ATMs

[Sirgezza]

Do BMs use ATMs very much in LOS? In the past I have used travellers cheques but access to funds via holes in the walls at foreign banks seems to have improved over the years.

I have Natwest ''Switch'' and Nationwide ''Link''. Can I use these easily in Patong?

Thanks

[mikegb]

Hi ,

I use ATM all the time. My bank charges me a small amount (£1.50 per transaction) and the exchange rate they gave was always very good.

I normally take out 10,000 baht every time (£150) and then put some of it in my safety deposit box, so I am at the ATM every couple of days, but it saves you messing about with passports, signing and carrying cheques, and the exchange place charges you a commission anyway and the rate is about the same

[Captain]

Originally Posted by mikegb

Hi ,

I use ATM all the time. My bank charges me a small amount (£1.50 per transaction) and the exchange rate they gave was always very good.

I normally take out 10,000 baht every time (£150) and then put some of it in my safety deposit box, so I am at the ATM every couple of days, but it saves you messing about with passports, signing and carrying cheques, and the exchange place charges you a commission anyway and the rate is about the same

I agree. I posted before that ATM with bankcard (maestro or whatever) is cheaper than ATM with VISA.
http://www.phuket-info.com/forums/sh...1671#post71671

[Sirgezza]

Hi Captain - I put ATM in to the search engine but got nothing.

I have a limit of £250 on each card - I assume that stands in LOS as well. Are the machines easy to use - do they use the Thai alphabet on the selection buttons.

Mark - is it the current ''flexaccount'' that is free with Nationwide?

[sishow]

I have a Barclays account which i use in Los. On both the last times i was there i used the account to draw out money every day and when i needed it. My account has a £300 withdraw limit every day, but i only exceeded that on 2 seperate days. (So i just paid the bg's the next morning!)

The only problem i found on my trip in November was the fact that i spent far too much as i just kept going to the bank when i needed money. Weather it was for another round or a new pile of watches. It was more to do with the fact i thought Thailand was very cheap, than the bank charges.

The last trip in May, i did the same with a few exceptions. I did the day by day thing with the direct withdraw from my account. But i had some money as back up in Travelers cheaques just in case i did the same as last time and run out of money. But i also thought about how myuch i was spending, which in total saved me alot of money.

I mean don't be tight, but just have an idea of what (How much) you are spending!!!!!

But saying that, the Nationwide account sounds such a good idea, i've already decided im transfering my spending money to that account when i go next time!

[swiftdave]

My card says Interac and Plus on the back. The ATM's here all say Cirrus. Any idea if this will work?

[river]

Originally Posted by swiftdave

My card says Interac and Plus on the back. The ATM's here all say Cirrus. Any idea if this will work?

Yes if you have the word "PLUS" with 3 little triangles as the logo on the back your card will work.

[swiftdave]

well thats just great, guess i'm coming home broke!

[void]

Originally Posted by gez

Do BMs use ATMs very much in LOS? In the past I have used travellers cheques but access to funds via holes in the walls at foreign banks seems to have improved over the years.

Hmmm, my ex-TG/BGs tell me the selection of foreign ATM's in LOS is in flux all the time. Their access to traveller's funds via holes is a standard introductory technique, before the advanced methods area applied. Access does not necessarily improve over the years, due to aging. Only the most skilled go back to the same ATMs over and over.

Originally Posted by gez

I have Natwest ''Switch'' and Nationwide ''Link''. Can I use these easily in Patong?

She never did tell me the names of the ATMs she used, and I never asked.

Apologies, but couldn't resist with that spot of humour, when I saw some of the words in your post.

[Sirgezza]

When I started the thread, I wondered if it might cause some confusion as to what exactly I was referring to with ATM.

