Bangkok Bank Has Fees On Purchases

[joealx]

I charged something today and the exchange rate was listed on the slip as 31.1526 to the USD. There was a note on the charge slip that the rate would not exceed 2.5%! It's getting bad.

[Fore Man]

Did the charge slip you signed state the amount was charged in Thai baht or your home currency? A lot of merchants will automatically (by default) bill your purchase in your home currency...they apply a very poor exchange rate for this 'convenience' to foreign customers buying things with credit cards issued by foreign banks while in Thailand. Instead, insist BEFORE the card is swiped that your bill will be rung up and charged in Thai baht...many clerks will give you a thousand yard stare at this, so say it in Thai "Karuna, ruud card pen Thai baht; mai show X" (where X = your home currency; such as 'doll-ah' or 'Eur-ohs' etc). They all have this option; it's a simple button push on their charge machine keypad. If they ring it up in your home currency, tell them to void it and do it again in Thai baht.

Edited May 1, 2010 by Fore Man

[joealx]

Did the charge slip you signed state the amount was charged in Thai baht or your home currency? A lot of merchants will automatically (by default) bill your purchase in your home currency...they apply a very poor exchange rate for this 'convenience' to foreign customers buying things with credit cards issued by foreign banks while in Thailand. Instead, insist BEFORE the card is swiped that your bill will be rung up and charged in Thai baht...many clerks will give you a thousand yard stare at this, so say it in Thai "Karuna, ruud card pen Thai baht; mai show X" (where X = your home currency; such as 'doll-ah' or 'Eur-ohs' etc). They all have this option; it's a simple button push on their charge machine keypad. If they ring it up in your home currency, tell them to void it and do it again in Thai baht.

Thai baht. Also, it was stated that the fee was imposed by Bangkok Bank, not by Visa.

[Fore Man]

Did the charge slip you signed state the amount was charged in Thai baht or your home currency? A lot of merchants will automatically (by default) bill your purchase in your home currency...they apply a very poor exchange rate for this 'convenience' to foreign customers buying things with credit cards issued by foreign banks while in Thailand. Instead, insist BEFORE the card is swiped that your bill will be rung up and charged in Thai baht...many clerks will give you a thousand yard stare at this, so say it in Thai "Karuna, ruud card pen Thai baht; mai show X" (where X = your home currency; such as 'doll-ah' or 'Eur-ohs' etc). They all have this option; it's a simple button push on their charge machine keypad. If they ring it up in your home currency, tell them to void it and do it again in Thai baht.

Thai baht. Also, it was stated that the fee was imposed by Bangkok Bank, not by Visa.

Now this is worrying...we've never seen this practice before. Merchants we use don't run their C/C charges through BKK Bank. We also use MasterCard which may have something to do with that selection...and lack of special add-on fees...at the current time anyway.

[david96]

Re "charge machine keypad" one would presume this is an EFTPOS terminal You would be charged in THB and your transaction receipt would be in Thai Baht. On your bank CC statement it will show your transaction number, amount in THB and the amount and balance in your home currency with all charges.

In my case this would be in AUD on my statement.