Can You Recommend A Thai Credit Card?

[Chazz14]

I want to get a credit card from a bank here in Thailand (for occasional online shopping and also as emergency back-up).

Does anyone have a card they can recommend please?

(FYI when my Nationwide (UK) CC expired 6 months ago the replacement card never arrived. N/wide declined to try sending a second one as they said T/land was a "high risk" destination).

[Vital Spark]

It's not easy, Chazz. My husband and I both work full time here, so we went to the TMB (into which our salaries are paid) and tried to get a credit card. We had to be earning over 50,000 baht a month before they would even consider it (we're way low of that...), even though we'd been loyal customers for 15 years. The same applied at the Siam Commercial Bank and the Bank of Ayutthaya. We finally managed to get one from the Bangkok Bank (even though we'd never banked with them!).

It's not actually a credit card per se. The credit limit is the amount of money we have deposited with them - no more. We only need it so that we can hire a car when we go back to the UK, and it does the job.

Good luck with your quest, but if you haven't got a work permit you might find a lot of doors closed in your face.

VS

P.S. We normally use PayPal for online shopping.

[gerryha]

The above is correct. The "credit card" you will be offered will only give you the ability to spend what you have in your account already.

As far as Nationwide is concerned, we have just been through the same thing with them. The options they offer either they will send the card to a branch and you have 2 weeks to pick it up or they will send it to a trusted friend. I approached 1 friend it was clear he was uneasy about helping. In the end we had to get it sent to our house in the UK and the letting agent warned our tenent who brought it into the agent who forwarded it here by recorded delivery. A pain but ultimately succesfull

[HHTel]

My credit/debit bank cards are sent to my mother's address. She then sends them to me recorded delivery and that has worked every time for years.

[Big Boy]

^^This is what I do (substitute brother for mother). The only drawback is purchases incur a foreign transaction fee.

I did enquire about a Thai card, but the requirements were outrageous. I think for a credit limit of (the equivalent of) £5,000, I had to put £5,000 into a Thai (high interest) account that couldn't be touched for 5 years. I would be able to use my card normally in that period. I was tempted.

I enquired whether I could touch that money in an emergency situation. The answer was a definite no. I considered it too high risk, just in case there was an unseen emergency, so I declined. I would guess I use a credit card about 20 times per year for flight, hotel and hire car bookings.

[Governor]

I was offered an Amex card, no work permit as I'm retired.

Healthy credit limit and no deposit asked for.

The downside is that not all merchants accept Amex, decent hotels, most airlines and car hire companies do though, the upside is their point scheme, have had free flights to Japan and Hong Kong and have enough for one round trip to the UK.

They do charge an annual fee of 4,000 Baht though.

[pitsch]

I have a Kasikorn account with online banking (K-Cyber Service). There you can apply online for a K-Web Shopping Card. With this fictive card (you dont get an actual card) you can pay in internet. The amount is deducted immidiately from your account.

[Blacky]

Receiving a credit card in Thailand really depends on your personal situation.....I am banking with SCB and had to wait 6 month to be eligible to apply for a credit card. Reason being they wanted to see 6 months of salary slips. Though I have to say quite happy with it and the point scheme is great too!

Cheers,
B.

[Governor]

I have a Kasikorn account with online banking (K-Cyber Service). There you can apply online for a K-Web Shopping Card. With this fictive card (you dont get an actual card) you can pay in internet. The amount is deducted immidiately from your account.

Yes I've got one of those, there quite handy for purchasing things on online, but they're no good where you need to present an actual card for some airlines, you can use it to pay for a hotel booking but not to check in, car hire companies won't normally accept them.

The good old fashion debit card works for booking flights where you need to to show a card, but not for many hotels and car hire companies.

Bizarrely I've had my debit card refused at a hospital as they would only take credit cards and even at a restaurant who would only take credit but not debit cards.

[migrant]

^^This is what I do (substitute brother for mother). The only drawback is purchases incur a foreign transaction fee.

Big Boy, I found out two of the credit cards I had did not charge a foreign fee, so kept those.

[Big Boy]

Wow, I wish mine didn't. It is quite a substantial charge.

[Chazz14]

Thanks to all who replied - lots of options!

As I recently opened an a/c with SCB, I'll speak to them after 6 months (as per Blacky's info) and keep my fingers crossed...

[StevePIraq]

Kasikorn Bank are now offering a credit card to foreigners, of course there are constraints but also some benefits.

Constraints are you have to deposit 660,000 per year for four years into a fixed account.

Many benefits some good some not
Free safe deposit box
Travel insurance
free car wash once per month
Royal orchid lounge access
Priority Pass Lounge access
Annual health check
Roadside assist
Home assistance?

It may not suit everyone but for some it may be ok.