RBS not only refuse to send me a new card, they do not recognise Thai phones.  When it was 1st decided Thailand was LOS(cams) they never informed me and left me and my affairs in a perilous situation.

5 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

44 minutes ago, JackGats said:

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

Can't use contactless to rent a car?

 

Its  a valid question... 

 

Last time I rented a car (UK - Heathrow Airport) - I pre-paid online - I don't think I was asked to show my Credit Card.

 

But - be warned, the 'goal posts' keep moving - my UK Driving licence was flagged up as an alert on the 'system' at Enterprise Car Hire at LHR and they couldn't tell me why - 'Theoretically' they were not permitted to rent me the car - but as I'd pre-paid and had child in tow they saw pity and somehow common sense prevailed, the manager permitted the hire - but it was a stressful moment as we were stuck at the car hire place with baggage and no means of getting home unless paying for what would have been a £400 taxi at the time.

 

Note: The DL details had all been submitted at time of booking - so I've no idea what the issue was - but they suggested that it might have been because I'd ben out of the UK for more than 6 months (I'm not sure how valid that theory was).

 

So... Take your Thai License with you and hire on that - because apparently, our UK licenses are now going through additional checks (got to love the extra restrictions this government is placing on its own citizens).

 

 

7 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Its  a valid question... 

 

Last time I rented a car (UK - Heathrow Airport) - I pre-paid online - I don't think I was asked to show my Credit Card.

 

But - be warned, the 'goal posts' keep moving - my UK Driving licence was flagged up as an alert on the 'system' at Enterprise Car Hire at LHR and they couldn't tell me why - 'Theoretically' they were not permitted to rent me the car - but as I'd pre-paid and had child in tow they saw pity and somehow common sense prevailed, the manager permitted the hire - but it was a stressful moment as we were stuck at the car hire place with baggage and no means of getting home unless paying for what would have been a £400 taxi at the time.

 

Note: The DL details had all been submitted at time of booking - so I've no idea what the issue was - but they suggested that it might have been because I'd ben out of the UK for more than 6 months (I'm not sure how valid that theory was).

 

So... Take your Thai License with you and hire on that - because apparently, our UK licenses are now going through additional checks (got to love the extra restrictions this government is placing on its own citizens).

 

 

 

 

A DVLC check code has been required for several years - as has the requirement to take the credit card that you booked/paid with.

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

Note: The DL details had all been submitted at time of booking - so I've no idea what the issue was - but they suggested that it might have been because I'd ben out of the UK for more than 6 months (I'm not sure how valid that theory was).

How would they know if you've been out the country for 6+ months?

 

As for cards it's more normal these days for people to have a virtual card, so the rental company would have to accept that on the phone 

1 minute ago, scubascuba3 said:

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

Note: The DL details had all been submitted at time of booking - so I've no idea what the issue was - but they suggested that it might have been because I'd ben out of the UK for more than 6 months (I'm not sure how valid that theory was).

How would they know if you've been out the country for 6+ months?

 

As for cards it's more normal these days for people to have a virtual card, so the rental company would have to accept that on the phone 

 

Honestly, I’ve no idea. That was about the only explanation the staff at Enterprise could come up with, as my driving record is spotless, I have an active UK banking address, and I’d pre-paid using a UK card.

 

In short, there was no logical reason my driving licence should have raised any kind of flag. Yet somehow, not only did it flag, it apparently failed quite spectacularly - scoring just 25% on their verification check (whatever that means) - which, according to them, meant they should not have rented me the car at all.

 

After doing a bit of research, it seems these verification systems often rely on credit reference databases and similar sources. If you’ve been out of the country for a while, they may find little to no current UK activity to confirm your identity - no debts, minimal spending, and so on - effectively leaving a “cold UK data trail”. That could well explain the low score.

 

To be fair, the on-site manager was extremely reasonable. After a fair bit of back and forth - checking my address, confirming my bank details (UK account with a UK address), and so on - she ultimately gave the go-ahead to rent the car. It probably helped that I kept my cool throughout and simply pointed out the absurdity of a computer preventing her from renting to a British citizen with a British licence, while a handful of Chinese customers were happily collecting vehicles on foreign licences.

 

Hence my remark: it pays to have our Thai licence handy.

 

For context, this was only a one-way hire to get me to my family home, where there’s already a car I can use. I’d opted for the rental as it cost roughly a third of what a taxi would have - and since flights into Heathrow were much cheaper than those into a closer airport, it worked out the most sensible option overall.

 

 

As for the card issue, I couldn’t agree more - though even with virtual cards, some companies still seem reluctant to move with the times. I remember when airlines insisted on seeing the physical card used to buy your ticket at check-in: Thai Airways were particularly bad for that at one stage.

 

 

 

36 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Honestly, I’ve no idea. That was about the only explanation the staff at Enterprise could come up with, as my driving record is spotless, I have an active UK banking address, and I’d pre-paid using a UK card.

