Answered4 years ago
How can I set up automated bill payments for utilities in Thailand?
is there a secret to getting automated payments for things like phone, internet, TV, water, electricity?
even just being able to go online and pay bills from my banking app or internet banking would be an improvement.
I've had a Bangkok Bank account (with a working mobile banking app) since early 2020, but whenever I go to places like True to pay my phone/internet/tv bill and ask them if I can be set up to auto-pay or at least pay my bill from my online/phone banking, I feel like I'm asking them to invent a new form of banking based on blood letting!!?!?
why can I give the poor guy with no legs at my local market a few baht by scanning a QR code on his cup, but I can't pay my phone bill other than by going to a 7/11 with cash, or to a True service center??
even just being able to go online and pay bills from my banking app or internet banking would be an improvement.
I've had a Bangkok Bank account (with a working mobile banking app) since early 2020, but whenever I go to places like True to pay my phone/internet/tv bill and ask them if I can be set up to auto-pay or at least pay my bill from my online/phone banking, I feel like I'm asking them to invent a new form of banking based on blood letting!!?!?
why can I give the poor guy with no legs at my local market a few baht by scanning a QR code on his cup, but I can't pay my phone bill other than by going to a 7/11 with cash, or to a True service center??
Answer summary
The post discusses the challenges faced by the author, an expat in Thailand, trying to set up automated payments for utility bills through their mobile banking app and various service providers like True. Multiple commenters provide solutions, sharing that different apps and banking options exist for paying bills, including the True iService app, MEA Smartlife app, and direct debit setups. Recommendations include visiting bank branches or using specific banking apps to access payment features, confirming that many expats are successfully paying their bills online via various banking applications.
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Phil ******
@David *******
most can you paid via the Bangkok bank app.
David ********
OPthanks for all the awesome advice everyone ... looks like there are dozens of ways I could be paying bills ... I'll start looking at these suggestions and see which ones work best for me!
thank again!
thank again!
Terary **********
I pay my phone bill with Line Man.
Martyn ***********
I scan the QR codes on the electric and water bills, takes seconds to pay a bill...
Tony *********
@Martyn **********
I guess paying it at 7-Eleven will have to do.Tony *********
@Martyn **********
that's interesting. I use my phone to make payments by scanning QR codes just about everywhere I purchase something, but it doesn't work for the electricity bill.Martyn ***********
@Tony ********
works for me... My old mobile had trouble reading the codes, but never fails now.
Marco ********
@Tony ********
It throws an error for around the first week after the bill arrived. After that time, it works fine. (K+ App, scan the upper qr code on the PEA bill)Tony *********
@Martyn **********
my banking app can read the QR code but it won't make the payment the electricity bill. It gets an error message. It's not the ability to scan because I don't even use cash anymore I scan everything I pay for.
Alain ***************
My dtac mobile is auto paid with my wise card(setup in dtac App) true fiber is paid with the same card automatically but i needed to bring my wise card into a true shop. electricity through MEA in Bangkok seems only to access thai credit cards. I just setup a reminder in the app and pay in there if a new bill arrives
Kristian ************
You should be able to set up direct debit yourself in online banking, using the details on your invoice.
Greg ********
If anybody knows how to pay a water bill online I would love to know?
Greg ********
Thank you all very appreciated 👍
James *********
@Greg *******
If you have a debit card with a Thai bank you should ask your bank if they have an App, and if yes, download it and ask someone at the bank to show you how it's done. Mine is very simple
Rob **********
@Greg *******
direct debit for your water bill thru KTB
Dave ********
@Greg *******
I pay my water bill through the online banking app via the "pay bills tab" with Krungthai bank, I should imagine most banks are the sameJames *********
I pay most everything via my BB app with no problem. Just go to a branch and ask how to use it
Nick **********
Every bill can be paid with the right app... can choose different combinations.
Electricity : can go to their office and set up automated direct billing. And/or can download the MEA smartlife app, which shows your bill, and has the QR and barcode to scan for payment.
True has their True iService app which you can set up connecting to a payment method to easily pay your bills.
Etc...
Electricity : can go to their office and set up automated direct billing. And/or can download the MEA smartlife app, which shows your bill, and has the QR and barcode to scan for payment.
True has their True iService app which you can set up connecting to a payment method to easily pay your bills.
Etc...
David ********
OPNick MuayPlam I'll check that MEA app, thanks.
I already have the I True app, but as I've tried 3 times to get it set up and it's never worked except for a brief period and only for my cell service, never for internet and TV ... but now that I know it's possible I have some guess as to what might have happened (they may have moved it to my wife's phone when we bundled everything together!?)
