What Clients Say About Working With Suvarna Counsel
Pension matters are rarely straightforward. These are some of the people who have trusted us with theirs.
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A selection of experiences shared by clients from different backgrounds and circumstances.
I had been trying to resolve a contribution dispute with the SSO on my own for about eight months. The entitlement review that Suvarna Counsel produced was the first document I received that actually explained my legal position in plain terms. I finally understood what I was entitled to and why. The dispute representation that followed was handled quietly and professionally — no drama, just steady progress.
My pension was calculated using the wrong employment period — four years of contributions from my first employer were not included. Suvarna Counsel prepared the documents and correspondence to correct this. Khun Prasoet explained each step to me before it happened, which helped a great deal. The matter took seven months in total, but the outcome was what it should have been.
The entitlement review was thorough and very clear. What I appreciated most was that Nadia explained both the Thai Social Security side and the interaction with my French pension — something no one else had been able to do. The written summary gave me everything I needed. My only observation is that the initial appointment took about two weeks to schedule, which was understandable given what I was told about their caseload.
My case went to the Labour Court — something I had not anticipated. Khun Wanchai was calm and well-prepared at every hearing. What I remember most is that before the first hearing, he sat with me for about an hour and walked through what would happen and what I should expect. That kind of preparation makes a difference when you are sitting in a court for the first time.
I was referred to Suvarna Counsel by a friend who had used them the previous year. My situation involved both Thai Social Security contributions from two decades of teaching at international schools and a question about my Australian superannuation. The review was the clearest explanation of the overall picture I had ever received. Genuinely useful — not just legal jargon.
My pension had been denied on the basis that my employer had not submitted contributions correctly during certain years. I was very worried that I would have no recourse. Suvarna Counsel found the contribution records, traced the employer's filing history, and prepared a formal dispute file. The administrative review was resolved without going to court. I am relieved and grateful.
Case Studies
Three client journeys, summarised with identifying details adjusted for privacy.
Case 1 — Contribution History Gap, Foreign Retiree
A European national who had worked in Thailand for 22 years found, upon retirement, that 6 years of contributions were absent from his SSO record. His former employer had changed its registration number during a corporate restructuring, leaving a gap in the official records.
Suvarna Counsel obtained historical employer registration records, cross-referenced pay slips and tax filings, and prepared a formal evidentiary file for an SSO administrative review. The case required three rounds of correspondence before the authority accepted the records.
The contribution gap was acknowledged and corrected. The client's monthly pension entitlement increased by approximately 28% from the initially assessed figure. Total time from engagement to resolution: 9 months.
Case 2 — Pension Denial, Thai National with Multi-Employer History
A Thai national who had worked across five employers over 30 years received a pension denial on the grounds of insufficient qualifying contributions. The SSO record did not reflect contributions from her first two employers, both of which had since closed.
The firm traced records through the Department of Business Development, located surviving payroll records from one employer's liquidation documents, and submitted a formal petition for record correction. When the administrative review was unsuccessful, the matter was brought before the Labour Court.
The Labour Court ordered the SSO to accept the contribution records from both closed employers. The client's pension was approved with retroactive effect from her original application date. Duration: 14 months from initial engagement to judgment.
Case 3 — Cross-Border Entitlement Review, Australian Retiree
An Australian who had worked in Thailand for 17 years before retiring wished to understand his Thai Social Security pension entitlement and how it interacted with his Australian superannuation. He had received conflicting information from both authorities.
Suvarna Counsel prepared a comprehensive entitlement review covering Thai SSO contributions, the applicable pension calculation formula, and the documentation required by the Australian Tax Office and Centrelink for overseas pension declarations.
The client received a written summary clarifying his entitlement under both systems. No dispute was necessary — the review resolved the confusion and gave him the documentation he needed. Engagement duration: 3 weeks.
Reach Suvarna Counsel
47/12 Sukhumvit Road
Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110
Mon–Fri: 9:00–17:30
Sat: 10:00–13:00 (appt.)
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Recommended — Expat Legal Bangkok 2024
Listed among specialist legal practices for foreign retirees in Bangkok.