Automated Teller Machines

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Barleyman

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Jan 30, 2009
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How prevalent are ATMs in Santo Domingo/Santiago? Do they usually support International cards? Are they only in Banks? Or can you find ATMs in most major hotels. Just trying to figure out how much I can rely on having access to an ATM.. as every country is different. :pirate:

Thanks.
 
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Ricardo900

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Jul 12, 2004
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ATMs are all over Santo Domingo and Santiago and yes they take International debit cards. There are tons of major Dominican banks in those cities.
 
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mountainannie

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Dec 11, 2003
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However!

I have noticed that recently the Banco Popular machines will not dispense 2000 pesos when you press the 2000 peso button but will give you only 200 pesos.

This will cause you to freak out. Do not.

Only 200 pesos gets deducted from your account (or at least that is what has been happening from mine)- Finally a guy from the bank explained that you need to enter the amount -- in the box termed "other"...

Also - they have a service charge per transaction so - at least here in the Capital - you are limited to 2000 per withdrawal so that they can get the extra fee. If you punch in more - like 5,000 pesos- you may get a message that says "this transaction cannot be processed>"

This will cause you to freak out. Do not.

Just punch in 2000 pesos x number of times... OK - this is why we are called a "developing nation"

And- caution would advise you to use machines inside of banks or inside of buildings when you can. Every casino has at least two and lots and lots of guards so that is always a safe place -- although I must say it is pretty depressing place at 11 AM..

And never change your dollars or Euros on the street with the guys who follow you around and whisper in your ear there fantastic exchange rates. Their hands are faster than Wyatt Earp and you will go home with half your money. Served you right!

ENJOY the adventure of it all!
 
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bienamor

bienamor

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Apr 23, 2004
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banco bhd

bhd does not seem to have the 2000rd limit for international cards, often pull from 10000 to 15000 at a time.
 
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mountainannie

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Good to know!

bienamor said:
bhd does not seem to have the 2000rd limit for international cards, often pull from 10000 to 15000 at a time.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I did not know that-- I mostly use my local card. Once while I was here my number on my international card was stolen and used in the Ukraine- and then the bank blocked it and I could not get it back til I went back to the States so I only use my Amex card when I charge out here. So I am glad to know that I can pull larger amounts from an international card if I need to.

I feel pretty stupid standing in line and punching the damn button three times to get enough cash to pay the maid (since I bank at BanReservas which is all over the country except within a quick walk of my apartment!).

Good info!
 
AlterEgo

AlterEgo

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BHD - ATMs

My ATM card is from the US and I've never had a limit imposed at an ATM. I don't like to carry a lot of cash with me to the DR so we use the machines a lot. I only had one problem, using the BHD machine in the Hispaniola Casino - I withdrew 17000 pesos [was trying for about $500] and the machine made all the right noises, said "take your money" and nothing came out except a receipt saying I'd been paid. The casino manager's office was right next to the machine, and he tried to be very helpful, even let us use his phone to call the US. My bank confirmed the money was already taken from my account but that they couldn't put a claim through until the next business day [this was 7 pm or so]. My husband's brother is an exec at BHD and he came right down and made a bunch of calls for us, but in the end no one would/could come down and check the machine. It had to go through a process begun in the US. After that we only used ATMs that were in or in front of a bank, hoping if we had another problem we could go right inside and get it fixed. No other problems, and we took substantial amounts out for living, dining, shopping and we replaced all the windows in our house with ATM $. When we got back to NJ I called my bank, they gave me a temporary restoration of the $487 the machine charged me, and 3 months later I got a letter saying BHD investigated and agreed, so the money was permanently back in my account. To tell you the truth, I was pretty surprised - 33 years of DR experience made me think I'd seen the last of that $487.
 
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Ricardo900

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Jul 12, 2004
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You To??

mountainannie said:
Thanks! I did not know that-- I mostly use my local card. Once while I was here my number on my international card was stolen and used in the Ukraine- and then the bank blocked it and I could not get it back til I went back to the States so I only use my Amex card when I charge out here. So I am glad to know that I can pull larger amounts from an international card if I need to.

