Money to Thailand.

[Pattaya Bill 34]

On my recent visit to Patts, I opened an account at Kasikorn Bank, and as I plan on returning, did not close it when I returned to Falangland. I want to add to my balance periodically, but my bank (in New York) told me it would cost $40.00 USD each time I wired money. Are there cheaper ways to move money into my Kasikorn account? For example,can I mail a check (cheque to you Brits) to the bank and ask them to credit my account? If any BM can provide info, I'd be grateful.

[joekicker 53]

This probably will be a long thread with lots of opinions.

 

The direct answer to your question is that "yes" you can mail a cheque to your account, BUT Thai banks typically take 30 to 45 days to clear/credit cheques. You can't use your money in that time of course. I'd look at other possibilities. You can go through PayPal, for example.

 

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[jacko 8,822]

I tried the cheque option once with my Bangkok bank account, passing them a UK cheque here. They charged me for transferring the money from BB London to LOS. I do a telex transfer now each charged at about $25, then have to pay 500 baht when it arrives here. (I live in LOS). I don't think you can do better other than finding another USA bank with cheaper charges..... just transfer larger amounts, less frequently, to make the total charges less.

Edited May 27, 2011 by jacko

[midlifecrisis 4,048]

On my recent visit to Patts, I opened an account at Kasikorn Bank, and as I plan on returning, did not close it when I returned to Falangland. I want to add to my balance periodically, but my bank (in New York) told me it would cost $40.00 USD each time I wired money. Are there cheaper ways to move money into my Kasikorn account? For example,can I mail a check (cheque to you Brits) to the bank and ask them to credit my account? If any BM can provide info, I'd be grateful.

I'm of a mind to suggest PayPal. Many expats use it. I tend to move money via bank transfers but it does cost for banks to handle it. The larger the sum moved the more minor the charge relatively.

 

The expats living in LOS like joekicker and mm and others will give you the best advice as they undoubtedly do this periodically.

 

Good luck! It is a good problem to have!

[midlifecrisis 4,048]

I tried the cheque option once with my Bangkok bank account, passing them a UK cheque here. They charged me for transferring the money from BB London to LOS. I do a telex transfer now each charged at about $25, then have to pay 500 baht when it arrives here. (I live in LOS). I don't think you can do better other than finding another USA bank with cheaper charges..... just transfer larger amounts, less frequently, to make the total charges less.

$25 is about the same for me or was the last time i transferred.

[jacko 8,822]

$25 is about the same for me or was the last time i transferred.

My transfers to LOS cost me the $25+500 baht.

But I had to pay a bill to a French account recently in USD, I paid my $25 at my end, but another $28 vanished en-route.

Cheaper to send money 6000 miles overland than about 100km over the channel. I hate banks...well European ones, the Thai ones are much better.

[bratpack 91]

Most of my assetts are dealt with by my cousin,who owns a financial advise company,and he sends lots of 10,000 gbp to my bank in Pattaya.Not seen any charges so he must pay them,as he loves me too much lol.

[yogi100 1,925]

On my recent visit to Patts, I opened an account at Kasikorn Bank, and as I plan on returning, did not close it when I returned to Falangland. I want to add to my balance periodically, but my bank (in New York) told me it would cost $40.00 USD each time I wired money. Are there cheaper ways to move money into my Kasikorn account? For example,can I mail a check (cheque to you Brits) to the bank and ask them to credit my account? If any BM can provide info, I'd be grateful.

 

I opened a Kasikorn a/c to avoid the recently introduced ATM charges. I am also one of the growing army of working mugs who resents swelling the coffers of the licentious vipers who pass for bankers in the Western world. I use the tried and tested method of the old fashioned travelers cheque.

Admittedly you pay a small commission but you can pay them into the bank a/c as you need them and they are safe and secure and under your control.

 

I get the largest denominations available and keep those I don't spend in my travel bag for my next trip. For those who purchase a property in LOS then a bank transfer is admittedly easier and in the long run a bit cheaper as most banks charge a given sum regardless of the size of the transfer.

[joekicker 53]

In my opinion, this is the best thread on this subject, particularly the opening post.

 

The OP was later printed in the Bangkok Post, in fact.

 

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[Pattaya Bill 34]

In my opinion, this is the best thread on this subject, particularly the opening post.

