Will credit card debt prevent entry to Thailand?

[NoshowJones]

Here in the UK it is the fat cats in the banks that are robbing us blind.

seems in Thailand it is the customers robbing the banks...

The Thai banks are also robbing customers, just one example, 150 Baht charged to use an ATM to draw money from your account in your home country.

I don't believe that paying a small fee for a service is actually theft.

The last time I checked, no one forced me to insert my ATM card. In fact, the ATM gave me a warning that said something along the lines of "If you wish to proceed there will be a fee of 150 Baht..."

Fire your bullets at your UK bank who charge you more for the transaction when 'dynamic' exchange rates etc are applied.

Only an idiot would use a foreign ATM card in Thailand when it is so easy to open a Thai bank account and withdraw locally for FREE...

I always use an Aeon ATM as it is free, and I would not call 150 Baht a small fee. I would not be surprised if a UK bank had a hand in this.

[NoshowJones]

The Thai banks are also robbing customers, just one example, 150 Baht charged to use an ATM to draw money from your account in your home country.

Are you suggesting the banks should swallow the costs of an international inter bank transaction ?

Are you suggesting that it is fair for Thai banks to charge that 150 Baht? There have been lots of complaints from TV members about this. I suppose it is possible that you are right as I do not know the cost of an international inter bank transaction, but I would bet that some bank is making some decent money at the expats expense.

Yes. 150 baht is not unreasonable. 100 Baht would be better but it is only akin to sticking your card in an ATM on Blackpool pleasure beach, or a nightclub.

Not bad for an alien getting cash out of a Thai bank with an alien card from an alien bank. Perhaps you would rather bring travelers cheques ? - oh, just a minute they charge for those - at both ends.

Just bring a suitcase full of cash - there is no charge for that and you can keep it safely under your mattress until you need it.

If you bring a girl back to your room, just check that there is not a ladyboy under the bed.

[YeaBiGgiEs]

Completely new concept to me. I can't imagine freedom to travel being thwarted by debt to a bank. If that were the case in the USA, HA nobody would travel and airlines would all go bankrupt.

[iamariva1957]

Depending upon the amount of the debt you should have no problems at all getting back into the country. This is not a criminal matter but a problem between you and the bank and your credit rating here in Thai (rather their form of it). Unless the bank itself has put a hold on your name and has listed you as someone of interest... which will not be the case (again depending upon the amount of the debt) Immigration will not know or even care.

This is just my opinion and one that is based upon knowing someone who was in much the same position as you are in. She owed around 60K and came and went at will across the border (land and plane). Actually I do not think that she ever took care of it... which was wrong.

So I do not think you have anything to worry about when entering. Though I would strongly suggest that the first thing you do is pay the debt off in full upon arrival and show that you are responsible. I know how difficult it is to try and get things paid for here while out of the country. I had the same issue with HSBC (UK) while living in here. To this day I have never been able to understand that one at all!

[MoonShadow]

Depending upon the amount of the debt you should have no problems at all getting back into the country. This is not a criminal matter but a problem between you and the bank and your credit rating here in Thai (rather their form of it). Unless the bank itself has put a hold on your name and has listed you as someone of interest... which will not be the case (again depending upon the amount of the debt) Immigration will not know or even care.

This is just my opinion and one that is based upon knowing someone who was in much the same position as you are in. She owed around 60K and came and went at will across the border (land and plane). Actually I do not think that she ever took care of it... which was wrong.

So I do not think you have anything to worry about when entering. Though I would strongly suggest that the first thing you do is pay the debt off in full upon arrival and show that you are responsible. I know how difficult it is to try and get things paid for here while out of the country. I had the same issue with HSBC (UK) while living in here. To this day I have never been able to understand that one at all!

You are correct; this kind of debt, even if pursued through the courts (very unlikely) is a civil offense, not criminal so the Police and or immigration are not interested or involved. Unsecured interest rates are always high because of this kind of default leads to a loss via write-offs at the bank. As someone posted earlier, a number of similar cases will inevitably lead to the bank making a decision as to whether or not they want this kind of business.....QED no unsecured credit lines for ex-pats!! For some reason, most of the TV posters do not seem to understand the very simple concept that banking is a business and the only comodity traded, is money......if it doesn't get paid back the bank looses it.....interest rates are applied to reflect the risk of default, which is an added expense to the bank, and the potential for loss which is a loss of capital to the bank.....quite simple really.

[gamini]

Oh dear, let me rephrase:

I had a credit card in Thailand and I did a runner after my work assignement ended. Now, further money making assignements in the region mean I may have to go back and I'm worried that I might get refused entry or even worse, jailed on arrival for bad debt because of my past behaviour.

