AAArdvark

7 hours ago, gamb00ler said:

SDFCU replied pretty quickly to my e-mail inquiry.

 

Dear gamb00ler,

 

Thank you for your email. We truly appreciate this opportunity to assist you.

 Retired members that have their retirement benefits direct deposited into their SDFCU account or those who are able to keep $2500 on hold in the regular Savings account, qualify for our Member Emeritus service which provides domestic wire transfers at $6.00 and free SDFCU logo checks.  Once your retirement takes place and your benefits have direct deposited, please let us know and the account can be designated  Member Emeritus.

So is there a reason that Emeritus status is better than a simple Advantage account?

15 minutes ago, david555 said:

a prepaid can be loaded each  x time with 20 baht for  1 month call but 2 months keep alive as only receive one ,so load X times 20 baht to get  1 year or whatever , even I load my AIS prepaid with 1 time 100 baht for a year , but that is a card from 12 years back  a mao mao one ,  if I would change other pay  option I loose that privilege's 

And your SIM supports international roaming?  And the load can be done overseas?  The only ones that I saw were expensive SIMs that were only good for about 15 days and cost like ฿499.

5 minutes ago, AAArdvark said:

Why not simple take a prepaid one ? And set roaming on ?

I thought about that but the problem would be that I won't need to use it for at least a month.  I guess that I could buy one of those ฿250 baht  phones and just leave it off. 

I have never had prepaid before.  When I load it and turn on roaming, will the load have a time limit?  All I would use it for is for SMS.

1 hour ago, from the home of CC said:

Change your otp phone number to a person you trust here - if possible (I know, I use family). Communicate with email or face time, activate the transaction and when received pass it on for entering abroad. I have transacted this way for a while.

There are problems with that.  I would have to coordinate with the trusted one before I could initiate the transfer and most OTPs have a time limit of seconds which would make the interaction difficult.

1 hour ago, Pib said:

So, empty your bank acct before leaving to ensure you can empty it....no shortage of Murphy Laws that can pop-up.  Use of OTP for many financial purposes/transfers is now common place by many financial entities.

I am in the process of drawing down my account but I need to keep a few thousands for bills and my security deposit will be placed there.  So in the end I will have maybe 50K in the bank.

45 minutes ago, david555 said:

Why not simple take a prepaid one ? And set roaming on ? Besides your Thai  bank card works in Europe too !

Philippines in my case,  Unfortunately, last time I was there I forgot to try it.  I have heard people say there is no problem and other people say there is.  I am looking for a backup plan.

I signed up for DeeMoney a while and never used it. I went through the process and ran into a stumbling block.  I wanted to use DeeMoney when I leave Thailand in order to empty my Bangkok Bank account.  After checking with support, it can be done but only after receiving an OTP.  Since I will no longer be in Thailand and will no longer have a Thai phone number (which would have to be with roaming on) I will not be able to receive OTPs.  I have an AIS package with post paid phone that will gets canceled when I leave.

1 hour ago, Pib said:

Well, "kinda" new....its been available for quite few months now....maybe around 6 or a little more.  Transferwise added that reason in an effort to help ensure transfers get coded as international transfers to selected banks.

Interesting, in that time frame, I spoke with them several times and mentioned their new methods were adversely affecting people in Thailand.  Not a mention about that option.  I just continued using the reason that I had been using all along, not that it matters to me any longer.

I was searching for the most popular messaging app in the Philippines and the consensus appears to be Messenger (Facebook).  Several people in the Philippines said they preferred Messenger because they could still text with "no load".  So if they have no data left on their phone and are not using WiFi, as they claim, how can they be doing this?  

It appears that this year, Monday the 30th is a Special holiday, the 31st is New Years Eve holiday and the 1st is New Years and all are national holidays.

Is that correct?

11 hours ago, Max69xl said:

Funds for long term stay in Thailand

Is that a new option?  I never noticed that one before and have been using the one named something like general living expenses.  In the past they showed up as FTT but that changed about 4 months ago and they now show up as something else.  Transferwise received many complaints, so maybe they added that to fix the problem?

1 hour ago, Billthekiwi said:

Hi NanLaew.

 

We have always paid the water and power directly so I never had a problem with that.

 

I fully intend to take photos of the meters when we move out.

But I don't expect any more problems as the police quite clearly outlined to her what I was to pay and what I would not.

 

In 11 months this lady was never my enemy and was usually very friendly. I was shocked by her about turn but I hope that we can now go back to how we were.

 

The Tourist Police were excellent.

My A/Cs are cleaned twice a year by a service whether I like it or not.  It is amazing how much gunk gets flushed out.  It is not simply cleaning the filters. 

