Banco Popular robbery of tourists

[reilleyp]

I took 20,000 pesos out of the ATM in Samana, and I just check my US bank account, and they charged me $387 USD. That is an exchange rate of about 53. Plus that ATM fee. That is criminal. That 20,000 cost me about 3000 pesos. This should be illegal.

I did the same at BanReservas and it only cost me $338.

What is going on?

 

[Uzin]

Did you select that option to use BP exchange rate...? That's the most popular bank scam all around the world..., and they constantly email me and warn me about scammers ...!!! 😳

 

[SKY]

As a matter of fact here you should never change US or even Euro for pesos in ANY bank in the DR. You can always get a better rate at an Exchange House. But BP goes all out to rob whatever they can from whomever they can. They don't discriminate between tourists and locals. All are fair game.........

 

[JLSawmam]

Their website shows this exchange rate. I realize there may be a difference at the ATM, but that is a drastic difference, Might be worth taking in your receipt from the ATM and asking. Also, if their ATMs are under a different network than your bank card, that may be a part of the difference

 

[Father Guido]

I wouldn't use an ATM outside of the USA, and only an ATM at my home bank

 

[reilleyp]

Did you select that option to use BP exchange rate...? That's the most popular bank scam all around the world..., and they constantly email me and warn me about scammers ...!!! 😳

Can you explain how that works? I ask because another poster showed the BP exchange rate, and I called to confirm it. So how can there be two exchange rates at one bank? I called my US bank and they are going to dispute it.
I do not have the option to use my home bank here in the DR. There are zero US bank ATM's in Samana that I know of. I guess I will Western Union a large sum to my wife in US dollars and then exchange it.

 

[CristoRey]

That is criminal. That 20,000 cost me about 3000 pesos. This should be illegal.

100% aGREED.

 

[CristoRey]

I wouldn't use an ATM outside of the USA, and only an ATM at my home bank

I was told many years ago by my bank, when I am outside of the country (last 19 years) to always use the same bank/ institution atm when using my card in other country. This way if there's ever a problem my bank only has to deal with one foreign bank in order to sort the problem out rather than several.

 

[reilleyp]

I was told many years ago by my bank, when I am outside of the country (last 19 years) to always use the same bank/ institution atm when using my card in other country. This way if there's ever a problem my bank only has to deal with one foreign bank in order to sort the problem out rather than several.

Makes sense, but I only see one US bank (Citibank) that has locations in the DR, and it is in Santo Domingo, which does not help me.