I phoned RBS Customer Service Dept to see when MrsJ would receive her new Debit Card. We have both a joint Current a/c and a joint Savings a/c with them. Was told it would be posted this month (conversation was last month).

 

A few days later received a letter basically saying cannot post to Thailand due to security issues. Please inform us of a UK address to where it can be sent, you can then collect it the next time you are here!

 

So changed our address to my sons and asked them to post it there. After he received it I froze our Current a/c. Then he folded the unopened envelope which contained the card and put it inside a larger envelope and posted it using ‘Royal Mail.h’ whatever that is … it cost £2.55 and was posted on Saturday (12^th), we received it yesterday (16^th).   Quite quick I thought.

 

As I have already changed our address back, now just need to unfreeze the Current Account. They did tell me that during the period that the account was frozen it would still accept inward transactions as well as paying standing orders and direct debits.

 

Thought this info might be useful to someone.  

Where there's a will, there's usually an easy way

Many thanks for taking the time and trouble to let us know. Halifax Bank have the same concerns and suggested the same method. Santander say they have no issues posting replacement cards to Thailand. However, they only accept notification of addresses abroad via hard copy (download a form from their website, fill it in and post it to them in Bradford with proof of ID and abroad address).

I just get a photo of my cards, don't bother with getting them sent here

but it's not an security issue if someone else mails it? lol. My Canadian bank mails my cc/debit to me direct and I've never had an issue. imo this is a 'cost' issue rather than 'security'..

I've just done something very similar to OP in the last few days and in the past. Changed to a UK address temporarily, had a new card posted to that address for forwarding (or bringing in person if someone was coming to Thailand) then, via online banking with Natwest, I've frozen my new debit card only and will cancel the freeze when it's in my hands after posting from UK. Can then revert to my usual Thai address. All other aspects of the accounts remain the same as ever.

 

Photos of cards are fine but not much use in card readers.

 

@from the home of CC - you're correct of course. If posting to an untrusted overseas country, they could automatically freeze a card and have it activated on receipt. In fact that's what my bank did in the past, until a year or two ago, but their policy changed. Like you, I've never had a new card go astray.

24 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

I just get a photo of my cards, don't bother with getting them sent here

It's a neat solution as long as you trust the person holding the card itself!

And no problems with activating the card?

1 minute ago, Disparate Dan said:

It's a neat solution as long as you trust the person holding the card itself!

And no problems with activating the card?

Yes you need someone you trust either way, once I've got a photo of the card I get them to scratch the 3 digit security code on the back off. Ive had 2 new cards recently and they didn't need activating hence why posting is a risk

58 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

I just get a photo of my cards, don't bother with getting them sent here

I find that photos don’t work in card readers very well….????

27 minutes ago, JAS21 said:

I find that photos don’t work in card readers very well….????

card readers are old tech these days, none of my banks use it. Nationwide did, closed that years ago

Edited June 17, 20215 yr by scubascuba3

I just received my new Natwest International debit card about a week ago. They didn't seem to have any problem mailing it to me in Thailand (it did come via recorded delivery).

 

I had to call them and go through the normal security procedures for my phone banking, for them to activate the card and unfreeze my online banking account.

I had my NatWest MasterCard ( unfortunately they have stopped issuing Visa credit but still have Visa Debit ) sent from my daughters address.

In the NatWest banking app I could freeze the card and unfreeze it when it arrived.

A very practical service, especially in the case of theft or loss .

I've had debit cards sent over here 2 or 3 times now.  Just had them sent to my mum & dad's house & they posted them over here recorded  delivery usury takes about a week & never had an issue

With my bank I have my residence address as Thailand and correspondence address as my Fathers house in UK. He sends cards on by registered mail. No need to change addresses back and forth. Don't bother freezing account as I know when it gets posted and I get notifications of any activity on the card on my phone.

Lost my Lufthansa Miles & More credit card last year. I had it blocked and asked if they could send me a new card with courier fees charged to my account. DKB Bank (the issuer) couriered me a replacement card from Germany to Thailand. The bank absorbed the DHL fee. 

