Remember to set something up before you leave, to make easy payments on your credit card.
As best as I know, it's really inconvenient and costly to try to do it through a bank here, but I don't know that as fact, just what some people mentioned.
- Thread starter hicksy
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ATM Banco Popular main branch triple dipping
As best as I know, it's really inconvenient and costly to try to do it through a bank here, but I don't know that as fact, just what some people mentioned.
I always do it online. With at least some Canadian banks, if your cc is with the same bank, the payment to the card is instantaneous.
that right but you will need a letter from your home bank too . that what asking me banco popular last march but banco reservas I was only need my passport.
hope that help
My bank in Canada told me that funds are automatically debited after the transaction is authorized (i.e. before ATM produces an error) so technically it's not a conspiracy but an intentional software design. They also told me that there is no way of knowing what the ATM had dispensed (nothing or partial amount) when the error is produced; they only record bank has is that of an error (incomplete transaction).
Thought I would continue my story, since I started the thread. I got back to Canada and indeed there is a middle company that processes the information between the ATM and our banks.
Now, the interesting thing about this, is my bank manager of one of the main branches in Edmonton didn't know that there was a middle man (company) that processes this information and verified that this is INDEED TRUE , so the director of the Sosua branch of the Banco Popular was not making this up.
Yes, because of computors, they will be able to track the mistake and be able to rectify the situation. I hope that this enlightens people that the Banco Popular isn't a bank that is behaving in a fraudulent manner. I do hope that the people reading these threads have learned something. Cheers.
Now, the interesting thing about this, is my bank manager of one of the main branches in Edmonton didn't know that there was a middle man (company) that processes this information and verified that this is INDEED TRUE , so the director of the Sosua branch of the Banco Popular was not making this up.
Yes, because of computors, they will be able to track the mistake and be able to rectify the situation. I hope that this enlightens people that the Banco Popular isn't a bank that is behaving in a fraudulent manner. I do hope that the people reading these threads have learned something. Cheers.
After pretty much trashing Banco Popular and doing some damage you absolve the bank as if nothing happened.
I wonder if you and some others have learned something here.....cheers.
aranoid::ermm:
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Thanks Hicksy! I know that I have. I was wrong to suggest that it was the bank in Las Terranas that scammed me. As I have been thinking about it, there was a guy hanging around the ATM immediately before I used it acting as if he had unsuccessfully attempted to make a withdrawal. As it turns out, he probably inserted something in the receptical to access my account after I used the ATM. Everyone should be aware and watch out for this kind of thing. Clearly, the bank had nothing to do with this guy and I was wrong to implicate the bank in the scam. My bank, Wachovia, replaced my funds within 3 days of my return to the US.
One more thing, on another thread, there is a suggestion that we look for ATM's that require users to swipe rather than insert a card. Do you guys think this will avoid the problem, or are these thieves able to find a way to get your account number and pin in either event?
One more thing, on another thread, there is a suggestion that we look for ATM's that require users to swipe rather than insert a card. Do you guys think this will avoid the problem, or are these thieves able to find a way to get your account number and pin in either event?
Card cloning...
I posted regarding a similar experience on Page 3 of this thread if you care to check back. I have since been given the advice to always run your finger along the slot before inserting your card and this should reveal any tell-tale slivers of plastic that may have been inserted to steal your details. Good advice I think that I have followed since.
I posted regarding a similar experience on Page 3 of this thread if you care to check back. I have since been given the advice to always run your finger along the slot before inserting your card and this should reveal any tell-tale slivers of plastic that may have been inserted to steal your details. Good advice I think that I have followed since.
Thank you for the info, but please explain why this is only happening with certain banks. If this is the case about an interim company it would happen with ALL the ATM's. Its happened to me five times and my bank is still doing the investigation, they have told me that one bank has said I definately had the money when I hadnt.!!! I knew there was an interim company for years internationally.
Perhaps you have just been unlucky Ladybird or maybe you use the ATM's 5 times more often than the rest of us!!
Banco Progreso's ATM here in Higuey has some problems, even though of a different kind. Money sometimes get stuck at the ATM's disposal door.
I have seen it happened that a note got stuck inside and not disposed to customer.
