[Agent09]

Hi all

I just explored this area and have just transacted cash so have observations.

I opened my own Thai bank a/c savings style on last trip and also have just sent money to TG first time using bank to bank transfer, and planning to use the Money Card idea etc also as back up.

Bank to bank UK bank charged me £20 to transfer to her thai bank a/c. The procedure has to be done in bank, sign form, cannot yet use my internet banking to make occasional or regular payments to her so that is clumsy but in the end transfer worked ok, took 3 days for funds to get to her, cost me an additional £7,50 in charges levied by HER bank to accept the money so overall the 'wasted' money was £27.50 about 2000Baht.. shame.. but it got there safe.. I only sent an initial test amount of some few hundreds UK £ converted so the % charge was high, and this is fixed up to more than you would want to send your girl, ie: many thousands of £ so % drops. Ie; if you send only say 10k baht you'd paying a scary 20% interest..so more suitable for larger transfers.

I plan to send (DHL via Farang mate) or give her a Money Card soon or next visit, as this seems way more flexible and cheaper though best to use both methods.

Ive already now got one from my own bank product, who don't offer ancillary cards. PO Money Card seems fine, but legally if you give to her and she loses the terms are breached as it's a sole user card in your name and no extra cards possible so it's your own risk and you may not even get a replacement if you are honest when it's lost so beware that.

Travelex offers additional use cards , but to use Travelex well you must go to an airport and buy it, NOT at the travel agents in High Street or you are only able to top up at branches. Cards bought at airport allow you to use full internet banking so much easier so u can top up the card anytime with £100 minimum online and also by phone. Travelex is VISA and you can legally have an additional user card on your account for her BUt will be blank no name as they only will issue to UK/Euro passport holders. ATM charges are £2.50 a time which can mount up a bit.

I am probably leaning towards the American Express Travellers Cheque card as they will give me a bona-fide additional user card with her name on it, ( nicer for her, status wise..but you will need to make sure she gives correct DOB and also knows how to go thru the on-phone authorisation when she gets it) It's safer named, and also usable as a purchase card same as a debit or cc but with only the funds contained no more so safe for you. It's £200 initial load and £50 min afterwards and again can be easily done online and phone and she can use as a quasi debit card wherever AMex is welcome.

However the ONE drawback is the number of ATMs accepting VISA versus AMEX. On my last trip to Pattaya I mostly used my own VISA cc to get cash in Baht at times and sometimes used my Amex also but noticed fewer terminals accepted AMEX.

Not knowing abut the money cards then I didn't think to NOTE which of the ATMS take Amex, which do or don't so if any of you out there now in Pattaya/ LOS care to assist and let me know this, I'd be grateful.

From memory I know my own Krungthai ATM don't, and the RED K (Kasikorn?) ones do take Amex but beyond that I forget. I'd like to think that it won't be too much of a disadvantage for her as ATMS are frequent and often clustered.

well that's my £27.50's worth on this !