactions. Needless to say, they don't get used here. I have an ATM debit card for my Thai bank account, but can't see any reason to use it for purchases. Transferring money from my US account to my Thai account hits me with a transfer fee, and a lesser exchange rate.

ok. you guys are freaking me out. i might just cancel my credit card and just do payment in cash

Better still, keep the card locked in the safe for emergencies or big ticket expenditures like air tickets or new computers and use your local ATM card instead.

Nope. That's not good advice. With baht at 31.4 per US dollar, reward points for every dollar spent, and no fee for foreign transactions, my Visa card is the preferred way to purchase groceries over cash that I transferred at less than 30 baht per dollar. Another point is the credit card companies may cancel the card if you don't use it at least occasionally.

I found it interesting that posters say European issued cards require a PIN number. That's not the case with US cards. All the clerk has to do is swipe the card, and push the right buttons. I will continue using my card.

And how much does it cost you to pay the credit card bill?

Well, it costs me whatever my charges amount to. No extra fees. The bill is in US dollars, paid from a US bank so as long as the exchange rate keeps giving me more baht per dollar, I win.

ok. you guys are freaking me out. i might just cancel my credit card and just do payment in cash

Better still, keep the card locked in the safe for emergencies or big ticket expenditures like air tickets or new computers and use your local ATM card instead.

Nope. That's not good advice. With baht at 31.4 per US dollar, reward points for every dollar spent, and no fee for foreign transactions, my Visa card is the preferred way to purchase groceries over cash that I transferred at less than 30 baht per dollar. Another point is the credit card companies may cancel the card if you don't use it at least occasionally.

I found it interesting that posters say European issued cards require a PIN number. That's not the case with US cards. All the clerk has to do is swipe the card, and push the right buttons. I will continue using my card.