ATM's

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.

I found a few ATM's in the Microcenter were out of cash this afternoon. I was told by a local businessman that a 24 hour strike is in progress. I don't know whether this is true or not but I was finally able to withdraw a maximum 300p from the ATM at Banco Boston on Cordoba near Florida about 2 pm.

Anyone else had a similar experience today?

Probably related to the armored car robbery the other day with lots of gunplay and injuries; then guards from companies went on strike wanting more security (these are the guys with guns - what more sucurity could they want)

Anyhow durng the strike Police were delivering money so I guess the system got all screwed up.

My MasterCard at Citibank works find. I drew 1000p on a few ocassions. I could have gone up to 2000p.

[QUOTE=Trader]I went to my usual Banelco today to withdraw funds from my US account and could only withdrawal $100. An inquiry to my bank revealed nothing wrong with my account and I encountered other frustrated foreigners with the same problem. So I called the Banelco number and the representative told me beginning last Friday there is a new limit on withdrawals using VISA or any card from the Plus Network. There is a maximum $100AR withdrawal per operation and a maximum of $300AR per day. This sucks! I do not have a bank account here and do not want to have one. Are MasterCard debit users having the same problem? I have been here for over 2 years and have always been able to withdraw funds from my checking account in the States. Can anybody offer some help with this?[/QUOTE]

The BANCO NACION is providing 1050p as of 14:00 today.

Ditto this bank: 1050.

When you guys post these banks it would be helpful to some members if you would also post the addresses.

Suerte.

Stowe

The one I use is on Florida and Cordoba. Across from the Galerias Pacifico. There is another on Corrienties and Suipacha, or one block either way.

[QUOTE=Stowe]When you guys post these banks it would be helpful to some members if you would also post the addresses.

Suerte.

Stowe[/QUOTE]

If you start at Exedra and walk towards New Orleans on Cordoba on the same side of the street, you will see about 6 LINK atms.

My favorite was the ATM at carlos pelligrini and Uruguay.

Pick your network and have at it.

The link atms picking your network are the way to go.

Always travel with a visa and a mastercard debit.

I withdrew cash today at Banco de la Nación, with my German EC - card, Link, Cirrus. First the machine refused to give A$R 3500, then without problems paid A$R 4000 in 2 transactions of 2000 each. The daily limit on these cards back home is € 1000, so I pretty much got exactly that. This is exactly the same behaviour as in January.

I have a Visa and before this new fuck the tourist policy which changed the withdrawal limit I had been able to locate 4 ATMs which would charge me my bank's $1.69 foreign transaction fee but would not charge the additional $5USD transaction fee for using a foriegn ATM. I don't know why these particular machines weren't charging it before and the rest were but now THEY ARE ALL CHARGING IT and it sucks. I want to know if anyone else has some ideas about different options for getting money down here as I'm thinking that long-term this is too much money to just throw away for nothing. I heard that the Moneygram fee for a $5000 transaction was $40. Does anyone know if that is a percentage or a set amount? If it is a set amount is it adjusted for lesser amounts or is it always $40?

I went to the Citibank on Corrientes and Suipacha. It wouldn't give me more than Pesos 300 at a time, but it let me do three transactions for a total of Pesos 900. Fortunately, I have a First Republic Bank ATM card which reimburses ATM fees so I didn't care how many transactions it took to get the money I wanted.

Hey BB7,

I have some previous knowledge in this. First of all and most importantly, you cannot send yourself $5000 US through moneygram in Argentina. Do not take my word for it, go to your local Banco Itau and ask them yourself. According to Argentine law, you can only send 3000 per person, per month. If you have an account at the participating bank you can send more but as a foreigner, you have a $3000 US limit per month. I know this because when I had to send myself money for some transactions I ran into this problem. Obviously you can see a way around this. But anyways check it out for yourself.

As far as the tariffs go, the fee is based on the amount you send, so YES, if you send less money the fee will be less. But there is a minimum fee of like $5-10 US. I personally use Moneygram regularly. Try using moneygram AND the ATM.

Hope this helps,

Bad

I understand that a number of institutions, including PNC Bank and ETrade, do not charge any fee whatsoever for ATM withdrawals.

I use ATMs from both Chase and Wachovia, neither has a U$S5.00 international charge or have not in the past only the standard U$S1.50 for none home bank ATM withdrawl. My friend uses be of A and they do. Your saying yours has changed, I'll post once I figure out if mine has as well.

