Remotely Paying AIS Cell WIthout Getting Boned By Fees

[Grandpollo 366]

So I needed to refill my Thai cell which was expiring end of June whilst (

 

I found this site that does it for you, albeit at a bit of a surcharge, they do it direct, and you get a SMS that shows the deposit and the new balance and expiry date. I did this end of June and got one month and THB100, to July 30th.

They do AIS and DTAC and it's better than nothing: http://thaiprepaidcard.com

 

Here in Canada my AIS 1-2 cell works and I presume other countries so I can do the #121 to see the balance and so on, and receive SMS here as well.

 

Unless you want to send them ID or do some Facebook nonsense you are limited to THB100 for the first 45 days though they dropped that after a month. Once verified you can do 100-1000 at once. I think the fee is the same regardless. You get credited within 4-24 hours , today it was about 2 hours. They have to be awake over there to do the refill, and the time difference here is +11 hours. Depending on when I do this it might take a while.

 

But wait! (As they say on those TV commercials)There's more! They have a blog. And on the blog is a link to AIS.1-2 Call's service, in English no less (press the EN in the grey circle, upper right), called 12Call Online Service.

 

AIS 12Call Online Service is located here: https://12calleservice.ais.co.th/EPPWeb/index.html

 

As long as you can receive SMS on your Thai phone where you are, like I can here, you can use a credit card from your country(using Verified By Visa or MC Secure Verification, so enroll in that) to add to your phone with no surcharge and in seconds. I tried THB100 and got 100 Baht as fast as I could enter it and go 15 more days. Not enough. So I added THB150 and got a month more, not a month from today but a month on top of the 15 days, 47 days total.

 

Then the delayed Thaiprepaid THB200 came through and I got another 30 days. Thus I have gone from July 30 expiry (from the June refill) to October 14th from my 15, 30 , 30 refills today. So I have learned these refills accumulate, apparently to as much as 365 days in total which is better than DTAC who charges you THB2 per 30 days for up to two increases of 180 days each. The trick is to add 150 at a time vs. say 900 at once, each one ratcheting up the expiry by 30 days more.

 

Thanks to the link in their blog this service at least for me, has done them out of any more business since I can now use AIS directly, cheaper and faster. No idea if DTAC offers the same.

 

Here is why you have to receive SMS on your Thai phone where you are. The AIS site doesn't register you etc., like some websites but sends you a SMS with a 4 digit password good for 10 minutes each time you want to use the site. So without the phone, and service, no SMS is possible. No SMS, no login.

 

If you have it and get SMS then it works great. Go to the site, put in your AIS cell and wait for the SMS. Enter the code and you can see your balance, change or add options , see your expiry date and the best part do the refills.

 

I hope this helps BM's with a phone and outside Thailand.

 

For your TG etc., the Thaiprepaid service will add time to any phone so if you have to you can send to someone else's phone. Today THB200 cost US$9.27. The THB part is about US$6.60 so the fee was about $2.67. Not world ending. They must run out to 7-11 every 5 minutes to do this.

Edited July 30, 2011 by ricktoronto

[frostfire 1,279]

I suppose... if you think "a bit of a surcharge" is a 100% markup.

 

Owned and operated by....

 

bryan blair

box 215

kewaskum

wi

53040

US

Phone: +1.2626269079

Email Address: 4amtech@gmail.com

 

 

Your better off having one of the expats here on Pattaya Talk getting a card for you.

 

Well, thats not true I guess.. its only $6 for 100 baht, but still... Just something about giving a falang a 100% markup on anything that just doesn't sit right with me.

 

For the record I would be happy to get a card for anyone who wants one... You can pay me actual value via PayPal at todays exchange rate, and including the small paypal fee (I think its like $0.25 + 3% or something). I have done that for people before. Come to that, if I know you I wont charge you at all and you can slip me the 100 baht next time your in town.

[Feileacan 32]

Have you checked the AIS website to see if you can top up online. This can be done with most if not all western phone providers, so I'd imagine AIS is similar.

