Life without a credit card in Thailand

[poppysdad]

For the first time in 50+ years I’m about to be without a credit card. My current supplier are changing their banking partners and so closing all accounts, not even transferring them to the new one. So online to apply and the first hurdle is only open to UK residents which I’m not . I do have a correspondence address but the next hurdle was they will contact you on your landline to confirm you are who you say you are. Even if getting over that one they then want a mobile phone number to send sms for security reasons when making a purchase and of course mine is a Thai number. Could give them my relatives number but if they get a sms in the early hours of a purchase I’m about to make it probably won’t get answered. 

So, what are the times when a credit card is essential for life to continue and I can think of very very few, so I’m sure there are some here who get by without one so any help or ways to get over problems or advice etc,. 

[pagallim]

I think the key word here is 'credit'.   I use debit cards with both my Thai (Mastercard) and UK banks (Visa) with no difficulty, and of course, using bank apps and QR codes are becoming more and more common.   Really, credit cards are only of any use if want to defer or spread payment, or using it as a loan facility

[saakura]

Yesterday I went to buy a sanwich and coffee at a Starbucks outlet in Rama 4 road in Bangkok and tried to pay cash and was told that they only accept either a credit card or an online transfer using QR code. No cash accepted even for a 20 baht water bottle if you were to buy one.

[poppysdad]

Pagallim, I agree in general and although “credit” I have always paid in full on the due date. I do of course have a Bangkok bank app on my phone which gets used regularly but it’s more if I want to make an international online purchase where I forsee a problem like renewing my antivirus or vpn or an Amazon item. If I have to do without so be it but curious about ways around these problems. I used to have a Bangkok bank debit card but never used as always used my bank app so got my cash refunded, and my atm card doesn’t have visa or Mastercard on it so probably not useable n many situations. I don’t have nor want PayPal so will take any problem as it arises I suppose. Thanks anyway. 

[MrMuddle]

47 minutes ago, saakura said:

Yesterday I went to buy a sanwich and coffee at a Starbucks outlet in Rama 4 road in Bangkok and tried to pay cash and was told that they only accept either a credit card or an online transfer using QR code. No cash accepted even for a 20 baht water bottle if you were to buy one.

Another reason, apart from good taste, of avoiding their shops!  lol

[Lemsta69]

9 minutes ago, MrMuddle said:

Another reason, apart from good taste, of avoiding their shops!  lol

why? just use your bank app's QR code function and move on with your life. it's no that hard pal ????

[Robin]

Do you have a Thai Credit/debit/ ATM card?  Can be useful in LOS, but remember it is Debit card and might have a low spending limit, and not much use for on-line purchases.  Check with you issuing bank.

I have always kept a UK credit card (Mastercard) to use for emergencies and buying air tickets via Expedia, but be aware that Mastercard will not send you a new card to Thailand

Genmerally i do not find a Credit card very useful in LOS.  Most retailers do not want you to use it and my Kbank card does not give me a statement or any credit, so only a very limited debit/atm card

Hopefully sometime in the next 100 yrs Thailand will catch up with the west on this (Thailand 4.0?)

[moogradod]

28 minutes ago, Robin said:

Do you have a Thai Credit/debit/ ATM card?  Can be useful in LOS, but remember it is Debit card and might have a low spending limit, and not much use for on-line purchases.  Check with you issuing bank.

I have always kept a UK credit card (Mastercard) to use for emergencies and buying air tickets via Expedia, but be aware that Mastercard will not send you a new card to Thailand

Genmerally i do not find a Credit card very useful in LOS.  Most retailers do not want you to use it and my Kbank card does not give me a statement or any credit, so only a very limited debit/atm card

Hopefully sometime in the next 100 yrs Thailand will catch up with the west on this (Thailand 4.0?)

