Liverpool Lou

It did.

Make sure that you're using the "discount" code for international calls.

"When you open an account with us, we need to obtain sufficient proof of your identity and address to enable us to satisfy our legal obligations and protect you, the public and us against fraud and misuse of the banking system. We are required under our customer due diligence obligations to satisfy ourselves as to the identity of prospective customers and obtain specific documents in compliance with these requirements. This may require you to personally attend one of our branches* and complete the formalities requested by us at that time. The various customer due diligence documents required to be produced at the time of opening the account will be advised to you separately". *For "may need to personally attend", read "will need to personally attend", almost guaranteed!

Yes I think everyone realises that, but thanks for pointing it out. Not everyone will realise that, that's why I pointed it out, I was not criticising your comment.

Which provider do you use for your Thai phone? Rates for calls to landline numbers in the UK with Dtac and True are B1/2.50 per minute.

They convert via Citi Bank in the US who handle the whole transaction I was advised that it is converted from GBP to THB via Citibank Thailand, that being part of the Bank of Thailand's Bahtnet system.

That's because they are offshore banks, the complaints or criticisms on this thread are about UK banks.

Yes, DWP will pay to Thai banks, as it does for me. Don't know about private pensions as private companies can make their own rules but I see no reason why not, banking is international these days.

It's maddening but it's not so mad if you consider that UK onshore banks do not offer accounts for non-UK residents, that's their problem with it. The banks don't care if a customer is unable to receive his pension if that customer doesn't comply with their requirements to maintain an account. A UK account is not needed to receive a UK pension.

They wouldn't allow you to open a new account in the UK, either, if you're not a UK resident.

Who's British?

Thailand's Tourist Police are part of the RTP! Volunteers don't become police officers, though.

That's the issue.

A service charge, so why is it free in bangers ? If you're talking about Bangkok, it's free in the province of the branch that holds your account, there's a transparent miniscule fee for out-of-province transactions. There is no rip off.

You say that with no personal experience at all of the Thai prison system? Well done.

But you didn't! There was nothing logical about your analogy.

I sure do.... I didn't think that you'd have anything.

Kasikorn atms charging me 10/20 bht for a withdrawal if I am out of bkk ... Its really not the 10/20bht but that is just a <deleted> take if you ask me B10 is not a "rip off" for that standard ATM service charge.

You are 'assuming' the family is stupid. Ok fine, so lets go the other way and 'assume' the family is not stupid and consider the fact it is not that hard to arrange anything in a (Thai) prison if you have enough money. No, I am not assuming that the family is stupid, that is your inaccurate interpretation of my comment. I said that for the family to involve themselves in a murder conspiracy would be stupid and that is right, it would be. "...consider the fact it is not that hard to arrange anything in a (Thai) prison if you have enough money". Really? That's "a fact" is it? What is your personal experience of Thai prisons and the monitoring of what goes on inside them?

A technically challenged ferang What's a "ferang"?

Nonsense.

Funny how some posters think that posting "Period" when they've run out of rational arguments means that there's nothing further to be discussed!

Tuk-tuk driver do not have a transportation monopoly. Which island are you talking about, Thailand isn't an island.

Please enlighten us what countries do the same Please enlighten us which countries do not do the same (with specifics for comparable transactions).

No, it is not a fraud.