Bank Of Ayudhya Discriminates Against Foreigners?

[EndofDays]

Your salary puts you in the top 10% of people on the planet. You should feel lucky and grateful and be looking for ways to help others less fortunate. Instead you simmer with resentment and greed for an even bigger piece of the pie. Instead of feeling overwhelmed at what the gods have granted you, you are overwhelmed with feelings that you have been discriminated against. Read a spiritual book, any spiritual book; there is a solution.

The first step to solving a problem is to realize the problem. If he is being treated this way with the salary he is making how do you think your "less fortunate" are being treated. If it was up to you, the problems of the world would be ignored or you would have the "fortunate" solve them for you. Where I come from, the customer is always right. Why are you so angry. Change the world if you can.

[flying]

Only speaking for myself but Ayudhya has always treated me with respect & friendliness.

Then again so has BKB & SCB

[ChiangMaiThai]

Well this is just my opinion, but from the facts I've gathered, there seems to be sufficient evidence that Bank of Ayudhya discriminates against foreigners. I have had a credit card with them for over a year. I pay on time every month and usually well over the minimum payment. The total limit is 60,000 Baht. My documented income in Thailand is more than double this. I have a permanent address here, permanent full time job, work permit etc. Two weeks ago I asked them to increase the credit limit. I travel frequently and 60,000 is usually not enough to cover my expenses - it's just a matter of convenience.

They rejected my request and refused to tell me why. I pointed out that my Thai friends make 20-30,000 Baht a month and have a credit line of over 60,000 Baht. I asked if their decision was based on the fact that I was a foreigner and they refused to answer. So is this just another case of being discriminated against as a foreigner in Thailand or am I thinking too much? Sure, they have the right to their policies, but after this experience I will certainly never give Bank of Ayudhya any significant amount of my business.

I used to work in a field where our clients would often throw around a claim of discrimination if something didn't go their way. From what you've said in this post, I think claiming discrimination is reckless since you have absolutely no evidence.

The evidence is that I sit next to 3 Thais who make 20,000 baht a month each and have the same credit limit as me when I make more than 5 times them. Anyway, obviously this isn't the end of the world, just figured that this is the place to let other expats know that credit limits for them are based on a different criteria than the Thais. Considering that it is unsecured debt, this strikes me as a little odd.

[thaicbr]

I am not and never have been a resident or citizen of the UK.

I have even never lived in the UK.

But I do have a Natwest account.

And I do have a creditcard with a credit limit of 6500 Pounds.

Income from outside Thailand, well, let us say sufficient.

On yearly extensions for marriage and taking care of 3 children.

But no credit card.

TMB even did not want to open an account, because I have no work permit and do not work.

Up to them!

Hansnl. Can i ask where you opened this Natwest account and are you European.

Natwest is an International bank these days.

[cshort64]

This has been an interesting read. I have just moved back to Thailand from Singapore and found the credit card issues very quickly. However, once I had my work permit and demonstrated I had a job. AMEX was the fastest, was able to get a card in 36 hrs after my work permit was approved. Citibank has been a problem because they wish 3 months bank statements but seem to only like Thai banks, they have said they will try to give me an exception but i won't know for another few days.

UOB and SCB have been very helpful and will work with me as long as I have a work permit and demonstrate my income. I am not sure which one I will work with but I do find it funny that they both wish to have 50,000 baht to as a minimum to open a savings account.

One question for the group here, which bank do you feel has the best online banking software, for paying bills and wire transfers?

Thanks

C....

Edited July 24, 2009 by cshort64

[thaicbr]

cshort64. dunno about UOB but the SCB online banking is pretty good. why do you need 50,000b to open an account i opened mine with 1,000b.

[JonLee]

Bank of Ayudhya is an American Bank. The owner is GE Capital.

