2 hours ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

To get DTV you have to show online income and a minimum of 500k THB cash. I'd be surprised if anybody on DTV is actually homeless. The bigger problem are broke visa-free tourists who really have no business flying to a foreign country to begin with - people living paycheck to paycheck, no savings at all, no one to help them if they get stuck, etc. Lately there are a lot more of them because there's way too many low budget influencers encouraging low budget people to come.

Thailand could solve this problem by a simple rule: any country who will not help its citizens repatriate immediately when stuck, does not get to remain on the visa-free list. If the embassies are not willing to help - eliminate the problem by requiring visas from those countries. (alternatvely - if restricting visa-free from a certain country will severely harm tourism and does not make economic sense - be prepared to handle the few cases that will happen).

Times if Santa, or fairy tales??😂😂. The DTV for people who want to stay cheap for 6 months at least, just booking a cooking course, or playing the hard guy by booking Muangthai course for a week complaint of painstaking Sport, or "Content Creator" (😂😂😂). They all never looked for a proper job (didn't learn or study) ....nobody needs them, nobody

2 hours ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

To get DTV you have to show online income and a minimum of 500k THB cash. I'd be surprised if anybody on DTV is actually homeless. The bigger problem are broke visa-free tourists who really have no business flying to a foreign country to begin with - people living paycheck to paycheck, no savings at all, no one to help them if they get stuck, etc. Lately there are a lot more of them because there's way too many low budget influencers encouraging low budget people to come.

Thailand could solve this problem by a simple rule: any country who will not help its citizens repatriate immediately when stuck, does not get to remain on the visa-free list. If the embassies are not willing to help - eliminate the problem by requiring visas from those countries. (alternatvely - if restricting visa-free from a certain country will severely harm tourism and does not make economic sense - be prepared to handle the few cases that will happen).

Well, that's Santa tales😂💗😂.

The DTV visa will allow you to come for a cooking course, booked at home for some days, or booking a Muangthai course for the all tattood quality losers, complaining when a bit hurt on day one. They all allowed to come here. Also so called "Content Creators" 🤣, or remote workers, far away from any work. All work-life-balance lovers, ran away from education, school or employment. We don't know if all the paperwork is genuine to get the visa, but I'm sure Riffraff will find a way. There is ONE necessary change to come; health/travel insurance.

Schwab has an international brokerage account. They know I am an expat. I was thoroughly vetted to get the account. They are expat friendly.

3 hours ago, PoorSucker said:

You need a have a job at least three months to access free healthcare

Who wouldn't have a friend to confirm giving you a job 🤣🤣🤣.

So easy, not an obstacle at all

7 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

Easy to fix these problems: scrap the DTV visa, and soon those losers will have to look for another place or stay home, looking for a proper job.

But unfortunately it would affect their

"Work-life -balance".

So sad💔

You are just too oversimplifying, Most people entering Thailand with a DTV visa never caused any problems !!

9 minutes ago, off road pat said:

You are just too oversimplifying, Most people entering Thailand with a DTV visa never caused any problems !!

Are you one of them that you say that? Probably you will give us a proof now.

Can't wait.😂

For me they're the core problem: money gone, remote work =not enough income, months on the road as a result, no money for a ticket, lost, begging.

But hey, I forgot #gofundme.

7 hours ago, Muhendis said:

"In some cases, international banks froze their accounts after detecting suspicious activity, requiring customers to appear in person in their home countries before funds could be released."

This is the really scary one. The banks are free to act as judge and jury with little or no regard to the owner of the account.

Supposing a bank froze an account thus requiring the owner of the account to appear in person. Would the bank accept costs incurred in the event of said suspicions proving to be groundless?

The answer to that is "of course they wouldn't"

The wording "suspicious activity" is actually "unusual activity" which means unexpected withdrawals. So for example, if you have an expensive car repair bill to pay using your Thai bank account which you then need to top up from your home country bank, this could be deemed to be unusual activity.

I don't have a high opinion of banks.

