nong38

You really could not make this up its 1984 running a bit late. All the surveillance cameras, online tracking and now the proposed digital ID, is just another step down the road of total control of your life. They know everything and you cannot query it, the system says and thats it. We in Thailand, provided you do say anything detrimental about the King, Royal Family and the Government you can say and do pretty much what you like, we have more freedoms here that in the UK, The UK would of course dispute that but its true, the freedoms we once had in the UK have been eroded over time by politicians who want total control in the name of democracy, can't imagine why I left.

I have managed to get through to the UK free number and speak to an agent for the DWP but she told me I had to call the International Pension number, the one we are having problems with. She then told me I could ring back on the number I was speaking to her on when I get back to the UK then it can be dealt with, I wonder how much we are paying the agent for a service like this?

I tried that number and got through and got a message to say they tried to call me back and the line went dead so am back where I started!

Thanks for that will give it a try later.

For the past 2 weeks I have been trying to contact the overseas telephone number of the UK to report a change in circumstance. Every time I ring the number on the DWP website ( 44 191 218 7777 ) I get the message from the DWP and stand by for option, but after about 15 seconds I get cut off! Anyone else had this problem? Anyone got any ideas where I/ you go from here? I ts my problem today it could be your tomorrow.

The decline is hardly a surprise to me, Thailand has been putting up prices but not giving anything more so the value of the holiday has gone down, food prices up and hotels as well and then there is the variety of prices for the same thing. I was in Hua Hin last week and we got a tuk tuk ride for 100 bts, the return wanted 150 bts until the wife stepped in but this seems to be typical in : see what I can get out of the tourist ". The week before I was in Koh Samui and went into a pharmacy to get tablets for an upset stomach, the 10 tablets cost me 50 bts, where I live in Thailand I can get a box of 60 for 80 bts. ON the Lamai Night market my wife got food poisoning and put it down to old oil, not a problem for the kitchen and it saves them money but the market loses its reputation. Just a few examples of maybe why tourists might be looking elsewhere. No doubt non of these are the reason for the decline in TAT or similar, it will be the exchange rate, well do something about it then!

I am trying to apply for a standard UK visitor visa and have completed some of it but when I get to the page about "some helping financially "with the trip I get a problem. I fill it all out and press "Save and continue " It is saved but it returns to the same page again and does not continue with the application. I have tried another browser but with the same results. Also have tried with and with out VPN. Have previously applied twice before with no problems. I would appreciate any help anyone could supply.

Wine previously 399 down to 359 in Makro yesterday.

An infection of the bladder which was affecting the prostrate, the gland according to the doctors was benign and the 2 tablets I have would keep it in check. Every year with annual health check up a PSA test is done to keep an eye on the prostrate and I would encourage everyone to have this done, my full check up costs about 1100 bts, the PSA alone is 400.

About 5 years ago I got a pain down below and it was painful when I went for a number 1. Paracetamol and retired to bed, seemed to do the trick but next morning things ere going backwards so I went to the hospital guessing it was a prostrate problem, blood test and urine test confirmed this and the doctors told me I had an infection. Opted for the camera to have a look inside, not pleasant but an option. Since then I have been on 2 tablets which work together and cost me about 1300 bts a month and since then no problems although as we get older going to the loo takes longer and interest in the ladies declines.

Very few if any go to a driving school to learn how to use the road. They do not look for other traffic and give consideration for others. Rule of the jungle, biggest has priority regardless. Obeying the rules of the road are optional. Some of the things I have noticed on the roads of Thailand

Monitoring means we do not do anything and hope its better tomorrow! Anyone know what to do ? It was not covered in the training.

I think the law regarding the frozen pensions came into force in 1955 when most people would never have thought of going abroad, going abroad was like the Channel Islands so at that time it seemed pretty harmless but every year since then, in February, the current GVT brings it to Parliament and it voted through to continue and that all political parties continue to not change the situation is disgusting how they have the gall to think it is ok beyond belief but they are the lawmakers and they think its fair. I got stuck out here in covid times with no flights and they still considered it the thing to do to freeze my pension. They are a law unto themselves and there is nothing we can do about it, unless Reform get in then maybe Nigel might do something, we can only hope.

