My bank - Lloyds - won't send me a new ATM/Debit card after my old one expired. In a letter from Lloyds, 'we are unable to send a card to your address as Thailand is an embargoed country.'

I'm aware banks in some countries won't send credit cards to foreign addresses, but this is the first time I've encountered this refusal over a new ATM/Debit card.

 

Has anyone experienced this with Lloyds or other British banks (refusal to send a new ATM/Debit card)?

5 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

My bank - Lloyds - won't send me a new ATM/Debit card after my old one expired. In a letter from Lloyds, 'we are unable to send a card to your address as Thailand is an embargoed country.'

I'm aware banks in some countries won't send credit cards to foreign addresses, but this is the first time I've encountered this refusal over a new ATM/Debit card.

 

Has anyone experienced this with Lloyds or other British banks (refusal to send a new ATM/Debit card)?

I would not tell a UK bank that i was living abroad as you need to be resident in UK to keep your account (tipping them off might come back and bite you), might not have been a problem years ago but times change and things do not get easier, most people have it sent to a relatives UK address and have them forward it

An embargoed country?  😵‍💫 

9 minutes ago, howerde said:

I would not tell a UK bank that i was living abroad as you need to be resident in UK to keep your account (tipping them off might come back and bite you), might not have been a problem years ago but times change and things do not get easier, most people have it sent to a relatives UK address and have them forward it

Actually, they've had my Thai address for many years - they send statements twice a year..

As mentioned, you don't want to let your UK bank know you are living in Thailand and should keep a relative's address as yours in your bank details, then the card gets sent to them and then the relative can send it out to you via recorded delivery. Secondly, if you look at the bank's policy, then you will more than likely find that if you are not a resident in the UK, then they will close the account. Some banks do offer accounts for expats that don't reside in the UK, but they want like 75k pounds in a deposit account to give you banking services (quoted from Natwest site).

It's the same deal with renewing your UK driving licence, I think, and you don't want to be telling them either about not residing in the UK. Clearly not within the rules, but many, many people do it.

Thing is, they sent me the new PIN in a separate letter... just days apart

6 minutes ago, Sir Dude said:

if you look at the bank's policy, then you will more than likely find that if you are not a resident in the UK, then they will close the account.

Don't think that's true (unless very new policy). I have other UK accounts with my Thai address. Maybe if you were not a citizen nor resident. On the UK license issue, not a good idea to try to use one abroad if you no longer live in the UK (as a resident there). While the expiry date may be 70 and a ten year photo card, the license could be deemed invalid if you live abroad and try to use it to rent a car for example then get into an accident.. and then a very expensive world of trouble.

I use a virtual debit card from my UK bank.

Why do you need a physical debit card?

19 minutes ago, howerde said:

I would not tell a UK bank that i was living abroad as you need to be resident in UK to keep your account (tipping them off might come back and bite you), might not have been a problem years ago but times change and things do not get easier, most people have it sent to a relatives UK address and have them forward it

No you don't have to be a UK resident. I still lawfully have accounts with the Halifax. The only rule is that I cannot open any other accounts or an ISA, other than that, all is fine. As regards debit cards being sent to Thailand, yes, they will send it to my Thai address. 

 

5 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I use a virtual debit card from my UK bank.

Why do you need a physical debit card?

There have been occasions abroad when my Thai debit card would not work, so my Halifax debit card came in very handy.

7 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I use a virtual debit card from my UK bank.

Why do you need a physical debit card?

Good question. Is that from Lloyds? Hadn't occured to me to try that..

1 minute ago, BenCrew said:

No you don't have to be a UK resident. I still lawfully have accounts with the Halifax. The only rule is that I cannot open any other accounts or an ISA,

Yes, that's my case too. Can't open or change the accounts. Otherwise still valid. 

I have a Revolut account that I opened in the UK. I have received physical cards from them in Vietnam, Indonesia and Chiang Mai (the latter was as recent as last month)

15 minutes ago, BenCrew said:

No you don't have to be a UK resident. I still lawfully have accounts with the Halifax. The only rule is that I cannot open any other accounts or an ISA, other than that, all is fine. As regards debit cards being sent to Thailand, yes, they will send it to my Thai address. 

 

There have been occasions abroad when my Thai debit card would not work, so my Halifax debit card came in very handy.

From Halifax website

https://www.halifax.co.uk/bankaccounts/current-accounts/current-account.html

 

Halifax current accounts and services are offered subject to status. Available only to personal customers aged 18 or over who are resident in the UK.

 

As i stated maybe not a problem now, i guess you opened it in the UK years ago, things change

 

 

 

1 minute ago, howerde said:

From Halifax website

https://www.halifax.co.uk/bankaccounts/current-accounts/current-account.html

 

Halifax current accounts and services are offered subject to status. Available only to personal customers aged 18 or over who are resident in the UK.

