[Idyllchat] Warning: ATM problems in Italy (and maybe elsewhere?!)

[Russell Crum]

Terry,

We have used our ATM card on almost annual trips to Europe (and China)  
over the past ten years and never experienced the problems you  
described. Unless others can confirm a change in policies, I think  
you  can do us all a favor by telling us who the offending bank was so  
that it can be avoided.

Russ

On Jun 22, 2008, at 18:58 , Terry Baraldi wrote:

> I'd be interested to hear if anyone else has had a recent bad  
> experience using ATMs abroad?
> Our long awaited vacation was nearly ruined due to problems my  
> husband and I had accessing our money in Italy.
>
> After advising bank (we'll call it "W") of our travel dates, my  
> husband and I arrived in Rome and went to the nearest BancoMat, only  
> to have our cards spit back out advising us to contact our bank.   
> Exact wording was "Your bank has requested that we return your card".
>
> First phone call to "W" lasted 27 minutes (@ $1.29 per on my cell).   
> This scenario was repeated not less than five times during the next  
> 14 days.  Our cards would work sporadically, but we never knew when  
> it would shut down again, requiring yet another 1/2 hr phone call to  
> the US.
>
> FYI: "W"'s internt'l toll-free number did not work in Italy and I  
> estimate that my phone bills will top $200.  And what would I have  
> done if I hadn't brought my cell phone?  Or been with friends who  
> could access their accounts and float us a loan?
>
> First call: I was told that, even though I had advised "W" as I  
> should, the problem was with VISA, who, as their co-partner, had a  
> deeper security protocol, and could and might very well block my  
> card at any point in time, and "W", so sorry, had no control over  
> that, but no, I couldn't call VISA myself....excuse me????  Had to  
> answer a very odd multiple choice security test.
>
> Subsequent calls:
>
> They blamed the European bank machines.  Had to re-take the multiple  
> choice security test.
>
> They were protecting us against fraud (but apparently not against  
> finding ourselves penniless in a foreign land), and they could only  
> unblock our cards for three business days.  (Let us slide on the test)
>
> Then they told us that they really didn't know what the problem was,  
> but, if we would just answer some multiple choice security questions  
> we could continue to enjoy our vacation, and thanks for calling "W".
>
> Finally we were told that we were trying to take too much money per  
> 24 hrs.
>
> NOTE: The access limit with most all banks seems to be set at around  
> $400 per 24 hrs...which at the current rate of exchange is only  
> slightly more than 250 Euros, which, based on the fairly high cost  
> of living in major European cities, is not a comfortable  
> amount...especially when some smaller hotels, eateries, and many  
> retailers still want payment in cash.  While our traveling  
> companions did not have the same repeated problems with blocked  
> access, we all experienced hitting the limit.
>
> Will travelers need to revert to travelers' checks and cash advances?
>
> I don't know if this is an endemic problem or one specific to my  
> soon-to-be-former bank, but I do blame "W" for
> not advising me of any of these new security levels or possible  
> pitfalls during my pre-trip phonecall.  And I think that they should  
> have been responsible for interfacing with VISA security.
>
> So...If you are planning a trip, my advice is to thoroughly question  
> your bank prior to departure, and to see if they will increase your  
> access limits for a defined period....after all, it is your money.
>
> The capper is that during all this, "W" left a message on our home  
> phone...seems there was some unusual activity on our card that they  
> wanted to ask us about.  I couldn't make this stuff up!
>
>
>
> Terry Baraldi
> Lansdowne PA
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Russ Crum
rrcrum1 at gmail.com




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