[Captain]

I asked my bank to rise the amount of money I could witdraw to 1000€ a week (approx 46000 48000 Baht). This gives me ample margin. I try to pay as much as possible with my credit cards but if I see that they ask 3-6 % comission (Rock Hard and some other places) I pay cash.
There is an ATM I allways use in BKK airport (if I arrive and disembark in BKK). Once you pass customs you have a big hall with the kiosks from Thai limousine, hotels, exchange etc. you can go left where you have the meter taxi's, or right. If you go right there is a Thai Military bank with an ATM.
In Patong I have at least 4 ATM's in a area of 150 meters around my hotel. So that is no problem.
All ATM's work on the same priciple: put in your code, tell how much you need and take the money. Orders are in English.

[S1MON]

I have just been informed that i am charged 7 pound every time i use an ATM in thailand , that with the fact that my limit is 10K per day means that i am getting charged approx 5% every time i take out money, this money could most certinly be put to better use, i.e buffalo and motorbikes.

[swiftdave]

Originally Posted by void

Hmmm, my ex-TG/BGs tell me the selection of foreign ATM's in LOS is in flux all the time. Their access to traveller's funds via holes is a standard introductory technique, before the advanced methods area applied. Access does not necessarily improve over the years, due to aging. Only the most skilled go back to the same ATMs over and over.

She never did tell me the names of the ATMs she used, and I never asked.

Apologies, but couldn't resist with that spot of humour, when I saw some of the words in your post.

I believe the ATM's you're refering to are for deposit only!

[Captain]

Originally Posted by S1MON

I have just been informed that i am charged 7 pound every time i use an ATM in thailand , that with the fact that my limit is 10K per day means that i am getting charged approx 5% every time i take out money, this money could most certinly be put to better use, i.e buffalo and motorbikes.

I got 10000Baht cash from an ATM with my Maestro and with my VISA card at the same moment. Maestro: 203.18€, VISA 198.68€ plus 6.95€ handling costs.
So Maestro gave me a better bargain. Question is how much I would have gotten with cash €, but then if it was a better rate, which I doubt, do I want to travvel with that amount of cash money? No way.

[mikediver]

Last time I was in Patong I used the ATM and the fees were quite small compared to the fees for cashing a travelers check and converting to Baht at the exchanges. Recently my bank has informed me that they will be charging an additional 3% fee on any transaction in a foreign currency. Several friends told me that their banks had recently done the same. So, the cost of ATM use in the LOS is going up.

I have heard that in the Philippines there are places that are charging 10-15% to cash a travelers check, above the curreency conversion fees. They say the reason is to cover their losses due to forged travelers checks. This is different than a forged signature. The check itself is a forgery. Apparently, they get stuck for any forged checks. Kind of like the last person/store/company that accepts a counterfiet (sp?) bill gets stuck with it. They also say the amount of forgeries in the asian/Pacific area is going way up.

If you want to make a decision on whether or not to bring travelers checks you need both sets of fees. What are the fees associated with cashing a travelers check in LOS these days?

[JayBee]

Last winter every time I used the ATM, I was charged a $5.00 fee by my bank. The fees for casing traveler's checks was only 23 Baht or 33 Baht depending on which bank. The one at the intersection of Rat-U-Thit and Soi Sunset(next to Tai Pan) only charged 23 Baht per $100. Most everywhere else charged 33 Baht.

So for me the traveler's check worked out much better. The only times I used the ATM were when I got a late start and all the exchange windows were closed. Then I usually withdrew 10,000 Baht. But the more Baht withdrawn, the faster it seems to get spent!!

So, the traveler's checks were much cheaper for me than the ATMs. Also my bank does not charge me any charge for the checks, so it is very cheap. Cheaper than ATMs, more secure than cash. And there is also a charge for changin cash, so I don't see the advantage in taking cash which could be stolen!

JayBee

[void]

Originally Posted by swiftdave

I believe the ATM's you're refering to are for deposit only!

Depends on one's perspective. Deposit for the foreign falang's and withdrawal for the TG/BGs. Errr ... we are talking money here, aren't we??