19 hours ago, BritManToo said:

VISA/Extension is just too much effort in Thailand.

I can stay in Cambodia for $300/year or Philippines on continuous extensions for 3 years, while having to show no finances/savings/insurance, or queue in any immigration offices at all, or anyone care where I am (or even if I'm illegally working).

Or in the Philippines for $1000 if a military veteran or over 50 or no vet $10,000 in the bank (refundable) plus sum up front costs of about $1,600. and you are done for life.  There are annual fees of either $10 or $360, both of which is approximately what the costs are for the required frequent extensions for the 3 year route plus that requires an exit reenter at 3 years.  There are other benefits to the SRRV.

I think most of those benefits are taken care of by having an Advantage Checking Account instead of a Basic.  $2000 balance with no penalty for going under.

1 hour ago, Langsuan Man said:

Emeritus status is only for present or past Department of State Employees and cannot be obtained by those who apply using the alternatives listed here.  SDFCU does stand for State Department Federal Credit Union after all   

Are you sure about the "past Department of State Employees" bit?  I am a former Department of State employee (Foreign Service) and was not allowed to apply based on that and had to apply using the alternatives.

Also, it is probably time that we took this subject to a new thread as we have probably passed the hijack threshold. 

And how long will it take the banks to actually implement these new rules?

2 hours ago, Number 6 said:

Thanks for that. I think I'll start off with everything going to US so to avoid any intl paperwork issues.

 

I was aware of that issue. I'd belonged to CU before. Appears a method to just create account. Do they ask for membership verification later? Could I get the organization or list I can joint to resolve member issue? Thanks.

Whatever address you use, you have to prove it.  I used a copy of my Thai condo lease and a copy of my AIS bill.   That was a lot easier to prove than my US address.  During the application they ask for this proof or you can wait. You can change the address later online.  Better to do it during the application to save time.   The name of the organization to join is American Consumer Counsel and on their web page they say what you need to be a member and then there is something that says could can also qualify by joining this particular organization.  Just look over the web page you can find it. 

4 minutes ago, Tracyb said:

They provided no reason.  I met all of the qualifications they listed.  Others have since told me they were unable to join using the on-line method, too.  Oh well, it was no big deal for me as I found other means to take care of business without using SDFCU.  Not holding any grudges.  C'est la vie!

Are you a member of the State Department or did you join the organization they the say to use?  

Except for waiting 14 days, and a minor issue with my Thai address, I had no issues with the online application.

19 hours ago, GarryP said:

I use that at home. Very good. 

 

Do you know of an opensource .pdf editor? I find them useful for completing forms/applications, but am limited to Foxit at the office. I would like one I can use at home. 

Foxit Reader is free.  It is not a full editor but you can use the Typewriter function to fill in forms.  It is in the toolbar at the top.  Just position the curser and type.

I have been in Thailand for one year and been to Immigration just once.  The was for my initial 90 day.  After that it was all done online.

1 hour ago, Number 6 said:

SDFCU

 

Better to set up with address if I can provide one?

 

Will they send free debit card?

 

I have no interest in credit card.

 

Anyone keep largish amounts of money here? 25k up?

 

Do you get online statement etc, paper both?

 

Sorry to hijack. Thanks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They use two addresses.  One is named Contact and then there is a place to enter foreign address.  In my case, both of those addresses are the same Thai address. I had to phone them to fix an issue with the contact address.  On the application I just used the Thai address.

They will send a free debit card and check starter pack of 10.  

I set mine up to do online statements.

No reason to not keep large amounts in SDFCU

One thing to keep in mind is that in order to join any Credit Union you have to meet the membership requirements.  In this case you have to work for the State Department / Foreign Service.  However, they make it easy for others to join.  On their web site they will point you to an organization to join.  It is simple and I paid $15 for a lifetime membership and then turned off email from them.   Also, there is probably no other financial company which is more familiar with foreign living since the majority of their members are in the Foreign Service.

1 hour ago, Tracyb said:

Good luck with that.  I applied online too and after 30 days they told me my application was denied and gave no reason.

I got it, took 14 days.

The answer is no.

3 hours ago, cmarshall said:

State Dept Federal Credit Union offers charges a much lower rate of $6

I have had an online SDFCU membership application in the works for 13 days now and it is still pending.  I have submitted all required documents.  Even phoning them does not help.

4 hours ago, DannyCarlton said:

Can't do any harm

Except to your digestive system.  And once you start, you have to take every last one, whether it is helping or not.  Taking unneeded antibiotics or not taking the complete dosage is what is causing the all to common antibiotic resistances over the last several years.