Katoom Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 A good suggestion to avoid international ATM fees - go back to your home country. If you are so worried about 150 Baht charges on getting your money from back home, maybe you should either go back there or work on getting your own job here in Thailand that can prevent you from sucking on your savings from back home. This ATM fee thing isn't new by the way, I was being hit by it when I got here a little bit over a year ago. Errr, I work for the HK Government mate. Have not banked in the UK for 15 years, I just don't bank with HSBC... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
narak_mai Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 I do not see what's the deal is. When i travel anywhere else in the world, they always charge me from using my Thai cards oversea withdrawn fee around same 150 baht. it's not recent and it's quite normal. I can't see why foreigners come to Thailand should be exempted. May be Thailand is catching up with the rest. I think the point is that the charge is excessive, going from zero to 150b, and implying that this is the actual cost to the bank, is bullsh*t. Additionally, many people already pay a similar amount for every withdrawal to their own bank, and also lose on the exchange rate offered. So if you consider charges of 300-400b to withdraw YOUR OWN money acceptable, then ok. I changed my account before moving here, as the bank offered free international withdrawals, and close to the real forex rate, tho I believe they are introducing a fee soon. Visiting somewhere for a few days/weeks for hols/business I guess you can swallow the charges, but living somewhere, it soon adds up. Opening a thai bank account is an option, tho not an easy one if you don't have a work permit, and would still incur a fee for the lump sum transfer into thailand..... mmmm not sure, maybe I'll just go home and sulk as usefully suggested above :shock: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laragirl Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 everytime I use my Kbank ATM in Manila, I'm charged somewhere between 200-300 pesos [about 150 baht]. So I try to limit withdrawal to big amounts so it will be worth it, otherwise I just use it as a debit card so it won't charge me fees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gainesvilleman Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 lmao, I detect some jealousy that people have cash they can tap from back home in the form of pensions, earnings and savings. And as everyone has mentioned, the 150 fee is brand spanking new as of a few weeks ago. I certainly didn't come to Thailand to make 30K per month as an English teacher to support my 2500 baht apt This message of mine last night was written in an intoxicated haze. Sure, its jealousy about not having the opportunity to take money out from back home. Hahaha. But of course, if I had to trade my youth for some pensions or savings, the choice would be clear. Are we really criticizing Thai banks for trying to generate profit after the our paper tiger banks back home (American here) collapsed last year? I was reading an investment brief last week that had SCB as a strong buy. Wow, a bank as a strong buy. And honestly, what do they have to lose by charging foreigners (non account holders) 150 baht for a transaction like this? Its not like you are an actual customer of the bank. Open up a bank account. Its not that hard. I did it last week. It cost me 300 baht, which I paid to get a MasterCard-backed ATM card. And all the girls who worked there were really cute as well. One more thing, I might have come here to be an English teacher, but I didnt come here to make 30k for my 3k apartment, nor do I have to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetieBabie Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 So yes, there is a price to pay when you travel as a tourist. agree with lara, withdraw a chunk to avoid getting killed with fees or use traveler checks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beej Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 One more thing, I might have come here to be an English teacher, but I didnt come here to make 30k for my 3k apartment, nor do I have to. No but you're still an English Teacher which puts you at the bottom of the bottom of the pile. Personally I don't use ATMs but if I did I'd be a bit f**ked off at this new off the cuff money making scheme thats come out of nowhere. Anyone else read about the Thai bank worker whose been skimming off tens of millions of baht while doing over time at work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin_2 Posted May 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 link to scumbag bank worker story please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beej Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 link to scumbag bank worker story please. Was all in Thai, I'll have a look, it ranged from him taking 30,000 baht a day to 300,000 baht a day. The last report said he had 40,000,000 stashed away and was still coming to work on the bus, eating noodles and living a normal life describing his stealing as an addiction. Mother fucker should have just bagged it up and f**ked off to Costa Rica, 40,000,000 would buy you a good life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
