UK Pensioners in Thailand Face New Scrutiny Over Pension Fraud

[Gknrd]

18 hours ago, jori123 said:

 

 You might want hearing aids

Guess we will hear it first here if they start cutting off pensions for people living in Thailand.

[Gknrd]

2 hours ago, transam said:

I am one who didn't know my pension would be locked, I came to LOS 8 years before pension age, my accountant didn't tell me my pension would be locked either, I found out after creating a life for myself, here.

 

So, folk have different experiences, I, for one, never heard of locked pensions.

 

Me plain stupid, I don't think so............😉

 

I also don't think this thread is for you, condescending posts from a non-Brit is a bit much........🤔

So no research, no planing what so ever. Just hop on a plane and nirvana.  You are definitely not alone.  Man with the pension being locked, inflation and the Thai Government wanted their pound of flesh. How do you guys make it?  Very wealthy when you made the transition?

When I was living there I only spend my SS check and was getting raises yearly. My investments were never touched back in the US. If my pension would of been frozen I would not have lived there 5 minutes.

Edited 11 hours ago by Gknrd

[Moonlover]

1 hour ago, Denim said:

10 hours ago, Moonlover said:

This bill was reintroduced after the general election and has now reached the 'committee stage' in the House of Lords. See also Wikipedia.

 

https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3430

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_Protection_and_Digital_Information_Bill

 

 

1 hour ago, Denim said:

 

So still not set in stone and might meet the same fate as the first attempt.

The previous attempt didn't fail per se. It was 'prorogued' because of the upcoming general election. there was not enough time to complete the procedure. 

 

I don't see another general election on the horizon, do you?

[transam]

57 minutes ago, bradiston said:

Preferential exchange rates? Really?

Yes, read the UK Gov site, of course things may have changed as it was a long time ago........😉

Oh, and no charges either............

Edited 11 hours ago by transam

[transam]

26 minutes ago, frank83628 said:

I knew you were a pensioner, 75 is about right for you, I reckon.

I thought everyone here knew I was retired, it's not a secret..........

 

(I sorted your post grammar)....😉

[transam]

12 minutes ago, Gknrd said:

So no research, no planing what so ever. Just hop on a plane and nirvana.  You are definitely not alone.  Man with the pension being locked, inflation and the Thai Government wanted their pound of flesh. How do you guys make it?  Very wealthy when you made the transition?

When I was living there I only spend my SS check and was getting raises yearly. My investments were never touched back in the US. If my pension would of been frozen I would not have lived there 5 minutes.

I did do research, my accountant, unfortunately for me, he probably didn't know my pension would be locked, either.......😂

 

And hey, I would never in a million years have planned to move to Thailand, I ended up here via circumstances, which is another story.........

[In Full Agreement]

 

 

Privacy is just a thing of the past.

[Nick Carter icp]

3 hours ago, James9999 said:

. My ex wife, UK based, sends money back to Thailand for Thais in the UK who don't have a UK bank account. Why is the UK Government more interested in checking pensioners overseas transactions?

 

   Sounds like the Thais in the UK cannot get a bank account because they don't have the correct visa .

   So your Ex Wife is assisting illegal immigrants working illegally and not paying tax and your Ex is money laundering by sending untaxed money out the UK? 

[James9999]

18 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Sounds like the Thais in the UK cannot get a bank account because they don't have the correct visa .

   So your Ex Wife is assisting illegal immigrants working illegally and not paying tax and your Ex is money laundering by sending untaxed money out the UK? 

And your point is what exactly. She is my ex so I don't give a xxxx. That is an issue for the DWP, HMRC and Immigration. What does concern me is that the Government is more concerned with chasing pensioners than it is with chasing illegal immigrants. Let them do their job.

[Nick Carter icp]

2 minutes ago, James9999 said:

And your point is what exactly. She is my ex so I don't give a xxxx. That is an issue for the DWP, HMRC and Immigration. What does concern me is that the Government is more concerned with chasing pensioners than it is with chasing illegal immigrants. Let them do their job.

 

   The Gov are tackling illegal immigration in other ways .

Taking measures to stop them from renting accommodation so they got nowhere to stay ,, fining people who employ them and probably other measures as well 

[Nick Carter icp]

3 hours ago, James9999 said:

"They asked me how many bank accounts I had" I am not sure how many I have. I tend to leave them open and don't close them.

"when I took a UK phone contract out " You seriously need to get a life. I think I could tell them which decade but not the year.

"when my Passport expires" mine is 2029 I think. No idea of the actual date without looking.

You will tell us next that you never have to complete those remind me of my password questions for some obscure web site that you last used two years ago. I couldn't remember mine for my energy supplier and only used it a few days before. You must me the memory man in the 39 Steps.

 

   Click on this link and see for yourself 

 

https://www.gov.uk/log-in-register-hmrc-online-services/problems-signing-in

 

   And then select 

• recover your user ID

  And then see what happens 

[Nick Carter icp]

3 hours ago, James9999 said:

 

You will tell us next that you never have to complete those remind me of my password questions for some obscure web site that you last used two years ago. I couldn't remember mine for my energy supplier and only used it a few days before. You must me the memory man in the 39 Steps.

