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Visa Crackdowns, QR Code Rules Spark Panic Among Pattaya Expats

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  • Popular Post
On 8/27/2025 at 6:19 PM, Trippy said:

I've never had my cash turned down anywhere in Pattaya. 

Those who write about "cashless" are themselves proponents of "cashless."
I pay cash everywhere.  Never had a problem. If a snooty company ever refuses my cash, find, they'll lose my business.

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  • "Gone are the days of cash-in-hand jobs...."   It'll be a cold day in hell when you can't get a hand job for cash in Pattaya.    

  • Rubbish    Probably three people in the entire Thai government could explain Blockchain technology.   I challenge this.

  • I continue to pay cash  everywhere...  at immigration, at the DLT at Lotus,sssss  Big C , 7/11  and the noodle vendor  use cash    keep the digital demon's at bay buy using cash wherever you can...onc

Posted Images

I pay most cash , but i ALSO use some app, not any or all, i ask myself always why those ultra modern guy's & girls (not forgetting those ...) wish to exterminates perfect working cash .....both systems old and new can perfect exist besides each other ....now they like to exterminate  existing systems , same goes for that "electrification pushing thru peoples throat .....besides with this QR codes how  the "tips" at hand are given ?  i think bar/restaurant etc people like the cash "tips"  QR go let them loose that much 

 

Oh , maybe the digital guy's are maybe not tipping 😁as their lovely electronics are to costly ....🤭

 

Let freedom to all to choose ...

 

  • Popular Post
7 hours ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

I would rather be called arrogant than dim. 😃

Luckily in your case, you can have both. 

  • Popular Post
3 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

Recently at Swensen's to get a few tubs of ice cream for take home, no cash accepted. My kid has the app on her phone which is glued to her hand. Without her I couldn't make the purchase. 

You are playing into their hands. Just say 'no thanks'. Don't go in there now you know the score. I wouldn't.

Reading between the lines here, there’s some people gonna have visa problems if they’re unable to use an agent to help them meet the criteria. 

With regard to  payless and QR scans they’ve been in use in many of the countries where expats come from, BUT cash is still being used, so why the faux outrage?

1 hour ago, Stiddle Mump said:

You are playing into their hands. Just say 'no thanks'. Don't go in there now you know the score. I wouldn't.

But, I like the ice cream. Gotta do it.

3 hours ago, pizzachang said:

That comes AFTER every system is cashless....

That is the digital Panopticon  we must avoid at all costs..sadly its looking more and more like  the turkeys are voting for Christmas  because its so "easy"

  • Popular Post
24 minutes ago, IsaanGuy said:

BUT cash is still being used, so why the faux outrage?

People need to be warned and understand the dire consequences of a "cashless" society...at the moment many like yourself it would seem are totally unaware.

 

7 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

But, I like the ice cream. Gotta do it.

Ice cream is not good for you. A bit like air-con. It confuses the body.

 

And a lot of this ice-cream has anti-freeze in it. Have to be careful mate.

  • Popular Post
6 minutes ago, johng said:

People need to be warned and understand the dire consequences of a "cashless" society...at the moment many like yourself it would seem are totally unaware.

 

Bang on the money.

 

Countries can be controlled through lack of energy. Humans can be controlled through fear. Communities can be controlled by lack of food. A 100% digital economy will enslave the world. 

22 hours ago, SamSpade said:

It would seem so... 

 

image.png.b70c71b26caebb72a15fb923245c4fc8.png 

As long as they would take my Thai bank VISA debit card and I don't have to carry around a smart phone just to make a purchase, not a big problem for me no-cash.

6 minutes ago, jerrymahoney said:

As long as they would take my Thai bank VISA debit card and I don't have to carry around a smart phone just to make a purchase, not a big problem for me no-cash.

Yes, I never liked the thought of having my banking accessible on my phone, just a debit card for me. I do have internet banking on my laptop, which never leaves the house.

In the UK now I very rarely need cash to spend, I just keep coins for machines.

Never used an agent 

Waste of money 

4 minutes ago, stix40 said:

Never used an agent 

Waste of money 

Me neither, it's not that big a deal doing it yourself.

51 minutes ago, Andrew65 said:

Yes, I never liked the thought of having my banking accessible on my phone, just a debit card for me. I do have internet banking on my laptop, which never leaves the house.

In the UK now I very rarely need cash to spend, I just keep coins for machines.

What I have recommended some people do is have at least two accounts, one for larger sums of money and one for your daily use... one you can connect with your phone etc... and the other one you just have an ATM card for.   You can then just transfer what is reasonable to the small daily account what you need every once in a while while keeping the big account isolated.  I would trust web application access even less than a phone app on an iPhone.

7 hours ago, Trippy said:

Luckily in your case, you can have both. 