[rgs2001uk]

Your salary puts you in the top 10% of people on the planet. You should feel lucky and grateful and be looking for ways to help others less fortunate. Instead you simmer with resentment and greed for an even bigger piece of the pie. Instead of feeling overwhelmed at what the gods have granted you, you are overwhelmed with feelings that you have been discriminated against. Read a spiritual book, any spiritual book; there is a solution.

I must be missing something here,

to quote the op,

"The total limit is 60,000 Baht. My documented income in Thailand is more than double this."

Even if I assume his income is treble the 60,000, that equates to 180,000 baht per month.

Top 10% of people on the planet, source please, didnt realise I was in such company.

[thaicbr]

Bank of Ayudhya is an American Bank. The owner is GE Capital.

My, my Jonlee you are putting your foot in ya mouth today aren't you . the following is taken from BAY website "GE Capital also has a strategic investment in BAY and holds a 33 percent stake in the bank"

33% sure ain't ownership.

[JonLee]

Bank of Ayudhya is an American Bank. The owner is GE Capital.

My, my Jonlee you are putting your foot in ya mouth today aren't you . the following is taken from BAY website "GE Capital also has a strategic investment in BAY and holds a 33 percent stake in the bank"

33% sure ain't ownership.

My apology to have my fact wrong. I re-phase:

Bank of Ayudhya is 1/3 American. The American side is own by GE Capital.

[Heng]

Wow, if this was 'back home' you might have a nice frivolous lawsuit on your hands... of course you might have to go and fall down somewhere and not be able to meet your emergency med. care needs first... say a 60,002 Baht bill. Then sue for that plus damages, plus the punitive discrimination damages.

But you're here, so you get NADA!

[hhgz]

"from the facts I've gathered, there seems to be sufficient evidence that Bank of Ayudhya discriminates against foreigners."

So what? If you don't like doing business with them, take your business elsewhere.

[mark5335]

Bank of Ayudhya is an American Bank. The owner is GE Capital.

My, my Jonlee you are putting your foot in ya mouth today aren't you . the following is taken from BAY website "GE Capital also has a strategic investment in BAY and holds a 33 percent stake in the bank"

33% sure ain't ownership.

My apology to have my fact wrong. I re-phase:

Bank of Ayudhya is 1/3 American. The American side is own by GE Capital.

From my direct experience with the bank, BAY is definitely not 1/3 American. Whilst an American company owns 1/3 of the issued capital (as pointed out b ythaicbr), the bank remains very much a Thai company with Thai management culture and very few western expats on the payroll. In fact, the Chairman is appointed by the 2nd largest shareholder, Ratanarak Group (owner of Channel 7 and Siam City Cement). He on ocassion spoils some of the management changes which GE Capital proposes to implement on the grounds that BAY is a Thai bank and not American and he doesn't want to see too rapid change which may upset many staff. I would not even call the management culture of the bank as a hybrid of Thai and American (yet) as there have been very few staff changes since GE became the largest shareholder 3 years ago. With the recent purchase by BAY of AIG Retail Bank and the announcement that it will buy all the GE Money Thailand businesses, I believe a more positive change will happen there by the end of next year after the integration of these businesses. It will in effect become the largest credit card issuer in Thailand with the Tesco Lotus visa card, Central Mastercard, Robinson Card, Homepro Card, AIG M.U. Card, in addition to the KrunsgriGE Visa card. Ironically, the KrungsriGE Visa card has been managed by GE Money since inception with GE Capital owning 51% of the KrungsriAyudhya Card Company and having full managment control of the JV...the management will be handed over to BAY later this year when it becomes 100% owner.

By the way, I have credit cards of Central Mastercard and the KrungsriGE Visa card. However, I personally found Citibank M Visa, & Thai American Express Card to be mroe straightforward and efficient in the approval and issuance of my credit cards. I do hope that BAY's service would improve in the medium term, however, they have a large business integration on their hands now and I would not be surprised to hear of more people receiving questionable service in the interim.