I have a credit card (a real credit card) as a partner card of my wife's card. It is useful because some online shops or hotels do not accept debit cards. What I do not like about it is that there is absolutely no benefit when travelling. With my old Mastercard back in Switzerland I had a substantial insurance in case of death and various other benefits. Just included. Besides I find that not all shops use two factor authentication or 3-D secure here. A nuisance since Paypal cannot be used anymore.

[poppysdad]

Lemstar. Why do you bother to reply when you only offer stupid comments, is your day that boring.

 

 If you actually bother to read what I followed on with is when making international purchases when I doubt my bank app would be of any use. 

[Karma80]

I have an SCB Prepaid Visa credit card which works very well and meets all my needs for international purchases and so on.

It also dodged the hassles of having to apply for a credit card locally, when I don't actually want any credit line, just secure access to my bank funds with card protection etc.

https://www.scb.co.th/en/personal-banking/cards/prepaid-cards.html

 

 

 

[tgw]

1 hour ago, Lemsta69 said:

why? just use your bank app's QR code function and move on with your life. it's no that hard pal ????

the best thing is to boycott places that don't accept cash, or to not pay and let them sue you, because legal tender is legal tender.

 

the forced use of electronic payments will curtail personal freedoms even more, don't let businesses and governments do that to you.

[KIngsofisaan]

3 hours ago, pagallim said:

I think the key word here is 'credit'.   I use debit cards with both my Thai (Mastercard) and UK banks (Visa) with no difficulty, and of course, using bank apps and QR codes are becoming more and more common.   Really, credit cards are only of any use if want to defer or spread payment, or using it as a loan facility

Really, credit cards are only of any use if want to defer or spread payment, or using it as a loan facility

 

Credit cards offer credit protection. They are a valuable tool if you have enough financial discipline to pay them off every month

 

Plus if you can accumulate points, flight miles, gifts and other cool things

[Orinoco]

3 hours ago, saakura said:

Yesterday I went to buy a sanwich and coffee at a Starbucks outlet in Rama 4 road in Bangkok and tried to pay cash and was told that they only accept either a credit card or an online transfer using QR code. No cash accepted even for a 20 baht water bottle if you were to buy one.

Great reason not to go in that place.

I like it.

[Orinoco]

Op, Why not get a offshore account in Jersey or isle of man.

 

 

[KIngsofisaan]

We kept all our US cards and we use them all the time for everything.

 

Keep zero balance at the end of the month on all cards

 

At the end of the year have enough points for 2 flights back to the US

 

US Thai bank for ATM, VISA Money, operating cash, although bulk of cash is in US banks

 

 

Edited August 20, 2022 by KIngsofisaan

[Denim]

44 minutes ago, tgw said:

the forced use of electronic payments will curtail personal freedoms even more, don't let businesses and governments do that to you.

Apparently , cash is making a bit of a comeback with people feeling the financial pinch. People are turning to ' cash stuffing ' to cover their outgoings. This method involves withdrawing a large sum of cash and dividing it into separate envelopes to cover various bills etc. People say it is easier to keep track of and control their spending rather than going cashless and swiping everything.

 

As for credit cards , very useful. Can even be a life saver. Had to go into hospital a few years back and ran up a bill of over 120,000. Paid using credit card...no problem. When I was checking into hospital the waiting room was full of people waiting while stressed out staff tried to contact their insurance companies to confirm cover. I was straight in no waiting.

[sometimewoodworker]

2 hours ago, moogradod said:

A nuisance since Paypal cannot be used anymore.

I continue to use my Thai PayPal account, while there have been a number of changes mine draws on my Thai debit card and though I don’t use it that often I’ve used it 3 times in the last 30 days so your statement is apocryphal, certainly for some accounts 

[ripstanley]

4 hours ago, saakura said:

Yesterday I went to buy a sanwich and coffee at a Starbucks outlet in Rama 4 road in Bangkok and tried to pay cash and was told that they only accept either a credit card or an online transfer using QR code. No cash accepted even for a 20 baht water bottle if you were to buy one.

Did they inform you of this before you ordered or after?