[Grandpollo 366]

Have you checked the AIS website to see if you can top up online. This can be done with most if not all western phone providers, so I'd imagine AIS is similar.

My entire post directs you to the AIS website, how to sign on and add minutes for free (other than the cost of minutes) so yes, I have, and wrote about it to help other people. Well, other than you, I guess.

 

I don't know how US$9.27 is 100% markup on 200B which is US $6.60. 100% of $6.60 is $6.60 so since it is not $13.20 then it is not 100%, n'est ce pas?

 

I don't know what they charge for say 1000B. I suspect the fee is the same regardless of top-up making it decreasingly large as a mark-up, but since , I'll repeat, the point of my post was to tell BM's how to top up AIS directly, it's moot.

 

I have heard that these websites, such as DTAC may insist on a Thai credit card, thus the AIS service (no fee as I posted and will repeat for you again) accepting any card , is quite good. And I am not begrudging this other guy two and a half bucks to do it for me if I had to or for a BG.

Edited July 30, 2011 by ricktoronto

[englishinsiam 15]

I operate a site that does the same and also allows for deposits into Thai bank accounts and bill payments from abroad. Currently it's on www.easymoneytransfer.eu but is being rebuilt and will move to www.phonecreditthailand.com in the next week or so.

 

I am not committing with the banks on cash transfers I'm only interested in small amounts sub £500 but from as little as 500 baht without your girl needing to go to WU it gites straight to her account.

 

For phone credits minimum is 200 baht all done through paypal.

[englishinsiam 15]

Sorry competing not committing with the banks.

[Feileacan 32]

My entire post directs you to the AIS website, how to sign on and add minutes for free (other than the cost of minutes) so yes, I have, and wrote about it to help other people. Well, other than you, I guess.

 

The first part of your post was directing to a site that charges a high commission to the customer, when I was reading that part I didn't read further. It may have been better just to put the Telecoms own site details up first.

Edited July 31, 2011 by Feileacan

[Grandpollo 366]

The first part of your post was directing to a site that charges a high commission to the customer, when I was reading that part I didn't read further. It may have been better just to put the Telecoms own site details up first.

Measure twice, cut once, is all I can advise.

 

And if $2 and change will sink the budget ship, that's a pity. I can see value at times to fund a BG or friend's phone, better than not being able to do it at all. And lower than a previously posted service here which wanted quite a bit, IIRC.

 

But I was surprised to find the service providing a link that for AIS puts them out of business at least with me, as there's no point.

 

The whole reason for the post was to provide help to BM's in a similar situation as me. If that is a problem, so be it.

[Grandpollo 366]

I operate a site that does the same....

 

For phone credits minimum is 200 baht all done through paypal.

 

Well, since we're on the subject and since your site doesn't quote costs until Paypal checkout for banks and doesn't work at all for phone credit, how much for

 

Bank transfers?

Phone credits of THB200?

 

We know that this other service is $2.67 on 200, what's yours, when it works? As little as THB500 on THB1000 is hefty in $ or %.

Edited August 1, 2011 by ricktoronto

[s77656769 5]

I just pay online from my kasikorn bank account thru the kasikornbank.com website.

 

200THB topup costs 200THB.

[Double O 5]

If you have a new Bangkok number, begins with 09, the thaiprepaidcard.com web site isn't set up to recharge those yet. Not sure when. So if you are out shopping for a SIM card, might want to think about which number to get 08 or 09 if getting a Bangkok number. Might save some heartaches down the road.

[englishinsiam 15]

Rick it certainly does work. and the charges are on the about us page for all services.

 

I'm expecting the new site up in about a week.

 

I don't limit people on top ups but there I'd a delay if your Paypal act is not verified.

 

I usually ask for a copy of photo ID in those cases.

[Grandpollo 366]

Rick it certainly does work. and the charges are on the about us page for all services.

 

I'm expecting the new site up in about a week.

 

I don't limit people on top ups but there I'd a delay if your Paypal act is not verified.

 

I usually ask for a copy of photo ID in those cases.

