Thaiquila

I have a question about that etrade wiring form.

What do they mean by Bank Identification Code (BIC)?

They have a blank for SWIFT code (no problem), but what are they asking for with Bank Identification Code?

Also, there is no problem calling/faxing an 866 number (which is like an 800 number) from Thailand, correct?

Oh, that's good news (extension of date to pay).

I think there are some IRS approved credit card ways of paying even without using a tax preparing service, but not really sure.

Thanks much, Maestro! I couldn't view that form without being an account holder so I really appreciate having a look at it, but I did view the link you cited.

Based on the link, it sounds quite clear that ONLINE transfers are restricted to their brokerage account holders, while bank account holders must phone or fax the form you included. Ideally, I would like an online system, but this other method looks pretty good.

And yes, you are correct, there is no need to step into a branch for ANYTHING using etrade bank.

Thanks again.

How come in Mexico, expats don't talk about "visa runs" like they do in Thailand? One of those mysteries of life, like in the US we have the "west coast" and the "eastern seaboard". Why not a western seaboard?

I think if you are living overseas, you do get an AUTOMATIC extension of time to file (though from my understand, no extension of the time to pay tax due). The main benefit of this would be that you don't have to file the extenstion form.

Tax wonks, please confirm.

Also, US expats, HOW exactly are you paying the tax to the IRS?

Credit card through the new services?

A US check sent from Thailand?

Through online banking services that cut a check to any party, experiences using this to pay IRS?

For those of us in the U.S. that is a good deal . I do wonder about the exchange rate and for how long this will last .

Fifth Third bank raised their fee to $40.00 a wire transaction this year and also charged a percentage of ATM withdrawls . I closed my account . Chase bank was only charging $20.00 a wire transaction and $1.50 for each ATM transaction . I have not wired money this year with them so that may have gone up in price but the ATM fee is as current as today .

Do you know if Chase Bank offers ONLINE SWIFT wire transfers? Any experience reports on using Chase for SWIFT transfers?

My error, Etrade does not offer ONLINE SWIFT transfers from their Etrade BANK accounts. For bank account transfers, they require their form sent by phone or fax. They do offer online SWIFT transfers from their brokerage accounts though.

Of course I plan on attending.

Will a 20 baht tip be sufficient?

Wamu is indeed offering free international wire transfers.

But ONLY if you can walk into one of their branches in the US.

They offer NO WAY to wire remotely from abroad.

Not by mail.

Not by fax.

Not by phone.

Not by bird flu carrier pidgeon.

Nada.

I confirmed this with two branches and with customer service. So, thanks for nothing!

OK, well too bad, on the face of it, if you are not eligible for USAA membership, you cannot open a USAA bank account. This differs from the report on the blog. The blog suggested a different strategy than I tried. I just went out and asked them if I could, and they said no. The blog seems to suggest some kind of tricky method, but I don't want to go there, so there you have it. If you are a resident of the home county of the bank, you can though, that is so very inclusive.

Another one down. Riff raff successfully dodged.

You only need to list an intermediary bank if one is necessary. These days most banks do direct SWIFT transfers.

SCB:

SWIFT: SICOTHBK

Routing: 021000089

Thanks, but I am still confused.

On my suntrust information, they do use an intermediary which I seriously doubt is the one always used for SCB. It is American Express.

What is that routing number?

Looks like a US ABA routing number.

Where did you find it, was it supplied by Siam Commericial Bank?

Do you mean you can get by just supplying the Swift code for an online transfer, or you also need this routing number?

As some of you know, I have been checking out various banks in the US to setup wire agreements for the purpose of wiring money from the US to my Thai bank account for visa qualification purposes.

Let me tell you, there are minefields galore.

One bank which I did setup an agreement, Suntrust, is pretty darned good, but here is the rub.

If you change your US address of record on the account (very likely in my case and I would think very common), you cannot just change it on a website. You have to PHYSICALLY walk into one of their US branches. You might get away with this working for awhile if your US mailing address did change and you didn't bother to come back to the US to fill out a one page form that takes 2 minutes, but if they ever sent a piece of vital correspondence, or something got returned, you would be SOL.

Another paranoid thought I had was that in a worst case scenario I had to fly back to the US just to do a wire, if I no longer had a US driver's license, I think it is possible (likely) that banks would not do a wire using a US passport as an ID. It does seem prudent to keep a valid US drivers license, and that can be a hassle for sure.

So, I am still looking for a more expat friendly alternative. I am now hopefully looking at ETRADE BANK. So far, so good! They are a brokerage firm but they are also a bank, and contrary to what a previous poster has said here, they offer a US bank bank account that is a REAL US bank account, ABA routing number and all. But here is the kicker. They do wires ONLINE! On first setup, they do an email verification action, but after that, once your target account info is in there, according to their rep, its as simple as pie! Sound too good to be true?

