General Reports

[ScatManDoo]

I kmow this is not the place but I've seen that one done in bogata. mostly by taxi driver. yeah the steps you did is what i had to do as well. bogata taxi drivers are scammers vs medellin where i found them very honest.

Peanuts & Beer (a bar on Revolution that finally closed around two years ago) was infamous for pulling this bill-switching shit.

They often had barkers out in front of the bar on Revo.

I would always decline going inside, telling the barkers "I don't like your magic acts".

The barkers would always reply "We don't have magicians".

To which I would reply "yes you do. You guys are always turning twenty dollar bills into singles".

I got many knowing smiles and giggles from the barkers.

[SBeach25]

The worst scam is when the mesero take your $20 or $100 bill, turn away slightly, swap it for $1 and insist you only gave him $1. Lots o of good folks would trust the words of these slimy scammers and believe they had given them smaller bills.

I had that done to my $20 bills in a bar, then a Pemex gas station, in Cabo San Lucas. I got so pissed off I was calling policia. The asshole was shaking and returned my $20. Cabo has lots of drunk tourists and seems to have lots more scams than other locations in Mexico.

Have not seen this bill switching scam in Tijuana yet. To trap the bastards, I would sign my name or put an unique PIN on the big bills, let him switch it, then call in witnesses and policias to search his pockets for the stolen bills and throw them in prison for long honeymoons with beefy and horny cholos.

I kmow this is not the place but I've seen that one done in bogata. mostly by taxi driver. yeah the steps you did is what i had to do as well. bogata taxi drivers are scammers vs medellin where i found them very honest.

[Captain Solo]

The worst scam is when the mesero take your $20 or $100 bill, turn away slightly, swap it for $1 and insist you only gave him $1. Lots o of good folks would trust the words of these slimy scammers and believe they had given them smaller bills.

I had that done to my $20 bills in a bar, then a Pemex gas station, in Cabo San Lucas. I got so pissed off I was calling policia. The asshole was shaking and returned my $20. Cabo has lots of drunk tourists and seems to have lots more scams than other locations in Mexico.

Have not seen this bill switching scam in Tijuana yet. To trap the bastards, I would sign my name or put an unique PIN on the big bills, let him switch it, then call in witnesses and policias to search his pockets for the stolen bills and throw them in prison for long honeymoons with beefy and horny cholos.

[SBeach25]

Another trick related to this one. If you have a dollar and some coins coming, they will cover your change with the dollar. Assuming you will just see the dollar on the tray and tell him to keep the change. You probably believe you tipped just a dollar. And who knows how many coins are under that dollar. You do have to stay alert when dealing with meseros.

Yeah, I noticed that one more recently and I always make sure I count it too. You can see thier expression when they know you know the game. LOL.

To [CodeWord140] them off. I grab all the change and give them the small less than 5 pesos back not to pass 10 pesos.

[StRobert]

Guys, maybe someone is interested in Tequila Expo. October 12 - 15 (2 PM - 1 AM) Ave Revolucion / Calle 8 va. Entry fee 100 pesos. Here is the link https://www.facebook.com/expo.tequilatijuana/ Tasting tequila, food, folklore shows.

[Baxter Slade]

5 a. When he hands you change, this is a trick they will use. Most gringos' that go in hate getting the change and rarely ever count the coins and most will waive it off as tips. Well, most I have seen the coins add up to almost 20 pesos or more. If your just planning to give a dollar, well you've given him more.

Another trick related to this one. If you have a dollar and some coins coming, they will cover your change with the dollar. Assuming you will just see the dollar on the tray and tell him to keep the change. You probably believe you tipped just a dollar. And who knows how many coins are under that dollar. You do have to stay alert when dealing with meseros.

[Reinaldo]

Just to clarify, you don't incur any ATM fees when making withdrawals from Santander ATMS in Mexico but you do incur fees when withdrawing from other bank atms in Mexico?

I opened a Santander Savings Account. Santander is in the Northeast of the USA But you can open an account online. I do not incur any ATM fees when using it in Mexico and my money is given at / or near the current bank rate. Today it is 18.23 but I withdrew it at 18.08. Haven't tried to get the max out, suppose to be US $400 a transaction, or US $900 a day. Limited to 6 transactions per month, so not for the daily crossovers. Happy with it so far, will report back after I've used it for a few months. (To not incur any fees, you need to maintain a daily balance of US $100.).

[SBeach25]

Yes, going to the bar is easiest. But some I've learned from past experiences.

1. Always look at their name tag and number so you can identify who is trying to serve you. This makes it easier to point out the guy if something goes left.

2. Always know the prices of the drinks, I always look at the prices listed at the bar before I sit down and always know what their exchange rate it for example 17 x1.

3. When handing the money over, make sure that he shows you that he acknowledges the denomination you hand over. This way, he and you both know the exact what you handed over.

4. When he comes back over with the drinks, make sure he hands you the change at the same time, if he says he will come back, make the gesture of saying ok but I use the two fingers from my eyes to him to say I will be watching.

5 a. When he hands you change, this is a trick they will use. Most gringos' that go in hate getting the change and rarely ever count the coins and most will waive it off as tips. Well, most I have seen the coins add up to almost 20 pesos or more. If your just planning to give a dollar, well you've given him more.

