5 hours ago, Walt Kowalski said:

No. 

 

And who's this Bob bloke?

Yes you have. Time for a new name perhaps.

45 minutes ago, Peter Crow said:

And then you lose your Iphone...

 

You are getting an iPhone mixed up with a wallet, cash in a wallet will be gone when lost, an iPhone on the other hand does not contain any money so the money can not be lost.

 

You lose the iPhone, you use your backup, your computer or buy another one.

 

Your comparison is like saying if you walk down the road while controlling a hoop and stick, if you lose the hoop you will have no means of transport home .😃

 

Go home then. It's a privilege to live in Thailand..... all you Mongers live over here complaining about the country and still complain about your homeland ..... unbelievable Monger madness 

1 hour ago, KannikaP said:

You CAN be asked to show Bht 20,000 IN CASH on entry.

 

I thought bar girls had to be paid before entry had been made, they charge 20k baht?

 

Wow no wonder so many people are complaining about money on this blog. 

3 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

100% This....   

 

In the UK - Its nearly 100% ApplePay - tied to one of 3 cards and I use whichever I prefer. 

Anything can be purchased online in seconds, no hassles. Parking is Automatic, no need to collect a ticket etc (though initial set up can take a moment), train tickets purchased online in seconds - no need to go to a ticket counter or for a paper ticket... (can even get on the train you want and then purchase the ticket), can send the QR ticket to a friends 'digital wallet' simply etc... ).... 

... In the UK I need to keep a £1 coin on hand for the shopping trolley - thats it.

 

 

In Thailand, QR payment are the majority of the payments - everyone accepts then and its incredibly simple and fast (faster than cash IMO - though a few posters complain of slow people, but they have a negative bias and are exaggerating IMO).

I also keep cash (just incase the digital system doesn't work) - B1000 note and a couple of B100s inside the phone case, just in case... usually for a Taxi - though last time I had a flag fall taxi he had his QR code up so I quickly paid that way.

 

One very important part of ALL of this - is not to get rid of the cash system... No, cash is NOT king... not by a long shot, but that does not mean we should lose it - a cash payment should be an option for ALL users, this is just common sense and any business that removes payment options are shooting themselves in the foot IMO.

 

 

All of that said:  Yesterday I tried to pay with a Card (not a QR code) and the Shops payment systems were down, not just one point of sale, but all points of sale in the shop, and nationwide too...   they would accept cash but I didn't have it and couldn't be bothered to head to a cash-machine....   They would not allow me to purchase the items online and then select in-store pickup as they said the items had to be sourced from the main warehouse and delivered to the store for that, even though I already had the items in hand - Sometimes, these 'digital systems' are as flawed as the people programming them.

I left the shop and later ordered online for home delivery (now knowing the correct sizes of the items I wanted).

 

 

-----------

 

As far as visa trickery - thats been going on for years and people will always find a way to circumnavigate the system with agents etc...  That won't stop due to digital payments as the end 'decision maker' will still always be human and thus, corruptible flexible - thats just part of the game.

 

AND...  as far as Thailands systems are - someone mentioned that people suggest the similar restrictions are in place everywhere... and thats true - i.e. Banking etc...  its the same in the UK - you can't get an account unless you can prove residency etc.

 

 

 

 

🥱🥱🥱

3 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

I thought bar girls had to be paid before entry had been made, they charge 20k baht?

 

Wow no wonder so many people are complaining about money on this blog. 

 

I thought the price was 500 ST   1000 LT

6 hours ago, bkkcanuck8 said:

It is unfortunate that your bank messed up, but the IO officer was right as they have rules they are suppose to follow and they are unlikely to be the last one reviewing those documents.  On the bright side, you are now more knowledgeable about the process and document requirements - so you will able to check what the bank gives you in the future...

But immigration rules and documents change constantly.. what this year is needed can be different next year

3 hours ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

I gave you the short version in order to not have to write a book about it.

 

It is easy to get £2000 cash out, I have done it many times, I have never been asked about such small cash withdrawals.

 

I told the woman in the bank what the 8k was for, then she wanted me to fill out a long form, then speak to the security people, that is when the sod off was said.

 

The actual words were "I can not be bothered".

 

I had brought my passport and other id with me and shown her.

 

But the story does prove in the UK cash of any large amount has almost disappeared, which was the point of my comment. 

 

It was a bit of a leap connecting my experience in this story to an activist though.

 

Maybe I can say you are a pacifist as you complied with the bank, I think not.

