[Fuglyone]

Does anyone have any info on the using of Visa branded debit cards issued by places other than Nationwide Building Society ones?
I know from reading various posts in forums that there's no 150 Baht fee with the Nationwide Visa card, but my bank (HSBC) have just replaced my Maestro card (which DID incur the fee) with a Visa debit one, and i was wondering if it would incur a 150 Baht clout, or not.
Other question is how much do the twats at HSBC themselves levy to use a debit card abroad? I got a figure of 2.75% in the back of my head (hope it stays there too !!!!)

Fuglyone

[highlander]

Fuglyone, on 08 March 2010 - 12:42 PM, said:

Does anyone have any info on the using of Visa branded debit cards issued by places other than Nationwide Building Society ones?
I know from reading various posts in forums that there's no 150 Baht fee with the Nationwide Visa card, but my bank (HSBC) have just replaced my Maestro card (which DID incur the fee) with a Visa debit one, and i was wondering if it would incur a 150 Baht clout, or not.
Other question is how much do the twats at HSBC themselves levy to use a debit card abroad? I got a figure of 2.75% in the back of my head (hope it stays there too !!!!)

Fuglyone

fugly just used my visa electron in one of their atm machines and can verify they work and no 150 baht fee

scotty :cheers:

[Fuglyone]

highlander, on 10 March 2010 - 03:34 AM, said:

fugly just used my visa electron in one of their atm machines and can verify they work and no 150 baht fee

scotty :cheers:

From what i am reading/have read elsewhere, its not JUST a case of it being a Visa card, but one of it being issued by a specific bank. For example, people are being gouged for the 150 TBH usary fee, when using (lets just say) a Visa branded card issued by NatWest.
It infers that, for some strange reason, its only (?) the Nationwide Visa cards that dont atteact the 150 Baht charge. Therefore, i am trying to ascertain if it IS only the Nationwide Visa card users who are managing to swerve the charge
What bank issued your Visa Electron?

Fuglyone

[taffy_lee]

What I don't understand is that these ATM machines have to paid for, they have to be regularly topped up, serviced and the bank has it's administration to consider.

Why would any bank in Thailand allow a Farang to come along with his Farang ATM card and allow him to draw 20'000 THB at a time for FREE???

Even with my Thai ATM card, if I use another Thai Banks ATM, I get charged 20 THB.

There is no doubt that Nationwide would be paying some sort of fee so how do they get it back out of you? Do they stitch you up a little on the exchange rate whilst giving the perception that it is free? Do they charge account maintenance? I'm sure nationwide are not a registered charity and doing this just out of the kindness of their heart.

Taffy

[Cookie]

I think there ia a bit of confusion here.

All UK cards pay the 150 baht fee..I am guessing that the bank of Ayudtha hasn't got round yet to updating all their ATMs. But I certainly paid 150 baht when I was there in December at other ATMs using my nationwide visa debit card.

The next thing is that many UK card issuers charge a percentage fee to take money out abroad...it's supposedly to cover the charge they have to pay to Visa. Nationwide never used to pass this charge on but have now started to do so...I believe it is currently 1.0%. But this only applies to their visa debit card (because it is a Visa). Their cashcard doesn't charge (because its not a visa card).

As for exchange rates..certainly some banks crucify you on the rate (as well as the cash advance fee) but Nationwide in my experience offer the best exchange rate possible (it's called the wholesale visa rate)...I have checked it many times not only in LOS but also Europe and it's as near as damn it to the mid market rate. Why do they do this? I would guess because it is their USP and lots of people open accounts with them as a result.

[Fuglyone]

Cookie, on 10 March 2010 - 12:46 PM, said:

I think there ia a bit of confusion here.

All UK cards pay the 150 baht fee..I am guessing that the bank of Ayudtha hasn't got round yet to updating all their ATMs. But I certainly paid 150 baht when I was there in December at other ATMs using my nationwide visa debit card.

The next thing is that many UK card issuers charge a percentage fee to take money out abroad...it's supposedly to cover the charge they have to pay to Visa. Nationwide never used to pass this charge on but have now started to do so...I believe it is currently 1.0%. But this only applies to their visa debit card (because it is a Visa). Their cashcard doesn't charge (because its not a visa card).

As for exchange rates..certainly some banks crucify you on the rate (as well as the cash advance fee) but Nationwide in my experience offer the best exchange rate possible (it's called the wholesale visa rate)...I have checked it many times not only in LOS but also Europe and it's as near as damn it to the mid market rate. Why do they do this? I would guess because it is their USP and lots of people open accounts with them as a result.

