A bank in Bangkok said foreigners are not allowed to use the scan function on their app for COD payment.

[Pulpeddoes]

I have tried to use my bank's app to pay for items before, and it just does not work.  I went to the bank and the lady called up her QR code, no problem.  She said that maybe there was a problem with my wifi.  (??!!?!***). This was 2019.

 

Fast forward to 2 months ago, and the place where I go for physical therapy no longer accepting cash, due to Covid.  Again, I cannot use the scan function; so I had to ask them for their banking info, and transferred payment to them.  Everyone else just scanned their QR code.  Since I was able to pay, I kept it moving.  Transferring is okay.  Scanning to pay via QR code - maie daie!

 

So last week I ordered items from Shopee and selected the COD option - the only one offered these days, it looks like.  Merchandise is delivered, and actual cash is not good; need to scan.  But it does NOT work!!  Fortunately, the security guard saved me by using his bank app (twice in one week) and I immediately transferred the payment to him.  

 

So today I moseyed on over to the bank to find out what's going on.  At first she said "it depends on the type of phone."  I firmly stated and showed her that my phone is not an iPhone; but Samsung top of the line.  She pulled out her phone and showed me that her scanning function works with no problem.  She then said that foreigners are not allowed to use that function.  I asked her if she was sure and it there was someone in  IT, more technically equipped, with whom I could discuss the issue.  She said it won't help because earlier in the day there was a "foreigner who also could not scan."  She then said that it what it was "today."  I could have tried to argue but you just know when you are getting nowhere, so I left with my dignity and quiet anger at being treated this way.

 

* Is anyone familiar with this?

* The bank is the blue and white one.  Does anyone else deal with this bank and, if so, can you scan to pay for items?

* If you bank elsewhere, does your app allow you to scan to pay with no issues? I need to move my THB if that is the case.

 

I would really appreciate feedback on this.  This is such blatant discrimination and I am so angry that I don't even know what to say. How am I supposed to pay for anything if cash is the only option, but not actual THB??

 

Thanks in advance for responses.

Edited August 16, 2021 by Pulpeddoes
grammar

[Caldera]

I use my Bangkok Bank and Kasikorn Bank apps, Bualuang and K-PLUS respectively, for QR code payments pretty often. No problems so far, and I'm also a foreigner.

[rvaviator]

I use the all yellow bank .. never any problem paying COD or paying Q codes ... and yes ... i am not Thai ...  I assume you have a debit card and have the app properly set up .. if you get no joy from your bank ... Changing bank may be an idea ....

 

Good luck

[wordchild]

i use Bangkok Bank app for QR payments from time to time, not noticed any issue so far. I am not Thai

[blackcab]

I use SCB. Zero problems scanning and paying bills.

 

Which bank are you using?

[BritManToo]

6 minutes ago, Caldera said:

I use my Bangkok Bank and Kasikorn Bank apps, Bualuang and K-PLUS respectively, for QR code payments pretty often. No problems so far, and I'm also a foreigner.

Me too BKB, no problems.

Home Mall removed all the ATMs, you have to scan the QR at the checkout to pay.

(I think they still accept cash)

Edited August 16, 2021 by BritManToo

[Gottfrid]

Sounds like you have been talking with a fruit cake. Have used Bangkok Bank, Kasikorn as well as TMB for payments. No problem

[Anythingleft?]

Depends on the limitations of the account that was set up originally, for instance was it created in conjunction with a work permit etc.

 

Basic foreign held accounts can have multiple stupid restrictions on them which can vary depending on both the bank and the teller that opened the account....

[fangless]

I know what QR codes are but what is a QR code payment?

I have never seen this offered in shops in CM.

[BritManToo]

5 minutes ago, fangless said:

I know what QR codes are but what is a QR code payment?

I have never seen this offered in shops in CM.

Till girl shows your phone the QR code, you open your banking app, payment by QR, point your phone at it ....... and it's done.

Sometimes you need to type in the amount.

Home Mall on the outer ring near the 1001 use it.

[KhaoNiaw]

9 minutes ago, fangless said:

I know what QR codes are but what is a QR code payment?

I have never seen this offered in shops in CM.

You scan the QR code with your bank app and put in the payment. Even a lot of little market stalls and street food places have them now. 

[fangless]

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

Till girl shows your phone the QR code, you open your banking app, payment by QR, point your phone at it ....... and it's done.

Sometimes you need to type in the amount.

Home Mall on the outer ring near the 1001 use it.

But how do you know the system is available at the shop, what is the sign?

[Eibot]

I believe we have similar banks and never ever had an issue.

 

Thais are known to kind of "wing-it" if they don't know the answer for something. They just blur something out as that seems better than "I don't know". 

Not sure if that was the case here. I would try it with a different branch.

 

Good luck.

[Pulpeddoes]

Thanks for your response, Caldera.  Looks like I will have to remove my cash from KT. Imagine sitting there with my 800K required balance plus extra, but I can't scan to pay for a 300 THB item!  I would have moved the account before but there are lots of new disclosure forms to complete that were not required when I opened the account seven years ago.  I did not want to bother with those.  But, at this point I  figure they (the US gov't) know all about you already anyway, so what is another form, here or there?!

 

Do you think this can be accomplished via an easy wire transfer?  Nothing that is simple or should be simple is easy in this country. 