 

 

Fair enough - having to fill out a form is ridiculous...  All thats really needed is 'reason'...   (i.e. paying for schooling, personal spending etc - just as with international and large domestic transfers)...  Any forms are just bank overkill.

 

Given your 'updated' explanation of events, I'd be inclined to react the same way and tell them I'm not playing this game... You're either going to give me my cash or I'm going to speak to a manager and give him an earful.

 

 

I know that in the UK now, any transfer in of more than £10,000 can get flagged and slowed down, the authorities are so fearful of illegal activity, anyone behaving perfectly legally may face inconvenience because the are 'colouring' outside of the lines slightly.

 

I'm careful not to transfer in more than £10k...  And use Crypto to move money around then extract to an offshore exchange before transferring into the UK etc

4 hours ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

I seem to remember cash but I have not used it for years, it's the paper stuff people used to carry around in wallets I seem to remember. 

 

I think people used to get mugged in order to get to the bits of paper.

 

The complaint in this article seems to be the new technology will catch people out who are fiddling their visas, what is wrong with that?

 

It must be hard for technology illiterate people when they need to top up their cash, they have to fly to the UK (for example), get a bag of cash, bring it to Thailand and then change it to baht at a bank, it must be expensive doing it that way. 😄

 

I prefer to sip a beer, use my iPhone to transfer money from my UK bank to my Thai bank via the Swift App, then pay for the beer via my iPhone, it is a lot quicker and cheaper. 

Arrogant much?

3 hours ago, Peter Crow said:

And then you lose your Iphone...

 

Is that any different from losing your wallet ?

 

This is the issue with so many of the cash-vs-cashless comparisons, they contain flawed bias.

 

 

4 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

I remember wanting to withdraw £2,000 some years back. The teller initially refused, saying they couldn’t release that sum. I asked for the manager, explained it was to pay rent, and - no problem. Done. Simple. I could have dug my heels in and tried to “win”, but why make life harder than it needs to be?

Walked into a Barclays Branch last year & it seems the Staff are only there to help you work the ATMs or sell you something...

 

Told them I needed to withdraw £2,500 so they took me to a "Large" ATM where I was able to withdraw £2,000 & then to a normal ATM where I was able to withdraw the other £500... No questions asked about what the money was for... 

 

Have to say I was pleasantly surpised as my daily withdrawal limit is £500 but it seems withdrawing from these "Large"" ATMs doesn't count against the limit.

 

 

3 hours ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

You are getting an iPhone mixed up with a wallet, cash in a wallet will be gone when lost, an iPhone on the other hand does not contain any money so the money can not be lost.

 

You lose the iPhone, you use your backup, your computer or buy another one.

 

Your comparison is like saying if you walk down the road while controlling a hoop and stick, if you lose the hoop you will have no means of transport home .😃

 

But on that lost iPhone is a lot of information to find by a handy person , that might cost you more than that real leather wallet with cash in it ....

15 minutes ago, david555 said:

But on that lost iPhone is a lot of information to find by a handy person , that might cost you more than that real leather wallet with cash in it ....

 

No... that 'lost iPhone' is quite well protected...

 

Access to the phone is prevented itself - without the phone code (after 10 wrong attempts the iPhone becomes disabled)

Access to the Apps themselves is pretty much impossible without Two Factor Authentication (i.e. Password and FaceID).

Any lost device can be 'wiped' remotely.

 

You face far greater risk of losing money and information IF losing your wallet.

 

---------

 

IMO - the main issue with losing a phone, is not the risk of data breech of loss of funds etc... but the hassle with getting all the security etc set up again on a new device.

 

 

 

1 minute ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

No... that 'lost iPhone' is quite well protected...

 

Access to the phone is prevented itself - without the phone code (after 10 wrong attempts the iPhone becomes disabled)

Access to the Apps themselves is pretty much impossible without Two Factor Authentication (i.e. Password and FaceID).

Any lost device can be 'wiped' remotely.

 

You face far greater risk of losing money and information IF losing your wallet.

 

---------

 

IMO - the main issue with losing a phone, is not the risk of data breech of loss of funds etc... but the hassle with getting all the security etc set up again on a new device.

 

 

 

on condition all those precautions are enabled ..... i guess a lot of owners neglect that for a part ....same count for the cash wallet ..... take good care for it and losing shall not happen  (same same not different )

3 hours ago, david555 said:

on condition all those precautions are enabled ..... i guess a lot of owners neglect that for a part ....same count for the cash wallet ..... take good care for it and losing shall not happen  (same same not different )

 

We software engineers can not protect the dim from themselves, if they do not set up a passcode/pin on their smart phone then they deserve to have the information stolen from the phone.