I already have the I True app, but as I've tried 3 times to get it set up and it's never worked except for a brief period and only for my cell service, never for internet and TV ... but now that I know it's possible I have some guess as to what might have happened (they may have moved it to my wife's phone when we bundled everything together!?)
David ********
OPthanks Nick & Todd. yeah, the set up seems to always be a bit confusing. in Canada I just downloaded the app, entered my Debit Card number and pin, and it was all set up ... in Thailand it was a somewhat unexpected process of registering my phone number with the bank, then using the ATM to complete the process, but once it was done I was impressed with the QR code for transfers (the only thing that comes close in Canada is email money transfers but they are far more complicated to do and can take several hours to move the money ... if you want anything near as fast your need to register for a business account, purchase a card reader and use a service like Monaris that takes a cut and charges you a monthly fee.)
I'm beginning to believe most of my issues with True came from adding my wife's phone to the account and them switching the account under her name and information.
I'm beginning to believe most of my issues with True came from adding my wife's phone to the account and them switching the account under her name and information.
Nick **********
@David *******
In the SCB banking app, you can also set up a direct debit yourself. Withing the direct debit option you'll be able to choose electricity, water, true, etc... and you'll have to fill in some reference numbers you find on your bill.The app will send the direct billing request to the company.
In general the truemoney wallet Todd mentioned is also useful. Completely free, can be used to pay others who also have Truemoney wallet. And you'll get a virtual debit card. You have complete control over it, as it is a top-up system. And can use the virtual debit card to buy on-line also.
Todd *********
@David *******
Canadian also and I pay with the true app. Transfer money from your bank to truewallet. Buy whatever package you wishNick **********
@David *******
I can't remember which steps to set it up, but it is possible. Once it is set up, you can easily see when there is a new bill, click on pay, and pay with the card you want (which you also have to put in the app just once so it remembers it every time)
Typically with this kind of stuff : might be a bit confusing setting up first. But once you get it going it will be very convenient. And you don't have to be in Thailand to pay your bills.
Gordon ************
Patronising fud
David ********
OP@Gordon ***********
excuse me?Gordon ************
@David *******
Excuse you 😭😭😭😭Goats ballDavid ********
OP@Gordon ***********
you seem nice!
Bobby ********
I pay my True account through the app. Just go to payments and select True
Brett *********
@David *******
I seriously asked an American 2 weeks ago about cheques (actual english) and I was told still very common and the only way to get your tax refund. How quaint.David ********
OP@Bobby *******
I must be missing something basic on my account then because I've literally sat down at the True service center at Chiang Mai Central airport plaza, 3 times now, usually with the 1st representative I get, who then calls over one of their experts, to 'set me up' and every time I not only walk away without being able to pay my internet, phone, and TV, but at one point I was able to refill my phone, but then when they offered a better price to bundle them all together I ended up not being able to even pay my phone!!! ;-)it just sorry of but me as I type this that when they bundled the services they also included my wife's phone with it, so maybe they decided that since she's Thai it would be better to bundle everything under hey phone number??? I guess that's something I'll have to look into ... of course she's a tech-phobe, so I'll never be able to convince her to use her phone to pay bills through hey back app (which she hardly ever uses, and gets me to do it when she had to use it.)
Ryan ***********
@David *******
True sucks that why get AIS I pay through the AIS app with my debt card
Wayne *********
@Bobby *******
I also pay true, my power and ais via the bank app its easyDavid ********
OP@Wayne ********
I had assumed that would be the case since other than for paying bills (which I assumed was something on my part I was missing) the banking system here is way ahead of what we have in Canada, which I formally thought was 'futuristic', but that was only because I was comparing it to the USA system which I believe it's still using salt and animal skins as money. ;-)David ********
OP@Brett ********
went to a Jays/Red Sox game in Boston, 2019. After the Hotel breakfast I paid with my CC ... they pulled out the old 'cha-ching' credit card machine, carbon paper and all ... for a minute I thought maybe the waiter was also an antique salesman and was going to pitch me on how nice the old CC machine would look on the living room mantle!Brett *********
@David *******
in USA you pay by fax with a check...Todd *********
@David *******
Canada is backwoods for sure manBobby ********
@Wayne ********
The apps are very useful for just about all bill payments. I can also pay my condo water bill through the appWayne *********
@Bobby *******
same, i find the apps here shit all over the au banks for online stuffActivity
20 joined20
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