Streetwalker Reports

[Frogg]

Tried this on a Banorte ATM. Wanted to exchange at 21 and change and I declined. Still spit out money but at 23.80. So far, I've only found Banorte to give an option if to accept exchange rate or not.

This week, I was experimenting using ATMs in Tijuana for the first time. At an HSBC ATM, I was offered a rate at 22 (as some have reported), I declined and was given the money anyway. Some calculations confirmed that the declining their rate gives you the official 23.8 rate. Thanks for the tip! After withdrawing at the ATM, in my hotel room I locked my card thru the bank website.

BTW, I had entered Tijuana for legitimate medical reason, a tooth that began to ache just recently. I contacted a dental office in Tijuana, made appointment and they emailed me a letter to print and show border guards. The guards barely glanced at the letter and let me in. After tooth fixed, there was still much action in La Zona, the warm weather bringing people out during the day.

[Hargow20]

The CBP officer simply asked if I was bringing anything back. The last time I crossed they asked the purpose of my visit. I simply told them dental appt. In the end it really depends on the CBP officer you run into. Years ago I visited Tijuana the week before Christmas. And he questioned why I was there.

I.

On my last visit CBP reinforced "Stay at Home California Order" . Not in your case? Interesting!

Exception for Rx. No, CBP.

[Sound7]

On my last visit CBP reinforced "Stay at Home California Order" . Not in your case? Interesting!

Exception for Rx. No, CBP.

Got my prescription from the doctor so decided visit Tijuana to try and find Kayla. Went through Pedeast and showed them my proof of application and my prescription. The Mexican immigration agent barely glanced at them and let me through. The weather was hot yesterday so I decided take one of the shuttle van's to Madero st. Personally I really dislike Pedeast because you have to walk so far out of your way. I ha......

[Hargow20]

Got my prescription from the doctor so decided visit Tijuana to try and find Kayla. Went through Pedeast and showed them my proof of application and my prescription. The Mexican immigration agent barely glanced at them and let me through. The weather was hot yesterday so I decided take one of the shuttle van's to Madero st. Personally I really dislike Pedeast because you have to walk so far out of your way. I hate the way you have to walk all they way to Frontera st. . Having to go to Pedeast adds a extra 10 minutes to my time to cross the border. Arrived in the Zona around 4 pm. The action was unbelievably slow. There was only about 10 girls in the Zona. This one guy told me that Kayla was around. He also said that this blonde Krysta is back in the Zona. Krystal is US girl that was in the Zona about 4 years ago. I kind have my doubts since I have not seen her in awhile.I have been with Krystal about 2 or 3 times when she was still around. Would be nice just to to see how she is looking. It would nice have more WSW options in TJ. I ran into Kayla around 5 pm or so. The BBJ / facial was fairly good. Kayla was rushig a bit and was little less willing to please. The facial was quite gooey however. Kayla says that she is working days since things were so slow at night. Got a haircut and the barber told me that the Zona was very dangerous after 10 pm. Walked back and there was a goat tied up pedestrian bridge.

[InsolentSpike]

Hello guys,

Anyone have any experience with Edith from Hotel Eduardo? I have seen her in many videos but have never been able to find her when I would go down to the Zona. This is before the quarantine of course. Just wondering if any of you guys had the pleasure of seeing her and would like to know how she was.

Thanks!

[Phordphan]

How common is it to receive forged bills from the exchange house? Is it worth it to use one of those pens that checks for fake bills?

I've been exchanging at cambios for the better part of 20 years. Never saw a fake bill.

[Thunder52]

Just to clarify I got the 22.4 mxn exchange rate on the US side of the border. There were other places offering up to 22.6. On the Tijuana side it's about 20.1 something like that. When changing dollars to pesos you always get the better rate on the US side.

I live in Baja. Always thought the opposite but never considered changing dollars for pesos in Gringolandia. Where in SD do you score a better rate?

[ClamSlammer]

How common is it to receive forged bills from the exchange house? Is it worth it to use one of those pens that checks for fake bills?