 

The OP was later printed in the Bangkok Post, in fact.

 

.

Very detailed info. Thanks, JoeK, and also everyone who responded.

[js007 795]

I once considered the PayPal thing, but, given PayPal's reputation, I decided against it. Instead, I just spend $40 once in a while to wire some money to Thailand. It's still cheaper than all the foreign ATM fees I would have to pay using my Chase debit card.

[joekicker 53]

I once considered the PayPal thing, but, given PayPal's reputation, I decided against it. Instead, I just spend $40 once in a while to wire some money to Thailand. It's still cheaper than all the foreign ATM fees I would have to pay using my Chase debit card.

 

I didn't even know PayPal had a reputation. What put you off?

 

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[js007 795]

I didn't even know PayPal had a reputation. What put you off?

 

.

 

I've heard horror stories about PayPal freezing people's accounts over payment disputes, of taking months for the matter to be resolved, etc. Also, I got tired of getting fake? emails telling me my Paypal account had been compromised. It all seemed like more trouble than it was worth, so I closed my Paypal account.

[joekicker 53]

I've heard horror stories about PayPal freezing people's accounts over payment disputes, of taking months for the matter to be resolved, etc. Also, I got tired of getting fake? emails telling me my Paypal account had been compromised. It all seemed like more trouble than it was worth, so I closed my Paypal account.

 

Appreciate the answer.

 

I've personally had good experiences with them - all smooth except once, when a call to customer service (in the US, at that, i.e. not an Indian) got everything straightened out in a morning. We all get the spam of course. I keep a tiny amount of money in there, and it has been useful to me on many occasions, actually - especially cross-currency stuff, especially smaller amounts.

 

.

[malcontented 8]

I just did a 100,000 Baht dummy run on Paypal:

The exchange rate Paypal were using was 48.72, as against todays average rate of 49.52.

So thats me 1000 Baht down on the deal so far.

(This was worked out from the fact that Paypal were going to debit me by £2052.50 for the 100,000 Baht)

Then there was a little matter of the Paypal fee, which was another 1000 Baht, making a total of around 2000 Baht in fees/charges etc

So, in summary, it would have cost me over £40 to send,whereas, i can send via SWIFT transfer from as little as £9:50 from a Halifax account, upto about £25-28 that is about the mean average of most of the high street banks here in UK.

Citizens of other countries need only to do the same dummy run to work out their own Paypal fees to get an idea of the differences between their banks and Paypal.

 

 

Malc

Edited May 28, 2011 by malcontented

[danboy 151]

Good info! Thanks for that!

[bratpack 91]

I just did a 100,000 Baht dummy run on Paypal:

The exchange rate Paypal were using was 48.72, as against todays average rate of 49.52.

So thats me 1000 Baht down on the deal so far.

(This was worked out from the fact that Paypal were going to debit me by £2052.50 for the 100,000 Baht)

Then there was a little matter of the Paypal fee, which was another 1000 Baht, making a total of around 2000 Baht in fees/charges etc

So, in summary, it would have cost me over £40 to send,whereas, i can send via SWIFT transfer from as little as £9:50 from a Halifax account, upto about £25-28 that is about the mean average of most of the high street banks here in UK.

Citizens of other countries need only to do the same dummy run to work out their own Paypal fees to get an idea of the differences between their banks and Paypal.

 

 

Malc

 

 

Is today 49.52???? better get down pattaya tomorrow and exchange a few more grand

[malcontented 8]

Is today 49.52???? better get down pattaya tomorrow and exchange a few more grand

You can check for yourself here:

http://bankexchangerates.daytodaydata.net/

 

Malc

[joekicker 53]

I just did a 100,000 Baht dummy run on Paypal:

 

You should not exchange money with PayPal, just as you should not change pounds to baht inside Britain. Tell PayPal to send "x pounds" to your Thai bank. Then the bank will receive pounds, and exchange them to baht.

 

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[rogero 4]

I just did a 100,000 Baht dummy run on Paypal:

The exchange rate Paypal were using was 48.72, as against todays average rate of 49.52.

So thats me 1000 Baht down on the deal so far.