Etrade is gratis as the original value monger, our dear departed DH, uses them and has sung their virtues to me on a variety of occasions.

That foreign currency transaction fee has pissed me off for a long time. I will be looking into the ETrade and PNC cards.

I noticed this on another board. I haven't looked into it yet but if it is what I hope it is I can't wait to participate.

[url]http://www.ccfsettlement.com/[/url]

Bob

[QUOTE=AllIWantisLove]That foreign currency transaction fee has pissed me off for a long time. I will be looking into the ETrade and PNC cards.

I noticed this on another board. I haven't looked into it yet but if it is what I hope it is I can't wait to participate.

[url]http://www.ccfsettlement.com/[/url]

Bob[/QUOTE]It's another one of those class-actions suits where the lawyers get 50 million and each member of the suit gets 50 cents. I got the settlement check for one of these last year and the check was literally for $0.02. I already got the paperwork on this one and tossed it in the trash.

[QUOTE=Easy Go]It's another one of those class-actions suits where the lawyers get 50 million and each member of the suit gets 50 cents. I got the settlement check for one of these last year and the check was literally for $0.02. I already got the paperwork on this one and tossed it in the trash.[/QUOTE]According to the stipulation of settlement in that case, the attorney fees are 27.5% of the settlement total. I think that's absolutely fair. Yes, it sucks that each individual plaintiff doesn't get a big check, but that's because the actual loss sustained by each plaintiff was so small itself. So don't blame the lawyers for earning a fair contingent fee - if the case had been lost they would have earned zero.

[url]http://www.ccfsettlement.com/documents/mdl_1409_settlement_agreement_1384141.pdf[/url]

I know I posted this somewhere on this site.

Citibank does NOT charge fees to its Citibank ATMs Master Card customers.

I just checked my statement online and their are no charges.

My buddy has Wells Fargo and has NO fees on his VISA card.

[QUOTE=Hunt99]I understand that a number of institutions, including PNC Bank and ETrade, do not charge any fee whatsoever for ATM withdrawals.[/QUOTE]Etrade does not charge a fee for using ATM's in BA but their card uses the Visa Plus network only so that could be a problem from what others have posted.

Or will it only be a problem with Visa Plus at Banelco's.

This is why I have several ATM cards from different companies drawing on different accounts.

Suerte.

Stowe

I believe the ATM card from my credit union has always charged 1% foreign exchange fee plus $1.00 fee for using ATM other than their own. But the 1% exchange fee was never shown as a separate item until about a year ago when a law was passed that the bank statement must show the fee separately. Same thing happened to my credit cards.

On my last trip two weeks ago, the charges were $96.95 for 300 pesos at the exchange rate [b]3.09[/b]. Adding the 1% foreign exchange fee of $0.97 becomes $97.92 for 300 pesos, which makes the final exchange rate to be [b]3.06[/b]. How does [b]3.06[/b] exchange rate compares to others who claim their cards to have no foreign exchange fee?

[QUOTE=Sportsman]I believe the ATM card from my credit union has always charged 1% foreign exchange fee plus $1.00 fee for using ATM other than their own. But the 1% exchange fee was never shown as a separate item until about a year ago when a law was passed that the bank statement must show the fee separately. Same thing happened to my credit cards.

On my last trip two weeks ago, the charges were $96.95 for 300 pesos at the exchange rate [b]3.09[/b]. Adding the 1% foreign exchange fee of $0.97 becomes $97.92 for 300 pesos, which makes the final exchange rate to be [b]3.06[/b]. How does [b]3.06[/b] exchange rate compares to others who claim their cards to have no foreign exchange fee?[/QUOTE]Sportsman,

During your last visit, I made 2 withdrawals: 3.096 and 3.102. This was the total transaction cost, supposedly including the same 1% fee you reference above - this is also using a credit union issued card. With these very favorable exchange rates, I think I'm actually only being charged .5% for the transaction fee.

Hope this helps,

Alan

Someone told me that ATMs outside of the US only take 4 digits.

When I was in Bs As last November my debit card with 6 digits did not work, and I never understood why. My backup card that has 4 digits worked fine, but it made me a little nervous that I had to use my ace in the hole.

Will be back in town late April early May.

Anyone know if this 4 digit rule is true?

