The little annoyance (2)

by Hans Bosch

I have had an account with Bangkok Bank for several years. As a foreigner without a work permit, you can only go to the head office on Silom Road in Bangkok. I now know that Kasikorn Bank is much less difficult, but I didn't know that at the time.

Anyway: I had an hour earlier with my bank card (which she had in Thailand call 'debit card' without any problems,. When I wanted to withdraw money a little later, my card was rejected by the ATMs of every bank. So to the nearest branch of the Bangkok Bank. There was a whole discussion behind the counter. The branch manager spoke some English and explained to me that I had an old bank card. The piece of plastic also stated that the thing was still valid until sometime in 2013, but well… Couldn't the bank have informed me of this fact?

She was able to issue me a new pass if I could present my work permit, bank book and passport. I happened to have that last document with me, but I usually don't carry my bank book with me and I simply don't have a work permit. Moreover, it was more than 10 kilometers to drive home. After half an hour of palavering, I had convinced the lady that I really needed money. She called the main office, handed me the receiver and told me to alert when the call center answered. That can take up to an hour at the rather old-fashioned and bureaucratic Bangkok Bank (plus you're stuck with horrible music).

In the end, my new bank card was arranged with a lot of fives and sixes. The thing is valid until the end of 2019. Before then I will experience problems with payment or withdrawing money somewhere, but whoever lives then, will take care of it.