(This was worked out from the fact that Paypal were going to debit me by £2052.50 for the 100,000 Baht)

Then there was a little matter of the Paypal fee, which was another 1000 Baht, making a total of around 2000 Baht in fees/charges etc

So, in summary, it would have cost me over £40 to send,whereas, i can send via SWIFT transfer from as little as £9:50 from a Halifax account, upto about £25-28 that is about the mean average of most of the high street banks here in UK.

Citizens of other countries need only to do the same dummy run to work out their own Paypal fees to get an idea of the differences between their banks and Paypal.

 

 

Malc

 

Hi Malc

 

Due to Santanders limitations I recently opened an account with the Halifax & agree with you about their low online transfer fee. Took 2 days transferring money online from Santander to Halifax & 6 hours from Halifax to my Kbank account.

 

You can transfer money online with Santander but only to EU countries, to transfer further afield (LOS) you have to go in person to a UK branch where you are charged £25, (a little inconvenient if you are resident in LOS & want to transfer money

online. Santander also quoted me a very poor exchange rate & insisted they needed the sort code for Thailand.

I explained a sort code is only for EU countries & the swift code was for international transfers.

 

It was clear they didn't have a clue so that was when I crossed the road to the Halifax.

 

cheers rogero :beer

[jacko 8,822]

 

Santander also quoted me a very poor exchange rate & insisted they needed the sort code for Thailand.

 

Well of course there should not be an exchange rate if you transfer £ to LOS, and anyone who transfers Baht is really throwing money away.

 

You make Santander sound hopeless (formerly the Abbey National Building Society I think).

I have heard complaints regarding Halifax, they put daily limits on you (10k) despite it being your money.

Many times I hear bad tales of Barclays when attempting international transfers.

I use HSBC and Standard Chartered and you never know when some interposing/clearing bank will come into the arrangement and skim another unauthorised charge off you, effectively hitting you up twice. (I paid nearly US$60 for one and £45 for another when hit twice.) I have had success going into the bank and complaining about this and getting a charge refunded, but this is rarely possible for me.

It seems the banks prefer poor people who live off credit rather than solvent guys who do the odd international transfer.

 

A necessary evil like Government.

[rogero 4]

Well of course there should not be an exchange rate if you transfer £ to LOS, and anyone who transfers Baht is really throwing money away.

 

You make Santander sound hopeless (formerly the Abbey National Building Society I think).

I have heard complaints regarding Halifax, they put daily limits on you (10k) despite it being your money.

Many times I hear bad tales of Barclays when attempting international transfers.

I use HSBC and Standard Chartered and you never know when some interposing/clearing bank will come into the arrangement and skim another unauthorised charge off you, effectively hitting you up twice. (I paid nearly US$60 for one and £45 for another when hit twice.) I have had success going into the bank and complaining about this and getting a charge refunded, but this is rarely possible for me.

It seems the banks prefer poor people who live off credit rather than solvent guys who do the odd international transfer.

 

A necessary evil like Government.

 

Hi Jacko

 

My money was transferred from Halifax to Thailand for an online fee of £9.50 with a competitive rate of 48.8 B/£.

Santander can't get close with their feeble exchange rate and are really not completable.

 

I'm more than happy with my current banking transfers.

 

cheers rogero :beer

[jacko 8,822]

Hi Jacko

 

My money was transferred from Halifax to Thailand for an online fee of £9.50 with a competitive rate of 48.8 B/£.

Santander can't get close with their feeble exchange rate and are really not completable.

 

I'm more than happy with my current banking transfers.

 

cheers rogero :beer

Yes that sounds pretty good, although my friend was trying to move a larger amount from Halifax and met with problems. I have never gone back to them since they cheated me out of money when they went from a Building Society to a bank (1997). Coincidentally I have an old Sunday Mail nearby which has the headline 'Santander is Still the worst offender' Halifax, now HBOS, is owned by Lloyds, another bank I dumped many years ago when they withdrew some local facilities and said I could go 15 miles to another town for that service! I went 50 yards down the High St to another bank. Halifax has only been a clearing bank for 6 months, I bet you these transfers will go up!

 

 

But again, I reiterate, why is there any exchange rate at the UK end? I always transfer £, and the Thailand bank make the exchange. How quickly was the money transferred?

Edited May 29, 2011 by jacko