 

   You did seem to be doubting my word  there .

The question is a multiple choice question :

*When did you last sign a phone contract .*

Less than 1 year ago 

1-2 years ago

3-5 years ago

5-8 years ago 

Never 

[jori123]

"The policy on pension uprating overseas has been in place for many years. Some retirees find it challenging to manage their finances effectively due to frozen pensions."

 

   Its jealousy and envy that drives these types of threads, frozen for years alongside unfrozen.  Remember sitting at a bar once ,just two  of us ,chatting away, until this subject came up. The guy obv frozen ,was spitting fury at end of confession and the fact I was not. I never minded or worried at informing I was unfrozen, nothing (even with lol informers) would anything be done

[jori123]

12 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   They ask the questions so that you can identify yourself and stop online fraud .

   My point was that the Government know that information about you and they ask you questions to see whether you know or not, just to confirm that its you .

   So if you think that you can just deny having a passport and deny  having a (2nd)  bank account and deny having a telephone and deny ever being to Thailand , then the Gov would know that you are lying 

Seem to be  full of it !   "online fraud"  nah does not exist, not to OAP that is

 

You think hell and damnation itself will be visited on the typical unfrozen pensioners in TH,  your statement stands there likened to the South Sea Bubble  whatever that was !

[Nick Carter icp]

4 minutes ago, jori123 said:

Seem to be  full of it !   "online fraud"  nah does not exist, not to OAP that is

 

 

 

   I have no idea what you are trying to say 

[jori123]

1 minute ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   I have no idea what you are trying to say 

Nor I you  "online fraud" ?   Go on tell !     

[Nick Carter icp]

Just now, jori123 said:

Nor I you  "online fraud" ?   Go on tell !     

 

  People can falsy log onto other peoples tax filing pages , made false tax returns and then collect the tax rebate "Online fraud"

[jori123]

Just now, Nick Carter icp said:

 

  People can falsy log onto other peoples tax filing pages , made false tax returns and then collect the tax rebate "Online fraud"

Oh OK

[scottiejohn]

10 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

  People can falsy log onto other peoples tax filing pages , made false tax returns and then collect the tax rebate "Online fraud"

How?

Please show an example!

Edited 8 hours ago by scottiejohn

[Nick Carter icp]

2 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

How?

Please show an example!

 

   I log into someone else's tax account 

I put in false tax returns and the Gov owes "me " a tax rebate and I give my (real my) bank account details and the Gov sends the rebate to me and the person whose account it is has a problem 

[ericbj]

11 hours ago, Keeps said:

Do you maintain a UK address linked to your UK bank account if you don't mind me asking?

 

I did not until early this year.  In the past when moving to and fro between France and Thailand,  would change my registered address to correspond with where I was at the time.  I.e. changed it twice every twelve months.  Then the bank refused to allow me to have a Thai address.  This became a problem when they sent me a new credit card to France which I was unable to receive.  And they refused to send it to Thailand.  So I had it sent to a half-brother's address in London, and he sent it on to me.  I subsequently went on-line and cancelled that address, leaving only the French one, which I still have.  However when  earlier this year I needed another card, I re-instated the London address.  And did not subsequently delete it.  My brother and family have now moved, so I am going to have to change the address.  Incidentally, I made no secret when speaking to the bank of the fact that I was not residing in the U.K.

 

I would mention in passing that  recently the bank has made it virtually impossible to use my credit card on-line.  Which is when I have used it most.  For on-line purchases I now have to use my UK debit card.  When speaking to them they are unable to provide any reason for the repeated failure of on-line credit card transactions.

 

I hope this answers your question.

Edited 7 hours ago by ericbj
typo

[James9999]

8 minutes ago, ericbj said:

 

 However when  earlier this year I needed another card, I re-instated the London address.  And did not subsequently delete it.  My brother and family have now moved, so I am going to have to change the address.  Incidentally, I made no secret when speaking to the bank of the fact that I was not residing in the U.K.

 

 

Do you own the house in the UK? If you do then surely you are maintaining a UK address but you might not be the the council tax payer as that would be the occupier. If I ever move to Thailand I don't intend to sell up and my son will be living in the house that I own. Whether I visit frequently as a tourist or fully go and live there I have no idea. But I am concerned with the current anti pensioner attitude of the Government they will be looking for any excuse to stop annual rises and stop access to the NHS. Anybody know what the current rules are to maintain getting the annual increases. I assume that you can't be classed as "living" in Thailand if you only ever enter visa exempt or on a tourist visa.

[Patong2021]

20 minutes ago, ericbj said:

 

I did not until early this year.  In the past when moving to and fro between France and Thailand,  would change my registered address to correspond with where I was at the time.  I.e. changed it twice every twelve months.  Then the bank refused to allow me to have a Thai address.  This became a problem when they sent me a new credit card to France which I was unable to receive.  And they refused to send it to Thailand.  So I had it sent to a half-brother's address in London, and he sent it on to me.  I subsequently went on-line and cancelled that address, leaving only the French one, which I still have.  However when  earlier this year I needed another card, I re-instated the London address.  And did not subsequently delete it.  My brother and family have now moved, so I am going to have to change the address.  Incidentally, I made no secret when speaking to the bank of the fact that I was not residing in the U.K.

