Nationwide flex up to 2% + £1

[Irish boy 67]

Thanks for the reply.I take it by 30 day standard Visa you mean a Visa you got from the Embassy/consulate and not the 30 day stamp you get on arrival in Los.I ask this because their are conflicting stories/experiences being posted ,irish boy mentioned that he had no problem opening a Kasikorn Bank account without a Visa and some people are saying you need to show a Visa? I imagine it's possibly 'Hit and Miss' and each branch may be different depending who you are dealing with.

 

No, 30 day stamp in Passport is all you need with Kasikorn. To be honest, i don't even remember them looking at the Stamp, just took my personal details from the Passport.

[Bazle 1,450]

No, 30 day stamp in Passport is all you need with Kasikorn. To be honest, i don't even remember them looking at the Stamp, just took my personal details from the Passport.

Same same.

[THE_DRUID 21]

I applied for my clarity card online, and it approved me, i have received the pin number but not the card yet, i also have a Halifax visa credit card but haven't used it for 6 months as i have better cards,

so i don't know if you might be worth applying online ??

 

As i mentioned when i called into my local branch they told me you can't have more than one C/C issued by the Halifax(unless one C/C issued by The Halifax was a Charity C/C) so i would have to close the C/C i have at the moment then apply for a Clarity Card in 30 days time!!!

 

Then i phoned The Halifax and they told me that i don't have to wait 30 days but reiterated that i would only be able to hold One C/C issued by The Halifax(unless i had another C/C with them which was a Charity card) and that if i wanted to apply for the Clarity C/C then they would De-activate my existing C/C until i know whether or not i am accepted for a Clarity card.If i am not eligible for a Clarity card then they will re-activate my current C/C and i would be able to continue to use it.So this is what i have done i applied on the phone and they told me that they weren't able to give me an instant decision,they gave me a Reference number and told me to call them back in 48 hrs(which is tomorrow) when they will let me know if i've been accepted for the Clarity Card.

 

So again conflicting information given out by different departments.

[THE_DRUID 21]

No, 30 day stamp in Passport is all you need with Kasikorn. To be honest, i don't even remember them looking at the Stamp, just took my personal details from the Passport.

 

 

Same same.

 

Thanks Irish boy and Bazle for confirming.I will definitely try to aply for a Bank account at the Kasikorn next time i'm in Funtown in October.

[Guest speedbonnieboat]

The Nationwide Debit card is a Visa debit card and it uses the Visa corporate floating exchange rate (rather than the banks arse ripping exchange rates) The live rate can be checked at visa europes web site.

 

Does anyone know where the Halifax Calrity card will take its exchange rate from as it is a Mastercard not Visa.

 

 

Thanks

SBB

[Anfield 8]

Thanks for that info Irish boy. Kasikorn sounds like its the one to go for if i decide to open a Bank Account in Los.I can live with leaving only a small amount in the account and the yearly charge of 200 Baht.Which Branch in Pattaya of The Kasikorn do you suggest?I believe their is stilll an ATM withdrawal charge.True? if so how much per transaction is it? also i hear if you use the card in a different province to where you opened your account in,then their is a charge.Is this true? If so how much is the charge?

I have only paid a charge when withdrawing money away from Pattaya and I think it was 20 baht . You may also get charged if you do not use kaiskorn ATM.

 

I have an accunt at the Halifax and if transfer money to Thailand via internet the charge is £9.50 usually takes 2 days . Make sure you request money to be sent in Stirling .

 

I get Travellers cheques at Barclays Bank where there is no charge for Stirling t/cs largest one is £200. you do have to buy some currency which my branch lets me order 100 baht for which the rate is about 4 baht less than Thailand.

[Regyai 414]

. Make sure you request money to be sent in Stirling .

 

 

Why does the money have to go via Scotland ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

[jacko 8,775]

SCB Charge me a flat 1,000 baht for receiving money from the UK.

Bangkok Bank charged 500 baht on my latest transfer, 50.815 is their current TT rate, while SCB rate is 50.85.

I was wondering how SCB always managed to be slightly higher.

[THE_DRUID 21]

The Nationwide Debit card is a Visa debit card and it uses the Visa corporate floating exchange rate (rather than the banks arse ripping exchange rates) The live rate can be checked at visa europes web site.

 

Does anyone know where the Halifax Calrity card will take its exchange rate from as it is a Mastercard not Visa.

 

 

Thanks

SBB

 

Can't confirm whether the Halifax Clarity card Take it's ex rate from the following link but i done a search and it's the only Mastercard Currency converting tool i came up with.

 

Mastercard Currency Conversion Tool

[atlas2 4,329]

I change up 250,000 baht a time using my Flex acc debit card and place it straight into my Thai account. I did so yesterday............. A quick phone call by the girl and a debit slip pops out of the machine. I sign, add address, and they take a copy of my passport. I asked the charge for this as I've never found one in statements either end. She said, '3%'............. I said, 'What, that's about 7000 bt!' She said, 'Charge for credit card.' I said, not a credit, debit card.' She said, 'Oh then free'

 

I've done this about 6 times.......Good exchange rate from NW and I've yet to see any charge. I use SCB.

 

Can change up to 990,000 baht a day in one transaction but is more involved and requires faxes and such. I've done amounts from 600 to 700,000. Took 10 minutes.

 

I've deposited 2 SWIFT forms at my NW branch in England for large amounts should I ever have problems this end. But the charge for that is about £20 each I believe.

 

I'd advise anyone to enquire this method with your Thai bank....They may all have different procedures.

