nong38

Nationwide are one of the few UK banks who will allow you have an address abroad, they have also sent me a card so I see no problems with them so far. What a lot of people dont realize is that when you open an account with a bank in the UK you are a UK resident and you have a UK address, should that position with the address change you need to think carefully before you make a change, it will be difficult to change back. Metrobank refused to send me a new card abroad, they seem to have been taken over and not at all helpful.

Went to Samoe Beach from the 0800 ferry, lovely although the Song Teaw driver wanted to fill the pick up before he would leave for the Ferry, we could have sat on it for hours, ended up getting a motor cycle taxi back to the Ferry so a warning there for travelers.

Thank you very much, we do love Samoe beach and have missed it for too long!

I am coming down to Pattaya next week and would like to get the Ferry across to Koh Larn, I used to get the 0800 but since covid I think the service has been reduced from hourly, can anyone tell me what the schedule is at the moment?

Same problem with Sky, been watching GB News instead and Aljazeera.

On 2/5/2022 at 7:39 AM, Mutt Daeng said:

I contacted the IPC last week on the above number for a progress report on my pension claim which was due in November 2021 and was told there is currently a 26 week "delay" in processing claims. Someone else also posted about the long delay in another thread. IMHO you would be better off ringing them to claim rather than adding an extra god-knows-how-long delay caused by sending your claim via snail mail. Also as already pointed out, no supporting documents are required when claiming by phone.

This is interesting. If you defer claiming your state pension you get an extra 5.4% pa I think, used to be 10.4%  when I was working but as inflation has fallen so has the deferral figure, you dont have to defer for complete years its done in 5 week slots so if they are saying 26 weeks implementation I was asking about have a years deferral and see what happens, it worked for me some time ago, you have nothing to lose by asking and if you dont ask you dont get.

I dont think there are many who come here to retire who go back to the UK to live so that should tell you something and you wont find much health and safety, political correctness or the wokes here.

What a lot of people do is to get a multi entry visa and then convert it to a retirement visa  in the year you have it so its worth having a look at the requirements for both of those, the local Immigration Office in Thailand can do the switch for you, Have you thought about where you might want to settle if not then do a bit of travelling and see the country before you make the decision.

Have a look at current requirements for entry, covid insurance is required. Age and getting insurance is something you need to decide quickly on if you are coming up to SP age also its a big step to take if you think its what you want start and tidy up your UK affairs, Nationwide will allow you keep one of their accounts with a Thai address most other banks and financial institutions are for UK residents only so be aware and deal with it. There is no NHS cover here so you will have to pay as you go or insure, again age and cost are issues to consider but also consider that the Thai winter is like the English summer and people do not die of the cold here.

Good Luck.

21 hours ago, Mang Gon said:

50,000 baht = $ 1493.21 USD todays rate

 

Does anyone know how many transfers can be made daily/monthly to a bank?

Wise says you make as many as you like.

Very good advice given above. If you do take control yourself which is probably the best option be careful about addresses you use, if you can "use" one in the UK that will solve some problems but if you try and change them to a Thai one that might trigger an alarm and you will be forced to sell at a time not of your choice (the company might just sell them for you as you no longer comply with the current regulations ) so think carefully before acting.

As seen above they have suspended flights until the autumn, in the spring of this year it was for later 2021 but extending as per above is not a surprise, Qatar are still flying and they are the same "alliance"  so I think they figure that covers the trip and obviously not enough business to take up the usual slot no matter what TOT say about the numbers.

On 11/4/2021 at 12:58 PM, Jeffr2 said:

This is a serious issue.  What's the current cost for a policy?  Last time, back in August, I was quoted some 30k Baht.  I ended up using the insurance provided by Emirates and it worked great.

I was in touch with Emirates about this free travel insurance with the ticket yesterday and the insurance is not covered in your country of residence so if you live in Thailand and Immigration Officer spots it you might be in a bit of a spot.

The Travel Insurance connected with the TGIA is not available to "Foreigners living in Thailand" it is designed for in coming tourists.

1 hour ago, GrandPapillon said:

I have a feeling there is a struggle of power with some rich families owning ThaiBev,

 

not looking good for the future, I am sure "someone" is preparing "something"

 

and where are the red shirts when you need them? ????

 

Do you mean the Arsenal? currently in 5th place in the EPL.

I expect the bars will be policed as efficiently as they are on the super highways and byways of the land. If in doubt bring a bottle!

The problem here might be if you live in Thailand and do not have a residence abroad where you have been for the previous 3 to 6 months, this is s stipulation from the UK  where the Insurance companies to require this of the applicant and if you cannot fulfill this they will not pay out, so you take the chance it gets you back into Thailand but then its likely that you wil just have to keep quiet and hope for the best or you might be asked to leave. 

21 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Skype UK phone number $22 for 3 months.

Extra charge for outgoing calls (about $10 for 400 minutes), free for incoming calls.

I use it to call my UK bank, DWP, HMRC ....... never any problems, works perfectly. 

Well worth the expense for me to appear to be in London.

 

VeePN is a free add on for Chrome browser.

Also allows me to appear to be in London, also works with BBC iPlayer but not ITVplayer.

