[NO, NO, NO Thai customer service.]

@Marcusarelost: Weird, because I want to buy a f.... printer in a shop? No Mistah, you are weird..

 

I did buy it at Lazada, but prefer a shop instead of waiting for the stupid delivery boys, who can never find my humble abode out in the sticks.

[NO, NO, NO Thai customer service.]

On 8/2/2019 at 10:03 PM, observer90210 said:

No can do....

(the magic after sales mantra here)

- and "no hab" - when I wanted to buy the last HP printer in Tesco. Why? - I asked,  it´s right there on the shelf in front of me.

 

"Lat one for show only"

 

Weird people.. 

 

 

[TM30 mayhem and updates]

8 hours ago, LivinLOS said:

Permission to stay there is not immigrations concern.. Permission to even be there is. 

 

To Thailand all permission is temporary, all addresses are temporary, up to when someone gets PR and citizenship. Then they can be put in a tabien baan / recieve the PR address book and have a fixed address. 

 

Good point.. maybe some of the usual complainers here should take note of this?

 

You/we are NOT entitled to anything other than following the rules, even when we perceive them to be unfair, ever changing, enforced or not, from town to town and district to district, I don´t care, I´ve learned to be flexible like a bamboo, total Zen, it works, everywhere, try it, you old complaining entitled farts.

 

 

[Retirement visa extension financial requirements]

OP wrote: "I also understand that a lot of immigration staff are involved. It's going to take time to resolve this issue."

 

Will never happen, get used to it, this is Thailand, a very corrupt country..

 

 

[Do you believe in God and why]

I don´t believe in any "god" - I believe in myself, because there´s a Divine Something in there, that I can ask questions and get answers from, sometimes like riddles.. but they are OK, they help me, when I need help.

 

I don´t pray - I ask questions - like:  "how can I help improve everything" - and then I get answers, works amazingly well and fast..

 

So yes, there´s a God, it´s inside of everyone, the whole Universe is in there, just go in an explore it..

 

 

[Why is Thailand making it so difficult to retire]

2 hours ago, Isaanbiker said:

OP, you're damn right with your post. Especially, when you've been here for so long, paid taxes, bought a house, cars and motorcycles and spent a hell lot of money.

 

  The reason for might be that we're not really wanted, but our money is.

 

 I've been here for 17 years and on the job since 2005. In 2005, I signed in a book the next day, nobody had a problem when teachers left earlier.

 

These days, I have to visit the face scanner twice a day, just got my  Criminal Background Check certificate back with my fingerprints on.

 

In addition, all has gotten way more expensive, almost everything is more complicated and local people do not seem to like us, of course with exceptions. 

 

I hope that you've got a good plan for your retirement. I don't have one.

 

In reality, it looks like I've got to keep working and I'll look at a pretty low pension in six years.

 

But will I still be able to work in six years? Only Buddha knows. I hope that you've got all sorted and you've got the mental strength to continue life as you do now.

 

  Pretty soon, I'll have to chose what's more important. Working a few more years back at the place where I came from, without a job, car, motorcycle, house, money and family.

 

Or just keeping eyes closed and continue what I'm doing right now? I just don't know, to be honest.

 

Listen to your inner voice, I wish I had the right solution. Best of luck for you guys!  

 

 

 

   

 

 

How any farang from velfunctioning western countries choose to work in LOS as a teacher, or in other lowpaying jobs, is totally beyond me, I don´t understand it!

 

It should be the other way around: Work at good paying jobs offshore, at sea, fishing boat (Alaska crab fishing) etc. etc. - and when you have a s..tload of dough, THEN move here, much, much better..

 

To use your best working years like that, is just plain stupid, and I don´t accept any crying and whining, when people have chosen like that, som nam naa..

 

 

 

[Rethinking my stay here]

1 hour ago, Golden Triangle said:

Whilst I understand your frustration it may not have been a good idea to air your thoughts to the immigration officer, I have seen quite a few people tossed out of Jomtien immigration office and told never to return, where would that leave you ?? 

 

Many on here, myself included, have gone down the 800,000 Baht route only to be thwarted by an obnoxious IO wanting you to go down the agent route so that they can up their monthly salary, we all get sick of their antics trust me, except for the chosen few that for some unknown reason have never ever had a problem at immigration & I can assure that they will be along soon enough to tell us all about it.

Yup, here I am!