Good info!
Click to expand...

The same thing happened to me at Popular, I received an email message from my bank titled "Russian Compromise" that my card had been copied. In another Popular ATM, I tried to withdrawal RD$10,000 and the machine was going through the transaction and right before the cash draw opened a message popped up stating that the recent transaction was cancelled, but when I checked out my account the amount was deducted from my account.

The only time I use ATMs is when I am using my Banco Santa Cruz accounts or I will take my US Debit card to the teller and withdrawal the more the amount needed.
 
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NJgordo

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May 24, 2009
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I wish I had read this yesterday. Today in Boca Chica I had about an hour of drama (yes a minor freak out ;) when I ran out of money. I did not worry because I saw a banco popular right nearby and we have banco popular at home in NJ so no problem right? There were three machines and all of them did the same thing - enter my code, select the amount to withdraw (the lowest amount I tried was RD$2000) and right before the money should have popped out it said my transaction had been cancelled. In the meantime the locals seemed to have no trouble. A helpful local walked with me about 4 or 5 blocks to another banco. 2 machines there, same problem. Now I am starting to worry as my hotel an possessions are in SD and here I am broke, in Boca Chica! I went back to the beach area and took a taxi to one of the turista hotels, it was called Oasis something. There was an ATM in the lobby - same problem! I was starting to panic. Another gringo (this hotel was packed with college age kids) saw me playing around with the machine and told me it was out of cash, he had the same problem using the machine that I did. The hotel staff could not have cared less, so I went back outside to the taxi. While I was trying to think of what to do, one of the locals suggested the bomba which I learned means pump (gas station). We drove a short distance and it had a mini mart with an ATM. With no problem at all I took out RD$2000! I figured best not to press my luck, since I had a working ATM in front of me I quickly took out RD$5000 more, again with no problem.

As an earlier poster suggested this is still a developing country but I was caught by surprise with this problem. Word to the wise do not let your funds get to $0 before going to get more money! I do not know if I would have been able to take out RD$500 at a time at the first ATM, that tip might have saved a stressful hour but as always, the people were mostly helpful and friendly and ultimately I was able to replenish my funds and continue my vacation.
 
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mountainannie

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I have continuing problems with the Banco Popular machine in the Carmina Pharmacia on Independencia in Gazcue. IF you punch the 2000 pesos button, it gives 200. This machine is right in front of the bank tellers. I have reported this to them more than once. They come out and show me that I have to enter the numbers 2000 rather than hit the button. That works fine. BUT alas, no note on the machine!!!

Also be aware that sometimes when travelling there will be no ATM machines with money over a weekend. This happened more than once to me in Pedernales where the only bank is BanReservas. No money at all on Friday, Sat and Sun

so take cash with you when you travel off the beaten track
 
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mountainannie

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going to the teller

Ricardo900 said:
The same thing happened to me at Popular, I received an email message from my bank titled "Russian Compromise" that my card had been copied. In another Popular ATM, I tried to withdrawal RD$10,000 and the machine was going through the transaction and right before the cash draw opened a message popped up stating that the recent transaction was cancelled, but when I checked out my account the amount was deducted from my account.

The only time I use ATMs is when I am using my Banco Santa Cruz accounts or I will take my US Debit card to the teller and withdrawal the more the amount needed.
Click to expand...

that is good advice-- to take the US card to the teller-- of course, if there are people stealing card numbers from the machines, the tellers could also be stealing the numbers as well.......:ninja:
 
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Ricardo900

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mountainannie said:
that is good advice-- to take the US card to the teller-- of course, if there are people stealing card numbers from the machines, the tellers could also be stealing the numbers as well.......:ninja:
Click to expand...

That is true, because they make a photocopy of your credit card and passport, but at least you will have a record of the transaction and the teller, if you find discrepancies later.
 
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