Money of all things

[cybers1b 8]

Yes, 25,000 Euro is a typo, meant 2,500, sorry for that.

 

I carry a (MasterCard) CC-card with the ATM part, from the HSBC offshore Bank Isle of Jersey, with a daily withdraw limit of 2,500 Euro/by day, worldwide.

 

I am living in Pattaya since 21 years and have a Siam Commercial Gold-Card (MasterCard) including ATM, without having a Working Permit, 3-months ago I upgraded my daily ATM limit on this card to 100,000 Baht via the online banking system from Siam Commercial. The top limit one can select on a Gold-Card (Thai or Farang) is 250,000 Baht/day.

 

Beware that the CC-part of this Gold-Card (MasterCard) is in reality a Debit-Card and not a Credit-Card, meaning funds have to be on the account to use it to pay restaurant-bills, shopping and airline-tickets. I can use this Thai-Card worldwide as well to pay for services as an ATM-Card.

 

The part that You need a "Work Permit" to obtain a Thai CC-card, is simply a general guidance-rule by the "National Bank Of Thailand" and not a law, any Bank-Director can over-rule this guidance, by signing and guaranteeing you, even allowing you a Gold-Card, if you are well known in Thai society and your account is in a good standing order since many years.

 

Never forget that in Thailand it is absolutely not important "What You Know" but much more important "Who You Know".

 

Cheers,

So in fact you have a debit card from the Siam Commercial Bank and not a Credit Card which is something completely different. Did I understand that right? A debit card like any Visa Electron CArd for example, is omething that you can get with any savings account and also use worldwide as long as there is money on your account.

 

A Credit Card however is something different, at least the way I see it. With a credit card (as the name suggests) there is no need for any money to be in your account and you still can pay with it, right? And i doubt that a Thai Bank will give a Credit Card out to farangs that easily. So, Debit Card, sure, everybody get's one, maybe not a golden one but who cares about teh color if you have the money?

 

So, just for my own understanding. Do you have a Siam Commercial Bank Debit Card or Credit Card?

 

cheers

cyber

[Bad mr frosty 0]

I plan on just using my ATM card when I`m in Pattaya. Are they any banks to avoid due to high charges or any to recommend due to low charges? Do ATM`s generally have a English language option?

 

Thanks!

[dotcom_OD 0]

There are bank atm's just before walking street on Beach Road and several inside the Royal Garden Plaza mall beside the Marriott Hotel.

As far as charges they all vary but the norm is usually anywhere from $.75-$1.50 per transaction. That is negligible since you are better paying transaction fee over exchange fee at the exhange windows.

 

Also there are English options on the displays so don't worry.

[cowboy 0]

On my trip in july I was checking excahnge rates. The best rate i saw was for travelors checks. The rate I got for $100 U S bills was the next best rate. The exchange rate from my bank was a little less than the $100 bill rate.

[Emil 0]

On my trip in july I was checking excahnge rates. The best rate i saw was for travelors checks. The rate I got for $100 U S bills was the next best rate. The exchange rate from my bank was a little less than the $100 bill rate.  

I did the same thing about a 1 1/2 years back out or curiosity and discovered the same thing. The T/C's had the best exchange rate but if you had to pay an exchange fee per T/C then the 50/100 bills provided the best return. If your cashing a $500 T/C then that would be your best option. My analysis assumed no purchase fees for the T/Cs, if you have to pay a fee for the T/Cs then you have to factor that in.

Edited August 1, 2005 by Emil

[mister_handy 124]

I usually bring a minimal amount of cash, plus two ATM cards and a credit card... the last for emergencies if neither ATM card is OK here. For minimal amount of cash, that means enough once changed for hotel deposit, trip to Pattaya, and other first night expenses etc... typically about $250 or so... I'll usually change most of that at the airport in the automated machines and save a little bit ($20-30) for cash at the non-Thai airports on my way back home.

[wilnor41 0]

Hi doolish and others,

Can you tell me where you can cash your travellers cheques without having to carry your passport every time. The place where you receive a receipt so you not have to keep showing and carrying passport each time.

[deleted member 0]

Travellers checks usually do have the best rate of exchange but only if you don't have to pay a fee to get them. If you walk into an American express store here in the US, they will charge you a fee of 1% of the TC amount. If you can get the TC's without a fee as some, but not all banks do, then they are the way to go.

Also, American Ex has a new travellers check card that is loaded with an amount of funds before you go and then used at ATM's in the country you travel to. It can be replaced if lost or stolen just like TC's. Currently Bangkok Bank ATM's are the only ones that accept them but there are plenty of those.

http://www10.americanexpress.com/sif/cda/p...41,18622,00.asp