spending in Thailand

NiftyDigits

socrates wrote: »

You credit the account with $10k - you go to Thailand and you spend money - as long as you maintain a balance of $1k the account remains live

Its funny because the MC story and the Clarity story both come from the site you always tend to quote from - I will cut and paste for you

''Yes, there's a separate thread about a recent change in Thai bank fees on foreign ATM card withdrawals...

The fee for foreign VISA logo cards remains 150b, but the fee for MC-logo foreign cards is being increased to 180b.

Either way, a better solution if available is to use any AEON ATM, and pay no local ATM fee.

But also, always be aware what kind of fees, if any, you're card-issuing bank may charge for foreign ATM withdrawals.

As mentioned above, AEON ATMs will give you the card networks rate, based on whether you use a VISA or MC. AEON ATMs don't set their own rate or have a lower exchange rate to recoup profits.''


''AEON ATMs do not offer the Dynamic Currency Conversion rate, so u should be getting the straight Visa or Mastercard exchange rate at the time of the transaction plus any fees from your home card-issuing bank. This should be the case at any Thai ATM if it does not offer onscreen the DCC + of course the 150 baht fee. The 2 best completely fee free cards issued in the UK for cash withdrawals are the N & P building society current account Visa debit card and the Halifax Clarity credit card. The latter only charges 1.29% per month interest on cash withdrawals. But Ive recently caught Halifax manipulating the exchange rate between the time of the transaction and the time when it shows up as a transaction online or on your monthly statement. It is very difficult to notice this unless u make a note of the change in your running balance for every card withdrawal/transaction and compare this with the amount that eventually shows up for the transaction online or on your statement. I just happened to notice it as there was just one isolated withdrawal made on the card while I was in the UK for 6 months. If u do notice this then please do report it to UK trading standards as I have done. It could be yet another UK banking scam where Halifax and maybe other banks r illegally manipulating exchange rates. I no longer trust Halifax and will only use their card now as a back-up to the N&P card.''

I can point you to the direct link if you want by PM - let me know

?? From which site do I quote?? I think that you'll possibly find that I may have provided the information that you think that may have been quoted in the first place....if it is relation to the UK.
All my information is first hand. I think that is you who is quoting info from other websites.

I don't know the thread to which you refer, but it is likely that the writer does not understand that often pending transactions can be posted and then adjusted once in their final form.
Most people don't notice this and the amounts can be adjusted either way.
Nothing to do with Halifax 'manipulating' the rate.
The 'transaction' date is different from the 'posting' date. That's why you often see two dates on credit and debit card statements.

This is the typical clause:

The conversion will take place on the date on which the transaction is received and recorded by us ("posting date")

An easy example of when this happens is when a vendor would use a CC imprint machine instead of an electronic machine. The transaction date will not match the posting date.

Don't just soak up every bit of rubbish that you read. They don't even mention the Metro Bank products or even the Cumberland Building Society and who knows what interest rate he is quoting for the Clarity. Because that rate varies from around 1.1% per month. Metro Credit card is 1.1% per month. I guarantee that you won't hear anything from that clown and trading standards wherever you found that posting.

NiftyDigits

socrates wrote: »

I am quoting from the site you always quote from. Thai. Visa. Remember when you was using it to show how people had lost money with K Bank withdrawals are you saying it is now not a good source?

I have no doubt that Halifax do not work the way other banks do regarding foreign withdrawals as a colleague of mine has cited the same problem, he now uses the Metro Card.

As for the devaluation of the pound it is all over the Internet I can provide you with links if you want

You have yet to answer my questions regarding TC's as they still interest me as I have a tesco credit card which means I can buy them for 1.25 per cent charge

I quoted from that website for your benefit and others. How else could I show that money was going missing from 'K' bank accounts and not being refunded was not an isolated incident? Since you were actively recommending them and I issued a warning, I produced evidence to back up my claim.

But I certainly don't use it as a source for UK information and hearsay.

NiftyDigits

carlo_koko wrote: »

I totally agree with you,thanks for sharing.Dont let minor details up set you.Keep smiling and make sure you give from your heart,otherwise your ego will benefit from it.cheers.Sawadee krup.

I do give from the heart. That why I don't dress the debate up in false niceties. I debate as I would with friends. If I didn't care, I would post at all.

