SamSpade

I know from last Monday, one of the most popular visa agents in Pattaya no longer does the assisted 800K with Bangkok Bank (there was a few weeks when they were doing it in Bangkok) so if somebody didn't have the funds in their account, I'd suggest getting a bank account with SCB, Krungthai or Kasikorn asap.

As an adide, why has my forrum browsing experience suddenly gone dark & orange? Apologgies if I messd up & clicked on something wrong but how can I get it back again.

No, I mean you will not be able to spend below that limit. Have you ever looked into getting a credit card? (assuming you don't work in Thailad)

The account won’t be frozen, they will just put a limit on it such that you can’t spend beyond the amount that they’ve put a hold on.

That’s what has been happening for the past few weeks (though the price went up by 3K) but since Monday it seems Bangkok Bank is no longer an option for the “assisted” 800K & guys are being told they need to open an account with an different bank.

They will simply put a block on you spending down below the amount you’ve agreed to keep in the account, just like they do (or at least used to do) with Credit Cards for people without a work permit.

Huge news as guys will now need to have a non-Bangkok Bank account if they're getting the 800K from an agent. I know one popular Pattaya agent is recommending people open SCB or Krungthai accounts & have also heard that they can do it if you already have a Kasikorn account.

I overheard the exact same conversation yesterday at the Bangkok Bank Branch on Beach Road Pattaya, staff there insisted that a new Head Office directive came into force on 30th June and they were now no longer able to issue the 3 month Statement/Certificate of balance for immigration purposes unless the money had been in the bank for at least 4 months. The guy quite righly said that Immigration only needed a 3 month statement so could they just issue them to him and if Immigration wouldn't accept it then it would be his problem... Tellers flatly refused, citing it was now Bangkok BanK company policy. After a phone call between the head teller & (I'm assuming) head office, the situation finally got resolved by him agreeing to them putting "A Hold" on the 800K in his account for 4 months and he was issued the Statement/Certificate.