Yeah one big problem is the international reporting standards for banks in many countries and that extra reporting isn't paid for but is directed by the governments so just creates extra reporting especially if one lives in a country different from where the home banking is located. I was dropped by the BOA when I sold my US houses and moved to Thailand but got lucky in that the SDFCU (a US bank) does open accounts for US people in foreign countries - I opened this account 6 years ago, and have had excellent service including credit card for me and my family members. My annuity is sent to that bank and they offer either through WISE or the SWIFT transfers monthly to Thailand and for the 6 years always recieved in my bankok bank account within 24 hours. As countries similar to Thailand make plans to join international organizations such as OECD then banking practices can change for expats too though not necessarily, just saying as I notice in different forums a lot of stories about local banking changes and very seldom to the advantage of the expat. I do hope the best for all - and SDFCU.com is one possible solution for Americans overseas.

7 hours ago, Muhendis said:

"In some cases, international banks froze their accounts after detecting suspicious activity, requiring customers to appear in person in their home countries before funds could be released."

This is the really scary one. The banks are free to act as judge and jury with little or no regard to the owner of the account.

Supposing a bank froze an account thus requiring the owner of the account to appear in person. Would the bank accept costs incurred in the event of said suspicions proving to be groundless?

The answer to that is "of course they wouldn't"

The wording "suspicious activity" is actually "unusual activity" which means unexpected withdrawals. So for example, if you have an expensive car repair bill to pay using your Thai bank account which you then need to top up from your home country bank, this could be deemed to be unusual activity.

I don't have a high opinion of banks.

4 hours ago, dddave said:

Even notifying your bank in advance of travel to Thailand isn't always enough which I found out the hard way.

Ten years ago I carefully notified both my US banks and card holders of my plans for an extended stay in Thailand. I was assured by all that I was covered and would not have any issues: Yah!, Right!

"This transaction can not be completed. Please contact your issuing bank"

This cold message displayed on the Bangkok ATM from which I was attempting to withdraw my monthly Social Security deposit. I won't go into the many details and roadblocks I encountered trying to regain access to my account, just that it took in excess of two months, dozens of phone calls and a few dents in my apartment walls.

It turned out an internal bank system update had cleared all notations on my account, including the details of my stay in Thailand. It just shows that no matter how carefully one tries to cover all the bases, there are actions totally out of your control that can make your life very difficult.

Fortunately for me, I had a back-up account, something I urge all long-term stayers in any foreign country to have. It just may save you from sleeping on a bench.

Cards that I use have a number to call if a card is lost or stolen, and with some I could call collect. This number also works if there is a problem at an ATM. You have to pass an identity test, of course. Some banks have Thailand on a bad list, so if not notified of travel there in advance, problems at the ATM can happen.

5 hours ago, Priorexpat said:

Hello embassy, here is your citizen. Not allowed to live as homeless person in the Kingdom, they are not a citizen here. You need to send them home to your country to deal with this person's living status.

It took me until this post to see Embassy mentioned. I assume all the homeless people, a very strange phrase for people who do not live in the country, still have their passports. Deposit them at the Embassy of their home country. The Embassy's problem.

3 minutes ago, Emdog said:

Someone get this guy a comfy lounge chair!

4 hours ago, NanLaew said:

Interesting.

But the thread is about homeless foreigners.

...who too often wind up in a financial crisis/homeless having lost all their money to scams of one kind or another.

8 minutes ago, placnx said:

Cards that I use have a number to call if a card is lost or stolen,

Of course if your card is lost or stolen then you don't have the phone number. My ex wife had problems with her account being frozen, the bank refused to help. At the end of the day it is the Embassy's problem, it is why we pay taxes.

7 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

The first lesson to learn before arriving in Thailand is that most Thai people worship money more than they worship anything else.

And that Thailand is one of the most corrupt countries in the world.

22 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

no money for a ticket, lost, begging.

And of course "EVERYBODY" entering Thailand "MUST" have a ticket out of the country. So there is the problem.

8 minutes ago, Screaming said:

And that Thailand is one of the most corrupt countries in the world.

...and that naive foreigners are often targeted for their money.

