Tips for DTVers once they’ve arrived. Long but I hope this helps somebody.

eSIM:

I use AIS. Got a “AIS LUCKY TOURIST SIM, Internet 2 Baht/MB. Call any network 1 Baht/min. VDO Call 2 Baht/ min. SMS 3 Baht. MMS 5 Baht. (VAT excluded)” and stopped by a booth at BKK and had them help me activate it. This also gives you a local Thai number.

Originally got a 30day unlimited data pkg. Don’t need a voice package because the sim allows local calls for 1B/minute. The other charges don’t really matter because it’ll use data. Didn’t see a long term unlimted data plan after my 30 days so I opted for “Net Marathon Max! 2,750 Baht (VAT included), 100GB/month Internet at 15Mbps speed. valid 12months”. Never came close to using 100gb/month and speed was plenty fast for me. 2750B for the year!

VPN:

Comes in handy. Connect to stream stuff in your home country.

QR code/scan to pay:

You need a Thai bank account for this. Which DTVers can’t get. Or…Use the TrueMoney app. Sign up then apply for the “Advanced Account”. Once approved it gives you 30 personal scans/mo free. After 30 it’s a nominal fee per scan. I’ve never gone over 30. You can easily add money to the account at 7-11 (and other not as easy places). 7-11 limits you to adding 3000B at a time but yesterday I added another 1000 right after. So not really a limit I suppose. Paying at bigger established merchants do not count to towards the 30.

You can also tie the app to Grab which makes life easier. Auto-pays for rides, food, etc. Does not count towards the 30 scans. Just make sure you have a big enough balance.

I also recommend getting their virtual credit card within the app. It’s a Thai issued credit card which comes in handy. No fee (I think) and deducts from your normal balance. Might only be an advanced account feature.

Streaming services:

As long as you have a Thai number, everything is cheaper subscribing in Thailand. (Except for Google AI Pro, what’s that all about?). Netflix was easy to tie to a credit card. Through my AIS eSIM I got a Prime Video and HBO package. That is being deducted from my AIS balance (which I top off with a credit card through the app). YouTube premium had to be charged to a Thai credit card. I used my TrueMoney virtual card. 🙂 That’s as far as I’ve gone so far.

The virtual card also came in handy when I had to pay for extra baggage on Thai Air. Over the phone they wouldn’t take a US Visa or MC. I did have to run to 7-11 and top up the balance first.

Getting around:

Bolt is usually cheaper than Grab. Grab is auto deducted from my TrueMoney. Bolt is cash but I usually scan to pay. Everyone has a QR code. Ive taken a bunch of rides from each platform. Sometimes the driver will cancel but I’ve never had any scam issues you read about.

Bangkok specific getting around:

BTS I got a “Rabbit” pass at the ticket booth and added money to it. Just tap at entry and exit. Don’t need to worry about individual tickets. Need a passport to sign up though.

MRT you can tap your credit card (even US ones) at entry and exit if it has the touchless chip.

Bus I use Google Maps to get the route. Pay attention to the bus numbers as they approach and flag down the right one. Board and the ticket taker will come to you. Show/tell them the stop and pay them. Coins and 20s here. Don’t use 50s or 100s. Hit the buzzer when your stop is approaching.

I think that’s about it for now.

Hi everyone,

I currently hold a DTV visa and don’t have a Thai bank account, so I wasn’t able to set up monthly payments for my fitness membership.

Because of this, I was required to make an 8-month cash prepayment.

Also, the amount I paid was actually higher than the advertised price, and no discount was applied.

Now, for my renewal, they are asking me again to pay either 5 months or 1 year in cash.

Has anyone in a similar situation been able to pay monthly using an international credit card without a Thai bank account?

I’d really appreciate any advice or shared experiences.

Thank you!

 hello. I have a very specific question. I am in Thailand half the year in Canada half the year. I have a year round condo rental.

With this visa, we can obviously not get a bank account.

I am wondering how people pay their bills during the time they are not in Thailand.

Specifically, I am looking to pay my true phone bill, my water bill, my electric bill and my cable bill

I really appreciate any information you can offer 

Can the TrueMoney app be topped up with cash and where? Can I use it to pay by scanning a QR code (Prompt Pay)? So far I have only used it to pay at 7-Eleven by the shop scanning my app's QR code.

I read a lot of posts about people looking for to open to a bank account with the DTV visa and here's my experience.

YOU CANNOT OPEN AN ACCOUNT WITH THE DTV VISA except for particular cases (you are married to a thai, you have a thai son/daughter, etc). I know it sucks but I've been using for a few months TrueMoney and I can guarantee is a great 2nd choice. I've obtained the full access to the app (it required me to send a picture of my dtv visa + a picture of the entry stamp on my passport) and this is what I can do with the app:

1) I can scan pay EVERYWHERE, including the small auntie at the local market

2) I can link the payment to most of the app (grab,bolt,lazada, shoppee etc)

3) I can create a virtual debit card to buy stuff online

4) I can link that card to google/samsung pay and pay with the NFC.

5) I can top up at the true store up to 50k baht, I believe that out of every tesco lotus there's an automatic machine to do that

6) I can obviously pay at everystore which is true money friendly (7/11)

With that said, having a bank account is great but with true money I can do 99% of the things I would have done with a bank.

PS: I got cash with me so I just exchange the cash at the local superrich and then transfer it on my account. On the app there's the possibility to link it to a credit/debit card, not sure if that works just with local ones or it'll accept a foreign card as well

Someone with a DTV managed to use truemoney app to scan and pay places? it apears this option is blocked