 

That was a dim statement to make without knowing my qualifications, we could compare I suppose and work out who is the dimmest. 😀

12 hours ago, KhaoHom said:

 

Just comment on what pops up in the highlights. Love to bash Pattaya bc you all get so unhinged with your little downvotes

 

True, I get loads of downvotes as I do not agree with the general commenters petty grievances, the downvotes make me laugh as  they probably count the votes as points scored against us. 😃

 

On you list of best places to live you missed out Phuket, massive luxurious departments stores, restaurants etc, three bedroomed detached houses on private estates for probably the same price as a small condo in Bangkok, about 6 million baht outside of the tourist areas, Kathu for example.

 

It is reassuringly expensive which keeps out the tattooed beer swigging Pattaya types. 

3 hours ago, bkkcanuck8 said:

What I have recommended some people do is have at least two accounts, one for larger sums of money and one for your daily use... one you can connect with your phone etc... and the other one you just have an ATM card for.   You can then just transfer what is reasonable to the small daily account what you need every once in a while while keeping the big account isolated.  I would trust web application access even less than a phone app on an iPhone.

 

There are billions of banking transactions done daily on smartphones, computers etc, it is more secure than physical cash.

 

Cash will be a thing of the past in a few years time, most Thai people I see at Lotus, Makro use smartphone apps to pay their bills, but they are under fifty years old.

 

Once the old codgers have died off there will be no more need for cash.

3 hours ago, stix40 said:

Never used an agent 

Waste of money 

Not so true Sir. Not that you have never used an agent.

 

Take the last 12 months. if you had bought little gold bars, with your 800k. 12 months ago at 41k per baht and used an agent; 15k. You would have gold now that is worth roughly 20% more than if you had kept the dosh in the bank. At last look. you could have let the gold go for considerably over 50k a baht. You would be quite a few 000 baht to the good.

 

Buy gold bars not jewelry.

On 8/27/2025 at 4:24 PM, snoop1130 said:

1727260070_ปก_800_สแกนจ่ายไทย_cleanup.png

Photo courtesy of Techsauce

 

Pattaya, once renowned for its easy-going vibe, is undergoing a digital revolution, leaving many retirees and expats grappling with its rapid changes. The city has embraced digital control, prioritising cashless payments, stringent visa regulations, and advanced surveillance technologies—forcing long-term residents to reevaluate their place in this new landscape.

 

For years, Pattaya was seen as a haven for relaxed living, but today it demands more than just a laid-back attitude. QR codes, clean records, and a willingness to adapt to digital compliance are now part of everyday life. As the city evolves, many older expats find themselves questioning if they still belong.

 

Some residents argue that the essence of Pattaya remains unchanged, albeit with steeper prices and increased traffic. However, others, like longtime expat Tom Tuohy, observe a shift beyond rising costs. They see the fading of a once carefree lifestyle, replaced by a stricter, technology-driven regime. Gone are the days of cash-in-hand jobs and visa shortcuts, leaving traditional expat tricks as relics of the past.

 

Visa regulations are tightening, directly impacting retirees. Those who previously depended on agents to inflate bank balances for visa renewals are finding these loopholes closing fast. The government’s adoption of digital ID, biometrics, and blockchain monitoring is reshaping both governmental and financial landscapes.

 

The banking atmosphere adds another layer of complexity. Tourists attempting to open bank accounts face numerous obstacles, and a recent scare proposed limiting retirees to two-year driving licences instead of the traditional five. With a growing trend towards cashless transactions, even major chains like Starbucks and DHL are opting for digital payments, as local food vendors display QR codes instead of cash trays.

 

To navigate these changes, expats are turning to digital wallets and peer-to-peer apps such as PayPal and Venmo. While these tools ease financial transactions, they come at the cost of reduced privacy.

 

Benjamin Hart, an American lawyer and Thai citizen, attributes Thailand's new direction to global influences. In his videos, he cites the World Economic Forum’s push for a tech-driven surveillance state. Hart cautions that emerging policies, including negative income tax and increased data harvesting, could have unintended consequences for both locals and expats.

 

The truth is clear: mass tourism, online booking apps, and urbanisation have transformed Pattaya into a bustling metropolis. Whether retirees can still find their place in this evolving city relies heavily on their ability to adapt to new technologies, financial stability, and acceptance of a world that values digital compliance over privacy.

 

As Pattaya moves forward, its identity is reshaped, and expats must decide if they will adapt or watch from the sidelines. The city’s future is undoubtedly digital, and the challenge lies in whether its long-time residents are willing to embrace these sweeping changes.

 

image.png  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-08-27

 

image.png

Digital compliance over privacy?!???
Is it a quote from Orwell s book “1984” or or a citation from from dictator putin’s speech in Putistan? 5

5 hours ago, Stiddle Mump said:

Bang on the money.