I have a phone with 2 sims in it, One has a UK network but runs as TRUE out here, the other sim is Thai with DTAC. I use the DTAC sim to call England just need to put 004 then 44 then the UK number minus the 0 incredibly cheap, 20 minute wait included and under 100 bts.

Not familiar with the Skype phones I thought they had stopped making them! Or how they would show up over in Thailand if calling back to the UK, might be using a local network, well DTAC works for me anyway.

22 hours ago, bert bloggs said:

So who will be getting the pension rise in april i wonder looks like 3.1% 

The House of Lords are kicking off about the increase and there seem to be hope that Sunak will give in and pay out the 8% we will see, they should after raising the National living wage to level that is well above what Pensioners get.

3 hours ago, KhaoYai said:

I note that the insurance in that link is still for $100,000US.

The covid -19 insurance is good for the age but it is not available to foreigners living in Thailand, say on a retirement or marriage visa.

2 hours ago, KhaoYai said:

I have just found this website which has some seemingly good rates for insurance (make sure you read the cover details regarding asymptomatic cover).  You select your country, age and the length of visa/entry. Entering my details for a 30 day stay the cheapest quote (with asymptomatic cover) was with AXA @ 2770 baht. There is one a thousand baht cheaper without asymptomatic cover - I think you'd be crazy to go for that.

 

https://AQ.in.th/INSURANCE

 

(NOTE: When selecting your country, the drop down list appears to be in alphabetical order, it most is but not entirely, your country may take a little finding - the UK is in the wrong order.

 

If you use that site on a mobile, trying to enter the correct duration of stay is very difficult - it takes patience ????.

 

There has been no official statement on the duration that the insurance must cover but I have been working on the assumption that it will be the same as last time - the insurance must match the period you are 'stamped in' for rather than the actual time you plan to stay.

 

However, the website above is stating that  'The insurance package must cover the full stay of the visa you will be entering on. However, if you have a return flight which is before the end date of the visa you are entering on, then you may use this date as your insurance end date.

 

Not an official source but maybe a little clearer - no mention of different policy for those on extension of stay though.

I looked at this site as well but if you are over 75 its no good.

On 10/30/2021 at 10:56 AM, lyskamm said:

interested to know that too, uh travellers can stipulate it.

From what I have read the TGIA scheme is not available to foreigners and Thais that LIVE in Thailand and if you have a Retirement Visa you live in Thailand so for me until the rules change leaving is not a problem its getting back in where the problem starts, age is the other factor here to comply with covid-19 requirements for re entry. Most UK companies insist that you have been a resident of the UK for a specific period before your application. International companies may have a different view but then you need to look at the age limit. I have looked on line at several Thai based insurance companies and banks, age limit seems to be 75 but non I have found include the covid cover. Then there is the quarantine cover whilst an PCR on entry cost to consider, the figure I have seen is 30500 bts at Novotel, a price which is more than the cost of the flight.

The current rules do not seem helpful to attracting tourists or supporting ex pats living here.

19 hours ago, jackdd said:

With a marriage or retirement visa you aren't "living" here according to Thai law, you are a "temporary visitor".

But that's not even relevant here.

 

What the popup obviously means is that this insurance is only people coming into Thailand from abroad.

If you are now in Thailand, purchase the insurance and catch covid in Thailand, without having travelled abroad, they would not pay.

You are supposed to purchase this insurance when abroad.

I suspect that if the insurance company had a claim against them they would clam that I was living in Thailand. I should buy travel insurance before the journey not during it to fulfill a requirement to re enter the country where I now live. As is often the case here the authorities keep changing the goal posts, Thai Pass coming soon and address most of the terms and conditions to the "millions" of tourists expected to arrive ( tea totalers in November ) and foget that there are other groups who need clarification.

2 hours ago, jackdd said:

It doesn't matter which kind of visa you use (despite the required length of insurance), if you don't have any other insurance that would be applicable you can get one here: https://covid19.tgia.org/

According to their page that appears as the site appears there is  a warning and point 3 says that this insurance is not available to Thais or people who live in Thailand. Which to my understanding is that anyone wo does live here say on a marriage or retirement visa cannot got the insurance on offer at this site.

I like many I guess live in Thailand and I have yet to see any words on how people like me on a Retirement Visa are being treated. The priority seems to be tourists who will need to get one of these TGIA insurance schemes to gain entry, these schemes are not available to people who live in Thailand so what am I to do? I Have looked on 3 Thai insurance sites and although I can get insurance non mention covid-19, will the re entry permit be fit for purpose?

21 hours ago, jerrymahoney said:

See box upper left corner (enlarge but wanted to show the whole thing) from Royal Thai Embassy Wash DC

https://thaiembdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Entering-Thailand-3-types-of-countries.jpg

There is no mention of the 50K insurance being linked to covid-19 is this new?

So everyone is still confused about what is required, now I suspect that there are many people in the same position as I am in, I live in Thailand and as such along with Thais I am not able to purchase this Covid -19 travel insurance that is being offered to tourists who may or not be coming to Thailand. Travel Insurance is available for myself up to the age of 75 for varying periods but non mention anything to do with Covid-19 so if the current situation continues ex pats are simply prisoners in the country. Yes I can get a re entry permit and I can leave the country and can comply with entry requirements for the "home" or destination  country but getting back in Thailand seems to  be an impossibility at the moment unless anyone knows something I do not.