 

I would mention in passing that  recently the bank has made it virtually impossible to use my credit card on-line.  Which is when I have used it most.  For on-line purchases I now have to use my UK debit card.  When speaking to them they are unable to provide any reason for the repeated failure of on-line credit card transactions.

 

I hope this answers your question.

 

Can you not use a mailbox service? For example Mailbox Etc. UK  will receive and forward mail to its customers, wherever they are in the world.

[cdnvic]

I removed a ton of needless bickering. If it keeps up, the posters will be next.

 

Do not threaten others with the report button, or tell them you've reported them. This is discussion of moderation and misusing the report button, and we will take action against it. As I've said many times, moderators and admins are not here to fight your battles.

[ericbj]

3 minutes ago, James9999 said:

Do you own the house in the UK? If you do then surely you are maintaining a UK address but you might not be the the council tax payer as that would be the occupier. If I ever move to Thailand I don't intend to sell up and my son will be living in the house that I own. Whether I visit frequently as a tourist or fully go and live there I have no idea. But I am concerned with the current anti pensioner attitude of the Government they will be looking for any excuse to stop annual rises and stop access to the NHS. Anybody know what the current rules are to maintain getting the annual increases. I assume that you can't be classed as "living" in Thailand if you only ever enter visa exempt or on a tourist visa.

I sold my house in England in 1974, the year I bought a ramshackle farmhouse in the Périgord Noir.  Moved to the Aude in 1988, and still own the property there, in a remote hamlet in the foothills of the Pyrenees.

 

I believe you will be classified as residing in Thailand if you are there for more than half of the year, irrespective of the visa you have.  But check it out with the relative U.K. authority.

 

You MAY become eligible for Thai income tax if remaining in the country for more than half of one calendar year (the Thai tax year is not the same as that of the U.K.)

 

If you lose U.K. residential status - irrespective of U.K. citizenship - I believe you will need to re-establish such status by three months residence before you are covered by the NHS.  Check it out.  I think almost impossible for me, but in your case you can return to your U.K. house and in three months you will be once again a U.K. resident.  If my understanding is correct.

 

If concerned about loss of the annual increment of pension, think of the Philippines.  You will get it there.  I came to Thailand not to retire but as an unpaid volunteer teacher of English to refugees seeking resettlement - and the ability to communicate with the outside world.  And after about a dozen years of coming to teach, I continued coming because of relationships.  And then got stuck here because of circumstances beyond my control.

[ericbj]

47 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

 

Can you not use a mailbox service? For example Mailbox Etc. UK  will receive and forward mail to its customers, wherever they are in the world.

I am not sure whether or not a mailbox service would be acceptable to my bank.  And even if it was, it might not be acceptable to yours.

 

Best to enquire with your bank.

 

My address in Thailand is fixed.  I have been renting the same crummy property since December 2007, because the rent is affordable.  Still.  Despite the fact that property prices and rents in and around Mae Sot have gone through the roof of late.  Special Development Area.  Followed by an influx of refugees resulting from the savagery of Burma Army towards the civilian population, including this time those of Burman ethnicity.  And then there are also the dalans and collabos whom the Resistance seeks to eliminate.

Edited 6 hours ago by ericbj
punctuation

[jori123]

59 minutes ago, James9999 said:

Dut I am concerned with the current anti pensioner attitude of the Government they will be looking for any excuse to stop annual rises and stop access to the NHS. Anybody know what the current rules are to maintain getting the annual increases. I assume that you can't be classed as "living" in Thailand if you only ever enter visa exempt or on a tourist visa.

 

 There is no anti pensioner attitude. Yes freezing, but only what you admit to.  One letter a year  from dwp informing of pension rise is sent out, make sure that is not returned. Can access nhs  any time

[ericbj]

4 minutes ago, jori123 said:

 

 There is no anti pensioner attitude. Yes freezing, but only what you admit to.  One letter a year  from dwp informing of pension rise is sent out, make sure that is not returned. Can access nhs  any time

 

A "Life Certificate" is sent out, and if not filled in and witnessed as required, your pension is stopped.  You are assumed to be dead.  It happened to me because although posted 'Priority' from the Netherlands it took months to arrive here in Thailand.

[jori123]

10 minutes ago, ericbj said:

 

A "Life Certificate" is sent out, and if not filled in and witnessed as required, your pension is stopped.  You are assumed to be dead.  It happened to me because although posted 'Priority' from the Netherlands it took months to arrive here in Thailand.

sent out if u have non uk address

[bradiston]

9 hours ago, transam said:

Yes, read the UK Gov site, of course things may have changed as it was a long time ago........😉

Oh, and no charges either............

The UK gov website is huge, and it was a long time ago? I thought you were talking contemporary activity. Anyway, my method works for me, no charges and I can hold the £ until the exchange rate is favourable. Wise usually has amongst the best rates.