Thanks

Tip: Always bring cash. You never know if your wallet is going to be stolen, your cards fail to work, or if the ATM workers go on strike. I wouldn't bring everything in cash, but perhaps half, including all my intended money to be spent on chicas.

6 digit ATM pin does not work in many other countries also.

But - did you try entering just the first four digits of the 6 digit PIN? That works some of the times.

I have a 5 digit ATM from Wells Fargo Bank and it has always worked for me in South America, but I have to go to the right banks (usually American) with the Plus sign. On this trip I've been going to the Citibank on Florida across from the Galleria mall, BUT the Banelco is the one that words for me, right next store.

I can only get 300 pesos at one time, but unlimited times. So go figure.

I found this link on the web that basically says to use 4 digits.

[url]http://wikitravel.org/en/Money[/url]

Has anyone had trouble cashing $50 dollar bills? I wouldnt dream of bringing $100's. I'm asking because someplace like el salvador will not accept demoninations higher than $20. Two different countries I know but both a little screwy when it comes to money.

Also last time I remember having to bring my passport to exchange cash. Is this still the norm or just at banks?

I've paid chicas with 50s and even 100s and they have never objected.

Bob

What about banks or exchange houses?

Not sure why you are afraid of bringing in $100 bills but banks and exchanges will accept $100 bills and $50 bills.

Suerte.

Stowe

YES,

The banks and exchange houses in the center usually ask for your " documento " so bring your passport. I know what you mean about the exchange problems. I was in Ecuador about 2 years ago and they were having all kinds of problems with fake notes and you simply could not change 100 dollar bills at most places.

That problem isn't an issue here in BA, and also remember, you can exchange money at just about any supermarket, restaurant or shopping mall. Very few places have refused to accept my money:D.

Good luck,

Bad

Mongers-

My place of business will exchange any denomination of just about any hard currency no questions asked, 24 hours per day. We exchange dollars on a daily basis and frequently exchange euros, pounds sterling, and less frequently Reais, Chilean Pesos, and Uruguayan Pesos. My guess is that any bar, restaurant, or other hospitality industry site will accept at a minimum dollars at 3-1 rate and possibly euros at 4-1. When Argentinean pesos are the local currency in circulation, business owners certainly do mind stockpiling some "real" money at an advantageous rate for that next crisis that will happen within the next year or two.

Suerte,

Dirk Diggler

Changing $100 bills is not a problem at all, even without a passport or DNI.

I used a cambio place at one of the side malls at Florida street. There is a "Metropolis" exchange place which gives you like 3.00 (or even 2.98) to 1, while outside that same place there are a few touts trying to get you to another cambio which is located in the same block in the side mall. When Metropolis was giving 3.02:1 I got there 3.10:1. At Metropolis they want your passport, at the other place they do not ask for it. However at the other place you have to negotiate the exchange rate. What worked best for me was telling the tout outside Metropolis what rate I wanted to get, and he would normally call the place and come back with a rate very close to the rate I wanted.

Just make sure the moment you get your money at those places (also the official banks etc) that you check the amount and the bills the moment you get them. Do not walk away from the counter before you have checked the bills!

When I was in lima I recieved my first fake bill anywhere. The locals couldnt even tell by looking at it but after awhile of touching it etc. They were able to tell. The only way I was able to tell it was fake was by smelling it. The fake smelled like regular paper. I guess the same goes for argentina?

I did rtff where someone explained the difference between a fake and a real bill but it would be much better explained in person. The member wrote a really good report but I'd have to see what he is talking about.

Just learned this from the security guy at my see you.

Each bank sets its own withdraw limit. By default, it is a max per transaction.

But if you ask the bank they can set it up as a max per day. The bank usually will not tell you. You have to specifically ask the bank. The whole idea is that to prevent scams, if they get repeated $200/$300 withdrawals from the same ATM one after the other, they may block the card.

Having said that, each bank may set their own policy for their own ATMs. Sometimes withdrawals are limited by security reasons; sometimes simply because it is a heavily used ATM, and they do not want to run out of cash nor service the ATM more than once per day. However, there may be another reason-- profit! They'd like to have as many withdraw fees from you as possible! Fees are the surest way the bank improves the bottom line, because, most times, it is just cream on top. If they run out of cash they cannot collect fees.

Again, according to this guy, if the network / bank notices that there is a large number of fake transactions in a particular ATM, they will limit the amount, not matter what, or they may even close the ATM.

HTH,

Y50