Grab in Thailand- bank won’t allow me to add my payment card

[londonroad]

Off to Thailand next month for my first visit.
Was setting up Grab last night and tried to add my payment card to the app to make purchases work better. My bank (a major High St UK bank) declined my payment of 11p - which had been generated by the Grab administrators. I tried again to use my UK bank card agin - it was declined a second time.
I spoke to my bank and the staff member (on the phone) informed me the payment had been automatically refused and he was unable to pash payment through. He said the Bank won’t allow payments to this Grab site and referred me to the fraud/scam payments warning documents. He could offer no solution apart from if I had a card from another Bank to try it.

I am wondering if anyone else on here has been able to add a Uk Bank card to the Grab app? I notice I have an option to pay money into my Grab account by doing a bank transfer. Has anyone tried this?

[londonroad]

Off to Thailand next month for my first visit.
Was setting up Grab last night and tried to add my payment card to the app to make purchases work better. My bank (a major High St UK bank) declined my payment of 11p - which had been generated by the Grab administrators. I tried again to use my UK bank card agin - it was declined a second time.
I spoke to my bank and the staff member (on the phone) informed me the payment had been automatically refused and he was unable to pash payment through. He said the Bank won’t allow payments to this Grab site and referred me to the fraud/scam payments warning documents. He could offer no solution apart from if I had a card from another Bank to try using it.

I am wondering if anyone else on here has been able to add a Uk Bank card to the Grab app? I notice I have an option to pay money into my Grab account by doing a bank transfer. Has anyone tried this?

[southcoastpunter]

Does it give you a pay by cash” option? If so go for that as apart from BKK to Pattaya, most taxi bills will be 40-150 baht!
I use Bolt rather than Grab and that gives a cash option ( or at least it did 4 years ago when I downloaded the app)

[Birdhunter]

I always use Bolt in Thailand.  Just pay with cash.

[seandana]

I have used Grab in Thailand on numerous occasions, I set up a Wise account which comes with a card , I have had no problems linking it to My Grab account. Wise is similar to monzo you can load cash into your app and have multiple currencies depending on where you are visiting.

[Fatman]

I use Revolut bank/card and not a problem with grab… fantastic way of moving cash into different currencies. Some of the English high street banks belong in toy town with Noddie and friends.

[ulstersubbie]

I use Bolt rather than Grab and that gives a cash option ( or at least it did 4 years ago when I downloaded the app)

It still does, I was in Thailand last year. Bolt is definitely the better option if you're travelling to that part of the world.

[john69se]

For cash withdrawals in Bangkok where is best to do so?

[londonroad]

I use Revolut bank/card and not a problem with grab… fantastic way of moving cash into different currencies. Some of the English high street banks belong in toy town with Noddie and friends.

Thanks.

I agree with your comment about the main Uk banks. I suspect the bank once had an issue with a chargeback from grap and they decided to block them. I’m opening up a few other bank accounts with higher atm free withdrawal limits so will try adding one of the them to Bolt.

[londonroad]

For cash withdrawals in Bangkok where is best to do so?

I am told take unmarked £50 notes and exchange them at the currency exchange places away from the airport. Don’t make lots of small atm withdrawals as this will generate loads of fees.

[ronthebrummie]

Are you using a debit or credit card?
Debit might be something to do exchange rates and charges??

[seandana]

I am told take unmarked £50 notes and exchange them at the currency exchange places away from the airport. Don’t make lots of small atm withdrawals as this will generate loads of fees.

You will get a good rate at the airport at Super Rich down in the basement where you get the train into Bangkok £50 notes are definitely your best friend when it comes to exchanging.

[londonroad]

Are you using a debit or credit card?
Debit might be something to do exchange rates and charges??

The card which got blocked was a credit card. I spoke to the bank asking why they won’t approved me using the card on Grab and they said it was the beneficiary. As mentioned earlier my inclination is that the high st bank has had a previous problem with Grab and they have just decided to put it on the banned list.
I’ve have now decided that I won’t try to add a different card to the app, but instead will use local currency as my payment option.

[Fatman]

Taking cash …totally agree change what you need but be ready for uk customs to ask questions about taking 3 k in cash though LHR had a fuck you exchange with them after my cash was drug checked 🤷‍♂️😱

[VFM]

I am going to Asia next month and I linked my Barclays current account to Grab without any issues.  My WeChat is also working ok 
I have installed Thai friendly and I still have a Line account from a few years ago.  I will subscribe to Tinder Gold next week and start swiping.

