nidnoyham

I sometimes wonder, if Governments world wide, tell all banks to make money transfer to other countries as expensive as they can to disourage it. Or the banks are just greedy bastards, making money for old rope. The two biggest buildings in Docklands, London are next to each other, Barclays ans HSBC. They don't produce as much as a darning needle between them. Banks I 'ate 'em.

Thanks elef. That's a few bob to find !

My mates retirement visa is due for renewal in June, he is not sure how much he needs in Thai bank. He seems to think because the bah tis stronger he needs abaout 3 times last years amount. I have a feelng a bit of shuffling of money may be required.

What time of the month do you avoid this airline ? :-)

Thats the name of the place ! KN Travel along past Honey Lodge. GF is going there tomorrow. We have bought tickets there before. But will punt around for best deal. Thanks.

Thanks lads, I think it will have to be a direct flight for a Thai passport holder. It would meen getting transit visas for stopovers. Thunder I too am concerned about medical insurance. Then I go to the local A&E and wait behind the rest of the world to see a doctor ??? !!! Don't think they pay £80 an hour either. Might give BUPA a call. Christ, everyone wants to sell insurance nowadays, might ask at Tesco.

O.K the GF got the visa, dated from last week, she is at home for the new year and will be back in Pattaya Sunday. Monday she will be searching for a 6 month ticket BKK/LHR/BKK. Last time we bought one, we trapsed around from Agent to Agent, only to find the price was all about a 100bht difference betweem them. Any ideas from you blokes ? I know we are aproaching the off season, but do you think anyone really has cheaper tickets than anyone else ? Any info gratefully received NNH

Every time I try to add a smiley to my post, it brings up a new empty message box, this can be rectified by clicking on the back arrow, which puts me back to the message I am writing. No big deal but the smileys do help make a point.

Money isn't the only consideration. How many multi millionaires like Frank Sinatra and now Barbera Striesand, have made come backs after retirement ? I think it's her 5th. Some people can't handle the life change. I was watching a Fools and Horses episode where they had become millionaires. Del was fed up with walking around his big house playing snooker alone. He went back to their old flat, to have a last look at the place. His brother asked him why he was so down and unhappy. He relpied, that he missed the exitement of trading, living on a knife edge, ducking and diving, wheal

Perhaps, when he claws back his o/drft, he will be O.K. and survive on his pension. He has no property at home, the house is rented, in fact his kids shouldn't be living there without him in residence, his bank account is in joint names with his missus...need I go on ? I just wanted to point out, that when you move that far away, it is harder to change things, like your bank account, direct debits, or appear in court to help in a divorce case. All your planning must be done before you leave, or have funds to commute home when things crop up. We are all different, it is not just

Bob 2005 I am aware of his mistakes and his needs. I have talked to him about cancelling the tax he pays at home, going home for his health, getting online for his banking, etc etc etc. He is not easy to convince. He is the proverbial brick wall. I think he sees it as a failure, to go home. I didn't mention he has a d/debit for credit cards too, about £60 a month. I posted this story, not to sort out his problems, but as a warning to others. who may follow suit. Learn from others mistakes, you havn't got time to make them all yourself. I have learned not to use my Barclays accoun

Put some money in his account today, was quoted 63.1 baht to GBP + 2.75% visa + £1.50 atm charge- Barclays are a rip off ! Torenova, I have told him all that, the trouble is he only has his pension now, lives hand to mouth, so charges are unavoidable. Anyone thinking they can just about afford to retire out there- think again. IT'S A BLOODY LONG WAY FROM HOME.

In answer to as many questions as pos' Yes it was early retirement, most of us told him to stay at work, but the Company could have folded and we would have lost our benefits. He has a Thai bank account, but transfer from U.K expensive. U.K banks are questioning transfers to Los, now that so many people are moving money there. I have told him to get online banking set up, but I don't think he is going to, just getting statementd sent to LOS. He is only 54, so will not have full N.I contributions, which will affecthis pension at 65. He moved to LOS because he could not live o

My mate retired same time as me, he was never very good at keeping in the black with the bank while working. Now 3 years later, his lack of planning, has found him rather skint. When he recieved his retirement forecast 3 years ago, he worked out that he could live in LOS on his pension. Unfortunately, he didn't allow for inflation, currency fluctuation and bank charges. His pension, is paid into his Barclays account in the U.K. He makes withdrawals at the ATM near his home in Pattya. All corespondance from his bank goes to his old address in England, where his kids live and he can't c

Buy an extra gallon when you top up your car, by May you should have enough to take along for them to use- might get an upgrade too. Not sure if unleaded is best, or deisel. :-) Nah I think someone said it is ony until this week. Just a joke, welcome to the board.

Hmm , well, anyway, I think it is the evening flights TG917/ BR068 that may be diverting for fuel. My mate went on TG911 yesterday direct. I am going for the same flight next Thursday.

Some Ferangs, just won't take your word for it !

That was in the good old days. Try getting free dentistry in U.K. Many people are travelling to Poland and such places, for treatment and surgery. What happened to my 40 years of Tax contributions ? At least when you go private, you are charged a fee for just you, I've been paying for others. If I could have opted out of N.Insurance payments and gone private for my family, I would have. How do you blokes with previous heart problems get insured ? Saw a few people last year in the corinary unit, it looked expensive.

When is it ? I will give it another try this year. After watching Brentford beat Sunderland Saturday, I am in the mood for something more relaxing. Don't know if I will last the trip, but gonna give it a go.

I thought this thread was about Ballooning to LOS.

Well, I would think paying you 0.1% interest on your current account, that has your sallary going through it. Giving you 2-4/% for your savings account ballance, while charging some poor sod up to 12% for borrowing your money, would make a tidy sum. Then there is the earnings from stocks & shares, where most cash is held, instead a safe in the bank. I believe Barclays and others invest in the U.S market at the close of business in the U.K. They have just come out with a pre- pay card aimed at 13 year olds to use for shopping. the card cost £9.95 with 85p for every ATM withdrawal, £

Alan Does this mean, you used to be a Barclays Banker ? :-)

I suppose this post is opposite to mine about banks letting you go into the red. i want them to stop paying, if the money runs out, but they don't.

Uptome Were the large transactions made in U.K ? What is large ? My mate got back from LOS once to find a letter from his bank, asking him to confirms a transactions of £500 in 2 days in LOS. He phoned them to confirm it was him taking the money, but allways wondered what would have happened if he said no it wasn't him ?

Thanks plahgat, I was thinking, who in Pattaya wants a single room ? I was as concerned about the size of the room, as well as the bed. I feel a lot happier now.