Credit cards for EXPATS

[danboy 151]

I cancelled all my credit cards long ago. They were just to much hassle, every month I had to have my son drive to my post office box and get my bills, and then pay them for me from one of my state side accounts. He was not good at going and getting my bills, and it usually took several e-mails and calls to get him there and take care of it. Easier to just use ATM cards and cancel credit cards. Of course, the hotel won't take an ATM card.

 

Why not have a credit card and just manage it online?

 

I do it with all my credit cards now. Just opt to not receive paper statements and they will send an e-mail when your monthly statement is ready to view. Then make any payments via an online banking transfer.

 

Easy as pie!

[Fornicator 106]

Why not have a credit card and just manage it online?

 

I do it with all my credit cards now. Just opt to not receive paper statements and they will send an e-mail when your monthly statement is ready to view. Then make any payments via an online banking transfer.

 

Easy as pie!

 

I was thinking about that also because it's what I did when I was in Pattaya for 2 months

[2 slices short 10]

I was thinking about that also because it's what I did when I was in Pattaya for 2 months

 

For 2 months or short stints it's easy but I can understand Randy 100%. After a year of managing all of them from here I just gave up. Paying them online froma bank account in the same country (Oz for me) was not a problem as I did that when I was in Oz. But if I ever needed to pay from the Thai accounts the conversion fess were HORRIBLE. I dont live here solely on my assets or income from Oz as I have a thriving business here (much to the disgust of some )

 

Other complications come about when you (inevitably) lose or misplace a card and need a replacement. Now dont get me wrong, ALL of the Oz banks that I deal with were happy to eventually send me replacement card (and/or security dongle) but the pain involved in describing the situation to them , and convincing the Indian call centre operator of my validity was just not worth the time and effort.

 

Right now I have a bank accounts in Oz ad Thailand. I can pay anything with those via internet banking. The extremely RARE situation where someone insists on a credit card usually results in me telling them to "give your customers better options as you've just lost one". REAL Visa/Mastercard cards (which will work anywhere) are available from Thai banks but there are some qualifications before you can get one. The normal ATM/Visa/cirrus cards will work only in a limited number of cases and MOSTLY not on-line.

 

I'll just wait for the moment, I really find I have no great need for a credit card any more - I'm not debt addicted like the West LOL. Up to me.

 

There are MANY other options out there, one which I've just discovered and will report on when/if I get the details all stitched up (so I can make a buck of course) will potentially allow an expat to pay anything online/without inconvenience without having any "fancy accounts". I doubt that I'll post it here but I will announce it on other forums when finished in about 3 months. (No discussion about this here as this thread does not deserve a thread-fuck. I only mention it in the context of the thread and on the basis that there are other options).

 

Keep it up Randy, you're single handedly keeping PT alive with this thread - don't stop.

 

Cheers : Admiral Ken

Edited August 14, 2011 by Admiral Ken

[Bullfrog 2,225]

Why not have a credit card and just manage it online?

 

I do it with all my credit cards now. Just opt to not receive paper statements and they will send an e-mail when your monthly statement is ready to view. Then make any payments via an online banking transfer.

 

Easy as pie!

 

Don't want to TF but I felt it necessary to dish out a bit of advice here because this is such a popular, well read thread....I keep a Credit Card for one purpose only....To be able to rent a car in the UK.You can't with a debit card on all the websites I have tried in the past...As an expat you NEVER know what emergencies are around the corner

 

When it comes to paying it off just set up a DD payment...

[lovedog100 1,372]

Why not have a credit card and just manage it online?

 

I do it with all my credit cards now. Just opt to not receive paper statements and they will send an e-mail when your monthly statement is ready to view. Then make any payments via an online banking transfer.

 

Easy as pie!

That sounds reasonable. However, When I came here, I checked my CC's to find out about international charges. One had free international ATM usage, but a huge point of sale charge. The other card was just the oposite, huge ATM fee, free POS. I constantly got them confused, especially after drinking, and used the wrong card. When I gave the wrong card at Starbucks one morning to buy a cup of coffee, and later found out that $3 cup of coffee cost me $38 I about had enough. Add to that, I was living in a hotel for the first 6 months or more, and had heard horror stories about computers getting hacked, Key logers and such, I didn't trust doing online banking in Thailand. I also had huge limits on the cards, had I forgot one, as I did if FLB one night. Or a card was stolen, I was responsible for all the charges up to when I reported the card lost. A large credit limit was required for me while I was running a business in the states, but in Thailand is just a risk that isn't needed. In fact was stupid to have.