primetime Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 I would be willing to pick up some money from anyone's bank account and fly it to Thailand to avoid the fees. I bet Admin would take me up on the offer. Any others? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gainesvilleman Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 No but you're still an English Teacher which puts you at the bottom of the bottom of the pile. Bottom of what pile? I'm confused. Are you talking about the paper pile that you use to judge yourself against others? Haha, I played that game, it wasn't so fun. Don't get me wrong. If someone gave me a lot of paper (really colorful paper too), and all that paper had heads and faces on it, I wouldn't be angry. But people with less paper have just as much fun, if not more. Damn. Wish I had some more paper. Hahaha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetieBabie Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 Somkiat Panyaworakhundet, 33, was arrested with 15 million baht in cash last Friday. He was charged with embezzling a total of about 400 million baht from the state-run Government Housing Bank over the past few years. During working hours, Somkiat Panyaworakhundet, was a hard working bank teller. In fact, his Saint Louis Soi 3 branch of the Government Housing Bank had honored him by naming him an outstanding employee. The 33-year-old banker had a nasty secret, however. After working hours when the bank had finished its daily clearing, he used his position to conduct personal business with the bank?s money. Mr Somkiat allegedly made about 30 transfers per day through the bank?s ATM system into several accounts he opened with banks located in the Siam Square area of Bangkok?s Pathumwan district. Altogether he embezzled some 700,000-900,000 baht each day, a very good business for the year-and-a-half it lasted. During that time was able to buy himself a luxurious house in the Lat Phrao area and fill it with expensive audio systems and furniture. Police estimated the house to be worth about 40 million baht. He travelled around the city in a brand-new luxury BMW sedan. Altogether, police estimate he embezzled about 400 million baht from the bank. Mr Somkiat?s good life started to unravel when ATM supervisors discovered irregular movements of money through his accounts. They started tracking his transfers and when they were sure he was stealing the bank?s money, they notified the Crime Suppression Division. CSD Sub-division 1 chief Pol Col Pornsak Surasit said Mr Somkiat was aware that the police were hunting him, so he tried to escape to Cambodia. He was arrested Friday morning as he was driving his BMW along the Nakhon Ratchasima-Buri Ram Road in Si Sa Ket province. He was reportedly carrying 15 million baht in cash. According to GHB president Khan Prachuabmoh, a big reason Mr Somkiat was able to make off with so much money is that no one suspected he could be a thief. ??Mr Somkiat showed no signs of irregularities at all. He acted like an ordinary office worker who came to work by bus,?? Mr Khan said. Why did he do it? In a short press conference after he was caught, Mr Somkiat said that he did not have any gambling debts. He just wanted the money to buy his house, cars and other belongings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beej Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 No but you're still an English Teacher which puts you at the bottom of the bottom of the pile. Bottom of what pile? I'm confused. Are you talking about the paper pile that you use to judge yourself against others? Haha, I played that game, it wasn't so fun. Don't get me wrong. If someone gave me a lot of paper (really colorful paper too), and all that paper had heads and faces on it, I wouldn't be angry. But people with less paper have just as much fun, if not more. Damn. Wish I had some more paper. Hahaha. Keep drinking the 7-11 Leos my friend, I'm sure its fun for a while....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetieBabie Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 Continued... It now looks like the total amount of the bank?s money that he allegedly transferred into his own accounts was closer to 300 million baht than the 400 million police first thought. It also looks like he used up to 32 million baht to buy lottery tickets, winning about 38 million baht in the process. Police believe this was an attempt at money laundering ? making it look like he obtained his money legally. According to Crime Suppression Division sub-division 1 chief Pornsak Surasit, Mr Somkiat?s biggest expediture was on gambling, especially gambling on football matches. Altogether he may have lost up to 100 million baht on his expensive habit. On Saturday, a court approved a CSD request to hold Mr Somkiat in detention for 12 days pending further inquiries. CSD police asked the court to deny him bail, saying the damage resulting from his actions was considerable and that some of the embezzled money had not yet been found. They said if he was released on bail, he could tamper with evidence and transfer the money and assets somewhere else. Police said the suspect could jump bail because it was obvious that he was trying to escape to a neighboring country. The court approved the request. