2 minutes ago, Mike_Hunt said:

You have to love the surveillance state. 

 

While terrorism and money laundering of major criminal enterprises exists... whats YOUR alternative ?

 

Perhaps the shopping centre you were in last month didn't get bombed by fundamentalists is because of 'surveillance'... You'll never know of course, but hopefully you and I will never find out... 

 

 

 

15 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

While terrorism and money laundering of major criminal enterprises exists... whats YOUR alternative ?

 

Perhaps the shopping centre you were in last month didn't get bombed by fundamentalists is because of 'surveillance'... You'll never know of course, but hopefully you and I will never find out... 

 

 

 

Do you enjoy the government watching your every move? 

10 minutes ago, Mike_Hunt said:

Do you enjoy the government watching your every move? 

 

I’m under no delusion that MI5, the CIA, or the Ministry of Dark Sorcery are hunched over glowing monitors, sipping black coffee, tracking my every PayPal or PromptPay transfer for an air fryer part, a golf club or a new car...

 

I’m not important enough to warrant the full "government surveillance package" - I don’t even get the trial version. At best, some underpaid intern glances at my account once a year, sighs, and mutters, “Bloke really needs to stop buying crap off Lazada at 3 a.m” ... before moving on to something genuinely sinister, like cats with TikTok channels...

 

 

But you, Agent 0069… that’s a different matter. International intrigue. Somewhere in a dimly lit control room, red warning lights flash every time you send 1000 baht to your latest bit of fluff... Entire teams of analysts are poring over your bank statements, circling suspicious line items like “Tong Porntip” and "Spankeys Bar" with the same intensity usually reserved for offshore shell companies.

 

They probably have your mugshot pinned between Polonium Guy and Bin Laden on the “persons of interest” wall, right next to a half-eaten box of Krispy Kremes.

 

So while I bumble along under the radar, blissfully obscure, you must live with the knowledge that a squad of shadowy figures in trench coats believe your late-night FoodPanda order is a coded message to Moscow. Sleep tight, comrade...  

40 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

While terrorism and money laundering of major criminal enterprises exists... whats YOUR alternative ?

 

Perhaps the shopping centre you were in last month didn't get bombed by fundamentalists is because of 'surveillance'... You'll never know of course, but hopefully you and I will never find out... 

 

Racial profiling helps. 

11 hours ago, Mike_Hunt said:

Do you enjoy the government watching your every move? 

It would be better if they focussed on the more criminal elements rather than regular folks......  go get the scammers!

15 hours ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

 

Racial profiling helps. 

What?? That's discrimination, thats Fascism. Don't you understand that the (so called ) civil rights of criminals are more important than public safety,??  Although so and so is "on the radar" we just have to wait until so and so commits the crime. Any surveillance ,proactive, preventative  law enforcement cannot be tolerated. The democrats will have a hissy fit. And take legal  action. ** Actually the above applies even more so to Western countries.

On 9/2/2025 at 5:07 PM, Mike_Hunt said:

Why does the bank need to know? 

Pretty much all western countries require the bank to 'know you' and what the transactions are for.  As part of setting up an account (and managing it) at a bank the banks have to follow the "Know Your Customer" (KYC) rules.  On transfers, when a transfer is done internationally, they have to indicate what the purpose of the transfer is.   If the transaction you do is not compliant (as @richard_smith237 has stated) the rule may require specific action to be taken (intercepted for manual review, rejected, account suspension, etc.).   A lot of development goes into implementing this into banking and brokerage systems.  Thailand really cannot go any other route and still be a member of the international financial order without following the rules that are set down internationally (of which Thailand may not have been involved in setting up the rule).   I found that on inbound transactions some banks fudge missing fields - though I suspect the Bank of Thailand would not appreciate it. (purpose of transfer missing).

 

On 8/27/2025 at 6:14 PM, Enoon said:

"Gone are the days of cash-in-hand jobs...."

 

It'll be a cold day in hell when you can't get a hand job for cash in Pattaya.