[ripstanley]

When I lived in Australia I did use a credit card. I have now been here for almost 12 years and not used a credit card.. If the shop insists on non cash they will lose my business.  

[ThailandRyan]

1 hour ago, Orinoco said:

Great reason not to go in that place.

I like it.

Many places are going cashless.  For all my card purchases here I use my Black card or my Amex Gold, no international fees and my banks understand I live here in Thailand. Black card is a Barclay's bank issued card. I am from the US.

Edited August 20, 2022 by ThailandRyan

[Orinoco]

4 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Many places are going cashless.  For all my card purchases hades I use my Black card or my Amex Gold, no onyernatiinal fees and my banks understand I live here in Thailand. Black card is a Barclay's bank issued card.

I have cards to do stuff with no problem.

I just don't like company's telling me what to do.

of course there are some exceptions,

But Starbucks, I say on your bike.

 

 

 

Edited August 20, 2022 by Orinoco

[bkk6060]

So, I guess the no card folks never travel?  Book flights and hotels and activities.

Never order supplies, maintenace items, gifts, etc. online?

Credit is a good thing to have if a person has a full active life. Certainly not needed I guess if one sits around doing nothing.

 

[Lemsta69]

34 minutes ago, ripstanley said:

When I lived in Australia I did use a credit card. I have now been here for almost 12 years and not used a credit card.. If the shop insists on non cash they will lose my business.  

I don't think they really care mate. you're just cutting your nose off to spite your face. 

[farmerjo]

Never had a credit card and have always got by.

Travel can be difficult sometimes but never been show stopper.

 

 

[Lemsta69]

2 hours ago, poppysdad said:

Lemstar. Why do you bother to reply when you only offer stupid comments, is your day that boring.

 

 If you actually bother to read what I followed on with is when making international purchases when I doubt my bank app would be of any use. 

responding to the Luddite who thinks using a QR code to pay is the work of the Devil rather than a simple few clicks in an app. I speak sense brother, if you think my comments are stupid then there's something wrong with you mate.

[Lemsta69]

2 hours ago, tgw said:

the best thing is to boycott places that don't accept cash, or to not pay and let them sue you, because legal tender is legal tender.

 

the forced use of electronic payments will curtail personal freedoms even more, don't let businesses and governments do that to you.

two or three old farang dudes ain't gonna hold back the tide. but if you want to fight a losing battle then have at it. 

[lopburi3]

6 minutes ago, Lemsta69 said:

two or three old farang dudes ain't gonna hold back the tide. but if you want to fight a losing battle then have at it. 

Well add another - and for the many of us older than smart phone zombies and that have not joined that clan QR codes are a modern maze art with very little meaning. ????‍???? 

[Northstar1]

Couldn’t imagine not having one

i don’t defer payments, it’s automatically paid in full at the end of the month, as are all my bills. And at the end of the year I have enough points for a free flight!

why wouldn’t I use one?

maybe that should be the question!

[OneMoreFarang]

5 hours ago, saakura said:

Yesterday I went to buy a sanwich and coffee at a Starbucks outlet in Rama 4 road in Bangkok and tried to pay cash and was told that they only accept either a credit card or an online transfer using QR code. No cash accepted even for a 20 baht water bottle if you were to buy one.

Just one more reason not to go to that americano chain.

[The Fugitive]

2 hours ago, Denim said:

Apparently , cash is making a bit of a comeback with people feeling the financial pinch. People are turning to ' cash stuffing ' to cover their outgoings. This method involves withdrawing a large sum of cash and dividing it into separate envelopes to cover various bills etc. People say it is easier to keep track of and control their spending rather than going cashless and swiping everything.

 

As for credit cards , very useful. Can even be a life saver. Had to go into hospital a few years back and ran up a bill of over 120,000. Paid using credit card...no problem. When I was checking into hospital the waiting room was full of people waiting while stressed out staff tried to contact their insurance companies to confirm cover. I was straight in no waiting.

Very good point about your hospital bill, thanks.