Just help them to get home instead of punishing them for overstay. Because of punishments regulations they now stay underground making it worse for all others. Embassies should be more open minded to help their people get home. It for the best of all (thailand, the homeless and their homecountry). Once they are gone they are no longer a burden for the Thai system, Healthcare system etc etc. Its a win win to help them getting out of the country. People can make bad and stupid decisions. Don't make it worse. Not all are bad.

5 hours ago, NanLaew said:

Since she comes from a country with 600,000 homeless people sleeping on the street, and where 40% of adults can't cover a $400 emergency without borrowing money, she sounds like the average American.

It could be worse; at least she is not from Europe.

Across Europe, an estimated 1.2 to 1.3 million people are homeless, a figure that has risen by approximately 43% since 2023 according to the European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless (FEANTSA). This crisis is driven by rising rents, housing shortages, and economic instability, with the situation worsening in most EU member states despite a collective goal to end homelessness by 2030.

https://www.dw.com/en/eu-sees-rise-in-homelessness-amid-housing-crisis-report/a-74310521

• No Savings: An ING survey found that 30% of Europeans have no savings at all, with 29% in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark having no or very little money saved.

• Inability to Cover Costs: 47% of Europeans could not pay three months of expenses if they lost their job.

• Specific Expenses: In Germany, one-third of the population cannot afford unexpected costs for repairs or new items exceeding approximately €1,000.

• Financial Precarity: A recent study indicates that 29% of Europeans live in a precarious financial situation where an unexpected expense could tip the balance.

7 hours ago, trucking said:

If there is was thing that can absolutely save your a** in any dire emergency , it is a credit card from your bank back home.

I seldom use mine , just enough so that it is not withdrawn from lack of use. I keep it in a very safe place and it seldom sees the light of day.

This one thing is more than enough to cover a ticket home , some accomodation and evenlow rate medical bills. I don't need it but it a great comfort that it is available in an emergency.

Right. Just use it for your overseas spending. In my case, Amazon & iHerb.

27 minutes ago, ThailandGuy said:

Just help them to get home instead of punishing them for overstay. Because of punishments regulations they now stay underground making it worse for all others. Embassies should be more open minded to help their people get home. It for the best of all (thailand, the homeless and their homecountry). Once they are gone they are no longer a burden for the Thai system, Healthcare system etc etc. Its a win win to help them getting out of the country. People can make bad and stupid decisions. Don't make it worse. Not all are bad.

TravelGuides & Travelogues

Many don't want to go home, or don't know how to go home in their mind or forgot where home is.

There are 2,500-4,500 homeless Thais. From the ones I see, most don't have a family or community to look after them. Mental problems are common. Homeless women are particularly at risk, at any age. Some are runaway teenagers, of both sexes.

Edited July 11Jul 11 by unblocktheplanet
add

8 hours ago, Muhendis said:

"In some cases, international banks froze their accounts after detecting suspicious activity, requiring customers to appear in person in their home countries before funds could be released."

This is the really scary one. The banks are free to act as judge and jury with little or no regard to the owner of the account.

Supposing a bank froze an account thus requiring the owner of the account to appear in person. Would the bank accept costs incurred in the event of said suspicions proving to be groundless?

The answer to that is "of course they wouldn't"

The wording "suspicious activity" is actually "unusual activity" which means unexpected withdrawals. So for example, if you have an expensive car repair bill to pay using your Thai bank account which you then need to top up from your home country bank, this could be deemed to be unusual activity.

I don't have a high opinion of banks.

Banks are not "free" to act as judge and jury.

In the UK Government legislation compels them to do so on pain of prosecution if they do not identify transactions that are subsequently found to be connected to money laundering or financing of illicit activities.

I doubt very much that banks welcomed the arrival of the legislation or enjoy the amount of time and resources spent complying with it.

It is as tiresome for them as any legislation, imposed on any enterprise, that requires "investment" from the enterprise in order to meet the demands of the legislation.