I'll tell you a story now:
Last May/June, just for research purposes, i stood in front of a mate, with my HSBC (then) Maestro card inserted into a Bank of Ayudhya ATM. It was telling me i would be charged 150 TBH....so out it came, and i stepped aside, to allow said mate access to the same ATM. He inserted his Nationwide Visa debit card into the slot, and, after pressing the usual buttons, out came his card and 15,000 TBH. His reciept was printed out with NO FURTHER 150 Baht taken
We went back to his house and checked his online banking and he was ONLY debited the ammount that 15,000 TBH came out to, using the exchange rate at the time.....NOT 15,150 (and it wasnt a bad rate of exchange, either, if memory serves me well). As of last week he is still getting his cash out of the same ATM without 150 usary charge on any of his transactions.
Thats why i asked the question in the OP.
Also, this "cash card" you talk about is being replaced by another type/brand that cant be used in ATMS other than UK ones.
My credit rating is that sh*te i cant get a Visa card from them :whistling:
So i am more or less stuck with what i've got :thumbdown:

Fuglyone

[gazza54]

My bank Lloydstsb would charge me 2.99% on each withdrawal using my Visa debit card and then the 150bht thai withdrawal charge on top of that.needless to say they can go and swivel as I shall be travelling to Thailand next week all doshed up :whistling:

[mightyvinyl]

Look, there really is no way around these insane fees if you are using any card from an overseas bank.

That's why my last trip, I brought cash with me and upon arriving in Pattaya, I went straight to the nearest Kasikorn Bank (the lime green ones all over town) and set up an account. They charge 500 baht for a Visa branded debit card (I believe you can pay less for a debit card without Visa access but it's not worth the savings) and from my research, seem to be the only bank that will allow foreign visitors to set up accounts without a lot of hassle.

They will ask for your passport, a local address, a local phone. The first branch I went to wanted my local cell phone and when I said I didn't have one said they couldn't set me up without one, that a hotel phone wouldn't do. I went back to my hotel and wrote down the address, hotel phone number, and went to a second branch (they're EVERYWHERE) and marched in, when the woman asked for my information I slapped down $4,000 in new crisp USA $100 bills, and the piece of paper with my address and phone number written on it, along with my Passport. She scooped it all up and 10 minutes later, she walked me outside and had me insert my new debit card and change the password to something I'd be able to remember. It was that easy.

There's no transaction fee if you use the green K-Bank (Kasikorn Bank) cash machines which seem to be every 50 yards or so in Pattaya. I used it in Bangkok as well but am not certain about fees there. They charge 500 baht a year to administer the account, but now I can transfer money into the account from my US bank every year without a fee and have the money waiting for me when I arrive.

The first Kasikorn branch I attempted to set up an account at was on the 4th floor of the New Century mall on 2nd road. The 2nd branch (where I was successful) was in the Avenue Mall on 2nd road, next to the McDonalds.

[taffy_lee]

Great post mightyvinyl,

I also have a Kasikorn account and it seems they would even open a bank account for your dog.

I have the Debit Card also but it is not quite the Debit Card you would expect it to be, it does not even feature your name, instead it says "privileged Member"..

I've never had any problems using for for shop purchases in Thailand, but I have only been successful using it abroad in ATM's. They dont seem to accept it in shops abroad (with exception of Changi Airport, Singapore where I managed to use it to buy some beers).

The Card is no good for Internet transactions, but you can apply for a virtual webcard for online purchases and I have never had any problems with this.

It is a good choice of Bank which seems to have as many branches as 7/11 in Pattaya. If I send money from UK by the banks priority service, it has always arrived in my Kasikorn account 9am the next working day. Just make sure the Bank sends the money in USD, EURO, GBP (whatever is applicable to your local currency) and you wont be ripped off when Kasikorn convert it on arrival.

It's a very good option for regular visitors who don't want to be stitched up by ATM charges and bad Forex Commissions..

Taffy

[chuckrivera]

mightyvinyl, on 14 March 2010 - 07:47 PM, said:

They charge 500 baht a year to administer the account,

The fee must have went up. I've been charged ฿200/year for the past two years.

taffy_lee, on 14 March 2010 - 07:57 PM, said:

I have the Debit Card also but it is not quite the Debit Card you would expect it to be, it does not even feature your name, instead it says "privileged Member"..

You can order one with your name on it from the bank; you just have to wait for it. If you want a card when you open the account, it is the generic one.

[eyebee]

Yesterday, at the Bank of Ayudhya cash machine on 2nd Road opposite Big C, I used my Barclays Connect Visa debit card. The fee for using the machine was 0 baht. I understand this is true for the majority of UK issued Visa debit cards. Mind you Barclays squeezes me for fees when the debit reaches my account. The best thing as mightyvinyl says is to set up an account with a Thai Bank (it's also easy to set up an account with TMB), and use their debit cards.

[highlander]

already have kasikorn bank account inpattayaand yesterday opened one in ubon transferred money to ubon from it and got debit card right away no fees at all nice way to save a little cash, also used my visa electron in ubon at ayuttha and no 150 baht fee :thumbsup: scotty :cheers:

[jklum]

I get charged using the barclays except at the western union cash machine at the garden complex on 2nd road the complex with shenigans and the night market - every other cash machine charges me the 150 baht.