Procedure for bringing GBP x0K out of LHR?

my first year out here ( 2.5 years ago ) i brought 25k in cash through manchester airport , i needed to buy house and pickup cash , i dont like credit . at the time i did,nt know any better i just had it in my hand luggage . i did,nt have any problems untill i got to S.C.BANK to put into my account . took about 2 hours to prosess treated me more like i,d stolen it .

Yes, As Jimbo says YOU are supposed to declare it on leaving the UK,IF you dont and it is found in your hand luggage,YOU will face interigation by Customs & Revenue to see if it has been legally obtained and tax paid,Because they could construe it as WASHING money ( Money Laundering ) So a letter from your UK bank,or Building Society would I think suffice.I Did bring out 20,000 gbp to buy my MY WIFES House when we first came out here,But at that time I NEVER declared it as Laundering was'nt so rife,I Later found out that I could of had it confiscated,as I did'nt get a letter from my Building society,saying that it was LEGAL money from the sale of my UK House......I Certainly Would NOT Declare it at Swampypoom,They would all be running around like Headless Chickens,But go straight to a MAIN office of your chosen Thai bank and either Deposit it,or get a safety deposit box put in until the exchange rate gets better,& just change it as you need it......

if you bring shedloads of cash with you wont it show up when they x-ray your hand luggage ?
if you stuff it in your pockets it will look like your over excited in reaching thailand.
if you put it in your suitcase yore taking a bloody big risk,daft to put it mildly.
thats what atm and cards are for and if big amounts are involved a bank transfer will cost you a few quid but give you peace of mind.
my cards got flames coming out of it since i reached phuket,very expensive,but island beaches and scenery very nice.

sean

I rather just do a transfer over the phone with my bank in the UK to Kasikorn in Udon.
With HSBC it's so easy. All done through a Indian call centre, no complainants all very fast and efficient.
Although they say up to four days, it took only two, and they did ask me, what was the money to be used for.

My nerves would not take it, loaded up with bundles of cash, and having to declare to the customs in the UK, and wondering when I get to the other end what the customs might say if you get a knock.

Not wishing to complicate matters, but has he thought about obtaining a Bankers Draft in UK & bringing that over??
He should still declare it (if it is over the limit) - so that it is perfectly clear he is not money laundering it. Could have it made out in GBP or Thai Baht (I would think it would be worth asking what rate they will give). It is in his name, which sort of offers some protection - certainly more than cash. It is only 1 slip of paper so will slip into a wallet (or pocket for maybe extra security).
I know that the main Bangkok Bank branch in Udon would not be "phased" by it - as they have a desk in the "Falang section" for issuing them!!

I have previously brought large amounts of cash out of LHR and it has been in my hand luggage.

I think that the airport security are more worried about you carrying other items such as liquids to be bothered by a wad of notes that probably wont show up on an x ray scanner.

I came back to thailand a few weeks ago and saw someone at LHR with a money belt full of cash, the security woman just asked him if he had over 10,000 euros, he said no and was on his way

If it is a very large amount, you could always buy a cheap ticket to a european destination that fly's at the same time, check in with no luggage and just not turn up to the gate. as you can take out as much as you want if you are travelliing to europe!

BobHelm wrote:Not wishing to complicate matters, but has he thought about obtaining a Bankers Draft in UK & bringing that over??
He should still declare it (if it is over the limit) - so that it is perfectly clear he is not money laundering it. Could have it made out in GBP or Thai Baht (I would think it would be worth asking what rate they will give). It is in his name, which sort of offers some protection - certainly more than cash. It is only 1 slip of paper so will slip into a wallet (or pocket for maybe extra security).
I know that the main Bangkok Bank branch in Udon would not be "phased" by it - as they have a desk in the "Falang section" for issuing them!!

Unless it has changed,all cashiers checks/bank drafts take 5-6 weeks to clear!I brought a $50K cashiers check into Thailand and had to wait 6 weeks,same as if I had written a personal check,which I have done a few times!So ,I wouldn't waste my time with a cashiers check ,if you have a personal checking acct.

Well Stan, I am astounded by that I must admit.
Personal cheque I totally understand. A Bankers Draft is the same as HSBC (or who ever you draw it on) is promising to pay - not an individual. In the UK it would have the same validity as if you handed cash over the counter - in fact, more so as the money is coming from the payee bank & so should be "laundry free".
It is exactly the same as the millions & millions of interbank transactions that happen overnight every day between banks....

I agree Bob,I was surprised also.I had not planned on waiting,luckily I had brought $20K in cash,undeclared the trip before when I actually opened the account,so I was OK!I was planning on buying a car,which I did when the check cleared into my acct. 6 weeks later!

I have never asked any other banker about that incident,so I don't know if it was ''an idividuals decision'' or the actual banking policy.I have never made any trips back to the USA since,so it never was a concern again!

I just thought I should share the experience,so that someone else isn't surprised like I was!

If one is not laundering money,why not declare the cash upon leaving!I have never been searched on arrival,so I would not worry about being ripped off.

How much is your friend bringing,maybe I shoud pick him up at the airport

Too true Stan, what "has" happened is always better than what "should have" happened
Personally I would have gone ape on them.....well, maybe, probably, if I actually need the money then & there...

BKKSTAN wrote:If one is not laundering money,why not declare the cash upon leaving!

maybe he is.. ...or maybe it's awkward to explain where it came from... ... in which case the cash dash is the only option........