Streetwalker Reports

[Netman05]

To each is own, but I find conversations about ATMs even more boring than chica's related talk!!

Who would even consider using an ATM in Mexico or near mexico? Not me I would not want any evidence that I had been there for several reasons. On my 2-3 trips a year I bring cash only. I build up 500-600 in spending money over time and use that. Maybe I can save $5-10 converting it to pesos but I have never done that. But leaving a trasnaction record is a non starter for me. I pay for everything in cash. Including the room at the Travelodge that I usually stay at.

[Country John]

To each is own, but I find conversations about ATMs even more boring than chica's related talk!!

Chicas - ATMs, they go hand in hand (if the ATM had a hand).

I talk to guys all the time about how to minimize the risk of losing ATM cards in TJ. There are many ways to fix the problem. It's important that members read Brockton's guide. It's a long read, true. It is well written however and the info is correct.

I happen to like girls more than ATM manchines myself but, just as it is important to know the cost of doing business in the Zona, it's important to understand the mechanism behind getting the money to pay for it.

Be safe and be nice.
Country John

[Dreams]

Hey it can't all be about chicas, otherwise the conversations get boring.

To each is own, but I find conversations about ATMs even more boring than chica's related talk!!

[Efjayel]

Hey it can't all be about chicas, otherwise the conversations get boring.

[Adventur]

Shall we rename this thread: "ATM" ?

Yes, I vote to move the ATM guys to another corner of their own! we bring cash and do not care about he ATMs.

Way off thread for way too long!

[Mark_Simon]

I'm with bofa as well and knew about santander but I didnt know about scotia. Thats good to know that I have 2 options.

ATM fees are not based on your nationality. Some US banks don't charge fees for withdrawals from certain Mexican ATMs. For example I have a Bank of America account that allows me to make no fee withdrawals from Scotia Bank or Santander Serfin ATMs.

[Country John]

The solution to ATM charges is to open an account at HSBC online, get a free online checking account and they throw in an ATM card that they honor without charge at any one of their brances worldwide. They are big in Mexico of course.

You can't make deposits to your account from within Mexico, but your ATM card is good to go without fees. Check it out.

Country John

[Dreams]

This is really a subject for another thread but since it is already going...From personal experience, I can confirm that Merryl Lynch charges 2% for foreign transactions. But Charles Schwab puts it in writing that they do not charge any such fees and pledges that if clients are ever charged them, they will return them to the account holder.

Shall we rename this thread: "ATM" ?

[Supermonger2]

This is really a subject for another thread but since it is already going...From personal experience, I can confirm that Merryl Lynch charges 2% for foreign transactions. But Charles Schwab puts it in writing that they do not charge any such fees and pledges that if clients are ever charged them, they will return them to the account holder.

[Efjayel]

And here I've heard that BofA(bank of America) charges for all ATM transactions that aren't BofA ATM's. They now trying to compete with Wamu?

[Reinaldo]

In many countries, especially the US, they DO charge foreign ATM fees now. US banks began doing this a few years ago, which actually led to a lawsuit and a settlement.

So, yes, nationality does play a part because if you are a US citizen living in the US you probably have a US bank as your home bank and thus usually have to pay this fee.


Plus your post says fees are not based on nationality then you go on to say SOME banks! That would be like you saying airline frequent flyer miles are not linked to one airline because SOME airlines have a partnership.

Finally, your post does not in any way add to the discussion. The question posed was why making a withdrawal at your home bank and then changing over to pesos was better that using an ATM. Your post just adds to the confusion for guys who have not read the majority of my trip reports. Basically, you guys can take Reinos. advice if you want and hope your bank does not charge all the fees. Regardless, the main point I made and still make is that YOU WILL PAY ATMS of some sort. Whether or not you get charged a foreign service fee is not germane to the ultimate point. My way you get NO FEES FOR SURE AND SINCE THE DOLLAR IS MORE THAN THE PESO YOU COME OUT AHEAD!

So
Are we clear on that point?

Don't put words in my mouth. I'm not telling people to blindly make ATM withdrawals in Tijuana in the hope that they won't be charged fees. I just pointed out that your BLANKET statement was incorrect and I gave you a specific example.

I agree that if your US bank charges fees it's not worth it to make ATM withdrawals in Tijuana and that is what I did until I found out that some banks do not charge ANY fees for withdrawals from select Mexican ATM's and B of A is one of them.

