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Agent assistance with bank account ?

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An English mate of mine is currently here on a visa-exempt entry. He has an account from years ago with Bangkok Bank and wants to get the ball rollings on a retirement extension. He's asking if there any agents that can assist with opening an account with a different bank despite him not having a Non-O.

 

He's in Pattaya.

 

Thanks.

NL

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Based on what I've read, no. He should have got a non imm O before entering Thailand

He could try MM Thai Visa Point in Jomtien. They have a contact in a Jomtien based branch of a bank who MAY be able to help.

There are several agents in Pattaya that can do this. It will not be cheap though, 50K baht is what my friend paid. 

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If he already has an account with Bangkok Bank then why attempt to open another account in a different bank?? 
Seems a bit crazy to me.

2 hours ago, worrab said:

If he already has an account with Bangkok Bank then why attempt to open another account in a different bank?? 
Seems a bit crazy to me.

Looking at other topics, BBL has quite a poor reputation at the moment

Check out "BBL has 400k locked in for four months".

7 hours ago, Billpro785 said:

There are several agents in Pattaya that can do this. It will not be cheap though, 50K baht is what my friend paid. 

50k baht is steep.  There are agents that charge less for the same service.  When you look at all the paperwork involved and the visa you get for the money, without all the grief, it's worth it.  

7 hours ago, worrab said:

If he already has an account with Bangkok Bank then why attempt to open another account in a different bank?? 
Seems a bit crazy to me.

I was thinking the same. 

 

Why not reactivate the inactive account, if there is still money in the account, which would save some money in agent's fees opening a new account in order to get the visa?

 

Maybe the account had zero baht in it and was eventually closed by the bank due to inactivity.   

9 hours ago, Billpro785 said:

There are several agents in Pattaya that can do this. It will not be cheap though, 50K baht is what my friend paid. 

What does that include? Bank account only? Or the whole package, account and retirement visa (3+12 months extension in one)?

 

According to my agent in Pattaya (I paid 52k for the whole package earlier this year), they can no longer assist opening a bank account from a visa exemption.

3 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

I was thinking the same. 

 

Why not reactivate the inactive account, if there is still money in the account, which would save some money in agent's fees opening a new account in order to get the visa?

 

Maybe the account had zero baht in it and was eventually closed by the bank due to inactivity.   

If it was closed because of no funds in it, there is no way he can reopen it on a visa exemption. I've tried it.

3 hours ago, thaibreaker said:

What does that include? Bank account only? Or the whole package, account and retirement visa (3+12 months extension in one)?

 

According to my agent in Pattaya (I paid 52k for the whole package earlier this year), they can no longer assist opening a bank account from a visa exemption.

 

Some agents can still do it. The price is for the whole package. 

20 hours ago, Muhendis said:

Looking at other topics, BBL has quite a poor reputation at the moment

Check out "BBL has 400k locked in for four months".

Bangkok Bank may have a poor reputation at the moment. But from what I can gather from the Manageress at my branch, other banks are going to come under scrutiny in the new year. Interesting times ahead.

1 hour ago, worrab said:

Bangkok Bank may have a poor reputation at the moment. But from what I can gather from the Manageress at my branch, other banks are going to come under scrutiny in the new year. Interesting times ahead.

 

Bangkok Bank employees are poorly trained and, in too many cases, don't even know their own internal procedures well enough.

 

I would take whatever she claims to know about what's happening (or about to happen) at other banks with a pinch of salt. 

17 hours ago, thaibreaker said:

If it was closed because of no funds in it, there is no way he can reopen it on a visa exemption. I've tried it.

Did you see the part where I said, "if there is still money in the account?"  

6 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

Did you see the part where I said, "if there is still money in the account?"  

Did you see the part where I wrote "IF it was closed because of no funds in it"?

That's all I'm saying for Christ's sake.

You wrote:

Maybe the account had zero baht in it and was eventually closed by the bank due to inactivity.   

Merry Christmas.

16 hours ago, Caldera said:

 

Some agents can still do it. The price is for the whole package. 

Yes, they can still do it, but for 50k baht I would expect re-entry permit, residency certificate etc etc.  50k baht is on the expensive side.  

14 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

Yes, they can still do it, but for 50k baht I would expect re-entry permit, residency certificate etc etc.  50k baht is on the expensive side.  

Agents take around 3000 baht for COR, and 4-5000 baht for re-entry permit. For me, that was included in my 52k baht.

But I do think some take 60k for that whole package now, covering the financials as well.

 

I did mine at soi 6, two months later they said they couldn't open a bank account from a visa exemption anymore (Krungsri). They might have found a way around it again now though.

4 hours ago, thaibreaker said:

Agents take around 3000 baht for COR, and 4-5000 baht for re-entry permit. For me, that was included in my 52k baht.

But I do think some take 60k for that whole package now, covering the financials as well.

 

I did mine at soi 6, two months later they said they couldn't open a bank account from a visa exemption anymore (Krungsri). They might have found a way around it again now though.

Perhaps I am out of touch with the whole package price.  When I went down that route some years ago, prices ranged from around 30k to 35k Thai baht.  Seems like it's considerably more now. 

10 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

Perhaps I am out of touch with the whole package price.  When I went down that route some years ago, prices ranged from around 30k to 35k Thai baht.  Seems like it's considerably more now. 

It's the banking issues causing the raise of price. You're right, it used to be in that area. 

The solution is to enter Thailand with a 90 days Non-O visa based on retirement, then one can open a bank account with that visa, and the process through an agent would be a lot cheaper, down to 16-20k baht for the 12 months extension.

The chap who sold me my house, had a contact at BB and the account was opened in 30 minutes...for free. So it's all about who you know and who he knows...nothing is impossible here. 

  • Author
2 hours ago, Middle Aged Grouch said:

The chap who sold me my house, had a contact at BB and the account was opened in 30 minutes...for free. So it's all about who you know and who he knows...nothing is impossible here. 

 

This wasn't recently though.

  • Author

My mate's BBL account is live and current so all good there. He didn't want "freeze" issues down the road like some have reported.

 

He hoped to get a new account on this trip but that looks a bit challenging and/or expensive as he doesn't want an agent's "full service" deal. He'll be back next year on a Non-O and do it then.

 

Thanks to all for input and PM's. This thread can be closed now, thanks.

This won't go over very good,👎 but it's about time a 'checks' of visa at banks are being done.  Stop the skirting of Imm laws, and people who can't afford to live in TH, from causing problems.

 

They are either in illegal activity, working illegally, or may eventually end up stiffing a hospital for services they couldn't afford.  

 

Yes, it sucks, as some good folks may fall through the cracks due to age & unmarried, that my be beneficial to TH economy.

 

The agents are probably thrilled, as now they can charge a lot more for 'visa services'. 

 

Last time I made a withdrawal, I did notice the gal page through my PP, to see what visa was in it, and I think that was a first.  And copy of, that I signed had photo page & visa page on it, and I think another first.  In the past I know I made withdraws just showing my pink ID and they didn't even bother photo copying it.

 

Remember ... you frown upon illegal aliens in you home country  :coffee1:

Per OP request topic is closed

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