Decided to start another thread on this as it's a bit different to Limey's one about getting cards sent over here.
Anyway, trudged round to my local ATM yesterday afternoon to make a withdrawal. Thai Military Bank. Went through the proceedure and up popped the message "transaction cancelled". Tried again, for half the amount - same thing. (I've got money in my account back in the UK - honest).
A short while later, after checking my internet banking, I tried TFB and BB - "contact your bank" was the message now.
This has happened to me in the past, but only on a couple of occasions and I'm assuming it's just a temporary computer problem - ie, the international bank connections are down between Thailand and the UK, so my account can't be checked. I'm hoping that it works today, otherwise you may see a farang with a begging bowl outside Burgerking!!!
Anyone else had this problem before? I know when it last happened, about a year ago, I vowed to always have a couple of thousand Baht tucked away somewhere. Needless to say, I didn't follow my own advice and am now brassic. Maybe a word to the wise for others who, like me, rely on their ATM cards for money here.
ATM Problems
Lomu, I had a similar experience in both Phuket and HH over the last couple of years. I use my normal Commonwealth Bank ATM card that has access to my business and savings account in Australia
The card is supposed to be used at any ATM that has access to both the Mastereo or Cirrus systems.
I found in both instances, that the card was only able to be used at one of the banks and not the others.
I cannot remember the name of the bank but is the one that has the yellow/red/orange as their corporate colours.
I tried a few times in both places, but did not bother trying again, just in case it kept my card.
There seems to be no problem with any of the ATM,s if you are doing it with a credit card.
The card is supposed to be used at any ATM that has access to both the Mastereo or Cirrus systems.
I found in both instances, that the card was only able to be used at one of the banks and not the others.
I cannot remember the name of the bank but is the one that has the yellow/red/orange as their corporate colours.
I tried a few times in both places, but did not bother trying again, just in case it kept my card.
There seems to be no problem with any of the ATM,s if you are doing it with a credit card.
Let the good times roll!!!! 
Working today. Dunno what the very occasional problem is. Just that computers can't talk to each other. Whether a problem in the UK or here, I'm not sure.
Thanks for the suggestion, Jambo. I'd have tried that later if unsuccessful this morning.
No looking for scraps at Burgerking now!!!
Working today. Dunno what the very occasional problem is. Just that computers can't talk to each other. Whether a problem in the UK or here, I'm not sure.
Thanks for the suggestion, Jambo. I'd have tried that later if unsuccessful this morning.
No looking for scraps at Burgerking now!!!
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Wanderlust
- Legend
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- Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2004 12:27 pm
- Location: Hua Hin
lomu,
I have had the same problem in the past, and it seems to becoming more frequent recently. I think it is most likely to be connected with the same problem that afflicts the internet connections in Thailand, which in itself is caused by the fact that there is just a single cable connecting Thailand to the rest of the world, and this has been severed a couple of times in the last year, and it happened again fairly recently. jambo is correct in saying that you can draw money on your card inside the bank on production of your passport as long as your card has one of the accepted symbols like Visa but, of course, there will be a charge for this.
I have had the same problem in the past, and it seems to becoming more frequent recently. I think it is most likely to be connected with the same problem that afflicts the internet connections in Thailand, which in itself is caused by the fact that there is just a single cable connecting Thailand to the rest of the world, and this has been severed a couple of times in the last year, and it happened again fairly recently. jambo is correct in saying that you can draw money on your card inside the bank on production of your passport as long as your card has one of the accepted symbols like Visa but, of course, there will be a charge for this.
This happened to me last August.
First one, then another, then another - all "contact your bank" - so I did, to my phonebank via my mobile, they assured me I had sufficient funds and suggested it was a local glitch. I went out again and eventually found one that worked - it was evening - and stuck with it after that. But I can't remember what it was called!!! It was almost opposite the City Beach, on the Beach Road - has a money exchange cubby hole as well.
It caused me problems like you. I had nothing left!!!
Lesson learnt.
First one, then another, then another - all "contact your bank" - so I did, to my phonebank via my mobile, they assured me I had sufficient funds and suggested it was a local glitch. I went out again and eventually found one that worked - it was evening - and stuck with it after that. But I can't remember what it was called!!! It was almost opposite the City Beach, on the Beach Road - has a money exchange cubby hole as well.
It caused me problems like you. I had nothing left!!!
Lesson learnt.
Talk is cheap
