Depositing Pounds Sterling Cheque Into A Thai Bank

[bkkmadness]

I've just received a VAT refund from google adwords (Citibank) to the tune of 110 Pounds. I have been over to Kasikorn to deposit this but they say it will take a month to clear and they want to charge me 10% for the service. I called Bangkok Bank and they say it will take 45 working days and cost me 32 Dollars for the service.

This all seems a bit slow and a little expensive. Is there an easier way to do this?

Any help much appreciated, cheers.

[Axel]

Send it to your bank at home, to collect in Thailand is a pain in the .....

Yes, 4-6 weeks and high handling fees, even for a cashiers cheque issued by a reputable bank.

[bkkmadness]

Thanks Axel, I thought as much just wanted to get some confirmations before I sent the cheque off to the UK.

Just another thought, the cheque is from Citibank and there is a Citibank Branch in Sathorn, does anybody think I might be able to get it sorted out quicker and easier there?

I'll give them a call tomorrow anyway, just wondered if anybody had any experience with this. Cheers.

[samtam]

Citi will probably charge you the same and it will take as long. "Buying" a foreign currency cheque is effectively a credit risk, (you). Your bank should take a view whether you are good for the GBP110, and buy the cheque if they think you are. The easiest thing for a bank is to send it for collection, (viz to clearing). It's a no brainer for them. But otherwise they'd be required to be bankers and know their customers (risk). It's much easier to send it to your UK bank account, which by the sound of it, you have.