ATM question #2

[Bill123]

I am changing the topic a bit here, so decided to start a new thread.

Yes, I agree that a plain ol' ATM card would be best for cash, and a credit card for purchases.

But my question is this: What happens if you are down there and your magnetic stripe stops working? It happens quite often to a card. It's next to impossible to get a new card.

So do you:

1) If it happened to one card, you could at least use the other card for cash.

2) Or can you just go INTO the bank and get money there?

I have so far had no luck in getting two cards on an account, one as a backup. I tried this, but with no luck yet.

Thanks.

[Kent]

Open 2 accounts and spread your money between them both. Find a bank that has free checking and it won't cost you anything. Several banks in my city are currently doing this now. Take 2 credit cards with you for emergencies that will allow $3000-$5000 cash advances on them and do not use your social security last four as the pin #. Some one posted a suggestion about doing the same for sending money to the ladies and regulating it from here. Great concept.

[desertdan]

Bill123 , i have a checking card or debit card, it very often fails to be read by the machines or scanners, im not sure about Colombia but here in the USA they simply take the numbers off the card, punch them in manually and walla your good to go. it is a little imbarrassing when your in line and your card will not work!, but after it is manually punched in you feel a lot better. again i don't know if this is the way it works in Colombia, and that doesn't help at all if your at a machine drawing out of your account. the banks will glady process your card for you up to your daily limit. hope that helps some.

fjs:

My experience has been a little different. I've found hotels perfectly happy to take payment with travelers checks, and to exchange them for pesos. And I've felt a little safer with them. Yes, they're a hassle to get and cost a little, but I haven't had problems with them with the hotels.

Bill,

I know credit cards get renewed at least every two years while "plain jane" ATM cards don't. So if your going down to Colombia and you feel the magnetic strip has seen its day, for a a nominal fee order a new card or more often then not it's free anyhow. Then try the new card a few times at a local branch so you know it's good, so at least this way your mind will be at ease when your in Colombia...

FYI: Do yourself a favor leave the AMEX traveler checks at home they aren't worth the hassle and the exchange is not as good as the ATM machines. I know because I used them my first two times.. I just got back from a tour with a bunch of veterans and nobody that I knew bought down travelers checks..

Sorry Doc, I just as well not, being now I have done with and without the travlers checks.

American Express has a branch in every major Colombian city, so I bring my AMEX card for an emergency if I need to access my local banks checking account which AMEX will do if you set it up previous to going down. Being AMEX has global type access it's probably good for an emergency also.

The other emergency card people should probably get is a Citi bank card , being there is branch in every major colombian city... You sure as heck ain't gonna find a First Union in Barranquilla or Cali..

BTW: The Hotel El Prado (for a 5% fee ) would advance me up to 100,000 peso just by tacking it on to my room bill which I paid by credit card & "sometimes" the hotel credit card purchases take up to over 30 days to clear colombia while ATM are instant.

[Bill123]

I agree--the two account thing would indeed work. But today I found out that my bank is finally going to let its customers have two cards for each account. The problem is that they won't be offering this til the end of the year.