[Slogman812]

Off to Thailand next month for my first visit.
Was setting up Grab last night and tried to add my payment card to the app to make purchases work better. My bank (a major High St UK bank) declined my payment of 11p - which had been generated by the Grab administrators. I tried again to use my UK bank card agin - it was declined a second time.
I spoke to my bank and the staff member (on the phone) informed me the payment had been automatically refused and he was unable to pash payment through. He said the Bank won’t allow payments to this Grab site and referred me to the fraud/scam payments warning documents. He could offer no solution apart from if I had a card from another Bank to try it.

I am wondering if anyone else on here has been able to add a Uk Bank card to the Grab app? I notice I have an option to pay money into my Grab account by doing a bank transfer. Has anyone tried this?

There is an issue with any cards issued by Lloyd’s Banking Group that basically puts a soft block on the transaction when trying to add a card to grab in THB , doesn’t affect other countries such as adding in Malaysia or Indonesia.

Either use a different card or link to a fx fee free debit card which only holds a small pot … Wise or Chase come to mind.
Bolt worked fine

Your guy in the bank was talking rubbish - it’s basically faliing to generate a 3ds auth request

[londonroad]

There is an issue with any cards issued by Lloyd’s Banking Group that basically puts a soft block on the transaction when trying to add a card to grab in THB , doesn’t affect other countries such as adding in Malaysia or Indonesia.

Either use a different card or link to a fx fee free debit card which only holds a small pot … Wise or Chase come to mind.
Bolt worked fine

Your guy in the bank was talking rubbish - it’s basically faliing to generate a 3ds auth request

Thanks for this. This sounds a far more plausible explanation than Bank gave me. Yes it was a Lloyds bank card. Since making my post I have acquired a couple of the cards you have suggested. If I have enough local currency I will use cash, as that will avoid any potential unsuspecting bank charges, but it is re-assuring to know I can use one of the cards you suggest.
Thanks again for your comments/information.

[southcoastpunter]

If I have enough local currency I will use cash, as that will avoid any potential unsuspecting bank charges, but it is re-assuring to know I can use one of the cards you suggest.

Apart from to and from the airport and perhaps BKK to and from Pattaya , most taxi fares will be relatively low (40-150 baht) so it’s usually better to pay in cash!

Remember , in Thailand, it’s totally different to the uk - cash is king. In the uk , I hardly carry any cash and sometimes none at all! In Thailand it’s completely the other way around. Sometimes I don’t take a card with me at all, just the cash that I think I need for the day or evening and a bit of “contingency “ cash! Everywhere takes cash , some/many places do not take cards!

[pilgrim]

A few points to answer various topics raised.
Cash through the airport on the way out. Ive always kept my withdrawal receipt from the UK bank with the pristine 50s in an envelope.  Some times its been 2K other times 4K. Google says there is no limit but if carrying 10K you must declare to customs.
Ive had to order my pristine 50s through the bank and whilst on the phone Ive asked the assistant to make a note on my account that Im travelling in SE Asia just in case they block my card. If you do lose your card just inform the bank PDQ incase it gets used. Make sure to recover your card from the machine. They do the sequence different to the UK.
As frequently mentioned. Just exchange the bare minimum at the airport to allow you to get to BKK or Pattaya ect then use one of the numerous street booths to exchange your UK notes. They seem to open 9am till 9pm

[Treskilion]

The Thai banks/money changers are VERY fussy about the state of the notes. Even a small rumple, a tiny pen mark or fold will result in immediate rejection.
I always take cash but do not order it through the bank. Sometimes the notes come with blemishes.
It is far better to withdraw via the UK ATMs as the notes seem always pristine.
You also get a better exchange rate with Sterling in cash.

[stevesucks69]

Taking cash …totally agree change what you need but be ready for uk customs to ask questions about taking 3 k in cash though LHR had a fuck you exchange with them after my cash was drug checked 🤷‍♂️😱

Why did customs get involved as you don't have to declare it until £10k!

[Fatman]

Why did customs get involved as you don't have to declare it until £10k!

I don’t know 🤷‍♂️ it was Terminal 2 lhr security as I explained I was heading to Asia with uk cash,Thai Bart and as always $500 us greenbacks. I was about to quote the £10 k law to the clowns (if you employ the third world you get a third world airport)