Honest, the FAQ is empty, there are no prices on the about us page, and the link for phone topups takes you a page with three choices/symbols, none of which do anything.

 

Simple question you can answer here, how much for a phone credit? And for a bank credit?

 

If you mean this, it describes what you do and not what it costs.

 

How are our orders processed?

 

You pay into our Paypal account providing the details for either the Bank Account to pay or the phone number to credit and as long as your Paypal account is Verified we will use our online service to action your request as soon as possible. Your payment will be processed via Paypals secure payment system. And as long as your Paypal account is Verified we will action your request within 12 hours.

 

And for bank payments it says this:

 

How we charge for our services

Our reasonable fee is automatically calculated and the total is shown before you confirm to Paypal. The more you buy the less we charge for our services.

 

Your payment will be processed via Paypals secure payment system. And as long as your Paypal account is Verified we will action your request within 12 hours (see the about us page if your Paypal account is not Verified).

 

My experience is when someone won't tell you how much it costs they don't want you to know and you probably want to sit down.

 

The discussion started with among other things, is $2.67 too much for THB200 to a phone? So are you more or less than $2.67? Keeping in mind that AIS is free and as someone with a local bank account so is Kasikorn via internet.

[englishinsiam 15]

Sorry my web designer had uploaded the new site with incorrect scripts I have got him to put the old site back up for now.

 

I wondered why my orders had stopped. And I have only just got back here to see your request.

 

http://easymoneytransfer.eu/About%20Us.html

 

The fees are

 

Bank transfers or Bill Payments. Upto 1,000 Baht is 11.5% Upto 5,000 Baht is 10.5% and over 5,000 Baht is 9.5% With Western Union by the time you take into account their Poor exchange rates you are paying around 17-19% and you need someone at the other end to pick the cash up for you. We save all the hassle and expense of that and operate at the Click of a mouse.

Phone Credit upto 500 Baht is 30% Upto 1,000 Baht is 25% and over 1,000 Baht is 22%

 

I have copied this from the About us page.

[Grandpollo 366]

Sorry my web designer had uploaded the new site with incorrect scripts I have got him to put the old site back up for now.

 

I wondered why my orders had stopped. And I have only just got back here to see your request.

 

http://easymoneytransfer.eu/About%20Us.html

 

The fees are

 

Bank transfers or Bill Payments. Upto 1,000 Baht is 11.5% Upto 5,000 Baht is 10.5% and over 5,000 Baht is 9.5% With Western Union by the time you take into account their Poor exchange rates you are paying around 17-19% and you need someone at the other end to pick the cash up for you. We save all the hassle and expense of that and operate at the Click of a mouse.

Phone Credit upto 500 Baht is 30% Upto 1,000 Baht is 25% and over 1,000 Baht is 22%

 

I have copied this from the About us page.

So 150 for 500 , 250 for 1000 and say 330 for 1500 for the phone.

 

People were quibbling about $2.50 for the service ( that you don't need with AIS direct) so $5, $8 and $11 ought to cause fits.

 

If someone wants 100 Baht you'll do that for a dollar? Lot of work for 30 Bht.

 

Glad you noticed the site was deader than a doornail.

[englishinsiam 15]

100 baht is 130 Baht yes.

 

Most people start with that then when they get the credit usually go for 1000 baht.

 

Some people can't use the AIS website and don't have a Thai bank account also I do credit for all Networks not just AIS It's not much work for me and it helps some people out and I make a little bit so we all win. Bear in mind Paypal charge me 3.75% + 20 baht for each payment I actually lose on lower amounts.

 

The reason I offer the 100 and 200 baht credits is solely to allow people to try the service. Luckily people then usually order a minimum of 300 baht but usually more.

[mike_asia 1]

get a kasikorn account you can topup your phone online without any additional cost.

[teelack 9,650]

I have just used the credit card system to top up my phone so thanks to the originator of this thread. I like to have a home made card made with my name and phone number and for the first time ever will be able to print the whole thing off before I leave home. I found the system took a bit of work but one into it no real problem. One again, thanks.