ATM or Travellers Checks

[Paul 0]

I was behind a guy who had Visa Travel checks at an exchange booth and they wouldn't take them.  I had American Express checks and of course no problem.

 

Also, if you are bringing dollars, don't bring the old hundred dollar bills.  I heard there is a problem getting them exchanged.

 

BeachBoy

[Zeus 56]

I've been to BKK/Pattaya 5 times (6 in November), and have taken Visa T/Cs each time ( I get them commission free).  I have never had a problem cashing them.

 

Zeus

[valentinoxxx 4]

Change your bank mate! Nationwide have no charges for cash withdrawals on their Visa debit card and only 0.5% cash withdrawal charge on their Visa credit card.

 

Many banks charge up to 2.75% foreign transaction fee plus 1.5% cash advance fee on debit as well as credit cards. You will not even see these fees in your statements because they are disguised in the form of a lower exchange rate.

 

An alternative credit card is the Liverpool Victoria visa card which charges 1% foreign transaction fee plus 1.5% cash advance fee.

 

To complicate it even further some banks charge interest on cash advance from the day of the withdrawal even if you pay the sum of at your next statement. None of the cards I mentioned above do. :-)

 

Woody's advice is spot on.

I would only add that you should NOT use your debit card for purchases. Restrict its use to cash withdrawals. For purchases use the credit card if you can.

A human being can skim the details from your debit card and clone it. You won't be happy when they empty your cash from your account.

With a credit card, it won't be your cash flow that's hit. Also, you have better purchase protection with a credit card.

If you are taking TCs, you will generally have a better time with AmEx. For instance, if they are lost or stolen.

 

You can use your internet(or telephone) flexaccount to pay the whole balance of your CC statement so as to not incur any charges.

 

Only one thing I ask. Take good care of your Nationwide cards as they are the only ones offering this non-greedy service and if it's taken away from us through excessive fraud and complications, we'll only be left with the greedy banks ripping us off.

 

Up to 2% cash withdrawal charges a hidden 2.75% foriegn exchange commission and interest charges regardless of whether you pay the full balance of you credit card statement.

Yes, this is what is being perpetrated on us by our banks.

 

Many happily took the windfalls they got by supporting the change of many building societies to banks.

Now you can see the results. They will just get the money back in other ways.

Support the institutions that try to give some thing back.

Nationwide Building Society, John Lewis(Waitrose, Peter Jones)

Companies can work and be successful without squeezing  the last drop of life from everything they touch.

There, I feel better now.

[Woody 0]

You are right valentinoxxx,

 

If for example your credit card is charging 16% per annum, then that is 1.25% per month. So if it takes one month to pay your cash advance off at the next bill, you are losing 1.25%. Add on to that the 2 % cash advance and 2.75% foreign transaction fee and you get a loss of 6% !!  >

[Woody 0]

I've been to BKK/Pattaya 5 times (6 in November), and have taken Visa T/Cs each time ( I get them commission free).  I have never had a problem cashing them.

Zeus

 

Well, I have heard people having trouble with cashing Visa T/C in Pattaya.

[Guest]

Woody,

 

You are correct.  The exchange booth on Beach Road half-way between Royal Garden and Pattayaland 1 will not accept Visa TCs.  I can't remember which bank it is but there are a few with "No Visa" in the window.  I initially thought that it referred to cards only but it is also TCs.

 

Tom

[THE_DRUID 21]

Anyone from the U.K.with a natwest bank account can now get American Express T/C's for 0% commision.All you do is upgrade your current account to an advantage gold account,which you can have on trial for 90 days.This costs £6 per month,you can cancel the advantage gold account anytime before the 90 days trial expires and Natwest will refund your monthly £6 monthly payments no questions asked.I've done this twice in the last year and i was told by the Bank clerk in my local branch there's no problem doing this as many times as you like.

On the subject of the Nationwide ATM flex account card i agree with valentinoxxx and woody it's the best ATM card to use in L.O.S. No charges and a good rate.I've been using it for the last 5 or 6 trips,the first time i used it before leaving for L.O.S. i contacted Nationwide and they kindly sent me a list of ATM machines in both Pattaya and Bangkok where i could use it not incurring Bank charges fom the participating bank. :) Long may their fine service continue. The Druid.

[Woody 0]

Hi The_Druid,

 

Is that zero percent on both foreign and sterling T/C or just foreign only?

 

Somehow, I can't see them giving sterling T/C away free of charge of commission.

[valentinoxxx 4]

Hey Druid

 

I wasn't aware there would be any charges from bank ATMs in Bangkok and Pattaya with the Nationwide DC as long as they have the VISA sign. Do you know different?