Credit card from a Thai bank

Post by **buksida** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 10:28 am

I have been told its possible for foreigners to get a credit card from a Thai bank.

Has anyone done this and what are the requirements?

Post by **lomuamart** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 11:26 am

Loads of money

Post by **Norseman** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 1:04 pm

I only read about this, but as far as I remember you need to have permanent work and regulary income.
Only the permanent work rule prevented me to apply.
That was 2,5 years ago so they may have changed all this by now.

Post by **Limey711** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 1:04 pm

When we opened an account with the Kasikornbank,they charged us 300baht each and issued us both, my wife and I, with a card.

With this we can draw money from an ATM and use it to pay for goods in stores, it is probably more like a Debit card than a Credit card, I wondered if this was the sort of thing you meant.

Russ

Post by **tuktukmike** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 2:21 pm

I also tried to get a Thai credit card, no such luck.

They tell you that you must have held a work permit for more than one year.

I even asked about the type you charge up or deposit a large sum that covers the credit limit twice over, still no.

It is worrying that we are less trusted than a Thai who lives in a corrugated hut.

Stick to the UK ones that offer internet banking.

Mike.

Post by **buksida** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 3:10 pm

lomu ... yeah right.

Norseman ... I have both of these, but income is not paid into the bank I want the card from.

Limey ... Thats a debit card, already have one, you can't buy stuff online with it.

TTM ... sounds like the harsh reality of it, have had the WP for 4 years though so may as well try.

Nobody has one then?

Post by **tuktukmike** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 4:45 pm

Just a thought,

If you have a thai wife why dont you get her to apply for a credit card, then add yourself as an additional user.

Not sure if anyone has tried this, but just maybe?.

I have had a work permit for about 18-20 months now but i just cant be assed to try again.

Maybe my skin is the wrong colour.

Mike.

Post by **buksida** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 4:55 pm

Can't, she has been blacklisted apparently (maybe something to do with marrying the farang!). UK is also not an option since I haven't been there for six years and don't have any accounts there.

Post by **Norseman** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 7:54 pm

Hi buksida.
I'm going to the bank tomorrow.
Can ask for info or a brochure and drop it in your mailbox.

Post by **lomuamart** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 10:22 pm

Buksida, I'm certain you can buy online with a debit card. I do it all the time here, admittedly in shops, restaurants and ATMs.
I've certainly booked tickets in the UK on it, but how that works here, I'm not 100% sure.
If you think about it, an internet transaction through a debit card means to the provider that you've got the dosh already. Surely they'd be more willing to accept that than a "promise" from the credit card company to honour your debt if you defaulted with the card.

Post by **jambo** » Thu Feb 09, 2006 12:01 am

bangkok bank will give you a visa debit card around 6/700 baht
only ever used it in atm`s did once try to book an online flight with air asia but no joy
think you just need a passport no imigration 0 or b just a normal visa
but it does work as a proof of id in the uk ie for a proof for mobile phone contract ect
i find the best way in thailand is to put the money in the bank and use the atm each card allows 100.000 baht a day withdrawal allthough only 20.000 per transaction
chok dee
jambo

Post by **Guess** » Thu Feb 09, 2006 5:07 am

tuktukmike wrote:Just a thought,

If you have a thai wife why dont you get her to apply for a credit card, then add yourself as an additional user.

Mike.

Mike have you completely lost the plot. Get your Thai wife to get a credit card???

What the hell do you think that I Thai woman would do with a credit card if she figured how to use it.

Post by **tuktukmike** » Thu Feb 09, 2006 9:43 am

Hi Guess,

No i have not lost the plot,

She can do what she wants as it would be in her name, ie her debt.

But as in the uk, once you can show a Thai card with your name on it i am sure you could apply for another in your own name.

Mike.

Post by **buksida** » Thu Feb 09, 2006 11:06 am

jambo, I already have one of these, its a debit card, not a credit card. A related question though, if making a purchase online which asks for Visa/Mastercard, can you use the debit card as you would a credit card?

Guess/TTM, that scenario is out of the question for other reasons so end of discussion there.

Post by **chelsea** » Thu Feb 09, 2006 11:34 am

Bukside, some of the banks here in Australia offer Debit Cards that only use funds that are in your designated bank account that you have with them, but can also be used inplace of a credit card (only using available funds)

It allows you to use as a normal atm card, but if you are in a place that accepts Visa or Mastercard (but does not allow you to use your normal account to pay for things), you can use it as a Visa or Mastercard.

We had one of our local banks send this add out on the net the other day http://debitmastercard.bankwest.com.au/index.asp .
This one seems that you can use to purchase online as a normal credit card via your designated account.

The best thing for you to do, is to probably open an account up with bank that is offering the service and see just how it works for yourself. Other than that, find someone who has an account with the bank and try and purchase something online using it

I know when I was selling things online about 12months ago, there were not a lot of debit cards that could be used to purcahse online, but with technology advances, perhaps the problems have now been ironed out.