 

As i stated maybe not a problem now, i guess you opened it in the UK years ago, things change

 

 

 

Obviously, I've had the account years. There's no chance of opening a UK bank account now if you live abroad. You'd have to look at Lloyds International or offshore accounts.  As I've stated in an earlier post, the account is fine, though there are rules regarding opening other savings accounts.

2 minutes ago, howerde said:

From Halifax website

https://www.halifax.co.uk/bankaccounts/current-accounts/current-account.html

 

Halifax current accounts and services are offered subject to status. Available only to personal customers aged 18 or over who are resident in the UK.

 

As i stated maybe not a problem now, i guess you opened it in the UK years ago, things change

 

 

 

correct (years ago). But I think these are two different things. I'm aware that opening a new account anywhere in the world is becoming difficult if you are non-resident. But existing customers are ok - however, without an ATM card, how can I access the cash? I will look into the virtual card. 

4 minutes ago, howerde said:

From Halifax website

https://www.halifax.co.uk/bankaccounts/current-accounts/current-account.html

 

Halifax current accounts and services are offered subject to status. Available only to personal customers aged 18 or over who are resident in the UK.

 

As i stated maybe not a problem now, i guess you opened it in the UK years ago, things change

 

That page refers to offering accounts which must be new accounts as existing accounts can not be offered by their very nature, so those posting that hold them and use them without issue are correct.

 

I wouldn't do it however as banks attitudes can change over time as we saw with Barclays and complete debanking would not be pleasant.

36 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I use a virtual debit card from my UK bank.

Why do you need a physical debit card?

 

Tap and Go machines and any vending machine.

17 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

correct (years ago). But I think these are two different things. I'm aware that opening a new account anywhere in the world is becoming difficult if you are non-resident. But existing customers are ok - however, without an ATM card, how can I access the cash? I will look into the virtual card. 

 

Opening accounts in the USA is easy to do from outside the US, for US citizens, provided you don’t give them a foreign address. 

 

Although I think you just need an ITIN and those used to very easy to get, you didn’t even need to be in the U.S. to get one. 

You may be able to login to your account and view the card, either take screen shots or write down the details, these can be added to Google wallet for contactless payment

I think it must depend on the bank, how long you've had a UK account whilst living abroad, and possibly how much money you keep in it.

 

I recently received a new debit card from my UK bank.

 

But yes, Revolut is a great alternative, with either virtual or physical debit, (and maybe, not sure, credit) cards.

I bank with 'Smile' Internet Banking. Never a problem in 20 years here.

16 minutes ago, samtam said:

I think it must depend on the bank, how long you've had a UK account whilst living abroad, and possibly how much money you keep in it.

 

I recently received a new debit card from my UK bank.

 

But yes, Revolut is a great alternative, with either virtual or physical debit, (and maybe, not sure, credit) cards.

You can't open a Revolut account if you live in Thailand.

My UK bank (HSBC) has been sending replacements for expired VISA Credit & ATM/Debit cards to my Thai address for more than a decade. I no longer have a UK address. 

30 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

You may be able to login to your account and view the card, either take screen shots or write down the details, these can be added to Google wallet for contactless payment

thanks that worked, though wouldn't allow a screenshot. Still no way to get cash though...

1 hour ago, treetops said:

 

Tap and Go machines and any vending machine.

If you're in Thailand, qr or Thai debit card.

2 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

My bank - Lloyds - won't send me a new ATM/Debit card after my old one expired. In a letter from Lloyds, 'we are unable to send a card to your address as Thailand is an embargoed country.'

I'm aware banks in some countries won't send credit cards to foreign addresses, but this is the first time I've encountered this refusal over a new ATM/Debit card.

 

Has anyone experienced this with Lloyds or other British banks (refusal to send a new ATM/Debit card)?

Thailand en embargoed country? WTF! Never heard of that. I get my credit cards from my German bank sent to my Thai address by TNT mail. Never had an issue except they botch up the address on the envelope a bit, but the mail arrives safe and sound thanks to the efforts put in by Thai Mail.

 

I would understand if you hadn't declared your address in Thailand to the bank. In that case you would have been withholding information (and they could even cancel your account).

2 hours ago, BritManToo said:

I use a virtual debit card from my UK bank.

Why do you need a physical debit card?

To rent a car anywhere in the World except Thailand, for example.

I received a Lloyds debit card from them four weeks back, It came via DHL courier, my bank is Lloyds International off shore in the Isle of Man.

1 hour ago, ronnie50 said:

thanks that worked, though wouldn't allow a screenshot. Still no way to get cash though...

Yeah banks often don't like screenshots so use another phone and take a photo. For cash just transfer using Wise is best

38 minutes ago, JackGats said:

To rent a car anywhere in the World except Thailand, for example.

Can't use contactless to rent a car?