So after a lot of beers I lost my damn debt card again this trip leaving me in a bad situation unable to get (thai) cash. Or so I thought Until I paid Western Union's outrageous fees for a cash withdrawal on my credit card (all I had left). 

 

I'd like a less expensive easier option to withdraw money like a pre paid debt card and also a way to send money to my needy Thai GF. Yes I know what I'm doing sending a Thai woman money 555. Stupid but not born yesterday and I know what I'm getting into. 

 

How can I send money? How can I set it up to walk into a bank in Thailand and get money if I lose my debt card?

 

I know there are easy options like expensive Western Union with their horrible fees and exchange rate. I'm looking for the best least expensive option. 

Withdraw money from the ATM with your credit card.

I would have used my CC but I never had before. So if there was a PIN to get cash I didnt know it. and cash withdrawals on a CC have a stupid high interest rate. I want a easier more reliable option, my first trip to Thailand lost I both my ATM card and my CC, I had to have my friend Western Union me money. I'd like to avoid that. 

 

That also does not solve my problem of sending money without putting the CEO of Western Union's child through college with just my single fee alone. 

 

From the USA if that matters, I had the money in my USA bank account but no way to get to it. 

Do you have anything like this in the USA? It's like a prepaid credit card that one can choose in USD, GBP or Euros. Can use as a credit card or withdraw cash from ATM for a fee.

 

https://www.fairfx.com/

 

HTH

 

Tip: don't take your bank cards out with you when you go on the beer!

 

Another tip: I changed my banking address to my parents house in the UK...when I lost a bank card a replacement was sent to them and they then posted it to me first class recorded.

 

New card arrived about 8-9 days after a called for a replacement.

 

RAZZ

Transferwise debit card

If American.

 

https://www.bluebird.com/

 

There are also pre-paid cards offered by Thai Banks.

 

RAZZ

3 minutes ago, RAZZELL said:

Tip: don't take your bank cards out with you when you go on the beer!

 

Another tip: I changed my banking address to my parents house in the UK...when I lost a bank card a replacement was sent to them and they then posted it to me first class recorded.

 

New card arrived about 8-9 days after a called for a replacement.

 

RAZZ

I was only there a few days this trip. My bank was going to send me a new debt card and a PIN for my CC but only to my home address registered with the bank in the USA. I would have been home two weeks before I got either. My Buddy is my backup plan and he has the money to not mind, but I hate to ask for favors when I could take care of it myself. Thats what I'm looking for. 

7 minutes ago, RAZZELL said:

Tip: don't take your bank cards out with you when you go on the beer!

I learned that lesson the first time I lost BOTH of my cards, but that day I had no baht left and needed a ATM, so I brought it (debt card) with me. 

USA has quite a few pre-paid debit card options. Hit any Walmart, Target, or CVS pharmacy and take your pick.

2 minutes ago, BigStar said:

USA has quite a few pre-paid debit card options. Hit any Walmart, Target, or CVS pharmacy and take your pick.

Most of which are unusable overseas.

1 minute ago, BigStar said:

USA has quite a few pre-paid debit card options. Hit any Walmart, Target, or CVS pharmacy and take your pick.

That solves one of my issues. I would also like to send money to Thailand. I gave my friend $1000 USA before I left just incase I had any issues. But with a 14 hour time difference he's not only hard to get ahold of, he also has a wife and a life. I want an option where I can reach my USA bank account or at least transfer funds to somewhere I can get Baht with my passport alone. A lot to ask I guess. 

2 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

Most of which are unusable overseas.

From Experience and why?

27 minutes ago, ToYoungToRetire said:

From Experience and why?

Read the fine print. Not Valid Outside the USA

6 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

Read the fine print. Not Valid Outside the USA

Gotcha

I called AMEX last year to request a PIN mailed to my address.

I found out that if one can log into ones online account the PIN can be accessed there. 

1. Open a Thai bank account

2. Use mobile banking "cardless withdrawal" or use bankbook to withdraw money.

isn't there some of the banks that you can withdraw money at the ATM without the card?

