It has long been my practice to have as little to do with any government department as humanly possible be it Australia or Thailand.
At the risk of boring some to illustrate the point. Before leaving Australia I decided to have my son registered with all my utilities and bills so that he was able to ask any questions of the billers that may arise whilst I am in LOS. It consisted mainly of me identifying myself and having my sons name and phone number registered with the various companies. Relatively quick and painless.
Then came the local council. "Sorry that can only be done on our website" I go to website and cant find it so I ring back. "you have to register with a login to access that page."
I register and still cant find it and ring back. "You have to register a separate login to download the form in the forms section" I register.
A signature is required so I have to print out the form. I print out and fill out the form. There is no facility to email the form back. Ring again. "you have to bring it in to the office or mail it to us with registered mail."
That gets me to yesterday and a long trip to immigration at C Wattana.
Lady Cow being the efficient office manager that she is had already printed out the forms and done the neccessary photo copies and had everything in hand Including my passport complete with retirement visa stamp. The last hurdle being the supply of my residential address.
Finally called to the cubicle. Lady Cow presents all the papers and it is looking like I may get through the whole process seamlessly and without hardly uttering a word to any government official other than Cop Khun. Aparently one previous innocuous stamp a couple of pages down in my passport was not photo copied so off to the photo copier and then back to the queue.
"Why did you get your visa in Pattaya when your residential address is Bangkok?" (I'm paraphrasing) Lady Cow explained I used a visa agent who was highly reccomended by a good friend. "Where is your form for your hotel stay?" What form. (She shows me a copy). I explain "I didnt know I needed one and the hotel did not provide one and besides I am not registered at the bangkok address as there is no longer an immigration form filled out at entry into Thailand. "Did you show them your passport?" Yes. "You need this form. You can get the form and come back when you have it." Lady Cow repeats in thai what I have said in English. How I could not have known this and why was it not the responsibilitiy of the hotel? Of course that was greeted by a deadpan expression. Lady Cow says "Give me 800 baht". "What for?" I ask. "Just give me 800 baht we can talk later." I give her 800 baht. I didnt even mention that the place concerned was run by a Russian husband and wife team who needed a phone translator just to ask me when I would be checking out.
Well the saga of the 800 baht will be known by many of you without me going through a convoluted explanation.
With me in tow mumbling about government departments etc etc. She said, "do you really want to get the form, come back another day and spend another day here or just pay 800 baht? I bowed to her greater wisdom. In the knowledge that I would not to return again in the near future and face some government inspired insanity once again.(Or is that just a foolish hope?)