ATM's

Apology accepted. Maybe we can share a beer at Hook sometime. Also, my spanish isn't totally fluent yet and it is good to know I understood it right. I have ordered a MasterCard from my bank in the States so hopefully it will solve the problem, but I cannot help but think MasterCard won't do the same thing. Member #3314, I might try going into the bank to withdraw next time. Maybe the limits don't apply when you go inside. Who knows!

If this is the case go to the ATM by Exedra on Carlos Pelligrini. It will let you choose what network to use. It gave me about 6 choices.

I used cirrius (sp? And got cash a few hours ago. By card is a visa by the way.

Man that is fucked up, why is it Argentiana always continues to do thing to agrrevate its tourists. I have never met such close minded ignorant people like Argentina in my life. If it wasn't for the the cheap sluts here, I would have no reason to come.

I also had trouble on Saturday with a Visa / Debit card when I tried to get 700 pesos; the same ATM let me have the 700 pesos with my MasterCard / Debit card, so it was not low on money. Sunday I tried my Visa / Debit card at a different bank which gave the 6 choices (I used cirrius) and it let me have 300 pesos in one pop. I think the problem is with one local bank, not Visa.

BTW; the exchange rate was 3.066 and no fees.

I just checked a french travelling forum and a guy got the exact same problem with a mastercard card. Not more than 100 pesos withdrawal allowed. Here is the original text for the few francophiles around:

"Bonjour, je suis en ce moment à Buenos Aires.

J'ai une carte de retrait master card et je ne peux pas faire de retrait superieur à 100 pesos.

Est-ce quelqu'un a eu ce problème? Et avez-vous une solution?

Merci par avance.

Eric"

Looks like the limit got implemented today. Any person who actually tried to withdraw money from an ATM TODAY is welcome to post his comments.

I agree with Bad that this looks like a nasty little power play by the local banking cocksuckers. I'll try my mastercard debit card tomorrow. The beancounters hereabouts have hit upon an idea to add a few centavos to the coffers.

I just used my Visa / Debit card at "Banco Ciudad" at Esmeralda 660, for $900 peso withdrawal 30 minutes ago, no problem.

The ATM I had trouble with Saturday was "Banelco" at Esmeralda 736.

I had the same problem today with one of my debit cards. I think it applies to only one network though since I was able to withdraw the usual maximum of $1000.00 with the same card, from a different bank, without any problems.

I hope it doesn't spread to other networks when the others now become overloaded with frustrated tourists. $300 ARS per day is bullshit.

You all have been scaring the crap out of me. I need to find out if this is only isolated to the Banelco network or what. I used to also be able to get money out of the ATM's at those French banks as well (can't remember the name but there is one on the corner of Colonel Diaz and Las Heras in Palermo and also another that I know about in Puerto Madero). Has anyone tried to use a Visa card at any of those banks lately. I used to be able to get US dollars or Pesos from them and also somehow they had a higher withdrawal limit than 500 pesos. I have been using my credit card to buy groceries online. Etc. And running through a deposit refund on an old apartment so I haven't tried to use a machine in a long time.

Right, it is alarming. Let's hope it's an isolated outbreak and not an epidemic. Unfortunately, when you think about it, it is the kind of shitty thing some squirrely assholes would come up with. I hope my cynical view of human nature proves to be in error this time.

[QUOTE=Punter 127]I just used my Visa / Debit card at "Banco Ciudad" at Esmeralda 660, for $900 peso withdrawal 30 minutes ago, no problem.

The ATM I had trouble with Saturday was "Banelco" at Esmeralda 736.[/QUOTE]Hey Pibe,

Are you using my apartment again? I should be charging you a fee. I gather you won't be there in April?

Called our special chica yet?

Suerte.

Stowe

I was a little worried about this whole 100 dollars a day thing, so I went out and tried my Mastercard at the local LINK ATM. I had no problem withdrawing 1500 AR (which is my daily limit in any country converted into pesos) I think the problem is probably with Visa and Banelco, and the only thing I can say about this is FUCK BANELCO, lousy fucks. The only advice I can give is try getting a Mastercard from your bank back in the States. That or go ahead and use Moneygram, 3000 US limit a month, that, plus what ever your daily limit is at the ATM and what you brought with you should work for the average tourist here for 2-3 weeks. I hope this is only temporary, since the thought of only being able to withdraw 300 pesos a day is BS, You can barely buy pussy for that amount, let alone have a good lunch and dinner. Bullshit man, this will severely affect tourism and rightly so. Fucking Argie beancounting bastards. I hope this doesn't affect LINK ATM's or Matercards in the future.

I was able to withdraw 1500 pesos at a time from Banco Ciudad up until Jan. 2. After that I was only able to withdraw 500 pesos at a time. I use a Canadian Bank debit card, not a Visa or MC. I called my Bank Manager and he said it was not the Canadian Bank. It appears to be an Argentine thing. I have been using the 500 peso limit and just using it 3 or 4 times. I guess they just want the transaction fee. An American friend of mine tried his Visa at the Airport ATM and it was the same 500 peso limit.

At 00:18 I did a normal withdrawal of 1050p with a Cirrus / Visa Plus ATM card. This is the "new normal" after the "link system" starting limiting me from 1250p back around the first of the year.

My US bank said this is not them, but the local Argentine banks at work. I'm charged a percentage fee versus a flat transaction fee, so it is somewhat a mute point for me - just the inconvenience of another withdrawal or two per month.

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.

[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.