BajaNomad

US BANK DEBIT CARD

baron - 12-18-2011 at 02:18 PM

Wondering if the US Bank card will be usable to obtain pesos down in the baja It has PLUS, INTERLINK AND MONEY PASS on the back.

bajabass - 12-18-2011 at 02:36 PM

YUP!

DianaT - 12-18-2011 at 03:17 PM

Two suggestions---

Tell your bank you are going to Mexico and will be using the card. Our bank does not cut us off any more---but it has happened in the past.

Also, check on your daily limit---we had to have our's raised.

Same thing if you plan on using a credit card. Sometimes when an unusual charge happens, they will put a fraud alert on the card.

Have fun!

bajabass - 12-18-2011 at 04:57 PM

Good points Diana! I had both happen before I straightened out my bank!!:fire:

mcfez - 12-18-2011 at 05:09 PM

Oh yes! Very good advice
Quote:
Originally posted by DianaT
Two suggestions---

Tell your bank you are going to Mexico and will be using the card. Our bank does not cut us off any more---but it has happened in the past.

Also, check on your daily limit---we had to have our's raised.

Same thing if you plan on using a credit card. Sometimes when an unusual charge happens, they will put a fraud alert on the card.

Have fun!

KASHEYDOG - 12-18-2011 at 05:36 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DianaT
Two suggestions---

Tell your bank you are going to Mexico and will be using the card. Our bank does not cut us off any more---but it has happened in the past.

Also, check on your daily limit---we had to have our's raised.

Same thing if you plan on using a credit card. Sometimes when an unusual charge happens, they will put a fraud alert on the card.

Have fun!


Absolutely great advise. In fact if you want to be sure call them every time you go down just before getting to the border. I've had it noted on my accounts but have still been blocked while down there. Typically what happens is you get to use it once and the second time it's blocked. So, I've programmed the banks customer service or fraud department number in my phone and I'll call on the way down. They are always very helpful and want to know how many days you're going to be there, so I usually give them a couple of days longer just in case. Works well that way...

DianaT - 12-18-2011 at 07:00 PM

Glad to see we are not the only ones who had the cut you off bank or credit card problems. I loved it when I called one of the credit card companies from Mexico and they told me that I should have answered their calls to me on my cell phone---the US cell phone which does not work in Mexico! I asked them if I could list my Mexican cell phone with them to call next time-----answer, no way. :D

Also baron, another heads-up to consider. I don't know where you are going, but please be aware that after the San Quintin area, the next bank and ATM is in Guerrero Negro---unless I have missed one??? Also, there are no ATMs or banks in most of the rural areas and credit cards are useless.

baron - 12-18-2011 at 11:33 PM

Muchas gracias a todos!
Great info.

mcfez - 12-19-2011 at 08:21 AM

Yes...I got caught in Mexico with a "stop action" card too. American Express card! So much for those ads of....use it anywhere :-)

Np......went to use my other card. :-(


Yeah......fun day.
Quote:
Originally posted by DianaT
Glad to see we are not the only ones who had the cut you off bank or credit card problems. I loved it when I called one of the credit card companies from Mexico and they told me that I should have answered their calls to me on my cell phone---the US cell phone which does not work in Mexico! I asked them if I could list my Mexican cell phone with them to call next time-----answer, no way. :D

Also baron, another heads-up to consider. I don't know where you are going, but please be aware that after the San Quintin area, the next bank and ATM is in Guerrero Negro---unless I have missed one??? Also, there are no ATMs or banks in most of the rural areas and credit cards are useless.

Iflyfish - 12-19-2011 at 08:28 AM

Best exchange rates are via the bank machines, US bank is my bank and I have used it all over Mexico, including Baja.

Iflyfish

KASHEYDOG - 12-19-2011 at 09:42 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by DianaT
Glad to see we are not the only ones who had the cut you off bank or credit card problems. I loved it when I called one of the credit card companies from Mexico and they told me that I should have answered their calls to me on my cell phone the US cell phone which does not work in Mexico! I asked them if I could list my Mexican cell phone with them to call next time-----answer, no way. :D

Also baron, another heads-up to consider. I don't know where you are going, but please be aware that after the San Quintin area, the next bank and ATM is in Guerrero Negro---unless I have missed one??? Also, there are no ATMs or banks in most of the rural areas and credit cards are useless.


Don't know what carrier your using but I know that Verizon and Sprint / Nextel both will put you on an Baja plan at no charge so their phones work where there is cell phone coverage. You only get charged for the calls as long distance and Mexican charges. But at least they work. Only bad part is there's no caller I.D. so you can't screen them. Give them a call and ask about Baja coverage. Works for me.....:yes:

danaeb - 12-19-2011 at 09:51 AM

Another thing about using credit cards in Mexico - the foreign transaction fee varies from bank to bank. I was very suprised to learn that my AmEx charge is substantially lower than my Barclays MC. It's good to ask when you notify your CC company about your travel plans.

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 12-19-2011 at 05:23 PM

Hola baron,

may i suggest you getting a couple of extra debit cards from your bank. you'll have to open them as new accounts.

i had my debit card " EATEN " by a bancomer atm in los barriles. there was nothing wrong with my account and the bank manager just told me it was " POLICY " ???

fortunately, i had opened another account with my bank before heading south.

when i returned home, i opened two more and another with a different bank. JUS IN CASE !

it has been recomended to use an atm at a bank. as in the states, always check the area you place your card to make sure it hasn't been altered.

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 12-19-2011 at 05:26 PM

P.S. by EATEN, the machine shredded the card internally and the manager did return my card parts when i asked for them.

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

mcfez - 12-19-2011 at 07:59 PM

:light::light::light:
Quote:
Originally posted by BAJA.DESERT.RAT
Hola baron,

may i suggest you getting a couple of extra debit cards from your bank. you'll have to open them as new accounts.

i had my debit card " EATEN " by a bancomer atm in los barriles. there was nothing wrong with my account and the bank manager just told me it was " POLICY " ???

fortunately, i had opened another account with my bank before heading south.

when i returned home, i opened two more and another with a different bank. JUS IN CASE !

it has been recomended to use an atm at a bank. as in the states, always check the area you place your card to make sure it hasn't been altered.

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

Bajajorge - 12-20-2011 at 10:03 AM

I've found that some banks require that you notify them that you will be in Mexico for security reasons. BofA locked my card out one time due to my being SOB and not notifying them.

durrelllrobert - 12-20-2011 at 11:09 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Iflyfish
Best exchange rates are via the bank machines, US bank is my bank and I have used it all over Mexico, including Baja.

Iflyfish
even with the 20.98 pesos the MX ATM charges for using their machine, and the $5 that Wells Fargo charges for using someone elses machine, I got a rate of 13.59 peso/$ yesterday.

tjBill - 12-21-2011 at 12:45 PM

US Bank ATM card is the worst card to use abroad.

They charge a 3% foreign currency transaction fee plus a $2.50 foreign ATM service charge. :o