 

But people can not lock a wallet so there is no comparison at all to a smartphone regarding safety.

 

I wonder if the same people who use cash travel about on a horse and cart as they do not trust the new fangled thingies which have four wheels and a steering wheel. 😃

 

4 hours ago, Trippy said:

Arrogant much?

 

I would rather be called arrogant than dim. 😃

5 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Fair enough - having to fill out a form is ridiculous...  All thats really needed is 'reason'...   (i.e. paying for schooling, personal spending etc - just as with international and large domestic transfers)...  Any forms are just bank overkill.

 

Given your 'updated' explanation of events, I'd be inclined to react the same way and tell them I'm not playing this game... You're either going to give me my cash or I'm going to speak to a manager and give him an earful.

 

 

I know that in the UK now, any transfer in of more than £10,000 can get flagged and slowed down, the authorities are so fearful of illegal activity, anyone behaving perfectly legally may face inconvenience because the are 'colouring' outside of the lines slightly.

 

I'm careful not to transfer in more than £10k...  And use Crypto to move money around then extract to an offshore exchange before transferring into the UK etc

 

In June I bought a property in Chelmsford UK.

 

I went to the bank with my passport etc as I wanted to transfer £350k from my bank account to my solicitor, I had the purchase statement with me from the solicitor so after a few security questions, ten minutes later the transfer was on its way and it took one hour to get to the solicitors bank account. 

 

The £10k limit-flagging has been around a few decades now, but it seems if there is a valid reason then there is no delay as far as I have seen so far.

 

 

In my 20 years living in Thailand, I still use mostly cash, sometimes my Thai bank VISA debit card, and my US based VISA credit card.

 

One reason I do not use a bank app is that I often have very shaky hands and cannot handle a smartphone touch screen -- maybe hit the wrong button or sometimes cannot even submit a phone password.

 

Bangkok Bank thankfully still has a PC based website app.

15 hours ago, KhaoHom said:

 

BKK best standard of living in Thailand champion . So  wherever you're living is a step down. 

 

You're either in the sticks, Pattaya or as I really suspect nothing more than a tourist 

You seem to like Pattaya News, isn't there any in Bangkok?

32 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

You seem to like Pattaya News, isn't there any in Bangkok?

 

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

Rolling up to the ATM and pulling out 25K baht for the wallet is great. Then for some they can't understand that. Perhaps it was my past experience in a cash business where we regularly handled large amounts of cash. 

 

I don't like the idea of going cashless, Cash is King......

 

But, I'm also a survivor so I'm actually putting the bank app on my phone. I'm crossing over to the darkside. Not that darkside.

 

3 hours ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

We software engineers can not protect the dim from themselves, if they do not set up a passcode/pin on their smart phone then they deserve to have the information stolen from the phone.

 

But people can not lock a wallet so there is no comparison at all to a smartphone regarding safety.

 

I wonder if the same people who use cash travel about on a horse and cart as they do not trust the new fangled thingies which have four wheels and a steering wheel. 😃

 

 

 

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

13 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

While I find digital payments in every aspect of my life quicker, more convenient and just a lot lot easier to deal with....  I also agree with the above....

 

We cannot lose a 'cash system'...  any user needs ready access to whichever system they prefer... 'the tail should never wag the dog'....

 

For that reason alone: I fully support the use of cash systems and those who express this personal preference, though I do find many of the arguments to justify what is a simple preference ranging from fundamentally flawed to extremely paranoid and somewhat delusional. 

It's important that cash always remains as people need to be constantly reminded of the relationship between their digital money to physical fiat notes. 

Otherwise many people would start to get the idea that the whole system is fabricated, digital numbers could be added and subtracted without any consequences. Physical fiat money reminds of the consequences, even if it's becoming less and less popular. 

1 hour 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

Living here in the thick of it is so much more fun!

1 hour ago, EVENKEEL said:

Rolling up to the ATM and pulling out 25K baht for the wallet is great. Then for some they can't understand that. Perhaps it was my past experience in a cash business where we regularly handled large amounts of cash. 

 

I don't like the idea of going cashless, Cash is King......

 

But, I'm also a survivor so I'm actually putting the bank app on my phone. I'm crossing over to the darkside. Not that darkside.