 

 

 

This is a completely useless topic. Nowhere in Thailand, including Pattaya, shops are denying cash. Though I've stopped using cash in Thailand as much as I could for the last five years.  I use one American credit cards (Fidelity Visa) for most of my purchases wherever possible, including 7/11, the nudie bar (windmill), grab, food panda (closed now), Big C, etc. A few places that don't take credit cards like Songtaw, Motor cycle taxis,  mall food courts, etc. I pay cash. I pull out 30K every month using my Fidelity ATM card (ATM fees are reimbursed immediately) and use cash in all those places where credit card are not accepted. I have three Thai bank account and I have to recycle 100 baht every month from each account just to keep them active in case I need it. In the last five years, I never felt the need for a few thousands cash in those accounts. Even bought a brand new motor cycle using my credit cards. 

On 9/2/2025 at 6:27 PM, richard_smith237 said:

 

I’m under no delusion that MI5, the CIA, or the Ministry of Dark Sorcery are hunched over glowing monitors, sipping black coffee, tracking my every PayPal or PromptPay transfer for an air fryer part, a golf club or a new car...

 

I’m not important enough to warrant the full "government surveillance package" - I don’t even get the trial version. At best, some underpaid intern glances at my account once a year, sighs, and mutters, “Bloke really needs to stop buying crap off Lazada at 3 a.m” ... before moving on to something genuinely sinister, like cats with TikTok channels...

 

 

But you, Agent 0069… that’s a different matter. International intrigue. Somewhere in a dimly lit control room, red warning lights flash every time you send 1000 baht to your latest bit of fluff... Entire teams of analysts are poring over your bank statements, circling suspicious line items like “Tong Porntip” and "Spankeys Bar" with the same intensity usually reserved for offshore shell companies.

 

They probably have your mugshot pinned between Polonium Guy and Bin Laden on the “persons of interest” wall, right next to a half-eaten box of Krispy Kremes.

 

So while I bumble along under the radar, blissfully obscure, you must live with the knowledge that a squad of shadowy figures in trench coats believe your late-night FoodPanda order is a coded message to Moscow. Sleep tight, comrade...  

 

Good reply, you saved me time not having to write a similar reply.

 

The self important nutters who believe the government is watching their every insignificant move make me laugh.

 

They would need hundreds of millions of staff  worldwide doing that in order to watch our every move.

 

"Hey look guys, this is suspicious, importantBloke1 has just bought a milkshake at McDonalds, now that needs investigating, get a SWAT team on it immediately".

After taking time to read all the comments where do I stand? I'm 80 yo and I've been living in Thailand for the past 25 years. Over that time I married a Thai lady and we're still together. I've been using agents for the past 10 years and the system has worked fine. I have money in the bank but given my age I prefer to use an agent, the same agent I've used for the past 10 years and I'm totally satisfied. So again, where do I stand now? Are retirement visas using an agent finished? If this is true it will blow the arse out of the Thai economy. If this were to happen of course the Thai Government will play the blame game. I remember comments made about us farangs by the current PM and they weren't exactly praising us farangs who just want to pay our way and have a peaceful retirement. By the way I also support my wifes daughter, her boy friend and their 12 yo kid.

12 minutes ago, Mason45 said:

After taking time to read all the comments where do I stand? I'm 80 yo and I've been living in Thailand for the past 25 years. Over that time I married a Thai lady and we're still together. I've been using agents for the past 10 years and the system has worked fine. I have money in the bank but given my age I prefer to use an agent, the same agent I've used for the past 10 years and I'm totally satisfied. So again, where do I stand now? Are retirement visas using an agent finished? If this is true it will blow the arse out of the Thai economy. If this were to happen of course the Thai Government will play the blame game. I remember comments made about us farangs by the current PM and they weren't exactly praising us farangs who just want to pay our way and have a peaceful retirement. By the way I also support my wifes daughter, her boy friend and their 12 yo kid.