However, here is the caveat. They will take a SWIFT code but the rep also mentioning adding information for their intermediary bank in the US if available. My Thai bank is Siam Commercial Bank. The only wiring instructions they gave me is the SWIFT code. I wouldn't know what to put down for their inermediary bank and I wonder if I just give them the SWIFT code, whether they can figure it out.

So, any chance there is anywhere here doing transfers from Etrade to Siam Commericial? Or from anywhere to Siam Commercial using an ONLINE wire system? Did you have to enter the ABA number etc for the US intermediary bank, or not?

BTW, with Etrade bank checking, you do need to keep a 1000 minimum balance going to avoid a monthly service fee. Oh well.

Exactly.

Why should "taxis" that aren't really taxis cost much more than an air conditioned taxi in Bangkok for the same distance?

In any case, probably another case of love it or leave it.

I like the truck taxi stands when carrying groceries though. Even overpriced, better than nothing.

I don't think there are posted prices at Big C, but there are at Carrefour.

No, I am sorry. There are no metered taxis in Pattaya. Rip off private cars available through hotels do not qualify as viable everyday transport options. The best I can say is that there are organized truck taxi stands at places like Carrefour and Lotus. These have more or less standardized rates based on destination. That is certainly better than nothing, but very limited.

Pattaya can do better. It probably won't, but it could.

Well, if you are already using their service, good for you.

I think the blog writer has a lot of credibility (he has a really great blog) and he writes that it can be done. If it turns out some people can benefit from this (military and non-military) that would be a good thing. I am not sure I will use them because I already have too many bank accounts, but if they are really that great, and it is possible (still a ? mark) worth considering anyway.

You trying to keep the riff raff out?

I would try a few bottles of that cold unsweetened green tea. That should hop you up. Caffeine pills are nasty; the experience is not same as you get in drinks and food, because the stimulant delivered naturally is more complex than pure caffeine.

It doesn't have to be an either/or. Some trips work well with a baht taxi, for others the option of a taxi would be great. For example, going from Jomtien to Carrefour you need to transfer at least once, and the bus isn't really the most direct route. It does seem like something is fishy. Metered taxis would be a pleasure, especially when its raining.

How are the Chiang Mai taxis working out?

I will check this out. The usaa site doesn't give any hope to non-military, but the blog does:

USAA Bank is an FDIC-insured Federal Savings Bank, not a credit union, and therefore they cannot legally restrict access to their bank to a specific group of people.

USAA is perfect in every respect.

Have used their wire service , all it takes is a phone call from Thailand to get money wired directly into my Thai bank - flat $35. fee.

AFAIK you do have to be a member to use their services.

Well, according to this Argie guy, you don't need to join anything to use their bank and banking services. Hmmmm.

Anyway, did you require a signed wiring agreement setup when you were in the US? Did you set up the target bank info beforehand?

Thanks for that. I do understand you can't be a member and use their insurance services without a military connection, but according to the blog I cited, their banking services are open to all US citizens. And aside from the wiring services which I would like to know more about, they sure do appear to have remarkably low fees.

For people with Visa debit (check) cards from western banks, what is the situation for using teller point of sale to transfer money into their Thai bank accounts?

Are such transfers coded properly as money coming from outside Thailand for immigration visa purposes?

If you are a Siam Commercial Bank account holder, can you do this at any Siam Commercial Bank branch that offers this service?

Any ideas on specific Siam Commercial Bank locations in Pattaya/Jomtien that offer teller point of sale? How about the branch on Jomtien Beach Road?

As many of you know, there are issues for Americans with US banks being expat difficult. Sometimes little details can get you.

For example, one bank I am working with requires a callback number in their wire agreement. If the number needs to change or goes away, you would have to fly back to the US to effect a new wire agreement. This bank is Suntrust. I think it still might be OK because it is my understanding that they don't do callbacks on repetitive wires (wires to specific accounts you have previously set up).

I heard of this other bank, USAA, specializing in US military and vets, but apparently any US citizen to open a bank account there. Any people here with their accounts? If so, if you are doing wire transfers, can you provide details about your experience with them? Basically nothing on the website for non customers about this, however this blog entry from Argentina is very enthusiastic:

http://expat-argentina.blogspot.com/2005/1...for-expats.html

It had to be Thai because they needed a direct flight to the US. I am thrilled to see my tax dollars spent on this twisted faker. What a circus.

If I was an immigration officer, and some farang was kissing my you know what to such an absurd degree, it would make me suspicious that he had something to hide.

Yes, that taxi scam sounds rude, but that sort of thing is to be expected at high end resorts. You are there to be milked, right, and you wouldn't be there if you couldn't afford it, right?

Also, the employee was only doing her job. If you don't like their policies, don't go there again, and by all means, tell us the NAME of the resort. After all, that is their policy, I am sure they would be thrilled with the FREE ADVERTISING. That is the best revenge.

Anyway, all anyone would have to do is go in to town and talk to the first character sitting next to his car. Its not like airport taxis are a rare thing in Pattaya.