For those who bank here in the DR, here's another reason to be diligent. Please know I am not bashing the banks as a whole, same thing could happen anywhere. Here's the story: a few days ago I went to my local bank to conduct a few transactions. As is normal, one transaction required I write my ID number (in my case, passport) and sign the receipt. The next day, I went on-line to my account and noticed my account was short 5,000 pesos. I then checked the transaction history and there had been a withdrawal of 5,000 pesos on the same day I had been at the bank. So, the following morning I went to the bank to ask what had happened. They located a paper copy of the receipt for 5,000 pesos, and compared my signature and a sample of how I write the numbers of my ID to those on the receipt, both very different. The time on the receipt was for an hour after closing time too! The bank has returned my money; other than the inconvenience of having to sort this out I have no complaint with them as a whole. My advice: if you do not have on-line access to your account, set that up. Keep an eye on balances and transactions, seems obvious but many people don't do that. I doubt I'm the first one that had money taken by this person!
- Thread starter JLSawmam
- Start date
Theft by Bank Teller
Checking your account was absolutely the right thing to do. Not just in the DR either. I always check mine daily and especially after I've been shopping. Compare reciepts to balances. Just common sense.
Worst case senarion for me? Somebody bought fuel in California on my card. Haven't been there since the Northridge quake. In '92?
Worst case senarion for me? Somebody bought fuel in California on my card. Haven't been there since the Northridge quake. In '92?
In my case, the theft occurred within the bank, not outside of the bank with misuse of debit or credit card. Because of that, the bank really had no leg to stand on, nor did they try to argue.
First time I ever heard of anyone getting money back from a bank in the DR.
I have had a number of awful experiences with banks here.
If you lived in a first world country you become spoiled by the amount of service you receive.
Here the service is more akin to what you do with barn yard animals you want to breed.
We had an atm (BHD) charge our account almost $500 but no money came out. We got it back.
I'm jealous. I lost $50 from BHD a couple of months ago. It said it gave me $ but it didn't. Now they don't accept foreign ATM cards.
My bank in the states told me many years ago to always use the same bank's ATM
when with taking out money. This way if there is ever a problem they will only have to deal with one institution when sorting it out, not several.
It's happened to me 3 times. Each was because I was trying to withdraw too much in one shot.
All they have to do is review the camera footage and they know if you came up empty-handed or not.
I am sorry, this is fake news, RD banks never give back the money they stole.
You speak highly of the culture YOU decided to marry into, and be a part of.
I feel very respected when I walk into my DR bank, they greet me with my name and with respect. Although I very seldom visit, I use their online banking services.
No problem with refunds when technical errors occurs, has happened 3 times.
In my home country I have never visited my bank, they do not have offices to visit.
I speak sufficient Spanish to communicate, and write. No problems with my bank.
I selected my bank after carefully research and advice from other expats.
As the OP advised, you should revise your balances and transactions. Errors happens everywhere
No problem with refunds when technical errors occurs, has happened 3 times.
In my home country I have never visited my bank, they do not have offices to visit.
I speak sufficient Spanish to communicate, and write. No problems with my bank.
I selected my bank after carefully research and advice from other expats.
As the OP advised, you should revise your balances and transactions. Errors happens everywhere
Banco Popular. As I originally said, I'm not bashing the bank. They quickly corrected the problem.
Banco HD Leon. Their message keeps telling me that my bank has declined the transaction. My bank says no, it was not presented to them. It could be a software error or it could be a result of me challenging (and losing) when they charged me for the $50 that I didn't get. I don't know. I have to ATM cards and both work fine with the other banks. So I'm not pushing it.
On thing to keep in mind: There are certain pure ATM cards that indeed do not work with every bank here. I have no idea about the technical aspect / terms, but I've had for example a national German ATM-card (EC-Karte), which generally is not meant for international or online purchases. That card I was only able to use with Banco Popular machines here. If a card is meant for ATM-use only, then it's features might be more limited than with a full Visa/MC/etc.
If the card is a regular credit/prepaid card from MC/Visa with an international issuer, then as far as I have seen, there should be no bank even here that declines it, so it's important to note what type of card are you referring to with "ATM-Card".