 

When I did try online banking, my lousy typing made mistakes during log in, at home I would get three try's and then they would freeze the online account, with a Thailand IP address, they would freeze it after one bad log on attempt. I would have to call the bank who by the way has office hours exactly the opposite of the hours I was awake, and get them to unfreeze it. I would have to make an international call spend a hell of a long time pressing numbers trying to get out of the automated response system, then when I did get a human, be transferred several times until they found the right person. Of course I had to do this after I got home from the bars drinking and partying with a naked girl in my bed, because that was when the bank was open.

 

The whole thing was just to much trouble to deal with. This was only the second time that I've needed a credit card since I've been in Thailand. Once two and a half years ago when I booked a flight home, and when I tried to make this reservation. A lot less hassle than having the cards. In talking with my friends, I think it's common for expats to give up their credit cards. Thailand isn't like home, it's pretty much a cash society.

[Bullfrog 2,225]

 

When I did try online banking, my lousy typing made mistakes during log in, at home I would get three try's and then they would freeze the online account, with a Thailand IP address, they would freeze it after one bad log on attempt. I would have to call the bank who by the way has office hours exactly the opposite of the hours I was awake, and get them to unfreeze it. I would have to make an international call spend a hell of a long time pressing numbers trying to get out of the automated response system, then when I did get a human, be transferred several times until they found the right person. Of course I had to do this after I got home from the bars drinking and partying with a naked girl in my bed, because that was when the bank was open.

 

The whole thing was just to much trouble to deal with.

 

Oh the horror...the horror.... of internet banking. Both my UK banks have introduced a call back system whenever you need to add a new recipient....i.e. they call you back immediately after you have tried to add somebody new to transfer money to......They must have enjoyed talking to my 90 year old Mother trying to explain what they wanted....

[joekicker 53]

The whole thing was just to much trouble to deal with. This was only the second time that I've needed a credit card since I've been in Thailand. Once two and a half years ago when I booked a flight home, and when I tried to make this reservation. A lot less hassle than having the cards. In talking with my friends, I think it's common for expats to give up their credit cards. Thailand isn't like home, it's pretty much a cash society.

 

Absolutely, and it's what a lot of people in discussions like these miss. That said, I buy from the Internet, and I just have to have a credit card. The US ones are the biggest hassles imaginable. The Thai ones are tough to get, almost impossible if you don't work in Thailand -- although if you have a big enough or regular-enough account in a Thai bank, you can usually get them to cough up a credit card with a small, say 25,000 baht limit, which is enough for Internet stuff. They don't LIKE you using it abroad, but believe me, there's nothing they can do to stop you using a Visa card wherever you damn please.

 

These days, however, a regular old US ATM card will pretty well always work on an Internet service or purchase -- and US debit card always will work. The best solution is just to get your US bank to give you a debit card, you can use that number on anything you need on the Internet.

 

To get the card, we're back to using a convenience address in your home country. Your mom, a friend, whatever - they can forward the card, although actually all you'd need is all the details ON the card - name, number, CSV, date and so on.

 

.

Edited August 14, 2011 by joekicker

[MM 6,562]

I still have several USA cards that I continue to keep. There are several monthly charges that are assigned to one card (the rental for this website/forum, for example), and I make regular monthly transfers to pay off the balance each month. It's as simple as going to my card's website and saying PAY NOW, where I have set up the card to take it out of my USA checking account.

Recently, I've gotten lazy and just had it take the monthly payment automatically.

It's no trouble to maintain the card(s) I have.

 

I can't remember the last time I used a USA card in Thailand, but I do use it when I visit the states, and I used it in the Philippines since the hotel would take it.

 

Getting a Thai bank credit card is difficult for many expats. It took me a year of submitting paperwork for my bank to finally send me one (I was surprised, since I had given up on them ever sending me one...and they sent me two!). I use the Thai VISA and MC for some transactions in Thailand, and the USA ones for outside Thailand.

 

I can't see any reason personally for giving them up, but I can certainly see how you could live without them.

[Bullfrog 2,225]

I keep a Credit Card for one purpose only....To be able to rent a car in the UK.You can't with a debit card on all the websites I have tried in the past...As an expat you NEVER know what emergencies are around the corner

 

When it comes to paying it off just set up a DD payment...

