70 replies to this topic

[travelling_man]

adebisi, on 24 February 2012 - 02:20 PM, said:

... With the AEON conversion rate maybe being worse than the others (is there a way to check the ATM conversion rates?) the 150baht fee you save may be a false economy.
...

I have stayed off this thread because I have posted on this subject over and over.

There is no such thing as an "AEON CONVERSION RATE".

ATM machines that you use (that are different from your card-issuing bank) do *NOT* set the foreign currency conversion rate.  That rate is set by the bank that issued your card.

http://www.pattaya-a...ost__p__1461510

The BANK that issued your card will set the conversion rate.  Some banks contract with card networks (Visa Inc or Mastercard) and accept the prime rate that the network provides.  Other banks can private contract the rate to a 3rd party and charge whatever rate they choose.

BUT IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ATM.

[saxondale]

adebisi, on 24 February 2012 - 02:20 PM, said:

I posted this last night on another thread:



Having a second card as backup could be handy if one stopped working - I think I am going to get both of the above.

With the AEON conversion rate maybe being worse than the others (is there a way to check the ATM conversion rates?) the 150baht fee you save may be a false economy.

What is the maximum amount you can draw on an ATM machine?

Conversion is done by N and P.

[Joe_Le_Force]

adebisi, on 24 February 2012 - 02:20 PM, said:

I posted this last night on another thread:



Having a second card as backup could be handy if one stopped working - I think I am going to get both of the above.

With the AEON conversion rate maybe being worse than the others (is there a way to check the ATM conversion rates?) the 150baht fee you save may be a false economy.

What is the maximum amount you can draw on an ATM machine?

Again the maximum amount you can withdraw will be set by your card provider. If you're a Brit for example the Halifax is £300. Others are £250 and £500 for cards that I have.

[saxondale]

Joe_Le_Force, on 24 February 2012 - 05:01 PM, said:

Again the maximum amount you can withdraw will be set by your card provider. If you're a Brit for example the Halifax is £300. Others are £250 and £500 for cards that I have.

Most banks will increase this if you call them.

[Joe_Le_Force]

saxondale, on 25 February 2012 - 02:00 PM, said:

Most banks will increase this if you call them.

Not for use in Thailand as have asked all 3 previously.

[JRooster]

Just go to K Bank and open an account, its fast, easy and there's no atm fee...simple

[faluck you]

Do you have to change the money from home first at a money exchange or can you do this at the bank?

[demario]

Harley62, on 12 November 2011 - 06:22 AM, said:

Sorry if this has been covered (extensively?) but I recall a few threads in the past year or so regarding methods for avoiding the THB150 fee for each ATM withdrawal made using a non-Thai ATM card (in my case a USA bank card ).

I seem to remember there were a few "select" ATM's that somehow did not assess this THB150 fee, but they were from "lesser-known" Thai banks (maybe AEON, or UOB....I cannot recall exactly) and only at certain locations (like Carrefour on Pattaya Klang--now a Big C)??

Going forward to the present, is there ANY ATM in Pattaya at the moment where one can avoid paying this fee each time I use the ATM? I realize it's only THB 150 (US $5) but of course the USA bank also charges me for a "foreign withdrawal" and they use their internal exchange rates which are not always very favorable to the traveling customer.

Thanks in advance for any good "intel". I seem to remember finding these ATM's to avoid the fee, but it was at least a year ago, and I would imagine all banks have gone to the same system--especially in today's economic climate!

Cheers for any info.

HB

gray colured atm @ home world next to big c is the only one i know

[JRooster]

faluck you, on 29 February 2012 - 08:46 AM, said:

Do you have to change the money from home first at a money exchange or can you do this at the bank?

you can do this right there in the bank. Also can later on transfer funds from your account back home to this one and visa versa. The exchange is not that bad with K Bank either. If I'm not mistaken they might even have duel currency accounts. Maybe I'm thinking BKK Bank on that but I'm pretty sure K Bank has it as well>
Also, dont even bother going and talking to Bangkok Bank unless you have at least a 3 month visa. Even then they might deny you.
KBank was fast and easy. Actually easier than the banks back home even with the language barrier...so sad

[amar]

Pattayarox, on 21 February 2012 - 03:09 AM, said:

Is it possible to open an account with Kasicorn bank online? Or do you have to go into the bank in person?
Also how exactly do I transfer money into it?
I have an Allied Irish bank account and have online banking can I set up direct debit or something to keep my Kasicorn account topping up?

Thanks


Pattayarox

NO, you will have to present yourself.
All I needed was an adress (where I lived), the hotels ' headed '  blank page and my Passport, and cash to put in.
Changed the cash to bhat at the K bank's money exchange, credited the account.
The bank clerk took me to the cashpoint outside the bank and put a new debit card in  and activated it, then told me to change my PIN.
Nowadays I take cash, change it at one of the money changers and credit my account at first oppotunity.
I withdraw 5/10 k bhat as required, pay thai bills and use it as db card normally in Thailand, 3 trips over 18 months, works fine and no more charges.

