Getting a credit card

[Wrwest]

18 hours ago, MarkT63 said:

Hi Guys

 

Any pointers on best way to get a credit card.

 

Been retired in Thailand 6 years, out of home country for over 11 years so I guess no credit rating.

 

Talked to my bank (SCB) and they wanted me to open a fixed account and they would give a credit card for half the value of the deposit 🤣

despite already having my 800k in one account and a "current" account that has seen a very healthy flow of money through it over the last six years.

 

Don't need the card for extended credit, just for when a credit card is really useful.

 

🍻

13 years retired here and counting. As you have learned, Thai banks will extend a secured use card but not a "credit card" for us. I maintained my US CapOne and Amex cards for use here. Use CapOne regularly and pay directly from my US bank account. US Credit Rating stands at 820 ... the rating is of no use to us here to get a mortgage loan nor a western type card extending "credit" (I think this does not hold true if you are on a work permit)..

[sometimewoodworker]

1 hour ago, Wrwest said:

13 years retired here and counting. As you have learned, Thai banks will extend a secured use card but not a "credit card" for us. I maintained my US CapOne and Amex cards for use here. Use CapOne regularly and pay directly from my US bank account. US Credit Rating stands at 820 ... the rating is of no use to us here to get a mortgage loan nor a western type card extending "credit" (I think this does not hold true if you are on a work permit)..

That is absolutely correct. No job (Thai or foreigner) no unsecured credit card. The only possible exception is if you have quite a few million in the bank .

[Fab5BKK]

It's quite easy for a foreigner to get credit cards in Thailand.

 

There are 3 scenarios:

 

1. You don't have a work permit and you don't have money in the bank : no credit card.

 

2. You don't have a work permit but you get some money in the bank : you can apply for a "secured credit card".

 

3. You have a work permit : you can apply for a credit card

 

 

Years ago, I was in the scenario # 2 and I got a secured credit card. When I decided to be based in Thailand (with a TH work permit), I applied for a credit card and got it!

 

 

PS: When I was based, as a foreigner, in Czech Republic, Ireland, Kenya, UK, the rules were quite similar: you have a job then you can apply for and get a credit card

Edited 1 hour ago by Fab5BKK

[sometimewoodworker]

1 hour ago, Fab5BKK said:

It's quite easy for a foreigner to get credit cards in Thailand.

 

There are 3 scenarios:

 

1. You don't have a work permit and you don't have money in the bank : no credit card.

 

2. You don't have a work permit but you get some money in the bank : you can apply for a "secured credit card".

 

3. You have a work permit : you can apply for a credit card

 

 

Years ago, I was in the scenario # 2 and I got a secured credit card. When I decided to be based in Thailand (with a TH work permit), I applied for a credit card and got it!

 

 

PS: When I was based, as a foreigner, in Czech Republic, Ireland, Kenya, UK, the rules were quite similar: you have a job then you can apply for and get a credit card

Succinctly put, and it is not just foreigners but it also applies to Thai citizens though of course it’s not a work permit that is required for them but a job with a history.

[fceligoj]

If your Thai wife has a very good credit 'worthy' score and has credit cards, she should be able to get you a credit card under her account as an authorized user with your name on it.  Of course, the credit card has an unsecured limit of 90,000 thb.  We have it a BBL.

[sometimewoodworker]

2 minutes ago, fceligoj said:

If your Thai wife has a very good credit 'worthy' score and has credit cards, she should be able to get you a credit card under her account as an authorized user with your name on it.  Of course, the credit card has an unsecured limit of 90,000 thb.  We have it a BBL.

While it is certainly possible to add another authorised user for some, if not most, credit card account holders, and that for some that is useful, it doesn’t help the OP’s requirements.