ATM's

This kind of overly restrictive measures (either coming from Banco Central, a given bank, Banelco, or VISA / MC) appears fairly often, but as fast as they are enacted they are taken away or modified.

As many of you said, this measure with severely affect tourism, so it couldn't last very long after antique shop owners, restaurant managers and such start complaining to the authorities that their customers don't have access to enough cash.

I will also add that many Argentinos living abroad send money back home through additional ATM cards, so it will cause a headache for many locals too.

Andres

Withdrew my usual 600p from Banco Rio today with a Mastercard debit card. No problem. But then on the way back home I bought a bottle of Agua Blanca at a pharmacy. Upon inspection at home, I noticed it is nearly EMPTY. When will I learn to check things here before leaving the store! You gotta believe the pharmacists know what a full bottle of Agua Blanca feels like. Increible.

I just took out $AR 500 from a Banco Provincia Link ATM machine with a Chase Morgan Visa Plus debit card. I don't know if it would have given me more had I needed.

The first bank I had limit problems with was HSBC. I have used the ATM machine of the Paraguay bank (almost corner of Maipu) for years and had no problems but lately it has dropped the limit to $500. When I need more I go to the other bank on Paraguay street across the road towards Esmeralda. There I have withdrawen $1000 at a time. I never tried for more so I don't know the limit.

The lame excuse for dropping the limits for withdrawl is to avoid the "express kidnappings". The very small limits on extractions makes kidnapping a tourist and driving him around ATM machines a very unattractive option for crooks. Therefore making BS As safer for tourists and even more attractive. That is as long as they don't want to buy even a mate to take home as a souvenier to Aunt Mattilda!

Banks have screwed Argentina before and they'll do it again

I don't seem to be having any problems. I always use Banco Frances because they are close to my house and they don't charge a fee. I took out 1000 pesos again last night, and I do this two or three times a week. I think some one is yanking your chain!

Sorry to be the one to post this crappy news yesterday, but it does seem to be limited to to those using VISA / Banelco. Following some of your suggestions, I went to a Banco Ciudad today (which uses LINK) and was able to withdraw $500AR if I choose the Cirrus network. This problem is showing up on different expat forums now, too. So nobody is yanking our chain, so to speak.

In the spirit of only being able to pull out $100AR, I went to Riobamba 392 and fucked a fat chick for $50. Not a good future guys, I can tell ya that!

[QUOTE=Trader] I went to Riobamba 392 and fucked a fat chick for $50. Not a good future guys, I can tell ya that![/QUOTE]I'm sure there are quite a few posters on this board who will be PMing you for her contact info, Trader. ;)

I hit this problem Monday 2/19 at Banco Rio. Only $ar100 per transaction using Visa Plus and Banelco. I tried today at both Banco Rio and Banco Patagonia, also using Banelco and the Visa Plus card.

The manager at Banco Patagonia called some network (Visa was the number he asked a secretary for) and they told him that starting Monday the limit for Visa Plus is $ar100/ transaction, $ar300/ day. The manager at Banco Patagonia was real friendly when I sort of popped in his office asking about it. It was news to him.

I hope this is limited to Visa Plus and / or Banelco. The bank manager said Visa Plus, and did not mention Banelco. But Trader gives me hope if I can locate a Link ATM. I will try looking for other networks and try my Mastercard. There are not many options for networks here in the boondocks, unfortunately. This is how fast disaster can strike in trying to deal with these thieving banks.

I told the bank manager this was an economic disaster, but he didn't seem optimistic that there would be a fix. His remark was that it was a new policy for security, and the network didn't view it as a problem.

I have also been hitting the $ar500/ transaction limit at Banelco ATM's.

I just about squeezed all of the info into the title. Except that the machine gave me a choice of networks and I chose Visa Plus.

Bob

[QUOTE=Lexton]I hit this problem Monday 2/19 at Banco Rio. Only $ar100 per transaction using Visa Plus and Banelco. I tried today at both Banco Rio and Banco Patagonia, also using Banelco and the Visa Plus card.

I can confirm that this shit is going on in other countries, also. In Sao Paulo, ran into a 200 real ($100) limit and also the ATM's are all closed after 10 PM in the downtown area. Word is that it is a security issue, saving us from getting ripped off. Now who would take advantage of a drunk gringo at 2AM just trying to get some money for his chica? Heartless.

I haven't read thru this thread but I suppose people are just overreacting to ATM's being low/empty in Argentina from time to time. I've encountered it several times late on Friday and Saturday nights with my Visa Plus card - tried 4 or 5 machines and they were all cashed out. That's part of the reason I always carry 1 or 2 US hunskie bills in my wallet while in Argentina.

I can't help reminisce about one night way back in the good old depth-of-the-recession days of mid-2002 when I was in Mar del Plata and found all cash machines empty about 2am. I walked in to Madahos, selected my first chica and gave the cashier a US$100 which was like a bar of gold at the time. After paying the fee I still had over 300 pesos left for one hell of a night, make that weekend.

[quote=Moore]I haven't read thru this thread but I suppose people are just overreacting to ATM's being low / empty in Argentina from time to time. [/quote] [quote= Moore][/QUOTE]You need to RTFF, it's not a case of ATM's being out of money.

I have a visa card and could take 1050 pesos off the BNP office in Cordoba as usual.

I received yesterday noon 1.050p from an ATM of "Banco de la Nacion" with the "Link" sign.

I used Visa Plus system.

[QUOTE=Lexton]. The manager at Banco Patagonia was real friendly when I sort of popped in his office asking about it. His remark was that it was a new policy for security, and the network didn't view it as a problem.

I have also been hitting the $ar500/ transaction limit at Banelco ATM's.[/QUOTE]Is it really a "security" move or are there currency pressures coming to bear in the economy? Where are Hunt and the other market experts?

Polvo

I went to BNP and chose the CIRRUS option using my VISA card today. Not only did it let me withdraw money it allowed me to take out 1000 pesos. Life is good.