I saw my friend do that all the time, I think she has SCB.. just goes on the app and puts her pin, maybe scans a QR code (never really pay attention) but never seen a debit card in her hand (or wallet)

 

might be worth looking into

2 hours ago, Nyezhov said:

Transferwise debit card

Or Revolut card, same sort of thing.

10 hours ago, YT3k72Em said:

1. Open a Thai bank account

2. Use mobile banking "cardless withdrawal" or use bankbook to withdraw money.

So to be clear I'm back in the USA, I looking to have a fool proof solution for my next trip. 

 

I called Bangkok bank and they wont open an account for me unless I have a Thai work permit. 

10 hours ago, kekalot said:

isn't there some of the banks that you can withdraw money at the ATM without the card?

I saw my friend do that all the time, I think she has SCB.. just goes on the app and puts her pin, maybe scans a QR code (never really pay attention) but never seen a debit card in her hand (or wallet)

 

might be worth looking into

My Friend mentioned that, I still havent figured out how to do that. 

 

On a side note my phone was working great the night I lost my card. Woke to a dead battery, left it on the charger for two hours and still 0% battery, the screen would come on and say I had 0% so it was still working but not charging. I had to buy a new phone in Thailand that turned out not to work my American Cell provider so I got tho buy another phone when I get home. Hows that for a spell of bad luck ????.. Lucky for me I brought my travel laptop with me and was able to use Skype on that to call my bank to cancel the card. 

13 hours ago, ToYoungToRetire said:

I learned that lesson the first time I lost BOTH of my cards, but that day I had no baht left and needed a ATM, so I brought it (debt card) with me. 

"I learned that lesson the first time"...… obviously you didn't.

Yes you are too young to retire!????

10 hours ago, ToYoungToRetire said:

So to be clear I'm back in the USA, I looking to have a fool proof solution for my next trip. 

 

I called Bangkok bank and they wont open an account for me unless I have a Thai work permit. 

Try kasikorn,you will need a certificate of residencey. 

Laying off the booze might help. Sorry.

On 12/27/2019 at 10:20 AM, ToYoungToRetire said:

I would have used my CC but I never had before. So if there was a PIN to get cash I didnt know it. and cash withdrawals on a CC have a stupid high interest rate. I want a easier more reliable option, my first trip to Thailand lost I both my ATM card and my CC, I had to have my friend Western Union me money. I'd like to avoid that. 

 

That also does not solve my problem of sending money without putting the CEO of Western Union's child through college with just my single fee alone. 

 

From the USA if that matters, I had the money in my USA bank account but no way to get to it. 

Open a bank account at Kasikorn Bank. You can withdraw money from their ATM's using the "Cardless withdrawal" function. You just need a mobile phone with the K+ app installed. 

If I was you I would stay home in the good old USA mate. You are not only To Young To Retire but Too Young To Travel Alone. Best wait until you can get someone trustworthy to come with you and hold your hand and look after your money and debit/credit cards.

14 hours ago, ToYoungToRetire said:

So to be clear I'm back in the USA, I looking to have a fool proof solution for my next trip.

My foolproof solution which has worked well for me the past 4-5 years is to take cash when I travel. I always have enough cash to cover me for my whole trip. I also take my debit and credit cards as a backup if I run out of cash for some reason. If I only have cards for my trip and lose them while I am out, I will also lose the ability to get more cash for the rest of my trip and be in deep poo. If I lose the cash I am carrying then I might miss out on a fun night but I can go home where I still have the rest of my stash.

 

I live in a condo so my cash is safe. If I lived in a hotel then I suppose you run the risk of your safe being opened and cash stolen. I also have to declare at the airport when leaving Australia if I have more than $10,000 but that is not a problem. Condo rent I pay by direct bank transfer so not included in any cash I need.

 

The benefits of cash FOR ME are much better exchange rates, no fees, safety, reliability, redundancy.

Maybe take more water with it !!

Uhhh don’t loose your debit card .. solved. Make like Debit card on a rope...  idea from ‘70s soap on a rope so you don’t drop the soap.

 

you can get money at your Thai bank without a atm card....