[imaneggspurt]

Is there such as thing as discrimination in thailand ?....what i mean is i dont think they understand that word,. however im surprised anyone that isnt a thai national/citizen can get a card/loan ,you wouldnt get a loan as a foreigner in the uk,.you have to be a uk citizen,.and unless youve taken citizenship in thailand you are here temporarily and i consider veiwed as a bad risk,.by the way this is how i think they veiw it, not me,.

Correction, you will need to be a UK resident only. I'm not a UK citizen yet have had loans and have CC from my UK bank. Needed to increase the limit on my CC 2 years ago to pay for some hospital bills whilst in BKK, just a phone call to the UK and it was done. Certainly no discrimination of any sort whilst I have been living in the UK.

The OP as I understand is a Thai resident (well, getting citizenship is night on impossible anyway ), so being treated like that I would change my bank (I know not the easiest of undertakings either in LoS but if he's got all the paper work he should find somewhere a bit more unbiased surely. ) Then again...

So ,you can apply for a loan/credit card in the uk as what ? a landed immigrant. tourist ?. im curious as i know for a fact you have to show a passport now to open a bank acount,.

[sukeroku]

Your salary puts you in the top 10% of people on the planet. You should feel lucky and grateful and be looking for ways to help others less fortunate. Instead you simmer with resentment and greed for an even bigger piece of the pie. Instead of feeling overwhelmed at what the gods have granted you, you are overwhelmed with feelings that you have been discriminated against. Read a spiritual book, any spiritual book; there is a solution.

I must be missing something here,

to quote the op,

"The total limit is 60,000 Baht. My documented income in Thailand is more than double this."

Even if I assume his income is treble the 60,000, that equates to 180,000 baht per month.

Top 10% of people on the planet, source please, didnt realise I was in such company.

The ADB describes Thailand as a middle-income country with a gross national income per capita of $3917 in 2008. Believe me, we are well into the top 10% income earners on the planet!

[rgs2001uk]

Your salary puts you in the top 10% of people on the planet. You should feel lucky and grateful and be looking for ways to help others less fortunate. Instead you simmer with resentment and greed for an even bigger piece of the pie. Instead of feeling overwhelmed at what the gods have granted you, you are overwhelmed with feelings that you have been discriminated against. Read a spiritual book, any spiritual book; there is a solution.

I must be missing something here,

to quote the op,

"The total limit is 60,000 Baht. My documented income in Thailand is more than double this."

Even if I assume his income is treble the 60,000, that equates to 180,000 baht per month.

Top 10% of people on the planet, source please, didnt realise I was in such company.

The ADB describes Thailand as a middle-income country with a gross national income per capita of $3917 in 2008. Believe me, we are well into the top 10% income earners on the planet!

I ask myself when did the ADB last update their descriptions, a simple internet search gave the following,

http://siteresources.worldbank.org/DATASTA...urces/GNIPC.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_count...nal)_per_capita

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_gro_...come-per-capita

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_count...PPP)_per_capita

I am at a loss to explain, perhaps you can enlighten me.

[cshort64]

Hi..

Thanks for the heads up on SCB, I'll go check them out. I have twice been told 50,000 baht was needed to open an account, that was with UOB and with HSBC, but maybe the local Thai banks don't need so much. I'll also ask SCB about that as well.

cshort64. dunno about UOB but the SCB online banking is pretty good. why do you need 50,000b to open an account i opened mine with 1,000b.

[barky]

Your salary puts you in the top 10% of people on the planet. You should feel lucky and grateful and be looking for ways to help others less fortunate. Instead you simmer with resentment and greed for an even bigger piece of the pie. Instead of feeling overwhelmed at what the gods have granted you, you are overwhelmed with feelings that you have been discriminated against. Read a spiritual book, any spiritual book; there is a solution.

When you wrote this tripe did you intend to write absolute meaningless rubbish that was illogical and off topic and came to conclusions that completely boggles the thinking persons mind.

Your comment adds absolutely nothing of substance to the thread . I can definitely detect, however, quite a bit of dislike for westerners in your tone. Jealousy maybe?

Edited July 30, 2009 by barky