No True Move Wallet for Foreigners?

[Zenwind]

   I’m a long-time expat retiree here in Thailand, and I live frugally, always paying for things in cash.  But this modern cashless craze is restricting my ability to pay.  (I don’t have a credit card.)  After many years of being a loyal weekly customer of Major Cineplex, I now cannot pay for a movie. 

  

   Okay, now I see that True Move, my mobile phone company, has the True Move Wallet where I could top up a wallet account with cash via 7/Eleven.  Their website said foreigners like me could do it, but the online procedure was arcane beyond comprehension and didn’t work. 

  

   So, I go to the True store in Siam Paragon (because they always spoke good English and were very polite and helpful in the past) to enroll in their Wallet service, but they only gave me a phone number to call, which was only in Thai, and otherwise ignored me. 

 

   Next, my Thai wife accompanied me to the True store in Central Pinklao.  I had my passport, etc. and was hopeful they could process me.  But the girl there told my wife that foreigners could not get the True Move Wallet. 

 

   Can anyone here enlighten me about this?  Thanks in advance. 

[nrasmussen]

I'm neither Thai nor a True customer, but I've been using an app called TrueMoney for several years. It's useful for paying bills and shopping at 7-Eleven. It even has a virtual Mastercard that can be used with Google Wallet.

[scubascuba3]

I've been using truemoneywallet for couple years, apply via the app, don't give up at the first hurdle like many 

[CHdiver]

Do you have a bank account? I can pay at Major Cineplex with QR Code. 

[Magictoad]

Don't use a phone wallet. Very insecure & not necessary at all. I have NEVER used my CC to pay for anything in 30 years in Thailand except for the occasional larger hospital bill. I ALWAYS use cash, always. I'm also part of a campaigning group against cashless society. My personal main target is that we'll known coffee chain Starf#£ks.

[impulse]

13 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

I've been using truemoneywallet for couple years, apply via the app, don't give up at the first hurdle like many 

 

That should be the mantra of every foreigner living in Asia.  Not just Thailand.

 

[scubascuba3]

7 minutes ago, Magictoad said:

Don't use a phone wallet. Very insecure & not necessary at all. I have NEVER used my CC to pay for anything in 30 years in Thailand except for the occasional larger hospital bill. I ALWAYS use cash, always. I'm also part of a campaigning group against cashless society. My personal main target is that we'll known coffee chain Starf#£ks.

You will have problems in the future if you don't move with tech, do cash and cash payment apps

[impulse]

16 minutes ago, Magictoad said:

My personal main target is that we'll known coffee chain Starf#£ks.

 

I've been tempted to write them a Thank You note for going cashless.  The first time they refused my cash order for a 160 Baht coffee, I walked 3 doors down and bought a cuppa for 60 baht.  And it was just as good. 

 

They've probably saved me 5000 baht over the past 2 years because I also don't like pulling out the plastic for a $5 purchase.

 

[Upnotover]

I tried 5 times to register.  Only once did I get a message back that they had received my application and it was being processed.  Nothing happened.  I reckon I can live without it.

[bravo19]

7 hours ago, Magictoad said:

Don't use a phone wallet. Very insecure & not necessary at all. I have NEVER used my CC to pay for anything in 30 years in Thailand except for the occasional larger hospital bill. I ALWAYS use cash, always. I'm also part of a campaigning group against cashless society. My personal main target is that we'll known coffee chain Starf#£ks.

😆😆Do you live in the stone age? I use often thai credit or debit cards, truemoney or line pay and haven't had any problems.

[Everyman]

11 hours ago, Upnotover said:

I tried 5 times to register.  Only once did I get a message back that they had received my application and it was being processed.  Nothing happened.  I reckon I can live without it.

 

That was also my experience.

[Everyman]

5 hours ago, bravo19 said:

😆😆Do you live in the stone age? I use often thai credit or debit cards, truemoney or line pay and haven't had any problems.

