General Reports

[The Pro]

You are talking Credit Cards. Yes, there is and always has been a charge for using a Credit Card in an ATM.

We are all on about Debit Cards (which use Visa system for the transaction but are Debit, as in withdraw directly from your bank account if you have cash in it).

The uproar is over the Thai B(w)ankers association who put a 150 Baht charge on to Debit Card withdrawels.

This is the issue, not Credit Cards its Debit Cards.

Do you guys realize, that the banks in your home country, be it Europe or USA, but especially USA, will charge you 3% "Foregn Currency Transaction Fee" or THB 500 on the typical USD 500 withdrawal? These include B of A, Wells Fargo and of course AMEX and the other CC Companies for normal CC charges.
Talk to them, before getting pissed over the 150 THB = USD 4,50 surcharge, which is ""only" 1%.

Btw. There are banks in Europe, who offer accounts with a "zero surcharge" foreign withdrawals. The promise to refund any fees imposed by the foreign bank, over which they have no control.

[LittleBigMan]

Fifty Fifty,

June 12th, today doing my daily list of running around Pattaya today. I stopped at a bunch of Bank of Ayuthay ( yellow machine ) using several cards all with Visa or M/C linked to my checking accounts. And here is what I found out about the Bank of Ayuthay.

Although one would expect the ATM, format should be the same on each ATM machine no matter where they are located even if they are on different levels in the same shopping mall but they all show different messages on their ATM.

Official exchange Rate today: 34.07

B.O.A. on South Pattaya Rd., Second Rd. near Big C., North Pattaya Nakua, Lower Level Carrefour, 7/11 Nonprue. These ATM, screen show this format requesting a 500 baht withdraw.

Amount Requested: 500 Baht.
Conversion? 15.31 USD
Exchange rate: 32.66

After you push yes.... you get this message that there is another charge of 150 baht on top of what you already was told above.

B.O.A. on 3rd Rd. outside of Carrefour, Upper level Carrefour ( differ from lower level ).

Did not get the screen message listed above.. it just said if you proceed you will be charged 150 baht for transaction.

The B.O.A. ATM, machine just inside Walking St.. located outside of the 7/11 and next to the BOH exchange booth which Fifty Fifty, mentioned didn't get any charges I couldn't confirm nor denied since when I put my card in the screen went blank so I cancelled the transaction. Based on the number of machines I used I doubt even if it didn't go blank I would have gotten a different response. All I can say is Fifty Fifty might have a magic card we should think about getting.

In the end, At Lotus I went to the ATM machine for Bangkok Bank ( blue ) that I normally used in the past and withdrew 3,000 baht and my statement shows a withdraw of $92.65 converted that is about 32.40 exchange rate which was listed at 34.07

So I'm beat from the heat and the ATM, in the end everyone got to decide what to do and whether it even matters to try to save enough money to get a Freelancer on Beach Rd. for 500 baht, or a dozen beer for the night, they got us Farangs by the balls with this charge.

Fresh Meat 2, refer to Fresh Meat 1, and get with the program. This conversation is only about " Foreign ATM Cards " not local cards.

LBM

[Opebo]

...I opened a bank account at the Siam Commercial Bank in soi 11, they gave me a atm card which I use whenever in Thailand, they do not charge me any fees!

Yes, of course I have a couple of Thai bank accounts myself - as no doubt do many of us who live and work here. But that doesn't do anything about the problem of getting money out of the Bad Place.

[LittleBigMan]

Daddy San,

I couldn't disagree with you more! If you think it's o.k. to pay the 3% knock yourself out! and if you have been paying that amount then you're getting ripped off or you should think about finding a new bank by being a better consumer. I personally have several cards that I use and they are all linked to a checking account. Washington Mutual, Chase, and a Credit Union and never have been charged 3% and I have been using them in Thailand for over 10 years. The only time I have personally heard someone being charged 3% is using a Credit Card for a purchases or cash advance plus another 1% for conversion. The most I ever got charged from my bank or credit union is just 1% for the amount that I requested. Five hundred USD, I will see a $5.00 charge from my checking statement.

I understand the amount is small and the Banks throughout the years have found ways to add charges but it doesn't mean we should take it laying down. There have been lawsuits throughout the years by consumer groups they have won some and lost some. The banks do this because they know the majority of people are like you.They except it and take it laying down because it a small amount to a individual. Look at their balance sheets and you'll be amazed at the millions and billions in profits. If the amount was larger like the amount you have to pay for taxes, Federal, State, and Local I'm sure you like me would be getting pissed!

LBM

[Nocal]

Do you guys realize, that the banks in your home country, be it Europe or USA, but especially USA, will charge you 3% "Foregn Currency Transaction Fee" or THB 500 on the typical USD 500 withdrawal? These include B of A, Wells Fargo and of course AMEX and the other CC Companies for normal CC charges.
Talk to them, before getting pissed over the 150 THB = USD 4,50 surcharge, which is ""only" 1%.

Btw. There are banks in Europe, who offer accounts with a "zero surcharge" foreign withdrawals. The promise to refund any fees imposed by the foreign bank, over which they have no control.

Not complaining about the fees, just sharing information. What this board is all about.

US banks all charge different fees. I have found that credit unions typically have the lowest, with some accounts waiving them altogether if you meet certain criteria. Have spoken to a branch manager and got fees waived or reduced just by asking.

As far as which B fo A atm, not sure of exact location but in Bkk off Silom or Sukhumvit.

[Crazykf]

Do you guys realize, that the banks in your home country, be it Europe or USA, but especially USA, will charge you 3% "Foregn Currency Transaction Fee" or THB 500 on the typical USD 500 withdrawal? These include B of A, Wells Fargo and of course AMEX and the other CC Companies for normal CC charges.

