British Embassy Survey

The British Embassy is conducting a survey of retired British nationals living in Thailand
Closing date 30th November
http://ukinthailand.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=PressR&id=653358582

This is a golden opportunity to get our views and needs noted by the Embassy.

Question E5 asks for suggestions.

I think it would be most useful to have UK Consular services at Udon or Khon Kaen at least one day a week. If we don't ask we won't get.

If you know of other sites where this could be posted please do so. The more information the Embassy has about the needs of British nationals in the North East the better.

Be careful sometimes these "surveys" are only a way of finding out more about you . I have never had any positive feedback on previous ones I filled in . In fact , shortly after completing one a few years ago, I got some old parking ticket reminders sent me . Coincidence? I don't think so .

I'd agree with you Trubrit.

My overall impression of the survey was that the constructors of it are out of touch with the realities of living in LOS, but I guess many already know due to the shoddy way services are provided to british citizens.

No name, no address, no passport number = no risk

But you do have a chance to explain why you think services are shoddy and suggest how they could be improved.

I'm not Brit but some food for thought:
The American Embassy sends folks to Udon a few times per year to help out with passport renewals, income certifications, notary, birth certificate applications, etc. For me, the less I have to go to Bangkok the better.....and judging by the 60-75 people who take advantage of their visit each time, I'd guess they are of the same opinion.
When I ops initial post, I thought, 'maybe the UK embassy is thinking of providing the same services for its citizens in Udon'. Of course, on the other hand, they might be trying to nail down its citizens for late parking tickets as well....part of its austerity program. Just my 2 baht worth.

kumphawapi wrote:No name, no address, no passport number = no risk

But you do have a chance to explain why you think services are shoddy and suggest how they could be improved.

You have some good points but before the govt. changed many of the services I'd have thought the survey should have been done then and not after changing the services, cart before the horse comes to mind.

In terms of no name etc. the amount of information requested would provide a forensic survey analyst (there are such people and job titles) enough information to greatly increase the risk, however, I guess no foul no penalty if you think that way or perhaps I'm just suspicious of such information gathering techniques and body behind it.

When I came here several years ago, I was asked by the Embassy to register my details with them "In case of emergency etc:"
Since that date, I havn't heard a word from them. They have my address, they have my phone number, they have my e-mail address ........ my next of kin etc etc;
If they REALLY wan't to survey the Brits in Thailand why don't they contact us properly and ask?

I think on it's own it appears fairly innocuous but in this computer age, combine the info gathered with that from say Facebook, other social sites, plus the info from credit cards, store cards even frequent flyer cards then you are giving a lot of your personal data away. In case some may think I am being paranoid let me give you details of things that have happened to me over the years. I was being investigated for underpayment of income tax, they actually got a print out of my store loyalty cards. They could tell me what whisky I liked, even what brand of tomato sauce I used .They even knew whether I paid cash or used a credit card . Another time my frequent flyer card revealed I had sat next to the same person , who was being investigated for something , on two occasions and I was questioned as to my involvement. I couldn't even remember him, once yet alone twice . So all these innocent surveys etc, can come back and kick you up the butt in ways we wouldn't even think about .Avoid them like the plague .

if you are worried about them collecting personal information, use a new email address to send it back. Also, you do not have to tell the whole truth - can change a few things. Like parrot says, it would be nice to have an outreach service - there must be more Brits than Yanks these days in Udon. No feedback, no change.

rick wrote:if you are worried about them collecting personal information, use a new email address to send it back. Also, you do not have to tell the whole truth - can change a few things. Like parrot says, it would be nice to have an outreach service - there must be more Brits than Yanks these days in Udon. No feedback, no change.

Do you actually think they give a dam?
There's far more Brits in Bkk and the Islands than up here, and they don't care about those, so what makes yo think they would take any notice of those of us in the stix.

As far as I'm concerned they made it perfectly clear when they moved to Hong Kong that the taxes etc that I've paid all my life didn't entitle me to any type of service from my Govt.