 

I know a lot of people that are having a meltdown about the move to electronic forms of payment.

 

It seems to be based on conspiracy theories about banks. 

 

You are quite right that those people are going to be screwed moving forward. 

 

[HappyExpat57]

Get a credit card that gets money back, typically 1.5-2%, no annual fee, and no foreign transaction fee. Your purchases are protected against fraud and you pay a bit less for your items.

 

Only things I use cash for any more is milk at 7/11 and gas for the motorbike.

[Everyman]

58 minutes ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Get a credit card that gets money back, typically 1.5-2%, no annual fee, and no foreign transaction fee. Your purchases are protected against fraud and you pay a bit less for your items.

 

Only things I use cash for any more is milk at 7/11 and gas for the motorbike.

 

I find that most vendors in Thailand don’t take credit cards or charge a fee to use one that negates the cash back I get. They take cash or scan pay. How do you use a credit card everywhere?

[Crossy]

TrueMoneyWallet is definitely available to foreigners https://www.truemoney.com/foreigner/ I've had it for many years.

 

Click the Register button on that link for instructions on how to make it work.

 

IIRC the only thing you can't do is link to your bank account so, unless you have a Thai credit (or possibly debit) card, you have to top-up using cash.

 

Of course, if you have a Thai bank account you can use the scan-to-pay function on their app.

[bamnutsak]

4 minutes ago, Crossy said:

IRC the only thing you can't do is link to your bank account so, unless you have a Thai credit (or possibly debit) card, you have to top-up using cash.

 

 

Within the TrueMoney app you can top-up from your bank account.

 

Press the "Top-Up" orange button next to your current balance. Then select your bank's mobile app which launches that app on your phone. Add value.

 

Very easy.

 

 

Successfully registering for TrueMoney Wallet was "document intensive" as I recall, but my application was approved within a week.

 

 

[Crossy]

2 minutes ago, bamnutsak said:

Within the TrueMoney app you can top-up from your bank account.

 

Press the "Top-Up" orange button next to your current balance. Then select your bank's mobile app which launches that app on your phone. Add value.

 

Very easy.

 

Successfully registering for TrueMoney Wallet was "document intensive" as I recall, but my application was approved within a week.

 

Excellent! That does indeed work. 

 

It seems that "transfer to bank accounts" is what's not available.

[BritManToo]

14 hours ago, Magictoad said:

Don't use a phone wallet. Very insecure & not necessary at all.

Let me see, you need my phone and my fingerprint and my PIN to make a payment.

It what way do you feel this is insecure?

[Upnotover]

16 minutes ago, Crossy said:

TrueMoneyWallet is definitely available to foreigners https://www.truemoney.com/foreigner/ I've had it for many years.

 

Click the Register button on that link for instructions on how to make it work.

 

IIRC the only thing you can't do is link to your bank account so, unless you have a Thai credit (or possibly debit) card, you have to top-up using cash.

 

Of course, if you have a Thai bank account you can use the scan-to-pay function on their app.

I just applied for the 6th time, just for fun.  Standing by for an SMS in the coming 3 days...will report back.

[86Tiger]

14 hours ago, impulse said:

 

That should be the mantra of every foreigner living in Asia.  Not just Thailand.

 

 

 

Amen, brother.   Nothing is easy nor simple.

 

 

I have been registered with True Wallet for several years.  It was a challenge but I persevered to over come.

 

What worked for me is use driver license for the ID instead of passport.  I tried passport several times to no avail, but had finally had inspiration to try DL and it worked like a champ.  Got confirmation in about a day.

 

More recently, my DL expired this past May.  I received a message, maybe 3 months out, my ID registered with True Wallet would expire soon.  Sure enough, on my birthday I was locked out of True Wallet.  Renewed license the following week, uploaded new license and glory be!  I was again back in business.

 

So, it will work for farang.  Just gotta work out the wrinkles.