[Bazle 1,450]

Yesterday, I converted £2,000 into Baht and got 101,104 Baht - a rate of 50.552055. No other charges involved. It was done very simply - by on-line transfer from my HSBC UK account to my HSBC Thailand account.

[jacko 8,775]

Yesterday, I converted £2,000 into Baht and got 101,104 Baht - a rate of 50.552055. No other charges involved. It was done very simply - by on-line transfer from my HSBC UK account to my HSBC Thailand account.

This sounds like a way to go and has been recommended before.

Since HSBC ATM machines are not found in Pattaya, how do you now go about getting cash and what is the cost?

[Bazle 1,450]

This sounds like a way to go and has been recommended before.

Since HSBC ATM machines are not found in Pattaya, how do you now go about getting cash and what is the cost?

All ATMs can be used. There is usually a charge of 10 or 15 Baht. It seems to be the same as I get using my Kasikorn card.

[Bazle 1,450]

Can't confirm whether the Halifax Clarity card Take it's ex rate from the following link but i done a search and it's the only Mastercard Currency converting tool i came up with.

 

Mastercard Currency Conversion Tool

That link causes IE8 to crash on my machine. No problem with Firefox though.

[jacko 8,775]

All ATMs can be used. There is usually a charge of 10 or 15 Baht. It seems to be the same as I get using my Kasikorn card.

Thanks......

How did you go about opening the Thailand account?

(I have a UK HSBC account already)

[Bazle 1,450]

Thanks......

How did you go about opening the Thailand account?

(I have a UK HSBC account already)

If you become a Premier customer, they will do it for you.

 

There are other advantages of being a Premier cutomer, like free travel insurance (arranged through Aviva). That was one of the few policies that paid out for the dust storm problems. Also, during the Red Shirt problems, they were happy for me to travel to Thailand, as long as I didn't join in (a la Mr Savage!).

 

(PS I have no connection with HSBC apart from being a customer.)

[jacko 8,775]

If you become a Premier customer, they will do it for you.

 

There are other advantages of being a Premier cutomer, like free travel insurance (arranged through Aviva). That was one of the few policies that paid out for the dust storm problems. Also, during the Red Shirt problems, they were happy for me to travel to Thailand, as long as I didn't join in (a la Mr Savage!).

 

(PS I have no connection with HSBC apart from being a customer.)

Ah, I think you mentioned this before, the requirement of having £50,000 with them is a bit steep.

[Bazle 1,450]

If you have £50K invested already (e.g. in the stock market), when you come to sell it, you could place a re-investment through HSBC.

[Fireman Sam 336]

atlas2 'wrote'

 

I've deposited 2 SWIFT forms at my NW branch in England for large amounts should I ever have problems this end. But the charge for that is about £20 each I believe.

 

 

Also increasing from £20.00 to £25.00 in the latest round of increases.

 

 

Regards

Fireman Sam

[timbon 6]

Regarding travelers cheques has anyone used Travelex http://www.travelex.co.uk ?

 

TC's no commision and can be sent to home address or collected from departure airport

 

edit just rechecked and they charge 1.5%, maybe thats why Nationwide stopped as they used travelex.

Edited August 6, 2010 by timbon

[Regyai 414]

Regarding travelers cheques has anyone used Travelex http://www.travelex.co.uk ?

 

TC's no commision and can be sent to home address or collected from departure airport

 

edit just rechecked and they charge 1.5%, maybe thats why Nationwide stopped as they used travelex.

 

 

TC's must be sterling or you get raped with the 'tourist' rates

 

Lloyds TSB is the way to go - 0% on Sterling TCs for account holders (ordered by phone) pick up at branch (or pay delivery fees) Only drawback you can only order up to £3K per day.

 

 

 

.

[jacko 8,775]

If you have £50K invested already (e.g. in the stock market), when you come to sell it, you could place a re-investment through HSBC.

I don't believe banks are very good vehicles for investment.

(At the moment not very much is) HSBC wished to chat to me on that last time I passed through the UK and to be honest I laughed at their offerings.

[Bazle 1,450]

I don't believe banks are very good vehicles for investment.

(At the moment not very much is) HSBC wished to chat to me on that last time I passed through the UK and to be honest I laughed at their offerings.

I'm not sure what you mean by "vehicle for investment". They employ IFAs who will advise as IFAs usually do - i.e. on a fee or commission basis. Yes, they do like to put forward HSBC's own offerings but it is not difficult to reject them if you think they are not for you. However, they do have some good products - take a look at HSBC World Selection Dynamic for instance.

[dundee 0]

Another option worth considering now is the prepaid card which you load up before you leave the U.K.The best one i have researched is the caxton card.It gives you free withdrawals at foreighn ATMs.

http://www.caxtonfxcard.com/

 

Regard Dundee.

[Regyai 414]

Another option worth considering now is the prepaid card which you load up before you leave the U.K.The best one i have researched is the caxton card.It gives you free withdrawals at foreighn ATMs.

http://www.caxtonfxcard.com/

 

Regard Dundee.

 

 

 

This one it seems loads the FX rate in their favour by 2.5%. Max ATM withdrawals per day £300. Assuming you could get £300 in one go from the Thai ATM the 150THB levy makes an overall %age of around 3.5%

 

Over the counter withdrawals £4.50 fee + 2% of total amount

 

 

 

All these pre loaded cards are much the same they either offer a Euro or Dollar card which they stripe you with the exchange rate on loading, or its a 'worldwide' one in sterling which naturally imposes fees as they get nothing for any currency exchange at time of loading.

 

 

.

Edited August 7, 2010 by Regyai