How does your UK pension arrive and what code?

[Thailand]

Mine arrives via Citibank Thailand and shows as Bahtnet which isn't FTT the only known accepted designation.so complications via the extension of stay based on monthly income.

 

i asked the UK pensions office if they could help/advise and the second paragraph of the the reply was this:

 

"We pay to the currancy of the country you reside in we do not pay to stirling accounts overseas"

 

 

 

 

[Jeffrey346]

It doesn't matter if the transfer is made in Baht or Stirling. They just need to code it properly as an Intl transfer. 

Sounds like a Citibank issue..

[Estrada]

The UK Pension office pays mine to Bangkok Bank London in Stirling. The details can be found on your bank's web site. For BBL all the details and forms are available on,one via personal banking service.

 

If you currently receive UK-based payments such as a pension, annuity or salary, you can arrange for your payments to be directly deposited into your account at Bangkok Bank in Thailand via Bangkok Bank’s London branch. You may also send money to any other bank in Thailand.

Process

• You will need to first register and obtain a unique reference code to send funds to Thailand via Bangkok Bank’s London branch. Registration can be made either in person or in writing, using the Client Pension Registration Form with the following documentation and transaction details:

• • Copy of your passport - an original is preferred if visiting the London branch in person.
  • Proof of address - a recent utility bill or bank statement bearing your name and address. Original documentation will be returned upon completion of the funds transfer registration.
  • Copy of your Bangkok Bank passbook account - the account may be your name or that of another person.
  • Details of the origin of funds - you will need to specify the name of your state/private pension provider or company where the funds originated.
  • Expected amount and frequency of funds transfers (single or recurring) to Thailand.

• Our London branch will post a confirmation letter to you, including the unique reference code and registered bank details.

• Provide the confirmation details to your state/private pension provider or company for them to process with each payment.

[Alphonsothethird]

23 minutes ago, Jeffrey346 said:

It doesn't matter if the transfer is made in Baht or Stirling. They just need to code it properly as an Intl transfer. 

Sounds like a Citibank issue..

Actually not just a Citibank issue.  When the issue of requiring income to be denoted as a foreign transfer into a Thai bank first arose I changed my UK state pension and a private pension to be remitted directly to my Thai Bangkok Bank account. My UK state pension arrived denoted as bathnet and my private pension as internal transfer.

 

Quickly reverted to being paid into my UK bank and remit to Thailand by other means to ensure that they are shown as FTT

[JustinCredible]

Citibank send my payments direct to my SCB account. They always show as "IFT" (International Fund Transfer).

[gregsmithy]

I receive a UK civil service pension which is processed by citibank to my Kasikorn account and this shows as BNT (bahtnet). 

I have also transferred money from HSBC by swift and oddly this also showed as BNT.

 

I tried and failed to resolve the issue of the code with both my bank and immigration both offered sympathy but not much else. I chose to revert to a non o multi entry visa, which I have to say also removed a lot of stress from the whole process. As long as the option is still available it beats the mountain of paperwork and uncomfortable feeling when visiting an immigration office for an extension. 

[crazykopite]

I don’t do it but many do and that’s pay an agent to sort out your extension of stay I don’t know how they do it but somehow they can get around all this financial requirements.if things get any tougher I might have to look at doing it myself next time . At the moment my U.K. pensions go into my U.K. bank and I live off my 800 k immigration deposit then three months before reapplying I send the amount needed to take it back up to the 800k it’s a merry go-round but it saves me transfer costs by doing it once rather than every month . I just had a friend who has now got issues with his monthly pension due to the incorrect transfer coding he is currently in KL as he’s going to go down the multi entry route like me he is not sure about using an agent 

[Hotrats]

I receive my UK State Pension directly every 28 days into my Bangkok Bank account in Thailand. It comes into my local account with the reference BAHTNET. My understanding is the UK pension office send the payments for pensioners living in Thailand in bulk to a central clearing bank here, from where it is distributed to all the individual accounts. Hence the receiving account does not register it as an international payment (with FTT) because it has been received from the local clearing bank in Thai Baht.

[Griffo63]

I have my pension paid into my UK bank account and then transferred (when the exchange looks best - difficult at present ) into my Thai Bank Account. 

[Bangkok Barry]

18 hours ago, Thailand said:

"We pay to the currancy of the country you reside in we do not pay to stirling accounts overseas"

 

Interesting that the use of English in the UK Pensions Office has fallen to such a low level. Three errors in one short message is quite extraordinary. I've received poor English emails from the UK passport people at the Trendy Building, but they are Thais and you might expect them not to be perfect, but in the UK?

Edited September 12, 2019 by Bangkok Barry

[Bangkok Barry]

1 hour ago, gregsmithy said:

I chose to revert to a non o multi entry visa, which I have to say also removed a lot of stress from the whole process. As long as the option is still available it beats the mountain of paperwork and uncomfortable feeling when visiting an immigration office for an extension. 

 

Totally agree. I'm lucky though that I can quickly pop over into Laos and be back home in time for lunch when I have to make a completely pointless but required 90-day exit.

