Problems at Banco Santa Cruz

[chico bill]

Went to use the ATM this evening at the Sosua Banco Santa Cruz.
It would not let me withdraw 8000 pesos.
So I tried 2000 pesos thinking the ATM was low on funds. But it came back with the message unable to dispense this amount.
Then I got an email stating I had withdrawn 2000. I'm going to call tomorrow but I am 95% certain they will not restore the funds. They did not in the past when this same issue occurred.
The BSC ATM in Sosua is out of service at least once a week. But usually it just does not dispense funds and doesn't record it as a withdrawal.
Too bad they can not maintain their ATM here professionally.
In the US the funds would be restored with one quick phone call - here I'm just likely out of luck and 2000 pesos - OK I can survive that.
I'll report back.

 

[irishpaddy]

Went to use the ATM this evening at the Sosua Banco Santa Cruz.
It would not let me withdraw 8000 pesos.
So I tried 2000 pesos thinking the ATM was low on funds. But it came back with the message unable to dispense this amount.
Then I got an email stating I had withdrawn 2000. I'm going to call tomorrow but I am 95% certain they will not restore the funds. They did not in the past when this same issue occurred.
The BSC ATM in Sosua is out of service at least once a week. But usually it just does not dispense funds and doesn't record it as a withdrawal.
Too bad they can not maintain their ATM here professionally.
In the US the funds would be restored with one quick phone call - here I'm just likely out of luck and 2000 pesos - OK I can survive that.
I'll report back.

The Banks in the USA are not as quick as you think ....they can also be a bunch of thieves

 

[chico bill]

The Banks in the USA are not as quick as you think ....they can also be a bunch of thieves

I never had a problem

 

[cavok]

I had the same happen to me at the BSC ATM in Cabarete. I tried to withdraw 10,000 pesos but got nothing. My account was debited for the 10K pesos though. It took them about 3 days to reimburse me.

 

[chico bill]

I had the same happen to me at the BSC ATM in Cabarete. I tried to withdraw 10,000 pesos but got nothing. My account was debited for the 10K pesos though. It took them about 3 days to reimburse me.

How did you accomplish that?

 

[AlterEgo]

This happened to me several years back at an ATM in a casino in SD, to the tune of $500USD. it was a BHD machine but they were no help. I called my bank in USA and they immediately put the money back in my account, pending investigation. About a month later I received a letter saying it was final.

 

[chico bill]

This happened to me several years back at an ATM in a casino in SD, to the tune of $500USD. it was a BHD machine but they were no help. I called my bank in USA and they immediately put the money back in my account, pending investigation. About a month later I received a letter saying it was final.

Well if it was my US bank ATM an e-mail would correct it. But it was BSC's own ATM.
Only 2000 pesos, so it is not a $500 dollar hit. But they need to know that their machines are screwing people.
I am sure I was not the only one last night

 

[DR_Guy]

I had an issue like that and the money was credited back on its own (Popular)

 

[AlterEgo]

Well if it was my US bank ATM an e-mail would correct it. But it was BSC's own ATM.
Only 2000 pesos, so it is not a $500 dollar hit. But they need to know that their machines are screwing people.
I am sure I was not the only one last night

Ah, I missed that important detail.

 

[malko]

Was it BSC's card ?

I say that because it happened to me years ago here in the DR ( popular, i think, but not sure) using a european bank card.
The bank kind of dissed me off, so I phoned my european bank and they sorted it out quickly.

 

[chico bill]

Was it BSC's card ?

I say that because it happened to me years ago here in the DR ( popular, i think, but not sure) using a european bank card.
The bank kind of dissed me off, so I phoned my european bank and they sorted it out quickly.

Yes a BSC ATM and what transpired was I tried to withdraw 8000 pesos and it said it didn't have sufficient funds so I tried 2000 and it said it could not dispense the efectivo. At this point the guard walked up and told me and a German man who was waiting, also with a BSC ATM card, that the ATM was broken (gee thanks - could have told us earlier) .

I went across the street to Banco Leon, along with the German fellow and got some pesos from their ATM, plus the 50 peso add-on bank fee.

I received an email last night saying 2000 had been withdrawn but after checking my account online and at the bank they actually deducted the 1st request of 8000 and not the 2000 as said in the email.
So we filled out a Formulario Único De Reclamaciones. (took about 30 minutes) in the Bank this AM.
But the date for resolution is :05/01/2023 (Jan 5th). So maybe a month to resolve?

And the ATM is still not functioning as of 11AM today.

IIf I remember I will update to advise if I actually do see the money back.

 

[cavok]

How did you accomplish that?

I went inside and told the manager what happened. He had me sign some forms.

 

[Tom0910]

The Banks in the USA are not as quick as you think ....they can also be a bunch of thieves

Really? I've never had a problem with a U.S. bank taking my funds in 60 years of banking with them,DR banks are as corrupt as they come.