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetieBabie Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 I am sure he would not have minded 150 baht per transaction fees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beej Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 400,000,000 baht. Now thats a lot of baht, more than myself and my new English teacher friend could save in a life time. Why do people get so greedy? Wouldn't you just take your family and **** off Thaksin style to some sunny beach somewhere and live the high life? Four HUNDRED million!!! For Christs sake how did he think he'd get away with it, bank workers earn a meager wage as well, it mush have stank of fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beej Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 According to Crime Suppression Division sub-division 1 chief Pornsak Surasit, Mr Somkiat?s biggest expediture was on gambling, especially gambling on football matches. Altogether he may have lost up to 100 million baht on his expensive habit. I like to have a little flutter now and again but I don't know many people in the world who have blown upwards of 2 million pounds on gambling. This guy is mental, or he has a healthy coke habit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gainesvilleman Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 Keep drinking the 7-11 Leos my friend, I'm sure its fun for a while....... The wisdom keeps spilling forth. Haha. Your right. Totally right. You know, sometimes, I switch to Singh. But I really don't notice the difference in taste because normally at that point I can't even see straight. Sometimes I just wish I could afford to go to Bed Supper Club so I could be seen by Thailand's finest (HAHAHAHA). That apartment on Sukhumvit, right off the BTS Nana, man I so want to live there. God how I would love getting accosted by beggars, prostitutes, and street vendors. Or maybe have dinner up at Vertigo on Banyon Tree, where you can literally watch the Baht fly out of your wallet (in all honesty that place is pretty badass and is where I try to take my visiting relatives to dinner because I truly cant afford to go there regularly). But, Beej, you are right. I, as an English Teacher, am on the bottom of the totem pole. The financial totem pole. But, I can tell a good joke. I have the freedom to do as I choose. Everyone in my neighborhood knows me by name, and I enjoy talking to them. And when I finally settle down and find a good Thai girl, I will know how to pick one. But sometimes, I wish I didn't have to care about all that. Sometimes, I wish I could sit and count some paper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeusbheld Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 But of course, if I had to trade my youth for some pensions or savings, the choice would be clear. more than likely, you're already doing that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin_2 Posted May 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 Keep drinking the 7-11 Leos my friend, I'm sure its fun for a while....... The wisdom keeps spilling forth. Haha. Your right. Totally right. You know, sometimes, I switch to Singh. But I really don't notice the difference in taste because normally at that point I can't even see straight. Sometimes I just wish I could afford to go to Bed Supper Club so I could be seen by Thailand's finest (HAHAHAHA). That apartment on Sukhumvit, right off the BTS Nana, man I so want to live there. God how I would love getting accosted by beggars, prostitutes, and street vendors. Or maybe have dinner up at Vertigo on Banyon Tree, where you can literally watch the Baht fly out of your wallet (in all honesty that place is pretty badass and is where I try to take my visiting relatives to dinner because I truly cant afford to go there regularly). But, Beej, you are right. I, as an English Teacher, am on the bottom of the totem pole. The financial totem pole. But, I can tell a good joke. I have the freedom to do as I choose. Everyone in my neighborhood knows me by name, and I enjoy talking to them. And when I finally settle down and find a good Thai girl, I will know how to pick one. But sometimes, I wish I didn't have to care about all that. Sometimes, I wish I could sit and count some paper. I like this guy. Tells his views straight up with clarity (except for when he is drunk). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeusbheld Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 Keep drinking the 7-11 Leos my friend, I'm sure its fun for a while....... The wisdom keeps spilling forth. Haha. Your right. Totally right. You know, sometimes, I switch to Singh. But I really don't notice the difference in taste because normally at that point I can't even see straight. you may not have been as drunk as you think--if i'm not mistaken Leo is a Singha product. But, Beej, you are right. I, as an English Teacher, am on the bottom of the totem pole. The financial totem pole. But, I can tell a good joke. I have the freedom to do as I choose. Everyone in my neighborhood knows me by name, and I enjoy talking to them. And when I finally settle down and find a good Thai girl, I will know how to pick one. ]But sometimes, I wish I didn't have to care about all that. Sometimes, I wish I could sit and count some paper. i've never been an english teacher so i don't know how y'all do it but seems to me you count lots of paper--just the kind you put A, B, or C on, not the kind with kings or dead presidents on 'em. which sorta excludes the hiso