There was a letter from a reader in The Nation today, saying that he'd been refused to buy a mobile phone because he's on a retirement visa. Says the company (AIS, I believe) told him he had to have a work permit.

Anybody know anything about this?

I seriously doubt he was refused to buy a mobile phone, a thousand shops will be happy to sell him one. I suspect he was trying to buy the phone with an AIS postpay contract in which case may well be he needs a work permit.

I have a retirement visa, no work permit, and bought a phone + service without any problem - as have hundreds of us.

I think tywais got a point.

There is no problem to buy a phoe or prepaid cards, but I recall I needed to show a WP before

I got AIS to open up for overseas calls, to be billed monthly.

with prepaid cards, no problem.

to get a contract with monthly bills, you need a work-permit and a recommendation letter. not only at ais