Report Thailand to Verify 700,000 Foreigner-Registered Phone Numbers for Mobile Banking Use

[wensiensheng]

This isn’t new. It’s been ongoing for at least the last year. In fact, I recall it from many years back when phones were being used to detonate bombs in Yala.

 

But don’t let that get in the way of a sensationalized headline and first paragraph.

[wensiensheng]

2 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

About a year ago the Bangkok Bank was locked and I got a text message to come to a local branch. I had to birng in my passport and have my face registered.   I guess I am now in compliance? 

I think this is a separate thing.

 

I believe that the face recognition thing was so that you could do transfer of over 50k by mobile app.

 

This is a security measure to do with money laundering…I think. And if your phone and bank accounts are in the same name, there is no need to do anything. They match already.

 

Might be wrong so don’t crucify me.

[orchidfan]

6 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

Still haven't gotten any warning from SCB bank, and my wife contacted True and they told her not to worry if the number was registered before a few years ago. The number is registered in my wife's name. Have had this sim/number on my phone for probably 7-8 years now. We got it as part of our True cable and internet package. I'm just going to wait it out, not worth stressing out over.

 

6 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

Still haven't gotten any warning from SCB bank, and my wife contacted True and they told her not to worry if the number was registered before a few years ago. The number is registered in my wife's name. Have had this sim/number on my phone for probably 7-8 years now. We got it as part of our True cable and internet package. I'm just going to wait it out, not worth stressing out over.

I was in the same.position as you UNTIL BBL mobile App suddenly would not work on my "old" phone operating system. It now requires android 10 or above.

(Yes, can buy a new phone!)

 

** had been using this mobile number for about 15yrs, so known to many people and agencies (Immigration ,hospitals, airlines etc)

 

So, in the interim , I decided to 'install' BBL Internet banking (iBanking) and use that.....

 

The sim card /billing was all still in my wife's name.

 

So very nice BBL staff pointed.out that due to the new law, the sim card (and same number) must be in my name (as per my bank acc) or no go with the mobile app OR ibanking !

 

I did ask,pointlessly, why I had not recieved any notification to this effect from the bank?

Shrugged shoulders !

 

Luckily AIS shop is opposite this BBL Branch in Future Park.

So over I go.

After a long time they came up with a plan to clear any outstanding bill to that date, and pay them B100.

BUT, then the new bill would not show my name until the next billing cycle!

 

Finally it was agreed.that they (AIS)would issue the B100 receipt in my name and showing the original mobile sim card number.

 

Back over to BBL (no new queue number or waiting) who were satisfied and corrected their records and set up the ibanking!

 

All in all about 4hrs+ to complete.

 

Be warned!!!

 

[Surasak]

6 hours ago, Pouatchee said:

 

I'm in my country right now. You try calling a thai bank and talking to the people in english... lemme know how it goes

Whichever Thai bank you use, if you phone the head office, NOT the local bank, you can ALWAYS talk to someone in English.

[sqwakvfr]

1 hour ago, wensiensheng said:

I think this is a separate thing.

 

I believe that the face recognition thing was so that you could do transfer of over 50k by mobile app.

 

This is a security measure to do with money laundering…I think. And if your phone and bank accounts are in the same name, there is no need to do anything. They match already.

 

Might be wrong so don’t crucify me.

I think you are correct.  But i have had the same number with True for almost 8 years with the samd Passport and I have never been contacted about coming in for this. 

[Chris Daley]

Clearly putting a great strain on the networks.  Send those foreigners home.

[Spamhead]

4 hours ago, Drumbuie said:

Had a message from Bangkok Bank last week. I'm in the queue at my branch right now to show them that the bill is aid by my son ( but you can do it at any bra

Surely whoever pays the bill is irrelevant. They are looking to verify the name registered  to the SIM is identical to that of the bank account holder.

[GroveHillWanderer]

6 hours ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

I registered my Thai sim over 20 years ago and was in my ex-gf's name. About 5 years ago I went to DTAC with her and swapped it over to my name. It is the number that I have used for 20 years for WhatsApp, mobile banking etc.

 

Just in case I went to True/DTAC over the weekend and lucky I did, as it wasn't properly registered and needed to go through some process again. At least now I have peace of mind that it is done correctly.

 

This wouldn't have applied to you - it's only for numbers registered since January 1, 2022, at least according to the OP.

[Pouatchee]

7 hours ago, PJ71 said:

BKK help line in English is actually very good, if you'd bother to try.

 

stupid condescending comment. how can i use it if i dont know about it. would be way better if you introduced me to it in a friendly manner rather than in a jackass way

[Pouatchee]

2 hours ago, Surasak said:

Whichever Thai bank you use, if you phone the head office, NOT the local bank, you can ALWAYS talk to someone in English.

 

and i also have to pay the long distance which will take a while until someone figures out what i am trying to do

[kuzmabruk]

just need to go in to their bank and check that the phone number connected to the account is in the same name as the name on the account.
 

wrong!!!!!

 

the bank has been instructed to do this with the carriers (AIS, True, etc.)

 

they will contact you, nothing to be done until they contact you.  

[Upnotover]

4 minutes ago, Pouatchee said:

 

and i also have to pay the long distance which will take a while until someone figures out what i am trying to do

Out of interest, do you actually know if the name registered on your SIM is the same or not as that on your bank account?

[3NUMBAS]

Online banking ,Amazon an eBay use phone number for ID so no big deal ,

along with email addy

[CallumWK]

11 hours ago, webfact said:

Banks have been instructed to communicate directly with customers whose numbers don’t match up, urging them to update their registration information promptly.

 

Those who don't receive such outreach can continue with their banking activities without worry.

 

My phone number is a post paid number registered to my name for much longer than since 2022, and that is also the number my banks have.

Yet I receive almost weekly a message from the banks and from True regrading this.

I have asked the Kasikorn call center about this and they said they just send it to everyone.

[gk10012001]

While I am one of the most above the board rule followers, I prefer to avoid as much imperial involvement as possible.  I typically do pick up a cheap Thai phone and data plan while there and just use that for local Thai communications where it does come in handy.  I do not do any banking of any importance or purchase anything using my regular USA phone and I plan to continue in that vain.