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Is Apple Pay commonly used in Chiang Mai and Phuket?

Apple PayChiang MaiPhuketMobile PaymentsQR Code PaymentsThai Bank Accounts
Jun 4, 2022
2 years ago
Richard *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
is Apple Pay commonly used in Chiangmai? Phuket?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
Apple Pay is generally not commonly used in Chiang Mai or Phuket, as the payment culture in Thailand tends to rely heavily on cash. While some places, such as the Apple Store, may accept Apple Pay, it is not widely recognized or accepted. Instead, mobile payments via Thai bank accounts using QR codes are much more common. Visitors are often recommended to carry cash or use alternative payment methods like TrueMoney for transactions at popular stores like 7-Eleven.
Richard *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you for the information
2 years ago
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Brett **********
After all those incorrect answers, yes apple pay and Google pay work at places that take contactless card payments which is the major convenience stores, supermarkets, upscale restaurants and mall shops
2 years ago
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Todd *********
@Brett *********
 one more incorrect answer... It definitely depends where u are in the country. And your own banking institution/ country. Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Pa Tong definitely have contactless card payment capability for SOME international cards or customers. As you say at a few major places. But one will experience zero joy with attempting apple and google pay in much of the country. And as Natasha noticed, not foreign cards work for NFC ATM's.
2 years ago
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Brett **********
@Todd ********
 so which part of my response is incorrect?
2 years ago
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Brett **********
If the type of contactless payment they take is RFID the Apple pay and Google pay will generally work. If it's QR contactless then it won't but Apple pay isn't QR so there is nothing wrong in my statement.
2 years ago
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Todd *********
@Brett *********
 as with many of the others you identified as incorrect, it hardly provides an answer to the question. For the question, is Apple Pay commonly used in Chiang Mai and Phuket' , the best answer i see here is 'no'... It's not commonly used
2 years ago
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Brett **********
@Todd ********
 well I don't knwo where you're shopping because I've been here a year and use it practically every day here I Phuket so it suggests yyiure talking nonsense. Will you see an Apple Pay sign? No you won't. It's just apple's branding for RFID payments and it works just fine at places that take those cards
2 years ago
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Todd *********
@Brett *********
 one person using Apple pay (clearly u never shop local), is hardly 'common use' of them. Will you see an Apple pay sign? For sure not. But fire away, ask at every cashier... or just use cash like is commonly done in Chiang Mai and Phuket
2 years ago
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Todd *********
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Natasha *******
@Brett *********
 Thanks for the advice! I got back last week and indeed this is true, thankfully! No NFC ATMs would accept foreign cards, but got around this by just "tapping and forgetting" everything 🙏
2 years ago
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Brett **********
@Natasha ******
 glad it all worked out for you
2 years ago
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Brett **********
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Richard *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks y'all!
2 years ago
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AxMdob *******
Thaigirls accept all sort of money but gold is better
2 years ago
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Thai ******
Simple answer No
2 years ago
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Joe *********
I've got a Thai bank account and often pay with SCAN, but 7-11 does not take it. What alternative to cash works at 7-11? (I discovered this when I tried to pay a 3200thb electric bill with limited cash in my pocket.
2 years ago
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Jonas *************
Your foreign visa card works in 7-11 thailand. No lower limit. If it's decor card you might need to say "credit". Bangkok bank visa debit does NOT work...
2 years ago
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Tony *********
@Joe ********
 I don't know why 7-Eleven is so behind the times. They don't accept QR code or a debit card. They do accept the True Money app or cash of course
2 years ago
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Oliver *******************
@Joe ********
 you can use the card machine at 711
2 years ago
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Oliver *******************
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Vlurx *******
Yes it's works where there is EDC payment terminal available like you can use in most of the shops and even in 7-11 but since Apple Pay isn't available in Thailand so most staff will not understand what you're trying to do.
2 years ago
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Alain ***************
@Vlurx ******
 they really thought wtf falang do you try there? Luckily my cognitive issues are visible and it’s a valid excuse
2 years ago
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Alain ***************
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Marguyvin **********
No ApplePay here.
2 years ago
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Alain ***************
I used it inside the Apple Store. That’s the only place I’ve seen the logo. Use nfc card payment many times though. Unfortunately some payment options require a local bank account and isn’t available for most tourists. And even as a customer of true, they make it hard to sign up for TrueMoney app. I see this payment option a lot in stores
2 years ago
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Steve *******
From what I've seen the common way to make payments is from your thai bank account with a qr code. Don't know if foreigners are allowed to do this or not.
2 years ago
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Oliver *******************
@Steve ******
 you are if you have a a Thai account
2 years ago
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Steve *******
@Oliver ******************
 I have an account with Bangkok Bank. Just not that well up with this modern technology. May I need to speak to them and try to get sorted. Maybe easier than keep going to ATM and carrying lots of cash.
2 years ago
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Todd *********
@Steve ******
 the BKK Bank app can definitely eliminate of minimize any need to carry cash or visit ATM
2 years ago
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Oliver *******************
@Steve ******
 on your app your see a section where is says scan. Press that and your off it will come up with the price ect and then confirm
2 years ago
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Oliver *******************
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Stuart *********
Most places these days accept QR code payments. Unfortunately they’ll only work if you have a Thai bank account and phone app.
2 years ago
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Brian *****************
I see many people paying with their mobiles scanning a qr code on the register.

I don’t know what system it is.
2 years ago
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Tony *********
@Brian ****************
 I scan with my phone all the time. I never use cash now.
2 years ago
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Oliver *******************
@Brian ****************
 through the bank app
2 years ago
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Brian *****************
@Oliver ******************
 thanks
2 years ago
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Brian *****************
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Lisa ********************
@Brian ****************
 they are paying from their Thai bank account, using scanned QR codes.
2 years ago
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Lisa ********************
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Nicolas ********
2 years ago
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Jason ******
Only western unioin
*****
2 years ago
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Sam *******
Thailand is all about cash. Some 7s take Samsungs version but it’s far and few between.
2 years ago
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Tony *********
@Sam ******
 I don't use cash anymore.
2 years ago
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Oliver *******************
@Sam ******
 your very wrong. There are QR codes in almost every shop these days and can pay via your phone banking app
2 years ago
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Felix ****
@Sam ******
 That’s true for the very old people here.
2 years ago
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Alastair ******
@Sam ******
 Wrong! Over the last few years Thai Banking apps are taking over: Scan QR, PromptPay are huge. Obviously contactless payment during Covid has increased confidence No-end!
2 years ago
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Alastair ******
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Danny ******
No
2 years ago
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Brandon ************
Don't think Apple Pay exists in Thailand
2 years ago
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Brandon ************
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