 

I have been in quite a few queues behind someone struggling to pay the checkout with some app on their phone, thinking what a bad position to be in. If it happened to me, would I have to put all my shopping back onto the shelf? Doesn't bear thinking about. 

14 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

I have been in quite a few queues behind someone struggling to pay the checkout with some app on their phone, thinking what a bad position to be in. If it happened to me, would I have to put all my shopping back onto the shelf? Doesn't bear thinking about. 

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. 

 

 

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

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.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-08-27

 

I don't get it: why does this focus on "Pattaya" and not on Thailand at large? The authorities have the momentum to get this jumped up to a PRC-style full-scale surveillance state, though knowing the Thais there will undoubtedly be <ahem> "short-cuts" figured out before long.

 

For a real good scare, check out some of the "China surveillance state" videos on YouTube; combine that with the "excitement of digitalization" evident in the region (I'm in Indonesia and they are going bananas over it here - particularly the government) and the WEF "digital prison planet" plans for all of us. Want to travel? Sorry, you took an airplane trip two years ago. Want to get into your apartment / house? Sorry, an investigation of your Social Credit Score is ongoing. Check again in a couple of weeks. Want to buy food at the market? Sorry, GFY. 

 

Everybody loves it, initially. QRIS enables quick and secure micro-payments, for only a bit shaved off for a commission. BUT! Computers being computers, and intrusion / errors being what they are, get ready to be victimized (& traumatized), either officially, criminally or after the sun burps a nasty solar flare.

 

"Cash is king." That's the mantra.

Adapt or suffer the consequences it's no different to the countries of our birth...

12 minutes 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. 

Yeah, I was out with some friends a few weeks ago and when the bill arrived the girl said "no cash". Luckily all my Thai friends had a "cash app" on their phones.

Went to the bank a couple weeks later to set it up. 15 bluddy tries to "smile showing teeth, blink 3 times slowly, turn my head slowly (left or right)" and we still couldn't get it to work. The bank clerk said it was because their internet was too slow and by the time the program got the image(s) the timer had elapsed.
Went home and it took another 11 tries before it finally accepted the images. (Turned out - the instructions to "blink slowly" or "turn head slowly" actually meant "do it as fast as you can and hope it works".)

I've tested it a couple times in local food shops to see how it works. Liked how I got an instant SMS message telling me who I'd just sent money to and how much.
Couple weeks later went to try it again - couldn't remember my PIN. (Paid cash no problem - got home, opened the app and instantly remembered my PIN. Sigh.)

As for the Visas (or "Extension of Temporary Stay in the Kingdom" - as granted by having a visa) - it's no different than riding a motorcycle.

The people who follow the rules and meet the requirements rarely have any problems. 
I've never had a problem getting an Extension because I put the money in a Fixed Term account 13 years ago and it's still there. And I do all my paperwork ahead of time so that when I go to Immigration it usually takes 3-4 minutes with the IO checking my paperwork and I'm finished.

And I've been stopped at police checkpoints numerous times and never got a ticket - because I wear my helmet, I have a (Thai) license and my road tax/decal are up to date. (And I'm sober.)

It's usually the people who can't/won't/don't follow the rules or meet the requirements that squawk the loudest. They always have some excuse about how they "shouldn't have to" or "well they don't so why should I" and so on. Because they won't admit they are the cause of their own problems.

But it's those very people squawking - or bragging - about how they get around the rules that causes the crack downs and changes in those rules.

Used to be you could open a bank account on a 30 day stamp, so long as you had a Certificate of Residence.
Used to be you could get a Thai driving license simply by showing you had a valid license from your home country.
Used to be you could get an Extension of Stay simply by showing you had 800k in an account on the day you submitted your application.
Used to be you could ride around with no helmet, no insurance and no license because the cops never checked for those things.
Used to be you could simply buy a SIM card anywhere without needing ID. (Though I think you still can buy a SIM in many places without needing to show your passport.)

But times change. And the rules change. Especially when the authorities see people bragging on forums and social media about how they are able to "loop hole" around the rules.
Or the gov't is forced to crack down on call center and gambling rings.

But for the people who follow the rules, it's just another day in paradise.

(Until I forget my PIN for that cash-app again. But I usually carry cash anyways so should be OK in most places.)

 

On 8/27/2025 at 4:40 AM, johng said:

So how do they make money ?

That comes AFTER every system is cashless.... simple requirement to 'start' paying or get nothing. It is exactly the same pattern used on the internet.