OP: my man, if you really wanted to settle this debt you could have done so before but you didn't, if you want to settle it now you can. Don't screw around sending emails, send a fax to the bank head office or to the CEO, alternativily get a Thai law firm to act on your behalf. Som na na.

I have an account and 3 CC's with K Bank and I can always get straight to someone in the Bank that speaks perfect English and they always reply to my emails and always very helpful. That is why I changed all our accounts to this Bank. So I do not believe the OP . If he really wants to settle his debt, he can do so with no problem wherever he lives now.

[F4UCorsair]

Depending upon the amount of the debt you should have no problems at all getting back into the country. This is not a criminal matter but a problem between you and the bank and your credit rating here in Thai (rather their form of it). Unless the bank itself has put a hold on your name and has listed you as someone of interest... which will not be the case (again depending upon the amount of the debt) Immigration will not know or even care.

This is just my opinion and one that is based upon knowing someone who was in much the same position as you are in. She owed around 60K and came and went at will across the border (land and plane). Actually I do not think that she ever took care of it... which was wrong.

So I do not think you have anything to worry about when entering. Though I would strongly suggest that the first thing you do is pay the debt off in full upon arrival and show that you are responsible. I know how difficult it is to try and get things paid for here while out of the country. I had the same issue with HSBC (UK) while living in here. To this day I have never been able to understand that one at all!

I wouldn't be too sure about there being a solid line between criminal and civil crime/law in Thailand. In Singapore the two overlap quite a long way, and the way the system works in Thailand, it could easily be a letter from the bank to the Immigration Dept, and next thing is you're in cuffs at the airport.

It's certainly the case here in Australia that police aren't interested in debt you run up, unless by fraudulent/illegal activity, but third world/developing countries have curious ways of doing things, even though Singapore could never be termed a 'developing country'.

[BwindiBoy]

Whether you sort it out before you arrive or not, if you come to Thailand I bet that walk through immigration and processing is gonna be one hell of an adrenalin rush for you mate! I'd wear pampers if I were you ! Cos who knows whats going to happen, this is Thailand after all, nothing guaranteed, consistant or certain.

If someone were prepared to sell tickets to view the event, I'd spectate -

and here he comes now round the final corner from the disemarbarkation ramp, less than one furlong to go and the strain is begining to show, will he get tapped or will he not, difficult to say at this stage in the game but the sweat is pouring off the mans brow and he's looking worried. But wait, two men in uniform are approaching and they look like men on a mission, they're headed straight for him and they're hands are reaching for their sidearms, will they collar our player or not? No wait, they're simply headed to the mens room to take a leak, whew, a near miss and a lucky break. And now our man's in line waiting to be stamped through, officers from the nieghbouring desks are casting suspicous glances but you can tell that they're all watching him very carefully, it looks like other passengers know what's about to happen and they seem to be moving away from him inticipation, goodness but this could turn nasty very quickly and so publically too - what do you think Sam, do you think he should do another runner and try to get back on the plane? No, way too late for that, best he can hope for is there's an earthquake and he falls down the crack as the terminal gets swallowed up.

Seats available at 500, 1,000 and 5,000 baht each, reservations required via CM Marketing and Key Events PLC.

You forgot to add that payments can be transferred directly to puppy009loko and everyone will definitely get the tickets sent to them...surely??? ;-)

[MoonShadow]

Depending upon the amount of the debt you should have no problems at all getting back into the country. This is not a criminal matter but a problem between you and the bank and your credit rating here in Thai (rather their form of it). Unless the bank itself has put a hold on your name and has listed you as someone of interest... which will not be the case (again depending upon the amount of the debt) Immigration will not know or even care.

This is just my opinion and one that is based upon knowing someone who was in much the same position as you are in. She owed around 60K and came and went at will across the border (land and plane). Actually I do not think that she ever took care of it... which was wrong.

So I do not think you have anything to worry about when entering. Though I would strongly suggest that the first thing you do is pay the debt off in full upon arrival and show that you are responsible. I know how difficult it is to try and get things paid for here while out of the country. I had the same issue with HSBC (UK) while living in here. To this day I have never been able to understand that one at all!

I wouldn't be too sure about there being a solid line between criminal and civil crime/law in Thailand. In Singapore the two overlap quite a long way, and the way the system works in Thailand, it could easily be a letter from the bank to the Immigration Dept, and next thing is you're in cuffs at the airport.

It's certainly the case here in Australia that police aren't interested in debt you run up, unless by fraudulent/illegal activity, but third world/developing countries have curious ways of doing things, even though Singapore could never be termed a 'developing country'.

