Answereda year ago
What Are the Best Payment Options in Thailand Without a Bank Account?
Payment Options (w/o Thai Bank account)
This comes up a lot in the comments. Please do add or correct, but this info is correct based upon my own personal experience:
TagThai Pay&Tour
- Prepaid credit card
- Can only be loaded at (I think any) Kasikorn Exchange kiosk. (I did in Samui.) Contrary to some comments I've seen, I was able to do with THB, did not have to actually exchange currency.
- Cannot pay Personal accounts with QR code, so that's most small restaurants and shops out.
TrueMoney
- Top up by cash at any 7-11, Lotus, and various pay points.
- Some people have completed the additional verification by uploading a copy of DTV visa and entry stamp under the work permit section of documents. That then allows payment to personal QR codes.
- It's also handy for paying Electricity and Water. (Keeps the history.)
- I have not been able to top-up by credit card since additional verification, but others claim this is possible.
DeepPocket
- CAN pay personal QR code
Load by credit/debit card, cash at BigC or Lotus.
- Pricier fees than the other two.
- (Was recommended to me by a friend who's an expert in payments, so seems to have solid backers, but I'm not personally endorsing this or anything else.)
* Moreta Pay
- Can connect to US bank, do SEPA transfer, or UK Faster Payments, or credit/debit
- No personal QR codes
- Works in other Asian countries
This comes up a lot in the comments. Please do add or correct, but this info is correct based upon my own personal experience:
TagThai Pay&Tour
- Prepaid credit card
- Can only be loaded at (I think any) Kasikorn Exchange kiosk. (I did in Samui.) Contrary to some comments I've seen, I was able to do with THB, did not have to actually exchange currency.
- Cannot pay Personal accounts with QR code, so that's most small restaurants and shops out.
TrueMoney
- Top up by cash at any 7-11, Lotus, and various pay points.
- Some people have completed the additional verification by uploading a copy of DTV visa and entry stamp under the work permit section of documents. That then allows payment to personal QR codes.
- It's also handy for paying Electricity and Water. (Keeps the history.)
- I have not been able to top-up by credit card since additional verification, but others claim this is possible.
DeepPocket
- CAN pay personal QR code
Load by credit/debit card, cash at BigC or Lotus.
- Pricier fees than the other two.
- (Was recommended to me by a friend who's an expert in payments, so seems to have solid backers, but I'm not personally endorsing this or anything else.)
* Moreta Pay
- Can connect to US bank, do SEPA transfer, or UK Faster Payments, or credit/debit
- No personal QR codes
- Works in other Asian countries
Answer summary
This post discusses various payment options available in Thailand for expats without a Thai bank account. It details platforms such as TagThai Pay&Tour, TrueMoney, DeepPocket, and Moreta Pay, highlighting their features, methods of loading money, and limitations. The post encourages updates from the community and includes comments from users sharing their experiences and addressing possible misconceptions about these payment systems.
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Anonymous ******************
I use bank account from Cambodian bank with QR payments (no personal transfers in Thai) which works really well. For smaller vendors: cash + Moreta.
Btw it still rather easy to set up a bank acc there, similar to what it had been in Thailand in the past.
Btw it still rather easy to set up a bank acc there, similar to what it had been in Thailand in the past.
It's ******
OPAnonymous participant 566 Yeah, I have a Singapore (Prompt pay) account, so the business QR code has never been a problem for me personally. I'm surprised how many larger shops still use the personal QR though, even those selling more high ticket items. It's also surprising that Singapore and other Asean banks, with a presence in Thailand, can't offer payment to personal QR.
It's ******
OPFor those saying cash, thought that one was obvious....!? But, it's not always convenient, especially for larger purchases, vending machines may not take, some people don't like to carry a large amount, it's not really the point of the post...
Paul *******
I hold several Thai bank accounts but I prefer cash and sometimes use debit or credit cards too.
Appreciate you providing these options for those interested.
However, I don't see the purpose of reinventing the wheel - with QR codes you're still using your own money and thus there's no real advantage of using this method of payment. It's more of a hassle than anything else. Just go to an ATM. They're still not difficult to find even if there are fewer of them than there used to be.
Credit cards make sense because you're able to borrow money that you can repay later...hence the name.
For most everyday things you use cash, just like we've always done for decades.
That's what I use for payment anywhere I am in the world, most of the time. Credit cards are for when I need to pay for big ticket items.
Appreciate you providing these options for those interested.
However, I don't see the purpose of reinventing the wheel - with QR codes you're still using your own money and thus there's no real advantage of using this method of payment. It's more of a hassle than anything else. Just go to an ATM. They're still not difficult to find even if there are fewer of them than there used to be.
Credit cards make sense because you're able to borrow money that you can repay later...hence the name.
For most everyday things you use cash, just like we've always done for decades.
That's what I use for payment anywhere I am in the world, most of the time. Credit cards are for when I need to pay for big ticket items.
Lincoln ******
@Paul ******
the issue I’m having is that majority of the shopping centre car parks now ONLY accept QR paymentPaul *******
@Lincoln *****
Nope, you can pay with cash inside.
Daniel ********
Don't matter what kind of DTV (soft Power, workation) for true money?
It's ******
OP@Daniel *******
Not sure for the secondary verification (as the visa itself doesn't specify), worth trying?
Anonymous ******************
Those who say they can top up Truemoney with a foreign card are liars !! It’s written clearly in the top up section of the app : top up only possible with thaï issued cards .
It's ******
OPAnonymous participant 961 Though strangely, it is possible to add a foreign card, I think for payment to shops that scan the barcode (most that I believe would take credit cards anyway) - there is a list on the app.
Matty *********
You can pay electricity through Lazada with card for a 5 baht fee.
Mark ********
Moreta all the way
Anonymous ******************
Moreta pay wins as it works in multiple countries. Shop at legitimate businesses. Pay cash to street vendors or those trying to run a business with their personal bank account, they'd appreciate it more.
Cash topup to true money is pointless. You can pay cash for the electric bill and also credit cards are accepted too .
Cash topup to true money is pointless. You can pay cash for the electric bill and also credit cards are accepted too .
Jef ********
Rabbit card is one that’s over looked also, good for vending machines etc. ( top up the cash at BTS)
Jef ********
It’s actually surprising most of the bigger chain style places have the little rabbit card reader at check out
David ********
Cash is other option most of the DTV holders use
Lincoln ******
@David *******
cash unfortunately isn’t any good in situations like shopping centre car parks where now it’s QR payment only.Paul *******
@Lincoln *****
Not true. You go inside and pay in cash before you leave. Only an issue if you need to park for more than 2 hours.David ********
@Lincoln *****
I have managed 10 years without bank account, yes hassle a few times but those new apps for sure also make money for offering you the QR optionPaul *******
@Lincoln *****
the service counter accepts cash. Just don't use the machines.Lincoln ******
so for example at centralworld and also my local tops. The carpark ONLY offers QR payment. So yes I understand managing 10 years without a bank account, but things change unfortunately, like the 2 above examples. The new apps is the whole purpose of the post, so it’s very helpful to a lot of people to be able to exchange information in this thread, and the answer unfortunately physically can’t be always “use cash”.
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