 

Countries can be controlled through lack of energy. Humans can be controlled through fear. Communities can be controlled by lack of food. A 100% digital economy will enslave the world. 

 

It has been an almost 100% digital economy for decades and it is great.

 

Do you think when Bill Gates etc send hundreds of millions to charities the money is delivered in cash by the truckload. 

 

I do laugh at the comments though where people are stating they will avoid places which do not take cash as though their weekly spend of 2 pounds six shillings and sixpence will make any difference. 😀

 

6 minutes ago, Karlik Pu said:

Digital compliance over privacy?!???
Is it a quote from Orwell s book “1984” or or a citation from from dictator putin’s speech in Putistan? 5

 

It was a good piece of fiction, not an historical record. 

  • Popular Post
On 8/27/2025 at 6:21 PM, phetphet said:

last time I went back, I got scammed using my credit card to buy coffee. Massive bills run up by some scammer who had somehow got my card details. It wouldn'y have happened paying cash.

Think you've confused debit cards with qr codes.

Qr codes need your phone, banking app tied to phone, fingerprint and a pin to work.

12 hours ago, KhaoHom said:

 

 

You forgot those same people never have their accounts compromised, lose huge amounts of money, deal with indifferent banks, waste endless amounts of time 

 

I don't use cards

I don't drive cars

 

I believe I'm more content for it

 

 

That's the way the system ropes you in. They don't need prisons, fences they can just track you by card and cut off your card when you challenge the system. +1 for joining lemminghood

 

Oh no, that means they can track me to a restaurant and check what I am eating, if I eat too much they will send the ScoffingToMuchPolice after me.

 

When I buy a beer in a pub they will know how many drinks I have had and send the BeerPolice after me.

 

When I pay for a taxi home they will be able to find out where I live and send someone to spy on me and make sure I am wearing clean pyjamas.

 

I wonder why so many conspiracy nutters have such high values to what they get up to, no one cares what you do in your drab lives.

 

But seeing as you comment here electronically they will be able to see what you have been doing via your web camera, they might send the AntiNosePickingPolice after you. 

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

Think you've confused debit cards with qr codes.

Qr codes need your phone, banking app tied to phone, fingerprint and a pin to work.

It was one of those machines where you enter your credit card, then enter your PIN.

  • Popular Post
10 hours ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

There are billions of banking transactions done daily on smartphones, computers etc, it is more secure than physical cash.

 

Cash will be a thing of the past in a few years time, most Thai people I see at Lotus, Makro use smartphone apps to pay their bills, but they are under fifty years old.

 

Once the old codgers have died off there will be no more need for cash.

No cash, no free will, and total control of the populace.

I can imagine the day when you decide you will have a bbq with a few friends. Go to buy some beers and a few steaks.

Beer ....denied - you have exceeded you recommended limit for the week.

Steaks..... denied - you will exceed your mandated carbon limit for the week.

 

 

Even now I get annoyed when using my card to buy something and have to wait for the system to 'approve' it.

 

Wasn't it Canada that stopped truckers accessing their money during COVID?

 

Enjoy your cashless world.

14 hours ago, stix40 said:

Never used an agent 

Waste of money 

Not using an agent is a waste of time!

15 hours ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

Oh no, that means they can track me to a restaurant and check what I am eating, if I eat too much they will send the ScoffingToMuchPolice after me.

 

When I buy a beer in a pub they will know how many drinks I have had and send the BeerPolice after me.

 

When I pay for a taxi home they will be able to find out where I live and send someone to spy on me and make sure I am wearing clean pyjamas.

 

I wonder why so many conspiracy nutters have such high values to what they get up to, no one cares what you do in your drab lives.

 

But seeing as you comment here electronically they will be able to see what you have been doing via your web camera, they might send the AntiNosePickingPolice after you. 

 

Well, they could. Or they could apply social credit score retroactively. You could be deemed a problem drinker and lose insurance over it. 

 

There's really no end to where it possibly could go. It's funny,  when all of it is officially acknowledged everyone will be like ... oh, yeah... 

 

Or... you could just pay cash.

 

But all that aside I think it pure madness to give a card to staff in so e small restaurant and pub as you've described. Years ago maybe now for all I know that was absolutely guaranteed to get your card details stolen. 

16 hours ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

Once the old codgers have died off there will be no more need for cash.

 

You will welcome the digital Panopticon  whilst you own nothing and are happy eating ze bugs....I'm kinda grateful that I'm an old codger.

On 8/29/2025 at 8:32 AM, EVENKEEL said:

Recently at Swensen's to get a few tubs of ice cream for take home, no cash accepted. My kid has the app on her phone which is glued to her hand. Without her I couldn't make the purchase. 

 

 

 

So what. Their loss. Go to Coldstone or wherever.

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