[trubrit]

How do you guy's resident here keep a Uk bank acct?When my bank, Lloyds found out I wasn't in the UK they closed my acct and other banks I asked said the same, must be resident to open an account. Recently I asked for my govt pension to be paid into my Transferwise  acct in UK, got a reply 2 months later they only pay into recognised banks not the likes of Transferwise .So i'm still stuck with receiving it through Citibank with an internal transfer into Bangkok Bank .

[Bangkok Barry]

18 minutes ago, trubrit said:

How do you guy's resident here keep a Uk bank acct?When my bank, Lloyds found out I wasn't in the UK they closed my acct and other banks I asked said the same, must be resident to open an account. Recently I asked for my govt pension to be paid into my Transferwise  acct in UK, got a reply 2 months later they only pay into recognised banks not the likes of Transferwise .So i'm still stuck with receiving it through Citibank with an internal transfer into Bangkok Bank .

 

I've had my account with HSBC, formally Midland, for decades. Might be close to 40 years by now. And they've had no problem with me being in Thailand and they use my Thai address for communications. But things changed several years ago and from what I understand new accounts can't be opened if you are not a UK resident. I was 'grandfathered', as they call it.
Interestingly, I also have a Barclays Visa card as I used to bank with them even before Midland/HSBC. Three of four years ago I received a letter from them saying that unless I provided a UK address they would close the account. I didn't bother, as I have my HSBC Visa/debit. A few months after the so-called 'deadline' I received a routine letter from them relating to the assumed cancelled account. I called them, and they knew nothing of the threatened closure and I've used the card ever since. Any new card has to be sent to my sister in the UK as they refuse to send to Thailand as the postal service is so insecure (my local postman destroyed all the mail for months), and she sends it on to me.

[spornb]

2 hours ago, gregsmithy said:

As long as the option is still available it beats the mountain of paperwork and uncomfortable feeling when visiting an immigration office for an extension

At 75 in poor health, I find immigration on marriage extension way too stressful

 

Even after ten yrs they always find something wrong, and also an immaterial item, my cash is always as required, we play the game and dress respectfully as well

 

All too often we are told if you do not like it leave, by some junior civil servant

 

I would willingly pay a reasonable amount to get rid of all this, like 5000 pa to an agent for renewal and 90 day reports,

 

anyone know of anyone needs to be KhonKaen

[chilly07]

Pension payed into UK NatWest account then to Transferwise for the best exchange rate and lowest fee then into Bangkok Bank always showing as an International Transfer FTT for no additional fee. Don't see where the problem is?

[john terry1001]

41 minutes ago, chilly07 said:

Pension payed into UK NatWest account then to Transferwise for the best exchange rate and lowest fee then into Bangkok Bank always showing as an International Transfer FTT for no additional fee. Don't see where the problem is?

I have a Lloyds account and like you transfer using Transferwise to my Bangkok Bank. Always shows as an FTT transfer. I don't have a problem.

 

The problem is for people who don't have a UK bank account and have not maintained a UK address. They can't get a UK bank Account so have to resort to having their pensions directly to their Thai Bank but those UK State and private Pension companies now appear to be using a transfer system which shows up in the Thai bank with a BNT (bahtnet) code. This is not an International transfer code so is not normally acceptable to Thai Immigration.

 

Having an offshore (expat?) bank account that your pension is paid into is one option and most UK banks provide that service, but those accounts usually require a minimum of £4-5,000 held permanently in the account.

[jacko45k]

3 hours ago, trubrit said:

How do you guy's resident here keep a Uk bank acct?

It is a palaver. I received calls from HSBC (well from Indians) multiple times, but kept prodding at it and eventually got the overseas address accepted. Other solution, don't tell them. 

[trubrit]

Has anyone else tried to get their UK govt pension paid into a Transferwise acct? What was the answer?

[Nong Khai Man]

7 hours ago, Hotrats said:

I receive my UK State Pension directly every 28 days into my Bangkok Bank account in Thailand. It comes into my local account with the reference BAHTNET. My understanding is the UK pension office send the payments for pensioners living in Thailand in bulk to a central clearing bank here, from where it is distributed to all the individual accounts. Hence the receiving account does not register it as an international payment (with FTT) because it has been received from the local clearing bank in Thai Baht.

Mine comes in every 28 Days Also, But I Was told by The U.K Pensions Service they pay ALL Pensions ( Worldwide ) into Citibank London 14 Days before they send them out to us pensioners, Just THINK How much Interest Citibank MAKE On that amount !! When mine comes into BBL They even take 110 Baht out of my PITTANCE !!

Edited September 12, 2019 by Nong Khai Man

[Nong Khai Man]

6 hours ago, Griffo63 said:

I have my pension paid into my UK bank account and then transferred (when the exchange looks best - difficult at present ) into my Thai Bank Account. 

But...............Don't you're U,K Bank Account charge you a Transfer Fee  for that ???