 

First ret. ext. in 2007 in the rathole Dor Mor in Sathorn, BKK - all papers OK, no problem.

 

Year after year after year at Div. 1, CW, BKK - no problem..

 

2 years in Nakhon Sawan now, NO PROBLEM..!!!!!!!

 

I don´t know what all you "trouble-people" do wrong, it´s amazing, that´s all.

 

 

[Non-O extension. Next Year Must Have Health Insurance]

1 minute ago, wimpy said:

I speak Thai fluently. I am not confused as to what they said. I can not speculate as to them.

Doesn´t matter, it´s hit and miss with that mysterious language, you can bend and twist anything into meaning something totally different than first intended..

 

 

[First time checked by Immagration in 15 years]

1 hour ago, BritTim said:

While those of us unused to the system find it loathsome, it can be interesting to at least understand the Thai patronage system. Increasingly, Thai officials feel that long stay foreigners should integrate themselves into Thai society, and begin to conform to Thai norms. You can resist, but this will probably become painful as Thai officialdom becomes increasingly intolerant of foreigners unwilling to conform to Thai society and customs.

Thanks for the "news" or advise, but I know the drill. Have a high polib, a kamnan and a dep. sec. in the Government in wife family, but I don´t mingle, there´s always a catch: I help you, you help me, and this can be both good and bad.. 

 

 

[First time checked by Immagration in 15 years]

5 hours ago, dbrenn said:

I would have bought them lunch. It pays off in the long run to be hospitable.

Hospitable to mafia members?

 

Getoutahere!

 

 

 

[Retirement Visa Changes & Rate of Exchange leaves many expats in a quandary]

4 hours ago, Fairynuff said:

Nasty

Thanks.. I greeted one of the typical Euro/US Trash lowlife poor scumbags a few days ago, he answered:

 

<deleted> off!

 

How do I know it was trash?

 

Well.. driving totally p!ssed on an old worn out  Honda Dream at 10.30 AM, dirty as a homeless, he looked like a total wreck, as the motorcy, perfect fit.

 

I don´t want to be associated with trash like that anymore, it´s enough, get them out of this country, and maybe these very small changes of the rules can help with that.

 

 

 

 

[Retirement Visa Changes & Rate of Exchange leaves many expats in a quandary]

38 minutes ago, Mavideol said:

and if he doesn't have the money how can he leave it there, each individual has different problems, read his message and you feel he's stressing out, after 20 years of doing the same over and over all of a sudden these changes come up, some deal with it well others not so well

Then go back to your home country and stay there on welfare, or whatever..

 

 

[Retirement Visa Changes & Rate of Exchange leaves many expats in a quandary]

1 hour ago, JackThompson said:

Thai Immigration, in many cases, is ripping us off and trying to manipulate us into lining their pockets.  That's not paranoid; it's clear from their policy - how they treat agents and agent-applications, vs "the rest of us." 

 

That said, I agree change at Immigration is unlikely, so we must be prepared to wallow in the corruption slime with them, unless well-off enough to meet the shrinking set of methods by which an in-person application is still accepted.  Our only chance of change, would be getting many "Tragic Results of Immigration Corruption in Thailand" stories happening in Western press. 

 

The marriage / Thai-child cases -  where immigration breaks up families by literally making-up non-published rules (in order to try to get their "extra" money) are the most compelling.  Many readers would be surprised to learn that one must go through this attempted family-separation (or payoff) rigamarole annually, forever.  Entire extended Thai families are often supported by these "farangs" being targeted, so immigration clearly doesn't care about their welfare - just jealous they aren't in on the money.

 

Those retired here for a long time and suddenly uprooted by the income-rules changing are also good cases, given readers will tend to identify with the suffering of their own elderly nationals at the hands of corrupt foreigners - changing the rules as a form of extortion.

You´re delusional... you think folks back home care about old farts buying young girls for sex out on the beach in sunny Thailand?

 

Get real, man...

 

 

[Retirement Visa Changes & Rate of Exchange leaves many expats in a quandary]

28 minutes ago, JamJar said:

 

So because you paid more, you imagine that mine isn't of a good quality. ????

LIDL discounts selected products on weekends.

First on the list is 500ml of Greek Extra Virgin olive oil. 77 baht

Second is Italian. Same 77 baht.

Not the cheaper ubiquitous Spanish olive oil you will find everywhere in Thailand or fake olive oil imported via the USA.