[Crossy]

5 minutes ago, 86Tiger said:

What worked for me is use driver license for the ID instead of passport.  I tried passport several times to no avail, but had finally had inspiration to try DL and it worked like a champ.  Got confirmation in about a day.

 

I wonder if it will work with a pink ID card, once you get to a "certain age" (60 IIRC) they don't expire until you do.

 

[HappyExpat57]

32 minutes ago, Everyman said:

 

I find that most vendors in Thailand don’t take credit cards or charge a fee to use one that negates the cash back I get. They take cash or scan pay. How do you use a credit card everywhere?

Think about it - I only shop where credit cards are accepted, primarily Lotus and Lazada. The only caveat, I use the QR code payment method at Makro.

[86Tiger]

1 minute ago, Crossy said:

 

I wonder if it will work with a pink ID card.

 

 

 

That would have been my next option.  But never had opportunity or need to try.

 

And to Add:  I have filled True Wallet with both my Bangkok Bank and Kasikorn app.   I find True Wallet icon in Kasikorn app.

 

 

As with all things:   YMMV

[Moonlover]

Yes @Zenwind, foreigners can have a Truemoney wallet. And here's how to get one. 

 

Go through registration procedure until you come to the 'employment' sector. This is where most foreigners get stuck. (unless they work here of course)

 

Select 'unemployed' and put your home address in the place of work/business sector. Using this approach I was accepted within the hour. 

 

I struggled for weeks until I got this tip from someone on the forum.

 

Good luck. Let me know how it went.

[SAFETY FIRST]

14 hours ago, Magictoad said:

I have NEVER used my CC to pay for anything in 30 years in Thailand

You're missing out. 

 

I've accumulated so many points over the last decades which I can redeem. 

 

[Crossy]

14 hours ago, impulse said:

That should be the mantra of every foreigner living in Asia.  Not just Thailand.

 

Yup, but some things can be incredibly easy.

 

When we first arrived in Thailand and rented a condo we were using dial-up internet, I noticed (I don't remember where) that a new company was offering ADSL in our area, I called the number, they emailed me the application form which I faxed back (it was a while back) one morning.

 

It was my intention to inform Madam when I got home from the office, however she called a couple of hours later that "there was a man at the door to install internet".

 

As above YMMV!

[StandardIssue]

You do have a bank account in Thailand yea? Just use their app and pay using that. Bangkok Bank app works fine IMHO

[86Tiger]

2 minutes ago, Crossy said:

 

Yup, but some things can be incredibly easy.

 

When we first arrived in Thailand and rented a condo we were using dial-up internet, I noticed (I don't remember where) that a new company was offering ADSL in our area, I called the number, they emailed me the application form which I faxed back (it was a while back) one morning.

 

It was my intention to inform Madam when I got home from the office, however she called a couple of hours later that "there was a man at the door to install internet".

 

As above YMMV!

 

 

You know what?

 

Just occurred to me the adventure and experience of traversing the intricacies of this incredibly complicated and simple country may be part of the attraction.  Every day is like a box of chocolates, you never know what is going to happen.

 

 

And on your previous comment, it would be good news indeed if the pink ID doesn't expire after 60.  Mine is up for renew December of next year so I will learn for sure. 

[Moonlover]

2 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Get a credit card that gets money back, typically 1.5-2%, no annual fee, and no foreign transaction fee. Your purchases are protected against fraud and you pay a bit less for your items.

 

Only things I use cash for any more is milk at 7/11 and gas for the motorbike.

Oh how helpful!

 

Do please explain how a 'long-time expat retiree here in Thailand, and living frugally', (his words, not mine) gets his hands on such a card.

[Crossy]

3 minutes ago, 86Tiger said:

And on your previous comment, it would be good news indeed if the pink ID doesn't expire after 60.  Mine is up for renew December of next year so I will learn for sure. 

 

I got mine in 2021 when I was 62, the expiry date says "for life" 🙂