1 hour ago, Geoff914 said:

And of course "EVERYBODY" entering Thailand "MUST" have a ticket out of the country. So there is the problem.

Hahaha, you should know that's not a problem to buy a dummy ticket🤣.

In general you're right

14 hours ago, Effective altruism said:

It sounds like she was living from one paycheck to the next.

14 hours ago, Effective altruism said:

It sounds like she was living from one paycheck to the next.

14 hours ago, Effective altruism said:

It sounds like she was living from one paycheck to the next.

9 hours ago, CecilM said:

How is this a crisis? They're easily identified as they're not hiding in some apartment. Pick up, process, deport.

Who will pay for the flight?

9 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

The first lesson to learn before arriving in Thailand is that most Thai people worship money more than they worship anything else.

And your point is what?????

3 hours ago, Chongalulu said:

If you do regular spending on the card in Thailand it is much less likely to be rejected for your emergency spend as you’ve established a pattern of spending here. It’s unusual activity (such as you’re relying on to do here) that will trigger a query/ rejection. Set up direct debit so the balance is paid off every month. I spend very considerably on mine all the time and even large sums aren’t queried .

Thailanguage courses

Yes , I make sure to use mine a few times a month

Just used it for a 58.000 baht purchase

Edited July 11Jul 11 by trucking

28 minutes ago, Reddavy said:

And your point is what?????

To encourage newcomers to avoid their financial resources being scammed. Too many end up with no money, and nowhere they can afford to live.

9 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

The first lesson to learn before arriving in Thailand is that most Thai people worship money more than they worship anything else.

Too many newcomers are scammed and finish up penniless.

10 hours ago, Muhendis said:

"In some cases, international banks froze their accounts after detecting suspicious activity, requiring customers to appear in person in their home countries before funds could be released."

This is the really scary one. The banks are free to act as judge and jury with little or no regard to the owner of the account.

Supposing a bank froze an account thus requiring the owner of the account to appear in person. Would the bank accept costs incurred in the event of said suspicions proving to be groundless?

The answer to that is "of course they wouldn't"

The wording "suspicious activity" is actually "unusual activity" which means unexpected withdrawals. So for example, if you have an expensive car repair bill to pay using your Thai bank account which you then need to top up from your home country bank, this could be deemed to be unusual activity.

I don't have a high opinion of banks.

Well, you can tell them in advance, before you travel that you will be using the account from such and such country, so when the AI detects the "unusual activities" they are already aware of the issues, so they will disregard it.

1 minute ago, Thingamabob said:

Too many newcomers are scammed and finish up penniless.

You see many who went on a " brainless journey" through the land of smiles as well... As they say, many people park their brain at the airport upon arrival in the Kingdom.

Comments indicate that people can't see the forest through the trees. The article conflates different unrelated scenarios with the lede being 'visa free entry' is bad.

How many times have we read this in recent months? All of Thailand's ills are being attributed to visa free entry, which is ridiculous. Although not explicitly referred to in this article, the skint pensioner, the DTV remote worker whose income suddenly evaporated, the young guy who falls out of a truck without insurance and the person who loses access to their bank account are not the same.

The rest of the world is moving towards tighter border controls for traditional travelers. Thailand suddenly wants to be part of the club and is following along in lockstep to their own detriment.

10 hours ago, Muhendis said:

The government instructions are probably along the lines of :-

"if a bank gives an account holders money to the wrong person the the bank will be held liable for the account holders loss."

That works fine if the account holder lives near the bank but if the account holders address is thousands of miles from the bank your on your own.

The fact is that some banks, including ABN Amro, have recently been fined huge sums for failing to comply properly with anti-money laundering regulations; the fines ran into tens of millions of euros…

It all needs to be monitored even more strictly, at least to keep us under control.

Wouldn’t you...

3 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

Hahaha, you should know that's not a problem to buy a dummy ticket🤣.

In general you're right

I have seen that they are getting wise to the rent a ticket scheme but has worked for me so far.

12 hours ago, BritManToo said:

All my family and friends are dead, at age 70 I'm the last man standing.

So all your younger ones in the family are dead ?