ATM's

[QUOTE=Polvo]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[/QUOTE]My opinion is worth exactly what you're paying for it, Polvo, but along market lines I would recommend not holding significant amounts of cash in the form of Argentine pesos. Keep your money in Dollars, Euro, Pounds Sterling, or other stable currencies.

Argentina has a long history of having its economy and currency go straight to hell about every 10 years. We're now six years since the last meltdown. You do the math. ;)

I got $ar 1000 at the Link at the YPF service station on Autopista this morning using Visa Plus - It seems that the virus is contained to a few banks - HSBC are the worse fuckers!

A few other forums are very "alive" with this topic. For the time being it seems that the way to go is with LINK. Locations near you can be found here:

[url]http://www.redlink.com.ar/Cajeros/index.htm[/url]

I used the "Link" cash machine located in the Ricoletta Hard Rock area. Actually it's the first time I've used a cash machine here so I had my gf assist me thinking I may have a problem with the Spanish. But wee were supprized to find that it was also in English. I used my Mastercard debit card and I started out requesting 1500p which was rejected so I lowered to 1000p which was also rejected. I then tried 600p which was excepted and paid. I have 2 card with me (something I highly recommend) from this same account so later this week I am going to try both cards at the same time (one after the other) and see if it will payout on both cards. I checked my bank account on-line the next day and found that the exchange rate given was 3.096 which is better then anything I've seen before. And there were no charges for the trasaction. So for me at least this is a great situation. I just hope it stays that way.

[QUOTE=Hound]A few other forums are very "alive" with this topic. For the time being it seems that the way to go is with LINK. Locations near you can be found here:

[url]http://www.redlink.com.ar/Cajeros/index.htm[/url][/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Jbrlovers]there were no charges for the trasaction. So for me at least this is a great situation. I just hope it stays that way.[/QUOTE]Sounds great, just remember some cards charge you the transaction fees in bulk at the end of the month. That has happened to me in the past.

Bad

Mongers,

Today while in the Disco supermarket (a chain for those who do not live in Buenos Aires) I noticed that their "Banco Ciudad" ATM machine is a "Link" machine, meaning that it is not affected by the new Banelco / VISA PLUS restrictions. All Disco supermarkets have this ATM machine, and there are at least 10 Disco locations that I know of within the Recoleta area.

Suerte,

Dirk Diggler

Check the front page of The Buenos Aires Herald today for more info about the ATM withdrawal issue.

ATM glitch restricts tourists' withdrawals.

According to numerous reports received by the Herald, tourists, mainly of British origin, were only allowed to withdraw 100 pesos at a time from any automated teller machine, or ATM.

With tourists charged a considerable fee at home for every withdrawal abroad, the phone calls received at the Herald were less than happy.

Sources at Banelco, Argentina's electronic funds transfer company, told the Herald that the glitch arose because a ruling by Plus had been misinterpreted by local officials and that this had resulted in the capped withdrawals yesterday.

"The glitch is being worked on and the system should allow tourists to make up to three withdrawals a day of up to 300 pesos each," the source said.

A similar confirmation was received by the Visa card company, whose spokeswoman, Carolina Samudio, said that the system will return to normal by today.

From the Buenos Aires Herald.

Exon

[QUOTE=Exon123]ATM glitch restricts tourists' withdrawals.

According to numerous reports received by the Herald, tourists, mainly of British origin, were only allowed to withdraw 100 pesos at a time from any automated teller machine, or ATM.

With tourists charged a considerable fee at home for every withdrawal abroad, the phone calls received at the Herald were less than happy.

Sources at Banelco, Argentina's electronic funds transfer company, told the Herald that the glitch arose because a ruling by Plus had been misinterpreted by local officials and that this had resulted in the capped withdrawals yesterday.

"The glitch is being worked on and the system should allow tourists to make up to three withdrawals a day of up to 300 pesos each," the source said.

A similar confirmation was received by the Visa card company, whose spokeswoman, Carolina Samudio, said that the system will return to normal by today.

From the Buenos Aires Herald.

Exon[/QUOTE]I was down in EZE last month and could only withdraw up to 500 pesos a day with a Canadian bank account. Some days I could only take 300 pesos. That totally sucked! It was like only USD $100-160 a day. Between my apartment and chicas, I was spending more than that a day! Considering I was paying $5 for each transaction it was like paying up to 5% to get money. Next time I'm taking good old cash.

-Fly

Yesterday ATM at banco "Ciudad" refused to give me 1.050 and 990 pesos that I asked and kept telling me for a lower amount so I left.

A few minutes later ATM of "Paribas" bank gave me my first choice of 1.050 p.

They both use the "Link" system and I used Visa Plus on both.

Therefore Banco de la Nation and Paribas are, so far, the winners.

Check out your bank charges before you start to celebrate too much.

[QUOTE=Big Bob 7]Check out your bank charges before you start to celebrate too much.[/QUOTE]They have been the same. Four to five euros / transaction depending on my bank that I am withdrawing from. Already checked it.

Don't worry I am not a newbie on that.

I've made 7 withdraws in the past 12 days. And in every case I was limited to 920p. But that is only because my bank back home only allows me a $300 per day withdraw (strange that they limit how much of your own money you can have) But this is an easy problem to get around if you plan your trip ahead as I did. I requested a second debit card with a different # in my nick name. And when I go to the ATMs I use them both. So I get 920p*2=1840p. This also protects you if you lose your card some how. Or think someone else is some how using it. You can shut down one card and keep the other active. Or you could always give one to your best girlfriend (right!

The first time I used the ATM (Link) was in the Hard Rock Ricoletta area but it's been out of service forever now. Most of the others were from Western Union. All machines gave me the same rate 307=1$. And I have yet to see any charges from them or my home bank for the services and I have checked it daily. The withdraw is posted but never any charges. The big problem I have had is getting the bank door open to access the ATM machine. In most cases scanning my debit card will not unlock the door. But if I wait until someone exits and grab the open door the machine inside accepts my card with no problem. Go figure, could this be another Argentina fuck-up?

[QUOTE=El Greco]They have been the same. Four to five euros / transaction depending on my bank that I am withdrawing from. Already checked it.

Don't worry I am not a newbie on that.[/QUOTE]

At the Banelco today, I was refused 400 pesos on a Visa card, but allowed 200. This concerns me a great deal, and I have decided to stay downmarket in my whoring activities. Was planning to do some upscale visits to 1072 Larrea, etc. but probably will stick to 40 p places.

[QUOTE=Fly99]I was down in EZE last month and could only withdraw up to 500 pesos a day with a Canadian bank account. Some days I could only take 300 pesos. That totally sucked! It was like only USD $100-160 a day. Between my apartment and chicas, I was spending more than that a day! Considering I was paying $5 for each transaction it was like paying up to 5% to get money. Next time I'm taking good old cash.

-Fly[/QUOTE]

Find a Link machine somewhere and spend, spend, spend.