wannabe types that infest Bed from your "good Thai girl" list. breaks your heart i'm sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CiaranM Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 Keep drinking the 7-11 Leos my friend, I'm sure its fun for a while....... The wisdom keeps spilling forth. Haha. Your right. Totally right. You know, sometimes, I switch to Singh. But I really don't notice the difference in taste because normally at that point I can't even see straight. Sometimes I just wish I could afford to go to Bed Supper Club so I could be seen by Thailand's finest (HAHAHAHA). That apartment on Sukhumvit, right off the BTS Nana, man I so want to live there. God how I would love getting accosted by beggars, prostitutes, and street vendors. Or maybe have dinner up at Vertigo on Banyon Tree, where you can literally watch the Baht fly out of your wallet (in all honesty that place is pretty badass and is where I try to take my visiting relatives to dinner because I truly cant afford to go there regularly). But, Beej, you are right. I, as an English Teacher, am on the bottom of the totem pole. The financial totem pole. But, I can tell a good joke. I have the freedom to do as I choose. Everyone in my neighborhood knows me by name, and I enjoy talking to them. And when I finally settle down and find a good Thai girl, I will know how to pick one. But sometimes, I wish I didn't have to care about all that. Sometimes, I wish I could sit and count some paper. I like this guy. Tells his views straight up with clarity (except for when he is drunk). or except from when his head is up his ass !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gainesvilleman Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 i've never been an english teacher so i don't know how y'all do it but seems to me you count lots of paper--just the kind you put A, B, or C on, not the kind with kings or dead presidents on 'em. which sorta excludes the hiso wannabe types that infest Bed from your "good Thai girl" list. breaks your heart i'm sure. I dont teach at a School. I dont have the patience for children who aren't mine (not that i have any now). And I am not a babysitter. When I talk about "good Thai girls", I am talking about the type of girl that when you walk on to the MRT, other Thais don't look at each other in disapproval knowing or assuming how you met her, but wonder how you were able to get a girl like that in the first place. Fortunately, only a small minority of those foreigners who live here understand or know what I am talking about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beej Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 AaaaaaaGGGGGHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA English teachers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CiaranM Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 i've never been an english teacher so i don't know how y'all do it but seems to me you count lots of paper--just the kind you put A, B, or C on, not the kind with kings or dead presidents on 'em. which sorta excludes the hiso wannabe types that infest Bed from your "good Thai girl" list. breaks your heart i'm sure. I dont teach at a School. I dont have the patience for children who aren't mine (not that i have any now). And I am not a babysitter. When I talk about "good Thai girls", I am talking about the type of girl that when you walk on to the MRT, other Thais don't look at each other in disapproval knowing or assuming how you met her, but wonder how you were able to get a girl like that in the first place. Fortunately, only a small minority of those foreigners who live here understand or know what I am talking about. jesus wept .... where do they get these guys from ??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funky_house Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 lmao, I detect some jealousy that people have cash they can tap from back home in the form of pensions, earnings and savings. And as everyone has mentioned, the 150 fee is brand spanking new as of a few weeks ago. I certainly didn't come to Thailand to make 30K per month as an English teacher to support my 2500 baht apt This message of mine last night was written in an intoxicated haze. Sure, its jealousy about not having the opportunity to take money out from back home. Hahaha. But of course, if I had to trade my youth for some pensions or savings, the choice would be clear. Are we really criticizing Thai banks for trying to generate profit after the our paper tiger banks back home (American here) collapsed last year? I was reading an investment brief last week that had SCB as a strong buy. Wow, a bank as a strong buy. And honestly, what do they have to lose by charging foreigners (non account holders) 150 baht for a transaction like this? Its not like you are an actual customer of the bank. Open up a bank account. Its not that hard. I did it last week. It cost me 300 baht, which I paid to get a MasterCard-backed ATM card. And all the girls who worked there were really cute as well. One more thing, I might have come here to be an English teacher, but I didnt come here to make 30k for my 3k apartment, nor do I have to. SCB even charge for paying money into your account if it is not the branch where you hold your account. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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