Atms dropping english?

[Thaiquila]

I am in the US now, but I have word from a credible source (a friend who's brother has been an Thai expat for decades) that as an expression of anti-Western feeling (no doubt related to reaction to the Iraq war), some bank ATMs are dropping the English language option from their screens. He says this is happening in provincial south Thailand.

Is there any truth to this? I understand some banks never had English in the first place, so I am talking about a movement to drop English.

If there is truth to it, is it going beyond provincial south Thailand?

[Heng]

I don't know if it's a movement or not... I think that some banks may be switching to a system where the ATM recognizes cards from customers who choose to have English text on the ATM screen AND from foreign ATM cards.   The English capability is still in the computer.   Just not as a default.   And why should it be?   99% of the market doesn't need it.

[Thaiquila]

That would make perfect sense.

Maybe this guy has a local card and it stopped working for him (in English) and he jumped to paranoid conclusions. Or perhaps it just another rumor. Rumors are like that, so that is why I am asking about it.

If it is true, it would be a great marketing tool for courses about reading Thai script!

[sbk]

Thaiquila, don't know, just know that I tried using the ATM once (koh phangan, farang everywhere) and the english option was the last button on the bottom and in thai!

[Heng]

I've seen that too.    I'm Thai, but since I was raised abroad, I'm more comfortable with English.    I use just about every bank's ATM, and sometimes it takes a moment or two to find the English selection.    SCB comes to mind.   I believe the start screen is in Thai only (but you can find English on the lower right, last selection on the next screen).    Can't think of the others at the moment.

[elfe]

hi

on Samui we have loads of ATM's now and almost all of them have the english language option, same I have seen in BKK and phangan. actually I cannot remember having used one without it, and I use them at least twice a week.

so, no pompem!

yet..