Edited by amar, 29 February 2012 - 11:25 PM.

[Nak Muay]

do AEON ATMs allow the use of a link card with the machines.... is there a link symbol on them??
i ask because i am currently applying for a N and P current account but i may only get a basic account due to credit score.








with the basic account you only get a link card not a visa card so are these possible to use too?? or do i need to keep looking for alternatives?



I also have thought about would it work starting a UK account at K-bank and doing a free international transfer to a Thai k-bank account??? just a thought as you can get uk accounts in london i have been told....

[Nak Muay]

Nak Muay, on 03 March 2012 - 07:32 PM, said:

do AEON ATMs allow the use of a link card with the machines.... is there a link symbol on them??
i ask because i am currently applying for a N and P current account but i may only get a basic account due to credit score.

with the basic account you only get a link card not a visa card so are these possible to use too?? or do i need to keep looking for alternatives?

I also have thought about would it work starting a UK account at K-bank and doing a free international transfer to a Thai k-bank account??? just a thought as you can get uk accounts in london i have been told....

I have basically managed to answer my question by reading the whole site for N and P onlne. Basically they supply a Visa/Plus cash card which can be used at any atm you can use a Visa at so there will be no issues here!

i also found a photo of 2 AEON Cash machines which display the Visa symbol so im 99.999% sure everything will be absolutly great!!

SEEMS THE N AND P ACCOUNT IS S WINNER FOR ANYONE WISHING TO KEEP MONEY IN UK AND WITHDRAW IT CHEAPLY IN THAILAND!

anything over £1000 it does seem ukforex AKA ozforex is the best/ cheapest option with a K-bank account(150baht recieving fee)

[sanj]

whatever you do don't ask the bar to exchange it for you!

We spent a good few hours in a bar playing pool, got on well with the girls - buying them drinks and playing pool etc with them. We asked where the best place for exchanging money was and they offered to do it for us. They said we would get a receipt etc so we thought why not. when we mentioned the rate they simply said it depends on the vendor but we would get a receipt so not too worry!

When they returned we got a lower rate of 45 whereas we should have got about 48. All in all we got done for 800 THB.

Wasn't happy about it but the girl i BF made me forget it and i felt relieved after taking her back to my hotel! She was good...

[dcttechnology]

Ya its better to take hard cash

[NorCalKid]

Guess this is an old thread but I think i finally found the answer for Americans.  Just open a free Charles Schwab investor checking account.  Takes about 15 days to get it all set up and they reimburse all ATM fees world wide.

[blueman69]

NorCalKid, on 03 April 2012 - 10:05 PM, said:

Guess this is an old thread but I think i finally found the answer for Americans.  Just open a free Charles Schwab investor checking account.  Takes about 15 days to get it all set up and they reimburse all ATM fees world wide.

I was just about to say this! I recently came back from a 6 week trip. I ranked up $82 in ATM FEES. I got all my money back but just make sure you call them and say you're going out of the country and which country. I stopped over in Taiwan and used the card. Right when I came back, I got a voicemail asked to confirm if I was in Taiwan ( i didn't tell them I was going there).

[Joe_Le_Force]

NorCalKid, on 03 April 2012 - 10:05 PM, said:

Guess this is an old thread but I think i finally found the answer for Americans.  Just open a free Charles Schwab investor checking account.  Takes about 15 days to get it all set up and they reimburse all ATM fees world wide.

Tremendous for the Americans. Can just see Brits walking into Barclays back home and demanding ATM fees back.....

[travelling_man]

I don't have the inclination to look right now, but I posted the names of banks and their programs that provide discounted/no fees for UK residents.

[Joe_Le_Force]

travelling_man, on 04 April 2012 - 11:37 AM, said:

I don't have the inclination to look right now, but I posted the names of banks and their programs that provide discounted/no fees for UK residents.

Think there's only one or two left now. Someone mentioned Metro Bank but you have to open the account in person and appears London based (Maybe changed now)

Stick with Aeon although I'm not convinced the rate applied is competitive. I followed a thread elsewhere where a guy used foreign ATM cards in a locked down weekend period and the bottom line figure on his bank account was more favourable with Bangkok and Siam Commercial atms where the 150 baht fee was obviously charged.

[IIIII]

Opem K bank account and transfer your money there.

[Friendly Mak Mak]

It really such-ks to have your card eaten...I spent so much time attempting to get it back..just lucky enough to be able to draw on my credit card..as mush as that cost me...Can you imagine...in Thailand with 10,000 for almost 2 weeks without being able to get more out..luckily had my CC as costly as that was..just paid it off as soon as I got home.