* Get your questions answered by tens of thousands of community members
* Network with expats and english speakers living in Shanghai
* Find like-minded people in a sometimes intimidating environment
* GET ONE MONTH FREE GUANXI SMS LOOKUP SERVICE
           close
Remember?
  Forum FAQForum FAQ   SearchSearch   PreferencesPreferences  Watched TopicsWatched Topics  Watched ForumsWatched Forums
Log in to check your private messages Log in to check your private messages    Log inLog in   Ignored Users

Post new topic   Reply to topic
View previous topic Printable version Log in to check your private messages View next topic
Author Message
8lrr8
StreetBeater
StreetBeater


Joined: Oct 14, 2004
Posts: 2341
Location: here!
Post  Posted: Dec 14, 2007 - 09:57 AM  Reply with quote  Back to top
Post subject: important banking law to know

i had some euros in my acct. tried to transfer it to someone, euro to euro. the teller told me i cant do this unless the person is a family member, which requires proof of said relationship. i dont know if they meant the person can only be part of your nuclear family or extended family. since the person wasnt a family member, i had 2 options:

1. withdraw the euros, and give the cash to my friend.
2. convert the foreign currency into RMB, and then transfer it to the recipient.

i chose the latter.
View user's profile
hautumncloud
LoopKicker
LoopKicker


Joined: Nov 04, 2006
Posts: 910

Post  Posted: Dec 14, 2007 - 10:28 AM  Reply with quote  Back to top

I read with interest in this forum the many possibilities that banking within China offers but personally, I have faced so MANY obstacles and different rules from one branch (same bank!) to the other and banks to banks....finally I decided to just stick with my foreign bank accounts and use my foriegn ATM cards. It works great and especially for someone who is uncertain how long they are going to be here, its just not worth the hassle.
View user's profile
foreverinchinaOffline
PopStar
PopStar


Joined: Nov 21, 2005
Posts: 1250
Location: 徐家汇
Status: Offline
Post  Posted: Dec 14, 2007 - 12:05 PM  Reply with quote  Back to top

That's right, the ever changing rules and conditions are a nightmare.
Just an example:
2 weeks ago CMB (China Merchants Bank) and 2 other banks implemented a restriction on payments trough https://online2.shfft.com/fftweb/welcome.jsp
100 RMB is the maximum from now on.
Their "famous" help line 95555 "in English !" even didn't knew their own new rules... So they first straightly denied it. Finally after 5 telecons with the online2.shfft.com helpdesk, they had to admit it.

How do i pay may electricity bill now ?
"you can use our own on-line system" eeeuuuh, so crappy and in Chinese?
"you can use the terminal in the bank" eeeuuuh, should i go to the bank each time for that ?

So i dropped CMB and opened an account at ICBC (Industrial and Commercial Bank of China).
All statements are in Chinese+English, and they have an automatic transfer system.

But for sure, next week the rules will change again...

_________________
To govern a big country is like cooking a small fish.
Stir as little as possible.
- Lao Zi, Daode Jing 256 BC
View user's profile
underh20
Shanghai Royalty
Shanghai Royalty


Joined: Sep 27, 2006
Posts: 9647
Location: EOA Seminar
Post  Posted: Dec 15, 2007 - 10:14 PM  Reply with quote  Back to top

^ They have changed.

The government has mandated that all payments for electricity must be made through automatic debit to your bank account. Real soon you will see the electric company setting up that system and and informing all subscribers to provide a bank account they can debit. If you don't, they simply cut your power. Banks will no longer be able to accept payments either at the teller or online.

_________________
بارك الله ، بارك الله
View user's profile
Display posts from previous:     
Jump to:  
All times are GMT + 8 Hours
Post new topic   Reply to topic
View previous topic Printable version Log in to check your private messages View next topic
Powered by MDForum 2.0.7© 2003-2007 MAXdev Team
Credits
Welcome Guest

Username
Password
Remember me
Register Here!
Join the Shanghai Expat News in the Mail
Email:

Latest Newsletters
Events in Shanghai
November 18, 2008


Members
October 28, 2008


Discounts
November 20, 2008


Web ShanghaiExpat

Welcome Guest
Join Us!

Register, it's free!
 Create an account
Members: Online
Members: Members:51
Guests: Guests:511
Total: Total:562

    Home    Sitemap    Terms of Service    Privacy Policy     Contact Us    Advertising 

All logos and trademarks on this site are property of their respective owner. The comments and forum posts are property of their posters, all the rest copyright 1999-2008 by Max Intermedia LTD.

Powered by MD-Pro