 

[tee]

I tried withdrawing cash at the BSC ATM in Sosua both yesterday and today and both times there was not any cash available. It happens a lot during the weekend and as mentioned in Chico Bill's post, it usually happens at least once a week. Fortunately I was not charged for the attempted withdrawals. I really like BSC but they are getting a little frustrating with several services. The worst thing about them is that if you are refunded something on your credit or debit card, let's say by Amazon for example, you physically have to go into the bank and complete a refund request. It is the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen in a bank...this is 2022 and you have to request a refund that has been authorized...and spend at least 30 minutes of your time doing so! I try to keep away from going into the bank, especially if you have to make payments with a teller as the change guys are always there and they take FOREVER! I try to do all my transactions online, but unfortunately, they are not capable of processing refunds automatically. I am thinking that they do this so that there is more money in their system floating around so that they can use these funds for investments etc. before having to refund the clients...just my assumption though. Anyway, I think I will start using a secondary bank.

 

[chico bill]

I tried withdrawing cash at the BSC ATM in Sosua both yesterday and today and both times there was not any cash available. It happens a lot during the weekend and as mentioned in Chico Bill's post, it usually happens at least once a week. Fortunately I was not charged for the attempted withdrawals. I really like BSC but they are getting a little frustrating with several services. The worst thing about them is that if you are refunded something on your credit or debit card, let's say by Amazon for example, you physically have to go into the bank and complete a refund request. It is the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen in a bank...this is 2022 and you have to request a refund that has been authorized...and spend at least 30 minutes of your time doing so! I try to keep away from going into the bank, especially if you have to make payments with a teller as the change guys are always there and they take FOREVER! I try to do all my transactions online, but unfortunately, they are not capable of processing refunds automatically. I am thinking that they do this so that there is more money in their system floating around so that they can use these funds for investments etc. before having to refund the clients...just my assumption though. Anyway, I think I will start using a secondary bank.

You are lucky but keep checking as they may be late in posting it to your account

 

[CristoRey]

You are lucky but keep checking as they may be late in posting it to your account

This type of nonsense happens more often with the banks down here than they will ever admit. I use Banreservas and I've never had any problems however I do know people who have.
Years ago a rep at my US bank gave me some good advice. When making withdraws in another country always use the same institution whenever possible. This way if there (heaven forbid) is ever anytype of problem, my US bank will only have to deal with one institution to sort out the mess, not several.

 

[Markwilltravel]

Went to use the ATM this evening at the Sosua Banco Santa Cruz.
It would not let me withdraw 8000 pesos.
So I tried 2000 pesos thinking the ATM was low on funds. But it came back with the message unable to dispense this amount.
Then I got an email stating I had withdrawn 2000. I'm going to call tomorrow but I am 95% certain they will not restore the funds. They did not in the past when this same issue occurred.
The BSC ATM in Sosua is out of service at least once a week. But usually it just does not dispense funds and doesn't record it as a withdrawal.
Too bad they can not maintain their ATM here professionally.
In the US the funds would be restored with one quick phone call - here I'm just likely out of luck and 2000 pesos - OK I can survive that.
I'll report back.

 

[Markwilltravel]

Bad Luck Chico Bill.

When I rèturned home to Canada last year from the DR, I received a call that my purchase at Supermercado was denied.
Problem there was I was home three days and the transaction was the day of the call. WTF!
Anyhoo, the long and short of it was a card reader on atm at BSC, a copy of my card was made but the culprit failed on the pin and security question.

Tricky business at that bank.

 

[AlaPlaya]

I tried withdrawing cash at the BSC ATM in Sosua both yesterday and today and both times there was not any cash available. It happens a lot during the weekend and as mentioned in Chico Bill's post, it usually happens at least once a week. Fortunately I was not charged for the attempted withdrawals. I really like BSC but they are getting a little frustrating with several services. The worst thing about them is that if you are refunded something on your credit or debit card, let's say by Amazon for example, you physically have to go into the bank and complete a refund request. It is the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen in a bank...this is 2022 and you have to request a refund that has been authorized...and spend at least 30 minutes of your time doing so! I try to keep away from going into the bank, especially if you have to make payments with a teller as the change guys are always there and they take FOREVER! I try to do all my transactions online, but unfortunately, they are not capable of processing refunds automatically. I am thinking that they do this so that there is more money in their system floating around so that they can use these funds for investments etc. before having to refund the clients...just my assumption though. Anyway, I think I will start using a secondary bank.

I've never had to complete a refund request

 

[chico bill]

Update:

After filling out a "Formulario Unico De Reclamciones" with Banco Santa Cruz on the 8,000 pesos they deducted from my account but never dispensed from the ATM and waiting a month for them to "resolve it", in which time nothing happened - I returned to the bank yesterday.
Their conclusion (from Santo Domingo) the funds must have been distributed.

In other words tough luck Gringo you lose the $143 dollars.

Of course the representative placed a call to headquarters and they said they would follow up with an e-mail to me today, which they did not do, and I was instructed to e-mail them if I did not hear, which I did by e-mail - But we all no this goes to the ether and nothing more will happen.

I actually expected this result (Dominicans never admit wrong) so beware of using the ATM at BSC in Sosua. Likely someday you will lose too.

BSC has been slipping this past year, so now perhaps Banco Leon ?