General Reports

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.

[QUOTE=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.[/QUOTE]

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

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.

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:

[url]http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/4073250/Love_Me_Long_Time_-_Sex_Tourism_in_Thailand_%5BDivX%5D.avi[/url]

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

review:[url]http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/jun/12/film-review-soi-cowboy[/url]

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

Enjoy

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.

[QUOTE=Crazykf]Next time I'll take 500€ bills or maybe Traveller Cheques, does anyone use those in LOS, are they convenient?[/QUOTE]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.

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.

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

I am using a UK based Debit card, but this is the B of A (Krung Siri) ATM's in Bangkok.

Perhaps they have decided to not charge where highly vocal expats are who might write on many internet forums and cause them embaressment.

But where there are lots of tourists who know no better (eg Pattaya) then they charge there? Might just be a decision to hit toursits only now (and of course any expats in Pattaya, but thats what you get for living in a tourist zone and most do not).

This charge is totally the Thai Bankers Association making up the rules. Visa/Mastercard have said its not them, so there is no excuse for the TBA to be charging it, apart from they want to make more money.

Lets not forget, all foreigners in Thailand with bank accounts get 0% interest, that nice little rule was bought in by the TBA a few years ago.

Thailand is getting more and more anti-foreigner, and this will continue whilst the Yellow shirt sponsers are pulling the strings behind the scenes.


So I do not know how to answer, maybe its just US Debit cards and UK/Euro ones are ok?

Maybe its just the TBA ruling only applies to tourist places now?

Anyway for me and my debit cards, no charges in UOB machines, and Kring Siri (B of A) machines.

[QUOTE=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[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=The Pro]Thailand is getting more and more anti-foreigner, and this will continue whilst the Yellow shirt sponsers are pulling the strings behind the scenes.[/QUOTE]

While I of course agree that Thailand is anti-foreigner and growing more so every day, I think that the opposition ('red shirts') hate us just as much as the yellows.

I used a yellow Bank of Ayoothea ATM just yesterday and there was no 150 baht charge listed on the receipt or mentioned on the screen. I took out 10,000 baht and was given a rate of 32.7, which is obviously a kind of rip-off rate. I hate to take out such enormous amounts all at once as it makes one at terrible risk of being robbed, but given the risk of fees - hidden or otherwise - I felt I had no choice.

Once again fellas, I would like the location of the machine you used to check it out with my card. As I noted in my travel throughout Pattaya the other day inside the tourist area and on the otherside of Sukhumvit which many of you don't have any idea what it looks like. And the result not one machine Yellow didn't one way or another ask for the 150 fee! On some screen it list the amount you are requesting in baht, translate it into dollars and then tells you the exchange rate. It doesn't show the fee 150 on this screen only when you want to continue that the next screen tell you that there is a 150 fee!

So please identify the machine and location... because LBM, has been all over the tourist area, Jomtien, Naklua, Nonprue, Sattihip, Ban Saray. As for UOB machine I can't even locate one! Also if you know one identify the location and I will track it down when I return from the U.S. in a few weeks.

Thanks, LBM

Hi guys, sorry to ask such a simple question but I have not been to Thailand for a few years and have always brought cash. I am thinking that maybe I should bring more traveler's check this time since crime is getting pretty bad.

Does Thailand (Bangkok) accept Traveler's check or is cash still more preferred when exchanging US$ into Thai? Does cash get a better rate at the banks and money exchange booth than Traveler's check?

I stop using Traveler's check since I had problem using them in other countries, like bad exchange rates vs cash, not accepting them without a waiting period, etc.

My current bank (Bank of America) debt card charges $5 plus 1% for each transaction in a foreign ATM plus whatever the foreign ATM charges which can add up if I keep taking out small amounts.

From reading the forum and searching, it seems that Chase Bank's debt card is pretty reasonable in their foreign ATM fees so I am looking to see if I have Chase Bank here. Thanks for any help.

[QUOTE=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.

-snip-
[/QUOTE]

Who said I think it's ok to pay the 3% fee??
But all(?) the (US-)CC companies have it in their General Terms and Conditions, at least the ones I have do. (AMEX, Chase, Wells Fargo). So if I want to charge to one of those accounts, I have little choice.
I am not absolutely sure, that the Wells Fargo ATM card has the same fee, because when I tried to use that one last January, they simply blocked it on suspicion of fraud, even though I had notified them previously that I would be travelling in SE Asia at that time!.
I merely wanted to draw attention to the 2-3% foreign transaction fee, which usually far exceeds the 150 THB everybody is bitching and moaning about.

[QUOTE=LittleBigMan]Once again fellas... please identify the machine and location...[/QUOTE]

I don't remember exactly but it would have had to have been on Buakoaw, Pattaya Klang, Second road or that road which runs between Buakaow and Second road, you know where they have the Kiss restaurant.

[QUOTE=Csun213]Does Thailand (Bangkok) accept Traveler's check or is cash still more preferred when exchanging US$ into Thai? Does cash get a better rate at the banks and money exchange booth than Traveler's check?

I stop using Traveler's check since I had problem using them in other countries, like bad exchange rates vs cash, not accepting them without a waiting period, etc.[/QUOTE]The following posts in this thread recently spoke of TCs, 2844, 2847 and 2848.

The rates for TCs are quite good, so no worries there.

[QUOTE=Opebo]...that road which runs between Buakaow and Second road, you know where they have the Kiss restaurant.[/QUOTE]
That would be Soi Diana Inn.