5 b. Always count the change in front of him and if it comes up short, put it down on the table. Do not put it in your pocket because now he can say you didn't count and maybe trying to act like an ass.

Hopes this helps.

[HorseTrader]

I really like the CS card; I use it in every country I visit.

Same thing with the Fidelity card. ATM fees reimbursed and exchange rate is based on XE.com (same as New York Stock exchange uses). The only known downfall of the Fidelity card is they do charge 1% if you use the card at a merchant; I just go to ATM and then pay the merchant in cash.

[TomJackin]

If you're a frequent traveler, it might be worthwhile to open a Charles Schwab Checking account. They don't charge international transaction fees, and they reimburse you for any fee charged by the owner of the ATM that you use.

You can also set it up so that you can easily move money back and forth between your Schwab account and any other American bank account.

I really like the CS card; I use it in every country I visit.

[Once Sailor]

I want to help out all the newbies and vets of Tijuana when it comes to taking out money at a ATM in Tijuana. I'm reading posts of people afraid of taking money out of atms and people being robbed. There is no reason for this. Let me explain how and where to take money out, and never get robbed and never pay a 3% international fee to take money out.

1) Open a Capital One checking account online. Its free and you don't have to have a minimum balance.

2) They don't charge the usual 3% fees outside the country as long as you use a Allpoint ATM.

3) you may be asking yourself "How do I find a Allpoint ATM in timbuk 3 Mexico, so I don't have to pay any fees?

4) Well, there is a place called Hong Kong strip club in mexico that is a Allpoint ATM, and its open 24 hours a day.

5) Its safe indoors and you can access it anytime of day or night. No more standing at a bank ATM at 10 pm praying nobody is looking behind you. Please people do the things I outline and never worry about atms again. Even if you open the account just to monger with, that's cool because you can transfer money between checking accounts for free. When I go to Tijuana I always transfer what I need to my Capital one account.

6) There is a max of 3000 pesos a day. With Tijuana being as dangerous as it is now, I hope the admin can link any questions about atms to my post.

I opened a Santander Savings Account. Santander is in the Northeast of the USA But you can open an account online. I do not incur any ATM fees when using it in Mexico and my money is given at / or near the current bank rate. Today it is 18.23 but I withdrew it at 18.08. Haven't tried to get the max out, suppose to be US $400 a transaction, or US $900 a day. Limited to 6 transactions per month, so not for the daily crossovers. Happy with it so far, will report back after I've used it for a few months. (To not incur any fees, you need to maintain a daily balance of US $100.).

[TjBrazil]

If you're a frequent traveler, it might be worthwhile to open a Charles Schwab Checking account. They don't charge international transaction fees, and they reimburse you for any fee charged by the owner of the ATM that you use.

You can also set it up so that you can easily move money back and forth between your Schwab account and any other American bank account.

Its harder to open a Charles Schwaab account than a capone account. I was turned down for a Schwaab checking account for bad credit. Schwaab is good if you go outside Tijuana like Brazil and Colombia. If you manly go to Tijuana, capone is great.

[TjBrazil]

It's a shame that Bank of America sold Santander. We used that for cash for 10 years. They now have a deal with Bannorte. Check the BofA website for locations all over the world. They charge a fee but you get the open market rate so it's as good as a cambio. There is an ATM in our Soriana and we get 6,000 pesos every Friday. I'm not sure if they are in every Soriana (it used to be a Commercial Mexicana) but there is also a bank branch downtown, one on Blvd Agua Caliente and one in Rosarito.

If it is daytime you can always go inside to any bank and get cash without being robbed (until you leave, he, he).

You get the market rate with cap one also.

[WombatEd2]

It's a shame that Bank of America sold Santander. We used that for cash for 10 years. They now have a deal with Bannorte. Check the BofA website for locations all over the world. They charge a fee but you get the open market rate so it's as good as a cambio. There is an ATM in our Soriana and we get 6,000 pesos every Friday. I'm not sure if they are in every Soriana (it used to be a Commercial Mexicana) but there is also a bank branch downtown, one on Blvd Agua Caliente and one in Rosarito.

If it is daytime you can always go inside to any bank and get cash without being robbed (until you leave, he, he).

If you're a frequent traveler, it might be worthwhile to open a Charles Schwab Checking account. They don't charge international transaction fees, and they reimburse you for any fee charged by the owner of the ATM that you use.

You can also set it up so that you can easily move money back and forth between your Schwab account and any other American bank account.

[TJSteve]

I want to help out all the newbies and vets of Tijuana when it comes to taking out money at a ATM in Tijuana. I'm reading posts of people afraid of taking money out of atms and people being robbed. There is no reason for this. Let me explain how and where to take money out, and never get robbed and never pay a 3% international fee to take money out...
...6) There is a max of 3000 pesos a day. With Tijuana being as dangerous as it is now, I hope the admin can link any questions about atms to my post.

It's a shame that Bank of America sold Santander. We used that for cash for 10 years. They now have a deal with Bannorte. Check the BofA website for locations all over the world. They charge a fee but you get the open market rate so it's as good as a cambio. There is an ATM in our Soriana and we get 6,000 pesos every Friday. I'm not sure if they are in every Soriana (it used to be a Commercial Mexicana) but there is also a bank branch downtown, one on Blvd Agua Caliente and one in Rosarito.

If it is daytime you can always go inside to any bank and get cash without being robbed (until you leave, he, he).