 

In short, there was no logical reason my driving licence should have raised any kind of flag. Yet somehow, not only did it flag, it apparently failed quite spectacularly - scoring just 25% on their verification check (whatever that means) - which, according to them, meant they should not have rented me the car at all.

 

After doing a bit of research, it seems these verification systems often rely on credit reference databases and similar sources. If you’ve been out of the country for a while, they may find little to no current UK activity to confirm your identity - no debts, minimal spending, and so on - effectively leaving a “cold UK data trail”. That could well explain the low score.

 

To be fair, the on-site manager was extremely reasonable. After a fair bit of back and forth - checking my address, confirming my bank details (UK account with a UK address), and so on - she ultimately gave the go-ahead to rent the car. It probably helped that I kept my cool throughout and simply pointed out the absurdity of a computer preventing her from renting to a British citizen with a British licence, while a handful of Chinese customers were happily collecting vehicles on foreign licences.

 

Hence my remark: it pays to have our Thai licence handy.

 

For context, this was only a one-way hire to get me to my family home, where there’s already a car I can use. I’d opted for the rental as it cost roughly a third of what a taxi would have - and since flights into Heathrow were much cheaper than those into a closer airport, it worked out the most sensible option overall.

 

 

As for the card issue, I couldn’t agree more - though even with virtual cards, some companies still seem reluctant to move with the times. I remember when airlines insisted on seeing the physical card used to buy your ticket at check-in: Thai Airways were particularly bad for that at one stage.

 

 

 

Maybe it's a credit rating thing, that is likely to continue to fall if you don't take on debt in UK so rating may be zero after a while. I use my UK credit card so i have some sort of rating

2 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Maybe it's a credit rating thing, that is likely to continue to fall if you don't take on debt in UK so rating may be zero after a while. I use my UK credit card so i have some sort of rating

 

Yep - I use my UK Credit cards for that reason - but its hardly high use - Just Amazon spend...   never having been in debt in the UK (since paying off student loads decades ago) is ironically a potential red flag !!! - Go figure... being able to manage money and not getting into debt being an issue !!!!...   

4 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Can't use contactless to rent a car?

Contacless (NFC) with a physical card maybe.

Def No security issues.

What happened to original post.how did we get from bank cards to driving licence.

Fortunately for me, I'm not in any great need for the cash from my UK account. But what if I was? Someone said just transfer the money as needed using Wise. But what if I was on an extended holiday and didn't have a local Thai bank account to receive the transfer?

 

Seems weird that they won't send a new ATM card. Actually, I had ordered it by phone a month ago (why can't it be ordered through the App I wondered) - and the person on the other end said it would be sent by regular post - which also seems a bit weird/unsecure. They're worried about Thailand, but they use regular post office deliveries as a standard procedure for all new cards.

6 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

Fortunately for me, I'm not in any great need for the cash from my UK account. But what if I was? Someone said just transfer the money as needed using Wise. But what if I was on an extended holiday and didn't have a local Thai bank account to receive the transfer?

 

Seems weird that they won't send a new ATM card. Actually, I had ordered it by phone a month ago (why can't it be ordered through the App I wondered) - and the person on the other end said it would be sent by regular post - which also seems a bit weird/unsecure. They're worried about Thailand, but they use regular post office deliveries as a standard procedure for all new cards.

You're lucky they aren't saying they'll close your account, i read yesterday someone with a Lloyds account was requested to provide a thai tax ID

23 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Can't use contactless to rent a car?

 

Contactless limits, at least in UK and Australia, mean it would have to be a very short hire.  £100 GBP and $200 AUD.

28 minutes ago, treetops said:

 

Contactless limits, at least in UK and Australia, mean it would have to be a very short hire.  £100 GBP and $200 AUD.

Not if using mobile phone etc 

 

56 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Not if using mobile phone etc 

 

Card much easier and doesn't exactly weigh much or take up space.  I use the technology when it's advantageous to do so but as we're responding to the initial question "Why do you need a physical debit card?" then this is just one example of it.  There are many others.

7 minutes ago, treetops said:

 

Card much easier and doesn't exactly weigh much or take up space.  I use the technology when it's advantageous to do so but as we're responding to the initial question "Why do you need a physical debit card?" then this is just one example of it.  There are many others.

Card isn't much easier if you don't have one, which is the point of discussing contactless 

14 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Card isn't much easier if you don't have one, which is the point of discussing contactless 

 

Although drifting from the OP, this tangent started off as using a virtual card rather than physical one and has developed on to contactless.  I and others gave examples of where one was needed, albeit that contactless may be another option in some of these cases.

 

The regular bit of plastic still has it's place, as does hard cash and all the newer options.

2 hours ago, treetops said:

 

Although drifting from the OP, this tangent started off as using a virtual card rather than physical one and has developed on to contactless.  I and others gave examples of where one was needed, albeit that contactless may be another option in some of these cases.

 

The regular bit of plastic still has it's place, as does hard cash and all the newer options.

fyi a virtual card can be contactless 

Okay, as above, back on topic.

