How to pay for water and electricity when out of Thailand

[Siam]

Hi! I am thinking about renting a condo long-term in Hua Hin, but will be outside Thailand frequently for several months. How do I pay for water and electricity then? First, I need to know about the amount due (which I will not since I am not there) and then I will need to pay the respective amount. Do I need to find somebody helping me with this locally or how does this best work? Thank you!

[buksida]

Utility bills can be paid by direct debit from a Thai bank account, but its a little convoluted to set up and needs paperwork so best for a Thai to do it.

[Nereus]

First you need to ascertain where the bills are coming from. Usually, the electric power supply at a Condo is metered by the government supply and in your own name, but not always!

The water supply is usually metered by the Condo Juristic and added to the monthly common fee. Some Juristic's will charge their own rate, not that charged by the local Tessabaan supply.

As posted, a direct debit, at least for the power. For the Common fee, and water if metered by the Condo, then an online Thai bank account that you can use from anywhere.

[HarryVardon]

For the last couple of months and still you would have trouble paying for water even if you live in Thailand. About 4 months ago water bills just stopped arriving so my wife goes to the water office every month to pay the bill. She went a couple of days ago to pay the bill for July but was told that they had no idea what the bill would be and that she should come back again in a few weeks. All very business-like. I have heard that the water company is having trouble with its computer system so maybe it's all related to that!

[Siam]

Utility bills can be paid by direct debit from a Thai bank account, but its a little convoluted to set up and needs paperwork so best for a Thai to do it.

Thank you. Does this require a visit to the bank branch where the account is held (which in my case is Bangkok, i.e. not Hua Hin)? And do you need a Thai Mastercard/Visacard for this?

[HarryVardon]

It does have to be paid from a Thai bank account. No credit cards are used, it is purely a deduction from the bank account. The Kasikorn bank charges 20 Baht for each payment. I don't think ypu need to go to your own branch. When I moved to Thailand I opened an account in the Market Village branch but once Bluport opened I started using the bank there as they are much more efficient than Market Village. I didn't transfer my account or anything, I just go there instead of Market Village. They have never told me to go to Market Village for any reason. I pay my TrueMove telephone accounts this way.

[joelle]

For the direct debit we went to the electricity board with our bank details and they set it all up
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