[Pulpeddoes]

I tried to go to another branch immediately after I left that one, but they had closed by the time I got there.  I will try again this week.  If I get the same runaround, I will look into the easiest way to get my funds out and into a bank where I can use the app to pay COD to my heart's content! 

[Jingthing]

Have you called the customer service number of the bank? I find it hard to believe that foreigners aren't allowed to scan to pay. 

[couchpotato]

I would delete and then reinstall the app for that particular bank. Even go to the bank and have them set it up. ..........Bank apps don't discriminate with race or ethnic background!!

[sanmyintmaung]

I think the COD is using Prompt pay QR code instead of Bank QR code. 

Prompt Pay QR is not automatically link to your Bank account.

You will need to register to get Prompt Pay link to your Bank account. 

You can only pay using Prompt Pay QR after you register your bank account. 

You can register for Prompt Pay at your bank ATM as in the example below. 

 

[FritsSikkink]

Cash isn't a bank transfer.

[Oxx]

9 hours ago, rvaviator said:

I use the all yellow bank .. never any problem paying COD or paying Q codes

I presume that's Krung Sri.  Krung Sri has told me that only Thai nationals can register for PromptPay, which appears to be confirmed by their website which states that a Citizen ID is required for registration.  Is this wrong?

[mtls2005]

Which bank? "The blue and white one" is cryptic. Is this Krungthai Bank?

 

What type of account(s)? Is it just one account with your 800,000? Fixed-deposit? Regular savings account?

 

You've downloaded, installed, registered for and are using KTB's NEXT app? Note that the app needs Permission to use the camera on the phone. And always update the app, if that does not occur automatically on your phone.

 

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ktbcs.netbank

 

For me both Bangkok Bank and SCB offer the ability to pay by scanned QR code via their mobile apps. (Receiving funds via QR code requires separate registration I think, I never enabled that function.) These are both regular, standard passbook savings accounts.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTuKHxlupCg

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rADfV_rmGhs

 

 

 

Edited August 17, 2021 by mtls2005

[Caldera]

6 hours ago, Oxx said:

I presume that's Krung Sri.  Krung Sri has told me that only Thai nationals can register for PromptPay, which appears to be confirmed by their website which states that a Citizen ID is required for registration.  Is this wrong?

Apparently foreigners can register with their phone number. I say "apparently" because I haven't tried that myself, as it's only needed to receive PromptPay payments. For outgoing PromptPay QR code payments, there's no need to register.

[Pulpeddoes]

Conclusion to this saga:

Yesterday, after receiving my 1st Pfizer vaccine (that is another story but a good one!), I went to another Blue and White Bank branch.  The young lady who dealt with me took the time to look at my phone; settings; contacted someone in the back office of that branch, who came out and did some things; called someone on the phone...uninstalled and reinstalled, and set me up from scratch.  I walked out of there with my scan function working.  

 

If this were the USA, I could have reported the employee at the first branch for not being willing to do her job.  But TIT!!!

 

Thanks for all the responses!

[Saltire]

If you are talking Krung Thai I have no probems paying bills by QR code, indeed I pay my electricity bill this way every month.

 

Change branch (to a bigger one) or ask for the manager.

 

In any case how would the bank system know you are a foreigner! Ridiculous excuse for ignorance/incompetence.

 

 

[ignis]

wonder if some of these Bank staff have no idea ? so say anything ?

 

Been with Bangkok Bank over 20 years + is where my Pension is paid into, a good while ago went into them to set up QR code payments on my phone = cannot, all sorts of reasons + there is a service charge when using .......... If this is true no idea... [ did not understand was it 30 baht per transaction ?]

 

Then went to SCB [have account for 12 odd years] Yes OK, simple no problem + used many many times + no charges

 

All utility bills, home -[Big C + Tops home deliveries] use it all the time in Makro, as they only take Citi Bank cards 

[BritManToo]

Just now, ignis said:

Been with Bangkok Bank over 20 years + is where my Pension is paid into, a good while ago went into them to set up QR code payments on my phone = cannot, all sorts of reasons + there is a service charge when using .......... If this is true no idea... [ did not understand was it 30 baht per transaction ?]

BKB, no charge for payment by QR code, I use it all the time.

[Saltire]

When I get a delivery from Lazada I always pay the driver with cash on a COD purchase.

 

Do they offer a QR code option?

 

 

[Jingthing]

1 hour ago, Saltire said:

When I get a delivery from Lazada I always pay the driver with cash on a COD purchase.

 

Do they offer a QR code option?

 

 

Unfortunately no.

They do in Malaysia though so maybe coming here eventually.

I like COD but having the correct amount can be challenging and I've found in recent months the majority claim they can't make change.

[Saltire]

1 minute ago, Jingthing said:

Unfortunately no.

They do in Malaysia though so maybe coming here eventually.

I like COD but having the correct amount can be challenging and I've found in recent months the majority claim they can't make change.

Thaks, that is what I expected. It's a pain trying to keep the correct money ready.

 

"the majority claim they can't make change" applies to all of Thailand though, not just COD from Lazada ????

 

[BritManToo]

17 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

I like COD but having the correct amount can be challenging and I've found in recent months the majority claim they can't make change.

They always seem to have change for me.

On the odd occasion when they don't, they have to wait while I count out the 1bht & 5bht coins from my son's piggybank.