Yes I realized this "extortionate" fee on my last trip, 2.5% on each ATM withdrawal (European bank)!

Next time I'll take 500€ bills or maybe Traveller Cheques, does anyone use those in LOS, are they convenient?

[Daddy San]

Do you guys realize, that the banks in your home country, be it Europe or USA, but especially USA, will charge you 3% "Foregn Currency Transaction Fee" or THB 500 on the typical USD 500 withdrawal? These include B of A, Wells Fargo and of course AMEX and the other CC Companies for normal CC charges.
Talk to them, before getting pissed over the 150 THB = USD 4,50 surcharge, which is ""only" 1%.
Btw. There are banks in Europe, who offer accounts with a "zero surcharge" foreign withdrawals. The promise to refund any fees imposed by the foreign bank, over which they have no control.

[Frequent Flier]

The Thai press post pictures of dead bodies daily.

There is nothing wrong with a dead body, its the same as a live one but obviously dead.

There is nothing creepy about it, nothing wierd, nothing strange, nothing spooky.

Its only that in the past 50 years humans in so called "developed worlds" have been sheltered from viewing death and the dead that now there is a whole generation who are scared stiff to see a dead body and things its all rather gross.

Well, wake up. A dead body is just that, someone who has died. Its nothing special, nothing religious, its simply a human being, a type of animal on this planet, that has died.

What a stupid response.

My post said nothing about having a picture of just a dead body. It had nothing to do with the fact that it was just a dead person. If what you stated was true then the picture would not have had to been leaked out of the forensics office in Thailand. Just another dead person so who cares. Right?
Why go to extra measures to just show another dead body if it is no big deal?

It was the situation and privacy matter for the family I was speaking of ignoramus.

In fact a live body is nothing like a dead body. Man, Animal, Fish or otherwise. The very second a person dies the body begins chemical changes that a live body would never undertake. So your wrong on both instances flamer.

Get a life. My only reason for posting this was to see if anyone had seen the pictures and if the story was true. Having since seen that it was true it no longer matters.

Flame on flamer

[Redfield10]

Predictably an (independent) autopsy finds that David Carradine did not commit suicide.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,525866,00.html

Well, maybe not intentionally...

[Run Mann]

Predictably an (independent) autopsy finds that David Carradine did not commit suicide.


http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,525866,00.html

[Fifty Fifty]

Nocal,
If I may ask where are you using the ATM machine for the B of A, which should be the yellow ATM machine Kungrai. I'm in Pattaya and in the last 24 hours I have gone to no less than 6 of their ATM machines and all of them advise me that there was a 150 baht charge. Since I was just checking I decline. All the machines should be linked. Please provide location?

Thanks LBM

I have been using B of A ATMs in Pattaya all week and none have ever informed me of any charge. Most used is the one in Walking St at the shop on the right just opposite the entrance to Walking St Pub, tonight same thing, no charge.
For info I am using a Nationwide UK Flexaccount Debit Card to draw cash.

Cheers, FF

[LittleBigMan]

Nocal,
If I may ask where are you using the ATM machine for the B of A, which should be the yellow ATM machine Kungrai. I'm in Pattaya and in the last 24 hours I have gone to no less than 6 of their ATM machines and all of them advise me that there was a 150 baht charge. Since I was just checking I decline. All the machines should be linked. Please provide location?

Thanks LBM

[Fresh Meat 2]

I am a frequent traveler to LOS, for the same reasons as most of you. About 5 years ago I opened a bank account at the Siam Commercial Bank in soi 11, they gave me a atm card which I use whenever in Thailand, they do not charge me any fees!

As far as converting foreign currency into thai baht, there is a place on Sukhumvit that ALWAYS offers the best rate, I have forgotten its name, however it is easy to find.

Go to the entrance of soi 7/1, if you look to your left you will see subway, look to the right and this is the place, it is the first building on the right hand side entering the soi from Sukhumvit.

[Opebo]

As of this AM , was not charged a fee on Foreign ATM card at B of A machine.

Thing is, the exchange rate showed was about 1 baht less per USD than actual rate (32.93), so taking out less than $150 US was the only way it made sense, if I am adding correctly.

Yes, I find that the rate offered by the Bank of Ayuthia is very bad, but your post seems to assume that the other banks which do definitely charge the 150 baht fee give a better rate. They may charge the 150 and also give a rip-off exchange rate.

In any case it seems unlikely one will get out from under this persecution. Probably best to think in terms of 30 baht to the dollar rather than 33 or 34, in order to have a more realistic estimation of the cost of things given all the ripoffs.

[Nocal]

ATM'S

I can confirm what The Pro, has said in regards to the ATM Fee that the Bank of Aythaya ( yellow machine ). Just a week or so ago, Bank of Aythaya was the only major bank that wasn't charging the fee. But I can confirm that they are now charging 150 baht for any foreign ATM card. This happen to me at Carrefour/Pattaya... They do ask you after you put your amount whether you will except this fee? I also went to another ATM machine of Bank of Aythaya on the otherside of Sukhumvit thinking that they might not charge the fee but it did!

Now a warning the Bank of Aythaya doesn't give you a receipt... my next move is to do the transaction not in English but in Thai to see if the machine makes the charge. I noticed that Thai's that put in their cards and make a transaction get a receipt!

LBM

As of this AM , was not charged a fee on Foreign ATM card at B of A machine.

Thing is, the exchange rate showed was about 1 baht less per USD than actual rate (32.93), so taking out less than $150 US was the only way it made sense, if I am adding correctly.