There is a very clear line between the two; check out "The Thai Criminal Code" Criminal charges will result in your not being able to leave Thailand without authorisation from a Judge whilst the case is pending.....Civil charges have no such sanctions. Oh I forgot a caveat to the Criminal charges would be "unless you are related to the Red Bull Empire!"

[chiang mai]

Whether you sort it out before you arrive or not, if you come to Thailand I bet that walk through immigration and processing is gonna be one hell of an adrenalin rush for you mate! I'd wear pampers if I were you ! Cos who knows whats going to happen, this is Thailand after all, nothing guaranteed, consistant or certain.

If someone were prepared to sell tickets to view the event, I'd spectate -

and here he comes now round the final corner from the disemarbarkation ramp, less than one furlong to go and the strain is begining to show, will he get tapped or will he not, difficult to say at this stage in the game but the sweat is pouring off the mans brow and he's looking worried. But wait, two men in uniform are approaching and they look like men on a mission, they're headed straight for him and they're hands are reaching for their sidearms, will they collar our player or not? No wait, they're simply headed to the mens room to take a leak, whew, a near miss and a lucky break. And now our man's in line waiting to be stamped through, officers from the nieghbouring desks are casting suspicous glances but you can tell that they're all watching him very carefully, it looks like other passengers know what's about to happen and they seem to be moving away from him inticipation, goodness but this could turn nasty very quickly and so publically too - what do you think Sam, do you think he should do another runner and try to get back on the plane? No, way too late for that, best he can hope for is there's an earthquake and he falls down the crack as the terminal gets swallowed up.

Seats available at 500, 1,000 and 5,000 baht each, reservations required via CM Marketing and Key Events PLC.

You forgot to add that payments can be transferred directly to puppy009loko and everyone will definitely get the tickets sent to them...surely??? ;-)

But of course, and don't call me surely.

[menorah]

So you actually 'did a runner' rather than pay your dues ! Well, in keeping with other TV members I can only reiterate 'don't shit on the doorstep' for the rest of us.

Your whole attitude sums you up perfectly......came here because of an opportunity to enjoy income & lifestyle, f****ed off fully cognizant of the debt you were leaving behind and then 'Brass necked' enough to think you can waltz in for a 'second bite of the cherry'.

You reap what you sow.....maybe not this week, this month, this year but sometime or other it'll come back to you. My sympathy just ran out.

The law&order brigade is here! Keeping us expats in line as usual because life is just an excel exercise!

You must always calculate every possible move 15 years ahead, made proper projections and charts into your Grand Excel Life File!

You must never commit to something risky, like start a company, fall in love, get drunk, have a party, go skin dipping or go sky diving (why the hell jump out from a perfectly functioning plane!? IRRRRRATIONAL!). Babies should also be artificially inseminated because unprotected sex is risky! Or even riskier, get yourself a credit card! That in itself should be punished by five years in the iso-cubes, citizen!

PS. You "menorah" have no idea what sympathy even means...

Haha, you're an amusing character with insightful observations based on the flimsiest of evidence and way off the mark.

I've taken many risks in my life but few that didn't have degree of prior consideration. Angels and fools may aptly describe the two of us and I for one know which is me.

If you think it's fine for people to 'wander in & out' of responsibility for their actions, well that's up to you. However, when the day comes and you're on the receiving end of some Jack asses tricks, then don't start 'hammering the keyboard' and boring the rest of us with your tales of being 'ripped off' by a fellow expat in LOS

[bartender100]

1 post from the OP, please don't feed the trolls as they say.

Close the thread, most on here know all credit cards from Thai banks have to be secured

What a load of poppy cock.

I am talking about Farangs, have to have security for a Credit Card, prove me wrong?

[bartender100]

We are talking about Farangs getting un-secured CC' s not your Thai wife

sorry you are wrong

1 post from the OP, please don't feed the trolls as they say.

Close the thread, most on here know all credit cards from Thai banks have to be secured

The ease my Thai wife gets them before we met

They must come inside cereal boxes

she had a good income but her ability to shop far out-weighed her ability to earn

and as Thai ways not like to learn new things, nothing has changed

Thai Bank officers used to say to me

You good Farlang, you will pay for her

I would rely to them 2 chances........... Nil and bucklies

still not know if they understood what I said

I have taught our daughter to save, wife now gets upset her daughter has money she can not touch

[Spoonman]

1 post from the OP, please don't feed the trolls as they say.

Close the thread, most on here know all credit cards from Thai banks have to be secured

What a load of poppy cock.

