General Reports

[LittleBigMan]

The Pro,

Without being too personal, what kind of debit card are you using and where is it from and what is the location of the ATM, yellow machine if in Pattaya are you using?

I have used a debit card, a credit card Visa that gives me access to my checking account in case I lose the debit card. I have also use 2 debit cards issued by Washington Mutual and a Chase bank companies and no matter where in Pattaya I have used a ATM, ( yellow ) I have been asked to pay the 150 baht and that has been no less that 12 Plus ATM ( yellow ). If in Pattaya, I can tell you I have traveled more miles on my motorbike that maybe all of your guys put together and I haven't found 1 machine that hasn't ask me to pay the fee!

Maybe it's my card? I just don't know but am rather frustrated and have not problem meeting anyone that tells me that their not getting charge! But I leaving tomorrow for the U.S. but will return in 3 weeks and will continue my search?

As with Fifty Fifty response that the machine just inside Walking St,,, didn't charge him which might be his card from his bank in U.K.? I still couldn't verify with my cards since when I went by this morning I place my cards in and each time I had to wait 2-3 minutes and then got a response from the machine that it couldn't process my transaction that the machine declare a " Time out " WTF.

LBM

[PinkPearl]

I found if you use Travellers Cheques they will charge you in LOS a flat rate per cheque when you change them into Thai currency. So two 500 dollar cheques will cost you less in exchange fees that ten 100 dollar cheques.

[PinkPearl]

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

In BKK's tourist area around NEP there are many exchangers. These include hotels and banks, etc. So it is extremely convenient, and I believe it would be the same in Pattaya.

Hotels btw will probably not give you the best rate.

Your bank in your home cuntry may charge you to purchase TCs. Mine does unless one has certain accounts that waive fees for such things.

[The Pro]

Just did a check and the Kriung Siri (B of A) ATM's are not charging 150 baht.

Was not even asked this time.

Took out the cash, checked by online banking and the exchange rate was perfect.

So the Yellow ones are still ok for "DEBIT" cards.

Have not tried a Credit Card as I would never use a Credit Card to advance cash - far too expensive and too many charges.

[Artful]

Thought the members might like to know about a couple of Thai-related movies I recently came across:

Love Me Long Time - Sex Tourism in Thailand - 30 min doc - PirateBay link:

http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/4073...%5BDivX%5D.avi

and an upcoming art-house movie from a British director called Soi Cowboy:

review:http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/...iew-soi-cowboy

trailer on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2xJAsr2vO8

Enjoy

[David 2]

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

I think they're the most convenient way to carry money. I maintain a $100 balance in a Chase free checking account and there is no fee for American Express Travellers Checks. (The normal fee is 1 to 2 percent at other banks)

The exchange rate is LOS is almost always the best, and there is no danger of loss because they are replaced immediately. The hotel that I stay in has a currency exchange right on premises, so it's a piece of cake to change them to any currency desired.

[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...