[Phordphan]

In many countries, especially the US, they DO charge foreign ATM fees now. US banks began doing this a few years ago, which actually led to a lawsuit and a settlement.

So, yes, nationality does play a part because if you are a US citizen living in the US you probably have a US bank as your home bank and thus usually have to pay this fee.


Plus your post says fees are not based on nationality then you go on to say SOME banks! That would be like you saying airline frequent flyer miles are not linked to one airline because SOME airlines have a partnership.

Finally, your post does not in any way add to the discussion. The question posed was why making a withdrawal at your home bank and then changing over to pesos was better that using an ATM. Your post just adds to the confusion for guys who have not read the majority of my trip reports. Basically, you guys can take Reinos. advice if you want and hope your bank does not charge all the fees. Regardless, the main point I made and still make is that YOU WILL PAY ATMS of some sort. Whether or not you get charged a foreign service fee is not germane to the ultimate point. My way you get NO FEES FOR SURE AND SINCE THE DOLLAR IS MORE THAN THE PESO YOU COME OUT AHEAD!

So
Are we clear on that point?

And I went to google and just typed in atm foreign fees and decided to post the first article on them so that people will no I am not making them up:
http://www.travelfinances.com/blog/i...ansaction-fee/

TJ

My 2 centavos...

TJF is correct. Most banks in the US do charge foreign transaction fees. I've been wading through the paperwork to get a refund based on the class-action lawsuit concerning these fees.

In my case, Wells Fargo, they ding me a $5 FTF for each ATM withdrawal. I got dinged on several withdrawals in my recent trip to Thailand and Vietnam.

TJF is correct in that if you're going to spend pesos (and you generally come out a little ahead if you do), then exchanging USD for MXP is more financially sound than using the foreign ATMs. The same goes for other foreign travel. I usually take most of my spending money in $100 bills when I travel, then exchange them for local currency in the destination country. You may not get quite as good a rate as the banks give, but you save the FTF, so you come out ahead.

The only flaw in TJF's plan is that you will, inevitably, wind up with left over pesos. It's no problem if you visit TJ regularly. If visits are infrequent, it's best to use dollars, cuz you're gonna get screwed when you change the pesos back to dollars.

PP

[Sunset Strip]

In many countries, especially the US, they DO charge foreign ATM fees now. US banks began doing this a few years ago, which actually led to a lawsuit and a settlement.

So, yes, nationality does play a part because if you are a US citizen living in the US you probably have a US bank as your home bank and thus usually have to pay this fee.


Plus your post says fees are not based on nationality then you go on to say SOME banks! That would be like you saying airline frequent flyer miles are not linked to one airline because SOME airlines have a partnership.

Finally, your post does not in any way add to the discussion. The question posed was why making a withdrawal at your home bank and then changing over to pesos was better that using an ATM. Your post just adds to the confusion for guys who have not read the majority of my trip reports. Basically, you guys can take Reinos. advice if you want and hope your bank does not charge all the fees. Regardless, the main point I made and still make is that YOU WILL PAY ATMS of some sort. Whether or not you get charged a foreign service fee is not germane to the ultimate point. My way you get NO FEES FOR SURE AND SINCE THE DOLLAR IS MORE THAN THE PESO YOU COME OUT AHEAD!

So
Are we clear on that point?

And I went to google and just typed in atm foreign fees and decided to post the first article on them so that people will no I am not making them up:
http://www.travelfinances.com/blog/i...ansaction-fee/

TJ

[FunFunFun69]

ATM fees are not based on your nationality. Some US banks don't charge fees for withdrawals from certain Mexican ATMs. For example I have a Bank of America account that allows me to make no fee withdrawals from Scotia Bank or Santander Serfin ATMs.

Agreed. I was never charged with any ATM fees in Mexico. Not from down there, and not from my bank (wells fargo, and a local credit union).

[Reinaldo]

My last post was a continuation of previous posts. The point is that if you are not a Mexican, you pay a foreign ATM fee, plus the Mexican bank's ATM fee, plus the withdrawal fee from your bank.

TJ

ATM fees are not based on your nationality. Some US banks don't charge fees for withdrawals from certain Mexican ATMs. For example I have a Bank of America account that allows me to make no fee withdrawals from Scotia Bank or Santander Serfin ATMs.