I am talking about Farangs, have to have security for a Credit Card, prove me wrong?

Mine is unsecured and so is every other expat's at my work, you will also find there are many TV members also with unsecured credit cards.

I know you will doubt mine is unsecured but they are actually easy to obtain if you meet all of the criteria, here's the requirements for Kasikorn Bank.

Required Documents

• Credit card application form and a Letter of Consent to have your credit history checked by a Credit Bureau
• Copy of National ID card
• If the applicant is a foreign national, a copy of valid passport, visa and work permit are required and applicant must earn an income at least THB50,000 per month
• Income Evidence --
  • For fixed income earners:

    - Original/copy of a letter certifying monthly salary issued by employer not longer than six months

  • For business proprietors:

    - Copy of Certificate of Commercial Registration for company/limited partnership issued not over six months by the Ministry of Commerce

    - Copy of deposit passbook of current/savings account passbook/statement showing entries over the past six months

    - In case of a personal account, copy of your deposit passbook with the page showing the account number and account name

    - In case of a corporate account, copy of the deposit passbook with the page showing the account number and corporate account name, together with a copy of Shareholders’ list certified within the past six months.

• For Foreign Applicants
  • Minimum monthly income of THB50,000
  • Copies of valid passport and visa
  • Copy of valid work permit
  • Income evidence

[Gil]

"I had every intention of continuing to pay it off from outside of the country" quote

Well, you need to make some changes in your life man! Learn how to play cards.

I mean, just use a credit card from another country and pay the Thai one off.

Then live with the "intention" of paying this other card back, one day...

[MonkeyLoo]

Why take credit and leave yourself at the mercy of the banks?

If you have done so then just leave it unpaid. Who cares about the corrupt banks anyway?

[F4UCorsair]

Moonshadow said, There is a very clear line between the two; check out "The Thai Criminal Code" Criminal charges will result in your not being able to leave Thailand without authorisation from a Judge whilst the case is pending.....Civil charges have no such sanctions. Oh I forgot a caveat to the Criminal charges would be "unless you are related to the Red Bull Empire!"

That's the point I make MS, money talks, as does influence, and almost anything goes in 'developing' countries. The may not be a formal overlap of the two codes, but I wouldn't bet on him being safe if he doesn't pay.

[wellred]

If the debt exceeded 2500 Baht the Bank has already turned you into

Immigration. They have a Blacklist of bad debts and this puts you on

a "Dead beat "list for the purpose of entry into Thailand for 5 years. it

happened to a person who use to rent next to me, she is from UK and

can't return to LOS, even if she pays the debt to SCB for 5 years.

Just "Pay your Bills" you made the bill, it's your responsibility.

You may wish to believe this but is actually pure fantasy.

Was gonna say 2500 is not even a night out. That's like an evening in Baccara.

[inthepink]

Here in the UK it is the fat cats in the banks that are robbing us blind.

seems in Thailand it is the customers robbing the banks...

The Thai banks are also robbing customers, just one example, 150 Baht charged to use an ATM to draw money from your account in your home country.

I don't believe that paying a small fee for a service is actually theft.

The last time I checked, no one forced me to insert my ATM card. In fact, the ATM gave me a warning that said something along the lines of "If you wish to proceed there will be a fee of 150 Baht..."

Fire your bullets at your UK bank who charge you more for the transaction when 'dynamic' exchange rates etc are applied.

Only an idiot would use a foreign ATM card in Thailand when it is so easy to open a Thai bank account and withdraw locally for FREE...

Local banks and merchants set the rate when you choose dynamic currency conversion, not your home bank.

Idiots come in all shapes and sizes....

[martynsnowmans]

when my Thai wife came to Australia she had 6 credit cards all maxed out

She never paid i baht

After 6 years living in Australia she has now returned to Thailand

Bought a house

and has not heard1 thing from the credit companies as she now has Australia credit cards

Problem is she it Thai, so guess is exempt as they are looking for a farlang to blame

wow , you really picked a sweetheart when shes stolen all your ( if any ) cash can you send her my mobile

number i would like to marry a robbing whore like that ..... which bar in pattaya did you meet her ???

[topt]

when my Thai wife came to Australia she had 6 credit cards all maxed out

She never paid i baht

After 6 years living in Australia she has now returned to Thailand

Bought a house

and has not heard1 thing from the credit companies as she now has Australia credit cards

Problem is she it Thai, so guess is exempt as they are looking for a farlang to blame

wow , you really picked a sweetheart when shes stolen all your ( if any ) cash can you send her my mobile

number i would like to marry a robbing whore like that ..... which bar in pattaya did you meet her ???

