Tourism what are they thinking?

[prommee_NE]

Back to the Banks, they have a pretty good deal going wih us expats with annuals, we are required to put 400K or 800K in the bank for immigrations and they pay no (0) interest and have the use of that money as long as we stay here. If I had a choice I certainly wouldn't pu 800K in a bank adn not get paid for the use of my money. So they make money on us in other ways. The closest you come to having a choice is to do they monthly route of 40K or 65K a month and use it to live on.

During my last long term stay in Thailand (20 months...), I bought a 1 million Baht government bond and got the years interest on it. Immigration accepted it as my 400K requirement. I also had a savings account which was used to show that I was spending money in Thailand.

[Git]

Every immigration office has their on requirements, note the section on the officers dicreation. Nong Khai will not accept that. Thats is the one have to deal with. They say no it means no. Guys have tried it with an SCB investment accounts and they had to change back to a non interest bearing account. With the new rules I suppose yuo could get some interst each year. Then move it before yuor into the 90 day period. Your not allowed to shop locations any longer to process yuor visa you have to go to the one that is in your desiginated area. So for me my statement stands. Would be nice.

[joemoros]

I guess this new fee is a reference to that old saying that we farangs have the letters ATM stencilled on our foreheads. I go out of my way to find a bank that is not charging these ridiculous fees!

[Sean Moran]

Don't worry too much about it. Just change to a savings account and use that ATM card. This one only applies to mastercard and visa, apparently.

[Robert]

To foreignerworkinbkk:

I believe you stating that banks have decided on controlling costs etc. but what about public opinion if no other surrounding countries have implemented this fee? Tourists have a choice in where to spend their money. To be continued I think.

To Sean Moran:
sorry have to disagree with you on this. I have Visa and Masterdcard creditcards but when I try to use my Dutch Ing bankcard with eg. Bangkok Bank I get message on screen that there will be a fee of 150 Thb.
Solution: transfer money directly from my Dutch Bank to my Thai bank account and issue their ATM card free with their bank. Cost using Benificiary option: 0,25% to be charged by Thai bank, minimum 200 Thb, maximum 500 Thb.
Only thing is - and that amazes me - is that if I use my Thai bank card with same bank outside place I live I will be charged 20 Thb. Same bank, same bankcard, other city, charged 20Thb?

[Sean Moran]

In 2005-06 when one AUD bought almost 30 baht, having to pay around 180 THB to withdraw 10,000 THB three times on an overseas holiday when it would cost me 60-90 THB to do the same at the ATM of another bank across the street from my local would amount to around $10.00 AUD extra for going to the bank 10,000 km away from home for my entire 14-21 day tour, but it's nice that they have added some new message on the screen now so that I don't have to work it back of the monthly ATB.

[prommee_NE]

Every immigration office has their on requirements, note the section on the officers dicreation. Nong Khai will not accept that. Thats is the one have to deal with. They say no it means no. Guys have tried it with an SCB investment accounts and they had to change back to a non interest bearing account. With the new rules I suppose yuo could get some interst each year. Then move it before yuor into the 90 day period. Your not allowed to shop locations any longer to process yuor visa you have to go to the one that is in your desiginated area. So for me my statement stands. Would be nice.

This is interesting and I do not doubt you. I obtained my visa from the Nong Khai office...not the subsidary that opens at the Hospital in Udon Thani but the main office. Let me know if you used the main office when you tried as I will have to review the way I handle my finances next time I am there for a long term stay.

[Ian]

It seems that whatever card you use at an ATM if it is not a Thai card then it gets processed via Mastercard/visa, all other cards use their network.
Western union was an option to consider, http://www.cpfcu.com/Rates/western_union_fees.htm
This seemed a bit cheaper than a standard Bank to Bank electronic SWIFT transfer,
but then I read this http://www.jamesmaurer.com/western-union-fees.asp

So I am back to moneybookers and experimenting. A trial transfer from the UK to Thailand of 10 pounds cost me 200 Baht but I have no breakdown of how this charge was divided between the banks and the money changers, moneybookers themselves charged 30 pence.

Now I am going to send 50 pounds and see how much that costs

[Sean Moran]

The bank I have banked with since before the turn of this century uses Cirrus-Maestro. Mastercard and visa have about as much to do with it as betamax would have wished for!

[Sean Moran]

Hey Paps, do you have a motorbike in Malaysia, and how big is it?