One other thing I must add, My next Thai visa renewal is due in around 6 weeks. So how can I have the required 400,000 Thai baht for a marriage visa in a Thai bank account for 2 or 3 months which ever is applicable prior to the date of renewal. I'm certain quite a few Thai politicians failed 2nd grade plasticine. 

14 hours ago, Mason45 said:

One other thing I must add, My next Thai visa renewal is due in around 6 weeks. So how can I have the required 400,000 Thai baht for a marriage visa in a Thai bank account for 2 or 3 months which ever is applicable prior to the date of renewal. I'm certain quite a few Thai politicians failed 2nd grade plasticine. 

My wife brought up an interesting point before. As I was in a Krungsri Bank in Pattaya last week to re activate my app that had been callencelled I was told that as I am over 70 years old I can't have a Krungsri Bank app on my phone anymore. I queried the teller and she made several calls to her head office and she stated that's the new banking rule change. Do Thai citizens get their banking apps cut when they get to 70 years old?

PS : I've been a Krungsri customer for the past 25 years.

19 hours ago, Mason45 said:

My wife brought up an interesting point before. As I was in a Krungsri Bank in Pattaya last week to re activate my app that had been callencelled I was told that as I am over 70 years old I can't have a Krungsri Bank app on my phone anymore. I queried the teller and she made several calls to her head office and she stated that's the new banking rule change. Do Thai citizens get their banking apps cut when they get to 70 years old?

PS : I've been a Krungsri customer for the past 25 years.

This is a real PIA, a lot of us are over 70 and I use my bank app a lot, I might say I wonder how I could get by without it. Going to the 7-11 or an office in town is not straightforward as one ages either!

Society is chucking me on the scrap heap!

On 8/27/2025 at 4:31 PM, JoePai said:

Quite simply Pattaya is not as easy/friendly/carefree (call it what you want) as it used to be, but then where is…

Vietnam has closed 86 million bank accounts and taken the assets, some opting not to claim back their assets as they don't want to go through the process of eye scanning and fingerprinting Rcr new Zealand news warns it's coming to everyone soon and Vietnam is being used as a global experiment 

On 9/15/2025 at 5:34 AM, jacko45k said:

This is a real PIA, a lot of us are over 70 and I use my bank app a lot, I might say I wonder how I could get by without it. Going to the 7-11 or an office in town is not straightforward as one ages either!

Society is chucking me on the scrap heap!

Never used bank app in Thailand can get the wife to use hers if need be and I pay her back cash and everything else I use cash or my BK bank card in stores if accepted Im over 70 as well and insurance is difficult as well, they seem to want you to go home after 70

 

On 9/13/2025 at 6:39 PM, JamesPhuket10 said:

They would need hundreds of millions of staff  worldwide doing that in order to watch our every move.

What do you think the Ai data centers are for ?

On 9/1/2025 at 4:52 PM, treetops said:

 

How about some numbers to back that up?  Here's some to go against it.

 

Expats = 300,000.  Spend per week = 20,000 baht.  Weeks per year = 52.  Total spend = 312 billion baht.

 

 

Rarely would I spend more than 5,000 a week.

42 minutes ago, kiwikeith said:

Vietnam has closed 86 million bank accounts and taken the assets, some opting not to claim back their assets as they don't want to go through the process of eye scanning and fingerprinting Rcr new Zealand news warns it's coming to everyone soon and Vietnam is being used as a global experiment 

I haven't been back to Vietnam in a while, but have had money in there for a dozen years or so.  When we read this on-line news, my wife called the bank (Sacombank) and they said my account(s) are still open - since I didn't have a bank debit card, my account(s) were not affected.  Guess I'll find out when I return this Christmas.  She got her eye scan and fingerprinting done when she was visiting last summer, so she is okay.

2 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

 

Rarely would I spend more than 5,000 a week.

      Average rental is probably around 20,000 baht a month so that's 5,000 baht a week right there, before adding on weekly expenses for food, gas, water, electric, internet, Netflix, entertainment, restaurants, medical fees, travel, household expenses, insurance, etc.  It adds up.