[Nong Khai Man]

6 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

 

Totally agree. I'm lucky though that I can quickly pop over into Laos and be back home in time for lunch when I have to make a completely pointless but required 90-day exit.

Me Too Barry, I Live a whole 10 Minutes from the Friendship Bridge 1 

[Nong Khai Man]

6 hours ago, trubrit said:

How do you guy's resident here keep a Uk bank acct?When my bank, Lloyds found out I wasn't in the UK they closed my acct and other banks I asked said the same, must be resident to open an account. Recently I asked for my govt pension to be paid into my Transferwise  acct in UK, got a reply 2 months later they only pay into recognised banks not the likes of Transferwise .So i'm still stuck with receiving it through Citibank with an internal transfer into Bangkok Bank .

Easy....I've had my U.K Bank Account since 1985 & Has been in Credit Since.....I Was Told by them that If it Ever had a Negative Balance THEY Would then Close it & I Wouldn't be allowed to open a new one as I'm not a U.K Resident Any Longer....

 

Just to Add,My U.K Bank has NO Problem with me being in Thailand, I Receive a Statement from them each time I Withdraw Any Money on my Visa Debit Card at my THAI Address !!

Edited September 12, 2019 by Nong Khai Man

[ThaiPauly]

3 hours ago, john terry1001 said:

I have a Lloyds account and like you transfer using Transferwise to my Bangkok Bank. Always shows as an FTT transfer. I don't have a problem.

 

The problem is for people who don't have a UK bank account and have not maintained a UK address. They can't get a UK bank Account so have to resort to having their pensions directly to their Thai Bank but those UK State and private Pension companies now appear to be using a transfer system which shows up in the Thai bank with a BNT (bahtnet) code. This is not an International transfer code so is not normally acceptable to Thai Immigration.

 

Having an offshore (expat?) bank account that your pension is paid into is one option and most UK banks provide that service, but those accounts usually require a minimum of £4-5,000 held permanently in the account.

50,000 is the minimum amount you can open an offshore HSBC account with in Jersey, OR you can put it "under management" eg you can let them put it in an offshore bond for you where it will get good interest, you don't have to keep it in your current account which pays 0.00% interest

[Moonlover]

@Thailand this coding is not an issue at all. Simply ask your bank to provide you with proof that it was a foreign remittance. Krungsri did this for me on all my deposits in less than 30 mins and they were accepted by immigration.

 

Just had an afterthought. Get yourself a letter from DWP stating what your current pension is. Immigration asked for that and luckily, I had one.

Edited September 12, 2019 by Moonlover

[Nong Khai Man]

5 hours ago, spornb said:

At 75 in poor health, I find immigration on marriage extension way too stressful

 

Even after ten yrs they always find something wrong, and also an immaterial item, my cash is always as required, we play the game and dress respectfully as well

 

All too often we are told if you do not like it leave, by some junior civil servant

 

I would willingly pay a reasonable amount to get rid of all this, like 5000 pa to an agent for renewal and 90 day reports,

 

anyone know of anyone needs to be KhonKaen

Forget The Agent,YOU Can do the Non-Imm " O " Multi Entry based on MARRIAGE at Savanakhet ( Laos ) But You'll need to Border Hop Every 90 Days IF You are able too....

Edited September 12, 2019 by Nong Khai Man
I SWORE......Naughty Boy !!

[Suradit69]

On September 11, 2019 at 3:31 PM, Thailand said:

We pay to the currancy of the country you reside in we do not pay to stirling accounts overseas"

People at the UK pension office can't spell currency  ?  ?

[dabhand]

37 minutes ago, Suradit69 said:

People at the UK pension office can't spell currency  ?  ?

Or 'sterling'!!

[Postmaster]

I was going to suggest try Transferwise for the Pension transfer but Truebrit already gave us the answer.

No can't do

[Thailand]

37 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

@Thailand this coding is not an issue at all. Simply ask your bank to provide you with proof that it was a foreign remittance. Krungsri did this for me on all my deposits in less than 30 mins and they were accepted by immigration.

 

Just had an afterthought. Get yourself a letter from DWP stating what your current pension is. Immigration asked for that and luckily, I had one.

I did, they didn't.

Also Bangkok Bank have their own code for international transfers, it is GPSD and shows on annual statements from BB head office.

.

Bangkok Bank assured me that immigration would accept this (GPSD) for the pension and other overseas income transfers as they had informed the immigration office in question.

I said I bet they don't ,BB said they will, they didn't.

[DEKARUN]

I made a direct request to DWP several years ago and my UK pension was paid direct to Siam Commercial Bank and is coded as IFT. I understand it is handled by Citi Bank and from the date due it takes 9 working days sometimes longer if holiday is involved. My Local Council pension takes only 3 days from the date due and that is also handled by Citi Bank and is also coded as IFT. Dwp don't want to know about this and from what I have heard 9 working days is far from normal for other UK pensioners. It used to take the DWP six working days to pay my pension into my UK Bank account from the date due - in this day and age almost unheard of.