An ATM plastic card lets me get money out of an ATM machine. As far as I know, even if I go back to UK for a visit without the stupid thing, and need some of my GBP cash, I will need to go into a branch with my passport and I guess a printed statement, and show them the account on my App too, then do a withdrawal at the counter. VERY inconvenient - and that's if you can FIND a branch these days.

 

I see some Thai ATM machines have some kind of contactless way of using an ATM - never tried it. Maybe UK has that too now. 

 

(and by the way, an ATM/Debit card is pretty useless for anything more than day-to-day shopping. Not for more expensive things like car hire, air tickets, hotels. Credit cards are really needed for those)

On 10/9/2025 at 11:10 AM, 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)?

RBS / Natwest have refused to send debit/atm cards to Thailand for the last ten years. According to them it's because "post to Thailand has been getting intercepted", which is rubbish. They are sending out active cards instead of cards that need to be activated through Internet banking so the problem is of their own making.

 

 

 

Before i came to Thailand i had setup 3 bank accounts and had a Halifax Clarity credit card (allows free use, including getting cash, when abroad). I setup standing orders between these accounts; I keep a UK address (relative). Only problem is the new cards. I pickup new cards from my relative when back in the UK or when a family member comes to Thailand. I have 4 active accounts with cards so only minor issue if one is out of date/not working/lost. I use internet banking to monitor the accounts.

 

If at all possible, do not burn your boats. The future is unknown.

On 10/9/2025 at 7:14 AM, ronnie50 said:

On 10/9/2025 at 6:43 AM, 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...

Just a thought.

if you're using Windows use the Snipping Tool to take screenshots. That just gets you an image of whatever is on the part of screen on which you focus.

I had the same experience as the OP.

 

Having lost my wallet, I cancelled my cards and requested three new cards from Lloyds - an MBNA (UK card business now owned by Lloyds) credit card, a Lloyds UK credit card and a Lloyds UK debit card. The two credit cards arrived in Thailand without any problem, but I received the same 'embargo' letter in relation to the debit card. As I was due to visit the UK a few weeks later, I called to arrange for that card to be sent to a branch - needless to say, it didn't arrive there either, despite Lloyds' systems apparently showing that it had been sent there.

 

As I also have accounts with Lloyds International, I called my relationship manager there to ask if he knew anything about such an 'embargo'. He confirmed my understanding that there are only 5 formally embargoed countries - Iran, Syria, North Korea, Cuba and the Russian-held areas of Ukraine - and that to his knowledge there were no other countries declared or treated as embargoed by Lloyds. He couldn't explain why I received such a letter.

 

Regarding UK accounts held by non-residents, most if not all UK banks require a UK address for opening an account but retaining UK accounts as a non-resident depends on the individual bank's policy. In my experience, Barclays cancelled my account referring to their 'know your customer' process, despite me banking with them for 42 years! Lloyds were happy for the UK accounts to be retained, and my teenage son was able to retain his UK account at HSBC.

If one has a App and can access the your sit account. Then one only then needs to know the details of the card. Don't physically have to have it.

 

My last Debit card is still in the UK.

21 minutes ago, Stiddle Mump said:

If one has a App and can access the your sit account. Then one only then needs to know the details of the card. Don't physically have to have it.

 

My last Debit card is still in the UK.

Yes, true enough in order to do some online things. I was able to find the new card in my App and everything needed on that. But I still don't know how to use this digital/cloud version here in Thailand to withdraw cash without the plastic card. Yes, I could set up a Wise account - but that's not the point.

NatWest Bank UK won’t post cards to Thailand.

 

I need a card because I visit the UK annually and use it for public transport ( tap and go) and paying for everything else.

 

I have had problems at Renewal dates over the past 13 years.

 

I never knew of their policy and kept ordering a new card. Their administration service was based in India and they too wasn’t aware of the policy and kept saying “ your card is in the post”. A long story but I received an apology and some money transferred into my account.

 

A card was then posted to my daughter’s address. Then the next time I collected it from my Branch. The Branch later closed down. So the next one was posted to my Son’s address. Since then I have been going to the UK and ordering a replacement from any branch. They advance me some cash until the card arrives. 
 

I have to enquire about a virtual card, although that won’t suit me in the UK as a visitor!

On 10/10/2025 at 12:29 PM, scubascuba3 said:

fyi a virtual card can be contactless 

You shouldn't make such misleading statements.

To make a contactless payment there has to be 2 "physical devices".

What you mean is that if someone has an appropriate NFC device, the virtual card details can be loaded to make a payment.

2 hours ago, sandyf said:

You shouldn't make such misleading statements.

To make a contactless payment there has to be 2 "physical devices".

What you mean is that if someone has an appropriate NFC device, the virtual card details can be loaded to make a payment.

Don't be a dick, of course some knowledge required about how contactless works without a physical card

Revolut:  5 Days

HSBC: 30 days

Barclays Bank happily posts my new debit card to Thailand every time.