Who's panicking?

richard · Ace Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Posts: 1651 Location: Hua Hin

Open an HSBC offshore account

No problems with monies coming into it from any pension schemes and a little of 2 days transfer of funds to Thailand

Cash cards also work in LOS
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Why does my head feel so bad why does my soul feel so bad - Moby (Dick)
Enjoy the silence, enjoy the silence, enjoy, enjoy, enjoy, enjoy the silence (Digweed)

Khun Richard of Yorkshire (Halifax) and Hua Hin

caller · Ace Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 1978 Location: Londonistan

chelsea · Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 5:28 am Post subject:

I am amazed that you cannot do an international transfer using international banking on the internet with the UK banks.

All the major banks that I know of in Australia have this facility available via their internet banking sites and is no restrictions on what country they go to.
Plus if you do not want to do online you can always go into the branch and do it.

There is a charge of $22.00 AUD every transfer that you do, and also if you use ATM card overseas they charge $5.00AUD per withdrawal.
Last two overseas transfers I have done to Thailand have gone through in three hours from the time that I done the transfer to the time it hit the account in Thailand.

I Have used this facility many times and as I say, am amazed that you cannot do the same from the UK
Cheers

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Always Borrow Money from a Pesimist. "They Never Expect it Back"

lomuamart · Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 5:29 am Post subject:

Caller,
I don't think I have a bad track record and am repeatedly told on the phone, or even face to face when I've been back to the UK, that my situation is simple. "Get your statements sent Thailand".
For the first six years or so, I never had any trouble because my statements were getting sent over here. I changed the arrangement because Barclays wouldn't send a renewal debit card over here for obvious reasons.
Can't blame the bank really as Thailand dosn't exactly have a great reputation on the fraud front,
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"I spent a lot of my money on booze, birds and fast cars - the rest I just squandered". George Best.

lomuamart · Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 6:00 am Post subject:

Chelsea,
I've prodded Barclays time and again over the years to allow me to transfer monies from this computer to overeas.
They're just not having it. "Impossible. Thailand has a bad reputation" etc etc.
I've given up on that subject, although I can easily move funds through the internet between bank accounts in the UK from here. It's the international thing.
_________________
"I spent a lot of my money on booze, birds and fast cars - the rest I just squandered". George Best.

niggle · Professional Joined: 27 Nov 2006 Posts: 442

Pension into Nationwide UK.
Withdraw via ATM.
SWIFT for bigger transfers if you need it - can post request to Nationwide in UK but cannot do on line or use proxy in UK
Give bank overseas address but keep UK mailing address. OK you pay tax like that on UK income but regarding yourself (and telling officials in UK where necessary - keeping GP etc) as on a long term holiday may have some advantages
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Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose

Jockey · Ace Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 1851

Edited - wrong link! Embarassed

Governor · Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 11:05 am Post subject:

What has that, now defunct, link got to do with banking and finances? or am I missing something?

caller · Ace Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 1978 Location: Londonistan

No seriously, I believe it has to do with your relationshp with the bank, whoever your account manager is etc. I could be wrong, but I have a hunch it kind of helps if you have a good rapport before you go.

I know its different, in a respect, but there are big differences in how our wives/partners are treated when they get to the UK. Yes, there will be individual bank policy, but the deciding factor of whether they get an accoint, debit or cash card seems to vary greatly.

When I was last in LOS, I had to make one call to access my funds, even though I told the bank where I was going, I didn't explain I would be travelling. Last time the missus was there, she had the same, the bank phoned her to resolve it.

lockwood74 · Specialist Joined: 12 Dec 2004 Posts: 115 Location: LONDON

Just a thought,

Have you considered opening a Bangkok Bank account in London, there is one I believe. and have funds transfered to Thailand through this account, havnt done this myself, only an idea

Regards John

Riversider · Rookie Joined: 07 Nov 2007 Posts: 11

When transferring money from UK Bank to Thailand ask for the commercial rate as opposed to Tourist rate. This has a limit on it and if you exceed it they get a trader to give you an individual quote.

nevets · Professional Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 376

I can send any amount from my barclays account in the UK ,at£ 20 ago to my Bangkok Bank account in cha am they do the exchange rate when it gets there and i use my Bangkok Bank ATM card in Thailand. The rate is better than cash on the street exchange kiosk.

Wanderlust · Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 7:38 am Post subject:

All of these most recent suggestions and ideas - is it possible with any of them to do these transfers online or do they all require either a letter or someone physically going into the bank in the UK? The reason I ask is because as far as I know you simply can't do online transfers from the UK to Thailand, no matter how good your relationship is with your bank. I have a Barclays account and have had it for nearly 20 years and have been in Thailand for at least 8 of those and have never been able to do online transfers to here. When I was back in the UK I couldn't even change my account to a joint one with my Thai wife either as they said that both people had to be resident in the UK. Again I believe that this is due to the banking laws and regulations in the UK.

margaretcarnes · Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 7:44 am Post subject: Who's panicking?

Don - well apart from the obvious 'why did you leave it so fluffin late?' I wasn't able to get a BACs transfer to Thailand on my civil service pension, and suspect other pension providers have the same rules. Its not actually a rule - just something that, for whatever reason, they can't do.
How you get around the problem depends a lot on whether you will still have a valid address in the UK. If you are selling up altogether but using another address of someone in the UK for bank, pensions purposes etc, just be careful that the person you are using is fully aware of any knock on effects.
I arranged for my pension cheque to be posted to me in HH, to a PO Box address, which can be set up very cheaply there. It arrived safely 62 out of 63 months. Bangkok Bank cleared it immediately - probably because it was issued by HMG. Some Thai banks sit on cheques for up to a month.