Dirty Money in Thailand..

[Jonmarleesco]

It has happened, dependent on whereabouts on the note the writing is - never with tears - though usually when changing THB for foreign currency. The stupid thing with that is that one can simply put the Baht into a deposit machine and withdraw some fresh notes.

Edited April 21, 2014 by Jonmarleesco

[tingtong]

Not really, they have no obligations to accept defaced or damaged notes over here

on the other hand, when only half my US$ they changed citing some writing on the others the reason...

i told them in turn i would also accept only clear and unmarked thai baht notes....

they had trouble, finding that from about every 100 notes 60 was with writing/marks on them.

banks ( smaller branches) here seem to do this, sometimes i also suspect because they dont really want to be bothered with money exchange. money exchange booths( where you can find them) usually less picky.

[Jonmarleesco]

yes i have,

ive tried to tell them that there ok, but if there writen on or torn, they dont like them,,

jake

Banks and currency exchanges want to be able to sell foreign currency that they buy. If they accept your dirty, torn cash they won't be able to pass those notes on to other customers, so what would they do with it?

Bear in mind that, as in other countries, it's the bank staff that often write on the notes, when counting them. So, notwithstanding badly torn or unhygienically dirty notes, THB or not, unless the notes that you buy at an exchange are fresh from the packaging, they often will be written on.

[jvs]

@ the jcb ,stick around you may learn some things.

[Dannyboy6]

I can see why your garden variety street vendor might not want a shoddy torn banknote, but if you take it in to a proper bank shouldn't they be properly trained and equipped to analyze the note and certify it as genuine?

. Some of the Banks are the Worst...

[Dannyboy6]

Several years back i exchange a few thousand pounds sterling in twenties at the Bangkok Bank in Banglampu and they accepted them all!

Maybe a new policy with the banks here?

. They've been doing this for years, somebody had written the number 3,000 in small type, wouldn't touch it,also a little stamp ink (partial) no one would accept, even Laos border immigration , won't accept any mark or crease...

[Dannyboy6]

It has happened, dependent on whereabouts on the note the writing is - never with tears - though usually when changing THB for foreign currency. The stupid thing with that is that one can simply put the Baht into a deposit machine and withdraw some fresh notes.

Wrong....

[Dannyboy6]

It always bugs me when they do this....... I ask for new notes when I withdraw from my UK bank nowadays, it just saves that little bit of grief in the bank........

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Why not travelers checks??

. Most people don't get free TC's

[Sandman77]

Go to local money changer no problem

Bank make always problem also When damage is little

[dabhand]

Money changers in Cairo have a different slant on accepting damaged notes.

My company was clearing out some fx cash for converting to LE and had a number of £5 notes. The moneychanger took most but rejected 10 notes - but was willing to offer to change at 50% value!

Their 'kind' offer was rejected and, when I was advised of what happened, said I would be willing to offer 60% value on any notes that the money changer had in stock and considered as being damaged, i.e some minor scribblings. Could be a nice little earner!!

[tomyumchai]

i had a £50 returned to me because it had 700 written across the queens face. i asked why the bank clerk was refusing it and she said "because someone make glasses on the queen"

the 2 zeros were right on her eyes........

[ericthai]

Several years back i exchange a few thousand pounds sterling in twenties at the Bangkok Bank in Banglampu and they accepted them all!

Maybe a new policy with the banks here?

Maybe none of the bills had any tears or writing, as I know this is not a new policy, It's been this way for years. They will also not accept any US $100 dollars that are dated 1996 or earlier. Not such an issue now, but back in 1997 I had $700 I was unable to exchange as they were dated 1996 or earlier. For being written on and torn they have been refused as long as I have been coming to Thailand so at least 1994.

[Scarpolo]

Several years back i exchange a few thousand pounds sterling in twenties at the Bangkok Bank in Banglampu and they accepted them all!

Maybe a new policy with the banks here?

Maybe none of the bills had any tears or writing, as I know this is not a new policy, It's been this way for years. They will also not accept any US $100 dollars that are dated 1996 or earlier. Not such an issue now, but back in 1997 I had $700 I was unable to exchange as they were dated 1996 or earlier. For being written on and torn they have been refused as long as I have been coming to Thailand so at least 1994.

I went to a place in Huai Kwang, and another near Asoke, and they never turned down anything I gave them, and, I wrote personally on them, the exchange rate into kip, on all of them.

they did refuse 100's dated prior to 1996 though, although in Laos, they were happy to take all of them

[mania]

Several years back i exchange a few thousand pounds sterling in twenties at the Bangkok Bank in Banglampu and they accepted them all!

Maybe a new policy with the banks here?

Maybe none of the bills had any tears or writing, as I know this is not a new policy, It's been this way for years. They will also not accept any US $100 dollars that are dated 1996 or earlier. Not such an issue now, but back in 1997 I had $700 I was unable to exchange as they were dated 1996 or earlier. For being written on and torn they have been refused as long as I have been coming to Thailand so at least 1994.

I went to a place in Huai Kwang, and another near Asoke, and they never turned down anything I gave them, and, I wrote personally on them, the exchange rate into kip, on all of them.

they did refuse 100's dated prior to 1996 though, although in Laos, they were happy to take all of them

What is called small head bills

Benjamin's head was smaller back then like this

After 96 big head like this

Recently changed to now this as of 2013/2014

But all places still accept large head 100's as well as new bill.

Just not small headed ones

Edited April 22, 2014 by mania

[martynsnowmans]

in the u.k you cant ask for only new notes at natwest bank and even fiftys if over 3 grand you have to preorder 2 days

before , they say the cash gets to them prepacked in thousands and all they can say is its u.k exepeptable " spelling ? "

then i go to a nearby bar and have to check each note , because i know the problems i will get in thai banks ,

the natwest is in manchester city center , i bring cash because i can change when i like as the exchange rate moves .

[apiwan]

Always has been.

Any notes written on. Bit of corner missing. Black felt tip line.

All refused.

I try to keep the good ones and bank the bad ones before I come.

Although there are a few money changers just off pahonyotin rd. Who aren't that fussy

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[sean420]

I was down to my last 900 American last week and went to my bank in central mall and they only took 150 dollars.I tried 5 banks and they all said no.so I went to a small place that just said currency on it and they took all my bills.it was in pattaya between central and soi 8 on second road.

[mania]

I was down to my last 900 American last week and went to my bank in central mall and they only took 150 dollars.I tried 5 banks and they all said no.so I went to a small place that just said currency on it and they took all my bills.it was in pattaya between central and soi 8 on second road.

Yes folks will always find the currency places easier than the banks when trading in

currencies for baht

Rates usually better too.

[GOLDBUGGY]

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Same with Aussie Dollars.

Refused if written on or have a slight injury, for want of a better term.

I always bring cash to Thailand and I always (now) check the bank note quality before I leave the West.

Me too, as I have had bad ones refused and a torn corner cost me t a 10% Discount.

For the OP your bank at home will take them as you know, but they are the only ones obligated to do so. Maybe you can exchange with some Brit heading home or doesn't need the cash right now?

[fhickson]

had this problem with us banknotes that were in pretty decent shape at two bank branches i went into. citing a very small tear and some red ink at the top which was hardly noticable.

 

dont let them take only the notes they want, its hard to exchange just the remaining few notes at the next place.

 

just refuse and take them to a regular non bank exchange booth. problem there is you have to give them over under the glass to just some bloke where nobodys watching, but no problems so far.