Cameron should have known that his re negotiation he came back with was not going to convince the people and he could not get over it, Boris summed it up very well and in a more non party, non brexit view it just shows what poor bunch of politicians the UK has had recently. Boris was always a bit of a scallywag but the Tories were wrong to get rid of him and just see where it has got them, I would not vote for them I would vote for Reform, we need a breath of fresh air and change from what is currently on offer.

Privacy does not apply to Governments they can access whatever they want usually using the usual excuses of 1. National Security and suspected Terrorist activities and money laundering suspicions and whilst you may think this is not right, they can and do do it. A relative of min told me this who had to sign the official secrets document. You just have to hope they do not have cause to come your way.

Another welcoming move for tourists who might think about coming to Thailand or not is Thailand as welcoming as it used to be? Sometimes the big picture is hard to see here.

What is in it for the "New Tax Residents "who are not Thai nationals, what do we get for our taxes?

The GVT seems to say a lot without much detail of how things will happen at all, how do they propose to inform expat tax residents that they are expecting them to fill in a tax return? The CRS is a real big brother item, one of many goings on today which effects our freedoms which are diminishing all the time, part of the globalization that the elite are pushing to control the masses, they use many excuses to take our freedoms away but it is happening the so called democracies are becoming authoritan states, not much better than dictorial ones. We keep our money in banks, they have control of our money if they so choose they ca refuse to return it, they make up some reason and what can we do these days, fall into line and be good boys and girls. I don't like it but what can we do? For those thinking of moving Cambodia has the same tax laws as here pretty much but has yet to enforce them. Malasia does not tax incoming foreign income as yet but the rules can change at the drop of a hat, especially here.

Either way you pay more than the zero currently being paid.

And as soon as the investment money arrives prepare to pay 35% tax on it but we wont mention that at the moment will we, wait till the next year. surprise surprise!

This is the real question that I think a lot of people want the answer to and I have asked this to HMRC and they have not answered it. The question is a simple one to me and it is this Are my UK state pension and or my private pension taxed in the UK regardless of my tax residency? If the answer to this is yes than the P85 is not worth bothering about, I just get a credit for the UK tax to set against my Thai tax return. If on the other hand I have no UK tax to pay and I declare my pensions in Thailand I pay the tax on them in Thailand.

I only have a state pension and small private one, when I worked out the figures it looks to me like this. If I fill HMRC form P85 which would make me a non UK tax resident. My 11 months a year in Thailand makes me a tax resident. If I can my taxes on the 2 pensions in Thaiand it would save me about 1000 pounds so I am tempted to do this later this year.

According to the 180 day rule I am a Thai tax resident although currently HMRC are taxing my state and private pension, is it the UK tax law that my UK sourced pensions are taxed in the UK? If I fill out the HMRC form P85 which takes from a UK tax resident to a Thai tax resident would that mean that I no longer pay any tax in the UK and that I would declare and pay Thai Tax on my UK pensions which then become assessable in Thailand?

I went here the week before last and apart from the eateries and a couple of people i gold shops there was a distinct lack of business being done. Went to the floor where the banks and IT shops are,NO CUSTOMERS in any of them. People walking around, well a few but the A/C is free do not see how they making it work. Over at BIG C went this week twice, car park and motorbike park about 80% full and again eateries doing ok but the shops are not busy and afew more stand alone in a marked floor area have lost a few more. The Walk is reported as very quiet. NS has a big catchment area maybe 60km in each direction but there is only a finite amount of money there to spend and opening Central affects that it taken trade away from others but my guess is on one is making much money and with sight of up to 80% off banners re enforces that. V Square/ BIG C seems to be our best option for getting in and out and for what we want to buy so we will continue to go there, crossing the main road to go to Central is a pain and I do wonder if Central is living up to expectations? From what I see it has not IMO.

If They can shelve their position on the Monarchy that would be a game changer and more difficult for others to ban them again.