 

I don't think you can favourably compare the quality of the grapes you buy in Thailand with the grapes you buy in Europe. When was the last time you saw a Muscat variety in Thailand?

 

Salt your own crisps, 25 baht for 6 packs

 

Antipasti 120 grs of Proscuitto Crudo, Coppa and Milano salami. The cost in Thailand is 420 baht. I paid 40 baht.

 

200 gr of Smoked Salmon. 147 baht

 

200 grs of mixed unsalted nuts 50 baht

 

Stone baked sourdough roll with olives 11 baht

 

I'm sure that my diet is more healthy than yours and likely my weight. Did 50 km of hill training on my bike this morning.

I don't need to eat out often, as the foodstuffs available in the shops here far surpasses the quality of food in Thailand.

Do you love the chlorinated smell of the chicken there?

Even when I do eat out, I choose carefully. 

I haven't stepped into a Greggs since I was at school.

 

In conclusion, I'm happy spending my summers in the UK and my winters in Thailand. But only because of the weather. My quality of life is relatively good in both places.

It's not just about what is the cheapest.

You are treated much as a second class citizen in Thailand. You cannot own land and can be blocked almost arbitrarily.

 

So no, I'm not burning my bridges or slagging off the U.K from afar. For all of it's fault, it is ours. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I accept that, why don´t you do the same??

 

Old Blighty Imperialism I guess...

 

Can´t you go talk about food prices somewhere else, it´s boring for we, the happy farang living a happy life in happy Thailand. I know where to buy good stuff, cheap, and the Mrs. grows her own organic stuff here in bannok, but OK, I´ve seen the menu for english "food" in the tourist places, and it´s crap you eat, solly..

 

 

[Retirement Visa Changes & Rate of Exchange leaves many expats in a quandary]

1 hour ago, Pilotman said:

yep. These people come here with peanuts in their pockets, no real income and expect to live problem free. I call that fairly delusional. 

Agree.. and the problem is that they open one topic after another here, with the usual complaints..

 

I´ve been here since 1999 - on and off the first years, and I remember the old days where you could deliver your passport to an agent, and they would drive to the border and get a visa stamp. Very easy, didn´t have to leave the barstool! 

 

Since then I´ve used the 800K method, I have the money, I have a wife, no kids, no old parents, no lazy sisters or brothers, so it´s a very easy and nice life.

 

I don´t care about keeping 400K in the bank, better here in Thailand than in Europe, where the banking system is on the brink of yet another "2008/09 disaster". Asia will survive that, no doubt about it.. Oh, I forgot the 55 gold bars I´ve hidden somewhere! It´s a good life here, house and car paid cash, do debt, money in the bank, it´s called "be prepared", many poor ol´ buggers could learn something about being prepared in life..

 

 

 

 

[Blatant abuse of entry denials at Phuket Airport]

33 minutes ago, Traubert said:

It's their law. They can break it as they see fit.

 

Ministries dont make laws, Governments do. Thailand is largely ungoverned. There's at least three reports on that fact here on TV every day. Plus it's common knowledge. There is no co-ordinated connection or policy between the Government and the Ministries, filtering down into the regions and provinces. That's why its a bun fight. Just like the west, the Civil Service runs the country.

 

But that's well known, and that's why the plaintive cries of 'why?' and 'what they need to do!' and the absurd suggestion a few pages back that they all should speak fluent English, and abide by the way we do it is risible.

 

You want to come to a third world country, expect third world.

 

Why that should be a problem eludes me. You'll get what you're given.

Awesome post and clarity, many people forget where they are, in a country run by a Military Junta, and they still want it to be like "back home". I came here to avoid that crap, I like the chaos, the Patronage thing, the Puu Yai thing, the pi/nong thing, the core rup chon, the respect given to older people, now that I get older, I like all this and more... and I have friends in high places, yep.. Government and Police, if I need some assistance, but I behave, I don´t act "farang monkey stupid" - as I call it, no way, I give respect, and usually get the same back, so I don´t understand all this complaining and whining when you relocate 10/15/20K Km/Miles away from your home country, to a 3rd World country - wake up, damn it..

 

 

[Extensions - BE WARNED - TM30 Required. 3 Queues. Disaster.]

Happy I moved from BKK 2 years ago before this insanity started... Nakhon Sawan IO is a breeze, small office, nice and smiling girls, but the final sign-off from the arrogant lady head honcho is a pain, no smiles, just an attitude like: Get the f... outahere..