 

The other good thing with a DD on a CC is that it is a very good interest free short term loan for 3,000 quid!!!.(2 months!)..

Edited August 14, 2011 by Bullfrog

[kaiser71 30]

The best solution is just to get your US bank to give you a debit card, you can use that number on anything you need on the Internet.

No expert here, but I always thought debit cards were riskier than credit cards. I'm pretty sure, if you report right away, you're covered with both. But, if you don't report in a "timely" manner you are much more fooked with a debit card.

[lovedog100 1,372]

 

To get the card, we're back to using a convenience address in your home country. Your mom, a friend, whatever - they can forward the card, although actually all you'd need is all the details ON the card - name, number, CSV, date and so on.

.

I found buying online to be a problem with the address of the card being one place, and the goods being sent to Thailand. Most places don't like that, and many have rules that they will not ship to a different address, much less to a different country.

[sinbinjack 261]

You can set up a system where your bank pays the full bill each month,well you can in the UK so I don't see it being different in the USA.

[bigmick 840]

FWIW i have a credit card from BKK Bank, if you have a Thai bank account you can get one if you are prepared to accept they want to keep a secure amount of money eqivilant to the limit you wish to have on the card. This sum is returnable when you no longer want the card.

 

e.g

 

Card limit 300'000 baht

Secure deposit held by bank 300'000 baht (returnable when you return the card) This sum does not pay off your card each month, it is only a security bond

[sinbinjack 261]

FWIW i have a credit card from BKK Bank, if you have a Thai bank account you can get one if you are prepared to accept they want to keep a secure amount of money eqivilant to the limit you wish to have on the card. This sum is returnable when you no longer want the card.

 

e.g

 

Card limit 300'000 baht

Secure deposit held by bank 300'000 baht (returnable when you return the card) This sum does not pay off your card each month, it is only a security bond

 

Not really a "credit card"if you have the cash on deposit.

[Parkwahn 61]

No expert here, but I always thought debit cards were riskier than credit cards. I'm pretty sure, if you report right away, you're covered with both. But, if you don't report in a "timely" manner you are much more fooked with a debit card.

 

Debit cards are riskier as if there is a fraud its your money you are trying to get back, credit cards its the banks.

 

What I do is have a credit card and debit card, keep the debit card with no money on then transfer the money from the savings account if I need to use the card on the net or anywhere else, if the card is empty you are safe from fraud.

 

If you use the credit card you can pay it off online , pay in one go no interest payments.

 

Like others I only keep a credit card tp book hotels and hire cars, some places wont let you book without them.

[MM 6,562]

Debit cards are riskier as if there is a fraud its your money you are trying to get back, credit cards its the banks.

 

 

That's one main reason I prefer credit cards. My USA bank for the last decade has been sending me a DEBIT/ATM card, rather than an ATM (only) card, and for the first few times they did this, I had to go to the branch and request an ATM card rather than a DEBIT/ATM card. After about 5 years, they flat out told me they no longer have ATM (only) cards.

 

Trying to get YOUR money back after fraudulent or incorrect charges can be a very frustrating and time-consuming activity. It's so much easier to dispute a credit card charge and have the merchant prove the charge is legitimate.

 

 

[jacko 8,866]

The Thai ones are tough to get, almost impossible if you don't work in Thailand -- although if you have a big enough or regular-enough account in a Thai bank, you can usually get them to cough up a credit card with a small, say 25,000 baht limit, which is enough for Internet stuff.

Rubbish Joe, got mine easy peasy, don't work here, each with 200k limit on them.

[MM 6,562]

Rubbish Joe, got mine easy peasy, don't work here, each with 200k limit on them.

 

Which bank?

 

I had to produce company registration papers, work permit, salary stipulation, and tax payment receipts, and only got a 120K limit (combined between the two cards)...and it took a year!

 

If you got one easy peasy, without any of that rigmarole, you were very fortunate.

[jacko 8,866]

Which bank?

 

I had to produce company registration papers, work permit, salary stipulation, and tax payment receipts, and only got a 120K limit (combined between the two cards)...and it took a year!

 

If you got one easy peasy, without any of that rigmarole, you were very fortunate.

Bangkok Bank. No such papers with me, I think I just had the passport.

 

Now here is the caveat.... at the time I had a sizeable savings account, and I was required to open a fixed term deposit as guarantee for the cards (I say cards but originally only applied for 1, when I went to pick it up the guy had got me two, must be on commission). Another point is I have had an account with them for some years.