It helps to have been Internet banking on your phone. No problem paying bills or sending money to an account here in a Thai bank. My pass code key from the bank stopped working so my phone now,can generate a pass code itself. Big improvement

I bank with HSBC back home so to say and they have not sent a card over here for years. I get it sent over by a third party.. 

It's been like that for years! NATWEST opt out to send to Thailand its high risk more high risk then walking into the Peckham Branch... 

The banks and credit card companies all have different policies, some have sent to me by courier. Mostly I leave my address registered at a family member because some banks are closing the accounts of people they know are living overseas.

14 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

I just get a photo of my cards, don't bother with getting them sent here

me too

I get a photo of the front of the card, and ask my friend to call me with the last 3 digits.

just get someone to send you a picture mate.

and send the last 3 numbers by a different method, ie, phone call.

I have hired a car in Thailand using just the photo of my credit card.

I find that if you do Internet banking and activate fingerprint id on your device ,even if the transaction is large (I recently sent 500k baht) they send a verification to the app which you confirm with your fingerprint. Never had to use the card reader - all I need is the information off the card,most of which is securely stored on my device.

HSBC UK are okay with my having an account and a non-UK address, probably as I've had the account for 30+ years, although a couple of years ago I had to get a Thai lawyer to sign some papers relating to it and confirming my Thai address when, I think, they were ring-fencing accounts. They also send my ATM card to Thailand.

 

Barclaycard Visa will not, however, and I have it sent to my sister in the UK and she sends it on. I believe they have her address registered to the account - I'll have to check that - but when I purchase my Thai address is accepted.

i always (past 16yrs) received credit. / debit card from uk ( HSBC ) WITH NO PROBLEMS !!!

16 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

I just get a photo of my cards, don't bother with getting them sent here

That doesn’t work if you have to use the security card reader supplied by RBS

16 hours ago, from the home of CC said:

but it's not an security issue if someone else mails it? lol. My Canadian bank mails my cc/debit to me direct and I've never had an issue. imo this is a 'cost' issue rather than 'security'..

True!

what are the commissions on withdrawals? is the conversion rate any good.i still find it cheaper to make 2 or3 transfers per year into my thai bank.converting the money here, as it is a better rate...

1 hour ago, Bangkok Barry said:

HSBC UK are okay with my having an account and a non-UK address, probably as I've had the account for 30+ years, although a couple of years ago I had to get a Thai lawyer to sign some papers relating to it and confirming my Thai address when, I think, they were ring-fencing accounts. They also send my ATM card to Thailand.

 

Barclaycard Visa will not, however, and I have it sent to my sister in the UK and she sends it on. I believe they have her address registered to the account - I'll have to check that - but when I purchase my Thai address is accepted.

Just received my new Barclays debit card mailed to my address in Bangkok. Now in use with no problems.

3 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

Just received my new Barclays debit card mailed to my address in Bangkok. Now in use with no problems.

Interesting to know. I'll see what the situation is when my new one is due late next year.

Had not received my HSBC Debit Card as current one had expired.  Emailed (internal HSBC mail) and told them the issue, but not to rush as I had cash in my Thai Bank Account.  They replied a few days later, on the same day that the Card arrived, so told them not to investigate any further as the problem was now solved.  It would appear that sometimes, mail can be held up when it reaches Thailand.  As for a UK Bank refusing to send a Debit Card to Thailand, because of security I believe is just being down right unhelpful and inefficient.  I wonder if it is only Thailand they have security  concerns about.  What a lovely xenophobic Bank?

16 hours ago, GroveHillWanderer said:

I just received my new Natwest International debit card about a week ago. They didn't seem to have any problem mailing it to me in Thailand (it did come via recorded delivery).

 

I had to call them and go through the normal security procedures for my phone banking, for them to activate the card and unfreeze my online banking account.

Many people recently reporting their banks are closing their accounts if they have a foreign address or telephone number, personally i would avoid that