Answereda year ago
How do I successfully reopen a frozen account with Bangkok Bank?
The closing chapter on my Frozen account with Bangkok Bank. Yesterday I went back at the 11AM opening of my Bangkok Bank branch airport Central Chiang Mai and waited about 5 minutes before I was called on. The staff had more than doubled from 3 weeks ago. I had provided all of the documentation requested during my last visit including passport, year lease, bank book, and Thailand driver's license. I was promised that the head office would call me to let me know the status of my reopening which did not happen, so I came back in to find out what was going on. Interesting that the original copies of my reopening paperwork were in an easily accessible location, a nod to those who look at BB branches as individual franchises. It was a bit of a hostile atmosphere dominated by older farangs like myself, some yelling thinking that it would help the process. I chose the tact of quiet cooperation and after about 20 minutes multiple ladies had worked on the reopening which happened. No additional documentation, the dreaded certification of my passport by my embassy consulate was not asked for and I verified my account was open before I left. Done.
Answer summary
The user successfully reopened their frozen Bangkok Bank account after presenting the required documentation, including their passport and lease. Despite an initially concerning atmosphere and a lack of communication from the head office, the user opted for a calm approach, contrasting the frustrations displayed by other expats. This anecdote highlights the importance of understanding Thai cultural norms in customer service interactions.
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Marty ******
Someone at head office is inept , on power trip, no one's on the same wavelength , branches can't deal with it, so its a call to head office , happening everywhere , stay calm cause yelling only makes them stubborn , just grin & bear it.
Tom ********
Papers are never sent to head office or Bangkok, it's BS they are dealt with in branch!
Mark *********
OP@Tom *******
yeah I would say that's absolutely true. there was a plastic bin with a stack of 6 in of papers, my paperwork from 3 weeks ago was in that stack. they pulled it out had people sign had section stamped and a manager put their card in the system and okayed everything. outside of the computer to link to the main office It was all completed local.Tom ********
@Mark ********
I had the same in Hua hin, after nearly 3 weeks of waiting I went back in and was asked to go to the managers office and there was a clerk there sifting through a huge pile of papers to find mine, got it sorted within 20 minutes after that.
Mac ********
Classic example of how to get results with kindness!
Dick ********
@Mac *******
right! One of my earliest lessons when moving here so many years ago…. “Get control by giving up control”.
Alan ********
Embassy passeport certification..RIDICULOUS..they are on a witch Hunt...NIT IMPRESSED ...GAPPY FOR YOU....BUT IT OPENED MY ETES TO RISK OF OPENONG ACCOUNTS IN ASIA..
David ******
@Alan *******
red flags for sure. If the banking system cannot be trusted. Imagine if they decide to nationalize your account one day, pretty scary. High Risk in my opinion.
Jx ******
@Alan *******
100% mate. People think oh it's unlocked so I'm ok with it.The fact is was locked in the first place is an issue.
Sure they have a Chinese laundering issue but dont make that my problem.
Bank offshore dont mess with South East Asian banks.
Bill *******
@Jx *****
Remember HSBC fined for money laundering. The reason they shut down your account is so that YOU as a person have got to go to the Bank in person and prove you are a person. Simple!Bill *******
@Jx *****
It's not lazy. They did the unblock the firewall approach. With me being an IT guy from a few years ago I would have done the same. It's easier to manage as this way you can detect a genuine account users. Example, the government did this in the UK with organ donation. YOU have to opt out of the system when you weren't given a choice to join. You would get maybe a few thousand opting out. It's better than asking 68 million people to join. 😆Jx ******
@Bill ******
yes I remember, HSBC copped the fine and locked the launders and bad actors accs. They didn't do the lazy " block 10s of thousands of accounts" strategy and make it our problem.
Kim *********
@Alan *******
witch hunt? no. I was told by my local amphur to have my passport verified and other stupid requirements for a yellow book!! That's not a witch hunt either - it's just plain stupid.
Ron ******
@Kim ********
My embassy actually told me that the amphur office may require my passport to be verified so they gave me a couple of copies when we were there having our marriage certificate certified. There are fake passports out there and 'stupid' as it might seem it's understandable that they may ask for it.Kim *********
@Ron *****
yes I know. But I see many times people are saying it is so easy to get a yellow book. It is not easy for me.
Laurie ********
Being polite & firmly quiet - always worked for me in the 6-years I lived in Thailand. I have total respect for Thai's - thanks for great memories.
Trav **********
Good onya mate. Why don't other Farangs realise the Thai culture of losing face, and carry on like cut cats, which get them nowhere.
James ******
yelling at Thai people who are only doing their job just gets them to shut down. Very stupid
David ******
@James *****
I don't know, when someone else has your hard earned money under their lock pretty hard to maintain control. That is asking a lot. I surely hope they would understand why someone might be a tad bit upset. 🤷🏾♂️James ******
@David *****
you could be insanely angry and want to take them all on. Then you will get no service and you might wait a year to get your bank account back. If I have a gun pointed at you are you gonna argue with me or are you going to go along with it while you're there. Tai's do not like arguing and loud and obnoxious and they shut down. You don't want them to shut down. I have stood in line many times one of Ron was yelling at them and I watched a girl and I just know she's very angry. Same with Police you sit there arguing with them it's not gonna go well. Does not matter who's right or who's wrong it's getting what you want that counts
Jordan *****
@David *****
in many cases for months too. Some returned to Thailand earlier than they intended just to sort the money problem out and pay the rent, utilities and children’s school and they were still forced to wait for ages before the account was open again. No excuses for Bangkok Bank.Jeff *************
Great, now go to Kasikorn open a new account and close the Bangkok account
Mark *********
OP@Jeff ************
I was on that path and then someone stated that maybe we can still do wise transfer non-Swift to Bangkok Bank. So I am doing a test transfer of $65,000 baht which is due on the 15th. I'll let you know how it comes out. One thing I do know is that when I did a non-Swift wise transfer to KBank it showed up as a transfer within Thailand not a foreign transfer. I am looking for any other avenue besides Swift as their fees are outrageously high. if someone out there has figured out a way to do their monthly transfers with a $16 a month fee, I would love to hear it.Jeff *************
@Mark ********
I use western union personally from debit card to my account here is 1.99 US up to 7.99 if you do bank account to bank account it starts at .99 a transfer, you get a little less then the exact exchange rate, but it’s easyJeff *************
@Mark ********
I’ll have to check to see how it shows up , I’ll let you knowMark *********
OP@Jeff ************
Jeff one more question. Do you use this to transfer the money for your required immigration input of funds from overseas? If so, does your bank properly note the transfer as coming from overseas? Thank you.Mark *********
OP@Jeff ************
thank you Jeff
David *********
@Jeff ************
great advice
Petri ********
@Jeff ************
good advice, I did that one month ago. Now I have only 0.38 baht on my Bangkok bank account.
Derek *********
Thais don’t like loud
Jon *****
@Derek ********
Yet when they all get together, they make enough noise to wake the dead. They just don't like loud when it suits them .
James *******
@Jon ****
true !! women shrieking sounds all through the night like a clowder of dying catsDavid *********
@Derek ********
true dat
Chris ************
Congratulations 👏
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