BAJA.DESERT.RAT
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BANCOMER ATM IN LOS BARRILES
HOLA, I WENT TO THE ATM AT BANCOMER ON SUNDAY AND RECEIVED MONIES BUT DID NOT GET MY CARD BACK ! I WENT TO THE BANK TODAY, MONDAY, AND I ASKED THE
SHORT CHUBBY GUY AT THE DESK STRAIGHT IN FRONT AS YOU ENTER AND HE DID HAVE MY CARD BUT....ONLY ONE HALF OF IT AND THE OTHER HALF WAS SHREDDED AND IN
HIS WASTE BASKET !!! I KNOW I HAVE EXTRA MONIES IN MY ATM DEBIT ACCOUNT AND I ASKED HIM WHY ? HIS RESPONSE THREE TIMES WAS " POLITICS !!!! THIS IS
FACTUAL, NOT GOSSIP !
SO, YOU ARE FOREWARNED !!!! USE AN ATM THAT JUST SWIPES THE CARD AND NOT BANCOMER. DOESN'T COMER MEAN TO EAT !!!
BIEN SALUD, DA RAT
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Bajahowodd
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What bank issued your card? Just curious, as the politics thing might involve some business dispute between banks. You're right about using ATMs that
only require you to swipe the card. But, a word of warning there is to do a visual inspection before you swipe, to make certain the swiper isn't some
crook's add on to clone your card.
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noproblemo2
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That could put a person in a world of hurt if they were relying solely on their ATM for traveling or living here. Thanks for the heads up....
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oldjack
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BDR.... what politics? ... is this something between the banks or is it something else??? will you be testing the other cards at the other ATM or in
La Paz???
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BAJA.DESERT.RAT
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Hola oldjack...politics is what the bank manager, errr clerk, errr jerk or whatever told me. i don't know. that was his reply, three times with a
beffudled look !
just a caution ! BRING EXTRA CARDS WITH YOU. my bank said i could only have one card per account so i told them, OPEN FIVE NEW ACCOUNTS IN MY NAME
!!!! and i did !!!!
BIEN SALUD, DA RAT
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BAJA.DESERT.RAT
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Hola, Banamex in los barriles has an atm that just swipes the card.
bajahowodd, yes, a person should always check ANY machine before useage for any alterations.
oldjack..i have no idea what the banks and the govt. are colluding to. i have heard it's to discourage the drug cartels but in my mind, it would
definetly and directly do more harm to the tourist industry which is a big economic stimulator in baja, am not aware of how much influence gringos
have on the mainland. fortunately, i have heard the stores will still accept dollars and some, charge cards.
if a person were driving down and got into trouble with their card like i did and it was a weekend, YOU'RE STRANDED !!!! as you wouldn't be aware if
the machine shredded it or if it goes into someone elses hands and would have to return to the same location, presumeably, a bank.
BIEN SALUD, DA RAT
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gnukid
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A card would be required to be withheld and destroyed if it were suspected of being stolen or misued. It's not at all uncommon for US stores to do the
same by order of the bank and generally its for a good reason however, its also true that when a person travels to Mexico the bank triggers a
suspicious activity message for the card and often puts a hold on the card, which is why you are required to call your bank and let them you will be
traveling.
When a person in Mexico says its political it simply means that there was a rule enforced which conflicted with your desire.
Last week I was traveling in Baja and my card expired when I didn't expect it, I was stranded in Ensenada but a friend found me in moments, and with
a $50 loan I was back on track and able to get to main bank branch.
I would say that these days you need to bring adequate cash, in an emergency you could get to internet access and wire funds from your account to a
western union and pick up the cash-if you actually had any money!
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BAJA.DESERT.RAT
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Hola gnukid, thank you for your feedback.
the banks that i use are all aware of my travels as they are advised prior to my departure. my mastercard account follows up quickly whenever i use it
in mexico. my wife checks bank accounts regularly to see if there is anything unusual on our accounts.
there may be a rule that i am unaware of but i have been making the same type of withdrawels over the past few years with no problems using the same
debit.
in the past when i did happen to have an emergency, i had my wife wire funds to my accountant here in los barriles and she was very happy to give me
10-1 when the exchange rate was 15-1 !!!
western union is another fine avenue and you must make sure that your identification is EXACTLY as to which the money is being sent. and, you can pick
up the money anywhere in baja sur, so i have been told by western union in los angeles. the information on your passport is usually the best form of
identification.
NEVER let your card out of your sight ! many people have had their cards compromised by usage at COSTCO. i haven't heard about any of this abuse
lately though.
BIEN SALUD, DA RAT
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gnukid
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I totally understand. Its a precarious situation. Banks are crap. But I wouldn't blame the silly bank manager as it was an order - from a
computer!?#@!$.
I tend to bring a two compete wallets with different cards and hide one very well.
Once I was robbed by a family team in soriana who surround you and close in grabbing at you and so forth and somehow they picked my wallet even while
my hand was on it, while I pushed the kids and grandpa back, but they got it and handed it to little kid who ran. The people in the store around me
laughed and laughed, and said if you let them they will take it-ha ha. Very funny. I just laughed back, pulled out my phone and canceled the cards in
a matter of moments. They got nothing but an expired drivers license and canceled cards.
The other obvious go around for emergencies is to log in to your electronic account and wire transfer money to someone you know well preferably who
has the same bank and ask them to withdraw money for you or use paypal. These things often cost money but sometimes interbank transfers and certain
paypal transfers do not.
I just got my new card and I found a letter from another bank where I had an unused balance saying we tried to contact you for 6 months and couldn't
so we closed your account and took the money-here's a letter explaining how to request it back?
I say use cash! It worked very well this year for me. I carry very little and hide the rest. It also solves mordida, if you don't have it they can't
take it.
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BAJA.DESERT.RAT
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Hola gnukid, yes, carrying cash is probably the best but if it's in dollars, the banks won't cash them according to past posts. carrying pesos in
large amounts really does attract attention too although i believe people are intelligent enough not to display large sums ?
BIEN SALU, DA RAT
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oldjack
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BDR....
what rate/cost is available at the Casa de Cambio next to Viejo's taco joint??? maybe a reasonable alternative to the banks(if you have cash)...
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BAJA.DESERT.RAT
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Hola oldjack, as i have never had atm problems of this magnitude in baja, i have never used a casa de cambio so i'm sorry that i can't give you an
answer. i have heard some casa de cambios give the best exchange rate as i have also heard they are laundering funny monies ?
santander serfin and scotia bank are apparently related to the BofA and do not charge fees to thier customers although it's a long drive to la paz or
san jose. i did speak with an official at scotia bank and he said after opening an account, i can pass as much as i want through the account through
money transfers from the U.S. at least it's another avenue just in case the need arises.
is anyone aware of banking from mexican bank to mexican bank but only having an account in, let's say just a banamex account ? and...a dollar account
or a peso account ? what's the difference ?
BIEN SALUD, DA RAT
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