From your comment you sound like you would be suited to her.......

80 odd replies to the OPs original post and he has still not made a reappearance............

[pomchop]

Why take credit and leave yourself at the mercy of the banks?

If you have done so then just leave it unpaid. Who cares about the corrupt banks anyway?

While nobody much likes banks if you take a credit card and YOU run up the debt then it is hardly the banks fault if they expect you to pay YOUR debt. Next someone will be whining about how awful it is to loan thais money and not get paid back.

Next time just borrow money from some thai loan sharks...then try and skip out and see how that works out.

[F4UCorsair]

topt said, "80 odd replies to the OPs original post and he has still not made a reappearance............ "

Either he's a troll (highly likely), or didn't want to hear what was being said, topt.

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[hawker9000]

haha i can't believe how many som nam na's there are here....and other crap....trying to get someone thai to understand this on a call would no doubt be challenging.....and all the clever g#ts who say its easy to pay if he wanted to......if the card is cancelled and he has no current thai bank would you clever guys recommend just sending his money to K BANK and hope they deal with it right....those who know the LoS dont to the think so...

to reply to OP i racked up quite a bit with a thai bank left 18 mths ago...havent paid it and now im back in thailand no problem...........still cant pay it as i am broke....and i am racked with guilt over it....the poor little bank only getting 20% interest on their cards and they pay such a generous 1% for your savings.....schmucks

Oh, so you have a disability and were unable to read the card agreement before you agreed to it and took the money... But that's ok 'cause now you think they're schmucks anyway...

[transam]

haha i can't believe how many som nam na's there are here....and other crap....trying to get someone thai to understand this on a call would no doubt be challenging.....and all the clever g#ts who say its easy to pay if he wanted to......if the card is cancelled and he has no current thai bank would you clever guys recommend just sending his money to K BANK and hope they deal with it right....those who know the LoS dont to the think so...

to reply to OP i racked up quite a bit with a thai bank left 18 mths ago...havent paid it and now im back in thailand no problem...........still cant pay it as i am broke....and i am racked with guilt over it....the poor little bank only getting 20% interest on their cards and they pay such a generous 1% for your savings.....schmucks

Racked with guilt.................. ........................

[pomchop]

haha i can't believe how many som nam na's there are here....and other crap....trying to get someone thai to understand this on a call would no doubt be challenging.....and all the clever g#ts who say its easy to pay if he wanted to......if the card is cancelled and he has no current thai bank would you clever guys recommend just sending his money to K BANK and hope they deal with it right....those who know the LoS dont to the think so...

to reply to OP i racked up quite a bit with a thai bank left 18 mths ago...havent paid it and now im back in thailand no problem...........still cant pay it as i am broke....and i am racked with guilt over it....the poor little bank only getting 20% interest on their cards and they pay such a generous 1% for your savings.....schmucks

Racked with guilt.................. ........................

well aren't you the "special one" that racked up a debt with a thai bank then skipped out but are now back in Thailand BROKE......and now you have the nerve to WHINE about interest rates when you didn't even pay back the principle?

Its people like "positiveaction" that cause thai govt officials to make laws making it tougher on all farangs who come to Thailand. You should be ashamed of yourself but obviously it's all about YOU and you think you are so very clever.....IF there is such a thing as karma I hope it takes a great big bite out of your butt.

[leeprothero]

Hi

I left Thailand with a debt on a credit card , sent the money to my thai wife aunt over three months that was 6 years ago now . The now xwife tells me the aunt never paid it to the bank ( Kashikorn) however my thai wife guarenteed the card so the question is as I thought i,d paid it off and the fact that she guaranteed it does that make me liable for it now ?

[mesquite]

1 post from the OP, please don't feed the trolls as they say.

Close the thread, most on here know all credit cards from Thai banks have to be secured

sorry you are wrong

The ease my Thai wife gets them before we met

They must come inside cereal boxes

she had a good income but her ability to shop far out-weighed her ability to earn

and as Thai ways not like to learn new things, nothing has changed

Thai Bank officers used to say to me

You good Farlang, you will pay for her

I would rely to them 2 chances........... Nil and bucklies

still not know if they understood what I said

I have taught our daughter to save, wife now gets upset her daughter has money she can not touch

He is right in the context of the OP. He should have said all credit cards to foreigners are secured.

[CharlieH]

Flame removed

[Crossy]

He should have said all credit cards to foreigners are secured.

Actually, that is not entirely true either.

I have three unsecured credit cards drawn on Thai banks, needs a job and work permit. Credit limits are about 1.5 times monthly salary.

No job / wp (retired) and you're going to need a security deposit.