NiftyDigits

socrates wrote: »

I am quoting from the site you always quote from. Thai. Visa. Remember when you was using it to show how people had lost money with K Bank withdrawals are you saying it is now not a good source?

I have no doubt that Halifax do not work the way other banks do regarding foreign withdrawals as a colleague of mine has cited the same problem, he now uses the Metro Card.

As for the devaluation of the pound it is all over the Internet I can provide you with links if you want

You have yet to answer my questions regarding TC's as they still interest me as I have a tesco credit card which means I can buy them for 1.25 per cent charge

Didn't see your TC post, but without even seeing it I would say that I wouldn't be paying for Sterling AmEx TCs when Lloyds and the like offer them for free.
Instead of promulgating conspiracy theories, did anyone think to ask the writer if the rate that he received matched the Mastercard rate on the Posting Date?

socrates

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Didn't see your TC post, but without even seeing it I would say that I wouldn't be paying for Sterling AmEx TCs when Lloyds and the like offer them for free.
Instead of promulgating conspiracy theories, did anyone think to ask the writer if the rate that he received matched the Mastercard rate on the Posting Date?

I indeed confirmed that Lloyds with whom I have one of my accounts with do not charge for Sterling TC and I can order £5000 - and apparently in £200 denominations and can be collected in branch

I will try this route for my next trip - and take along N&P and NW debit cards as back-up

I intend to find the best possible rate at Central Festival - there are several banks all within 50 metres of each other - then dump the cash in K-Bank - leaving back £10k baht for a couple of days expenses

I will take your advice and see how it fits to my requirements - I suppose the beauty of TC's if you are questioned by Customs you have complete paperwork to show where your money came from

Will let you know how it goes

NiftyDigits

socrates wrote: »

I indeed confirmed that Lloyds with whom I have one of my accounts with do not charge for Sterling TC and I can order £5000 - and apparently in £200 denominations and can be collected in branch

I will try this route for my next trip - and take along N&P and NW debit cards as back-up

I intend to find the best possible rate at Central Festival - there are several banks all within 50 metres of each other - then dump the cash in K-Bank - leaving back £10k baht for a couple of days expenses

I will take your advice and see how it fits to my requirements - I suppose the beauty of TC's if you are questioned by Customs you have complete paperwork to show where your money came from

Will let you know how it goes

Wouldn't it be cheaper to send the amount in Pounds via the Halifax direct to K Bank?? Costs will be around £20 in total and you may get the TT rate. Ask 'K' bank as to which rate they will use to convert.

Otherwise it's 25 x 33 baht then the Sight Bill rate.

socrates

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Wouldn't it be cheaper to send the amount in Pounds via the Halifax direct to K Bank?? Costs will be around £20 in total and you may get the TT rate. Ask 'K' bank as to which rate they will use to convert.

Otherwise it's 25 x 33 baht then the Sight Bill rate.

It's another option I will have to ask K-Bank what the cost is exactly

I remember last time I sent money I set up a facility to get my conversion to take place in Pattaya as it normally comes via Bangkok - and for a fixed maximum of 500 baht - so indeed £20 odd all in

NiftyDigits

socrates wrote: »

I indeed confirmed that Lloyds with whom I have one of my accounts with do not charge for Sterling TC and I can order £5000 - and apparently in £200 denominations and can be collected in branch

I will try this route for my next trip - and take along N&P and NW debit cards as back-up

I intend to find the best possible rate at Central Festival - there are several banks all within 50 metres of each other - then dump the cash in K-Bank - leaving back £10k baht for a couple of days expenses

I will take your advice and see how it fits to my requirements - I suppose the beauty of TC's if you are questioned by Customs you have complete paperwork to show where your money came from

Will let you know how it goes

Huh? What? Was my advice for you to take Travellers Cheques or to either go to the ATM or to withdraw cash over the counter.

You can withdraw cash over the counter and then put in into the 'K' Bank account.

Lots of possibilities.

booler

This is all much too complicated for me. I think I'll stay at home.

Doshwaster

Reports that some Thai banks have increased their ATM fee to 180 BHT: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/642139-atm-charge-increased/

That means hunting down an AEON machine even more worthwhile.

However, in better news, Tripadvisor have ranked Bangkok as the 2nd cheapest city in the world for a night out: http://www.thailand-business-news.com/travel/46249-bangkok-ranks-2nd-in-asia-as-cheapest-city-for-nightlife-expenses.html