Happened a day before yesterday to me as well. I withdrew 5000 pesos and the bills came halway out. I pulled them and felt they were stuck, after getting them I immediately noticed there were 4 of them only. I quickly put my hand INSIDE the disposal door and found the fifth note (from my previous experience and/or observance I knew the note was somewhere inside there). I grabbed it just as the door was closing and I pulled out my hand along with a part of the note (fortunately... now thinking of that my hand could have gotten stuck in the disposal door... brrh I don't even want to think about it). So now about a third of the note was out, and two thirds in. I started pulling very slowly such as not to tear the note and after about half a minute I got my note! 5000 pesos complete.
I have seen it happened that a note got stuck inside and not disposed to customer.
Happened a day before yesterday to me as well. I withdrew 5000 pesos and the bills came halway out. I pulled them and felt they were stuck, after getting them I immediately noticed there were 4 of them only. I quickly put my hand INSIDE the disposal door and found the fifth note (from my previous experience and/or observance I knew the note was somewhere inside there). I grabbed it just as the door was closing and I pulled out my hand along with a part of the note (fortunately... now thinking of that my hand could have gotten stuck in the disposal door... brrh I don't even want to think about it). So now about a third of the note was out, and two thirds in. I started pulling very slowly such as not to tear the note and after about half a minute I got my note! 5000 pesos complete.
This middle tier system that acts between international banks can't be that bad as I have traveled in a lot of countries and rarely hear so much problem with ATMs (it seems only in DR there is such a issue). Don't get me wrong the ATM scams that your card is copied by an outsider is something totally different and happens everywhere but we are not talking about that, we are talking about ATM blunders.
Perhaps if there is a middle system the DR banks might be having communication problems with that system more than usual.....
By the way, I remember in Africa one of the biggest problem was to go to the bank and get cash advance by presenting your credit card (the corrupt bank personel copied it right there and then !?!?). I guess that's not happening in DR.
I think there is a certain amount of luck associated with ATMs, I once went after a guy to ATM in Sosua, he disapeared quickly and I thought all was OK. Then my money was not delivered and error message came up. While I was arguing with the bank staff the first guy came back screaming that the same happened to him and he went home and checked and the money was taken from his account (thanks for telling me behind you in the queue !?).
Anyway, I finally went home without any result from the bank staff ( I think it was the one nearly opposite Super Super, across the main street) and checked my account, no money was taken - I checked all week and it was all OK. Hence, I was lucky but he wasn't ! Good Luck, it's not as bad.... (I used ATMs more than 10 times last winter and never had any issue except this one).
Perhaps if there is a middle system the DR banks might be having communication problems with that system more than usual.....
By the way, I remember in Africa one of the biggest problem was to go to the bank and get cash advance by presenting your credit card (the corrupt bank personel copied it right there and then !?!?). I guess that's not happening in DR.
I think there is a certain amount of luck associated with ATMs, I once went after a guy to ATM in Sosua, he disapeared quickly and I thought all was OK. Then my money was not delivered and error message came up. While I was arguing with the bank staff the first guy came back screaming that the same happened to him and he went home and checked and the money was taken from his account (thanks for telling me behind you in the queue !?).
Anyway, I finally went home without any result from the bank staff ( I think it was the one nearly opposite Super Super, across the main street) and checked my account, no money was taken - I checked all week and it was all OK. Hence, I was lucky but he wasn't ! Good Luck, it's not as bad.... (I used ATMs more than 10 times last winter and never had any issue except this one).
Talk about the DR banks and the international systems (VISA/Plus and Mastercard/Cirrus). The local credit card processing network (CardNet) cannot even release the authorization hold from the debit cards, even if they are VISA cards (but debit), not sure about international debit cards.
Why? Because the "authorization" is immediately applied as a charge, and even if they release the authorization, the money is not returned to the account.
Happened to me with a Banco Leon debit VISA. My authorization hold (over 12.000 pesos) was released by the merchant (car rental) I was given the cancellation voucher. But the money did not get back to the account (as usually happens in the USA or Europe). So neither I (debit applied to my account) nor merchant (debit applied to his account) had money. The money was "in the air" (or better yet, "in the wires"). It took a letter form the merchant, addressed to my bank, confirming they released the authorization hold, a copy of the cancellation voucher, several phone calls to the bank, and 7 days to get my money credited back to my account.
So talk about the "perfection" of DR banks with international systems (VISA/Mastercard).
This also serves as a warning: Beware of using debit cards (at least DR debit cards) at establishments that need to "authorize" your card or have it as "guarantee" (hotels, car rentals, travel agents, etc.).
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