 

 

[Updated bank book ok but want to see again in 3 months !]

25 minutes ago, madmen said:

Yep so many posting how they would never put a baht into a thai bank and always keep your cash back home

Fools and their money

Agree 100%.. Right now you pay for having money in the bank in EU! People don´t realize that Europe if finished, and the US too. Asia is the future, so we better get used to this situation, not easy, I know... 

[Unreliable Utilities]

Nong Krot north of Nakhon S. - power out last night for 6 hours, no generator... yet, but have considered it, because of endless unstable electricity. PEA? Gave up on these bastards long time ago: "You need talk to puu yai baan and collect 500 signed letters from people, then we will consider more transformer".

 

Bangkok political/taharn elite more busy with Thailand 4.0 - whatever that is, and highspeed trains, stupid as they are.. 

 

FIX THE CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE FIRST, YOU MORONS!!!

 

 

 

[Future Ex-Pats - Still planning to move to Thailand?]

Sure, lots of ways to find a good insurance.. I´m with these guys:

 

https://www.thaihealth.co.th/2012/product_simply_eng.php

 

 

[Future Ex-Pats - Still planning to move to Thailand?]

6 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Many people leave their home country to live abroad for various reasons. It changes quite a few plans if the Thai Government mandates health insurance which can only be purchased through Thai companies at ruinous prices, and cannot be obtained by anyone over 70 with pre-existing conditions. Still baffled?

"Ruinous prices"???? Typical thaivisa horror posting ...

 

K-bank has one with 500K cover @ 18.400 - can you afford that????

????

https://www.kasikornbank.com/en/personal/Insure/non-life/Pages/k-healthprotect.aspx

 

 

 

[Retirement renewal for 84 year old in Chiang Mai]

Been following many discussions here about the changes, and people whining and complaining, and IMO there´s massive trolling taking place..

 

I don´t complain, I have always followed the rules and had the needed cash or transfer to show. If people don´t comply, and don´t have the dough, then find somewhere else to live, instead of trolling this forum like crying babies, what is wrong with you all??

 

 

 

 

 

[Who really suffers]

5 hours ago, Thailand Outcast said:

I can actually understand why they appear indifferent, or disgusted.

 

Their country is being "occupied" except, by people with passports, instead of guns.  ????

 

The thing is, they rely on there occupiers for employment and investment etc.????

Occupied???

 

Thailand is a cheap whore, nothing else.  They slept with the US during the 60´s, sold out all national honor for that phony war next door, (did the same during WW2 with Japan, they ARE a rare breed, lying bastards) -  got a whole new country and infrastructure for that job, still does... CIA had/have waterboarding camps here, they fly in "terrorists" - and the Thai/Chinese elite mofu´s dont´care, they don´t care about anything, not you, not me, only money, they are Chinese you know?

 

So please don´t feel sorry for Thailand or the scumbags who rob, steal and f... this beautiful country, they don´t deserve any pity, only Karma will get them, sooner or later..

 

 

[My 10th retirement visa renewal]

31 minutes ago, Thailand Outcast said:

So, they judge a book by its cover.

 

What if such a person you describe parties hard every night at Nana Plaza, on the drink, and the women, because he can afford to? 

 

What is gained by kicking him out of the country? 

Of course they do, all Thai´s do that, it´s called "face" - or surface, what´s inside is not important..

 

Gained by kicking him out? Hahahaha! Personally I would like a deep clean of all Euro/US Cheap Charlie trash, let them party somewhere else, morons!

 

 

[My 10th retirement visa renewal]

2 hours ago, Dumbastheycome said:

After 15  consequ. renewals to date have never had an issue. 

Have witnessed  some others have  issues.

In over hear it is usually due to the attitude of the applicant initially or in adverse reaction to some question.

Even for a retirement extention a  formally  married partner who attempts to dominate the situation usually  turns nasty.

But that is only my observational opinion.

 

 

 

 

Agree 100%.. I´ve done about the same, at Div. 1. CW, never any problems, never.. But I´ve seen endless stupidity and arrogant attitudes, observing almost all creeds and colors, during the average 4 to 6 hours waiting time. If your paperwork is not OK, you stink and look like you just crawled out of Nana Pl., not shaven, not showered, in T-shirt, shorts and flip-flops (yup, I´ve seen such monsters) - then you ARE in for trouble..