total agreement on that, too.
I don?t know much about the Checks to exchange, b?c that?s a typical northamerican thingy, If not mistaken even pensions etc get paid there by such checks, for me as a European, checks are a rarity to use, all such transactions are solely/very mostly done by transfers to bank accounts.
during all my life in europe I never ever had any Check in hands, but that?s 2 different systems in place on the 2 sides of the big Lake, doesn?t matter, both systems work fine.
if somebody live?s on the Isle permanently and get?s paid by such checks, as Tambo stated, you make your relations with Locals from the ?Hood, Dominicans or Expats alike, they introduce you to the local Cambio Place and your checks are fine as cash from there on. for exchanging Pension checks etc constantly/every week/month at the same Cambio they will even give you a much better exchange Rate than other clients of their Banco would get, just ask for it and negociate your ?Money?.
as far as Credit Cards and Debit Cards, mine are Credit Cards, but both kinds you should alsways have several of them, and limit each of them to a low Daily and weekly limit, on my own credit cards I can adjust my Limits for daily, weekly and monthly use even Online, completely hassle free. if I plan to pay a larger sum with a CC I can sit down on my computer, upper the limit for a specific card, it takes up to 48hrs til the "Upwards adjustment" is Valid/downward reduction is valid right away, and I can use it that way.
and I can adjust both points separately, the max amount for daily/weekly/monthly Cash at ATM's and the max amounts to use for purchases at stores or Online.
use several Debit Cards to be feed by the same bank account, put a low limit on each and all will be fine.
too much cash in the house has it's dangers, it will be known about in the 'Hood quickly and make a Person a Target for the Nutheads.
Mike