There was a time when I was selling $80,000 pesos daily for dollars at casas de cambios around Tijuana. I've never had any problem with any forged or fake bills.

[Captain Solo]

The MULTIVA, and other machines on the streets, are known to copy your cards' info and passwords and sold to criminals who would withdraw $200 -300 in the US. It happened to me and a wingman at the ATM in the alley next to bar Valentina.

ATMs in HK's and Cascada's lobbies charge 90 pesos terminal fee and have been safe for me. I used them many times, never had problems.

Use your Capital one 360 ATM card. If you are asked to convert via a shitty conversion, press no and you'll still get your withdrawal done only with a better exchange rate. Capital one 360 charges 0% for your currency exchange but it looks like you won't get ATM surcharge fees refunded. Most people will use Charles Schwab to pull money out as they also refund ATM fees. When you pull out with your capital one card, just pull out as much as you can because you'll be charged the same amount no matter how much you pull out. Be careful of converting your pesos at an exchange casa. Make sure the dollars you get from there aren't forgeries.

Wells Fargo: 3% + $5 + whatever the ATM charges you. (if you withdraw $100 usd you are guaranteed to lose at least $8).

Capital one 360:0% + $0 + whatever the ATM charges you.

Charles Schwab: 0% + $0 + $0 (you get charged extra at first but refunded back at the end of the month).

[Jinxx]

Use your Capital one 360 ATM card. If you are asked to convert via a shitty conversion, press no and you'll still get your withdrawal done only with a better exchange rate. Capital one 360 charges 0% for your currency exchange but it looks like you won't get ATM surcharge fees refunded. Most people will use Charles Schwab to pull money out as they also refund ATM fees. When you pull out with your capital one card, just pull out as much as you can because you'll be charged the same amount no matter how much you pull out. Be careful of converting your pesos at an exchange casa. Make sure the dollars you get from there aren't forgeries.

Wells Fargo: 3% + $5 + whatever the ATM charges you. (if you withdraw $100 usd you are guaranteed to lose at least $8).

Capital one 360:0% + $0 + whatever the ATM charges you.

Charles Schwab: 0% + $0 + $0 (you get charged extra at first but refunded back at the end of the month).

How common is it to receive forged bills from the exchange house? Is it worth it to use one of those pens that checks for fake bills?

[Duncan216]

What bank is your ATM card? The other day when this topic first came up I went with my wells fargo card to a citibanamex ATM, a banorte ATM, and 3 bbva atms and none of them showed anything about any exchange rate. It just asked if I was ok with the ATM fee and that was it. But I think I did get a good rate, and not a crappy low rate. Bbva gave the highest fee like 81 pesos and I think citibanamex gave the lowest fee if I remember correctly.

I also have a capital one 360 ATM card but I didn't try it because I currently don't have any money in that account. But I think I do remember using my capital one card at a bbva ATM in Tijuana and it saying something about a shitty lower than usual exchange rate. I never thought to decline the withdrawal since I was in a hurry to get to the zona and get into some tits and ass. When I get a chance I'm going to go back and try again with my capital one card and see what happens.

Another reason that I came to the conclusion that I hate Mexican atms is that I've lost 3 ATM cards by just walking off and leaving my card in the machine. I'm used to American atms where you have to pull your card out of the machine before it will dispense your cash, therefore making it impossible to leave your card. The Mexican ATM's don't do this. They spit out your cash and it's up to you to remember to not leave without your card. Yea I know it's completely my own fault, but it still pissed me off, each time having to call my bank and request a new card.

Use your Capital one 360 ATM card. If you are asked to convert via a shitty conversion, press no and you'll still get your withdrawal done only with a better exchange rate. Capital one 360 charges 0% for your currency exchange but it looks like you won't get ATM surcharge fees refunded. Most people will use Charles Schwab to pull money out as they also refund ATM fees. When you pull out with your capital one card, just pull out as much as you can because you'll be charged the same amount no matter how much you pull out. Be careful of converting your pesos at an exchange casa. Make sure the dollars you get from there aren't forgeries.

Wells Fargo: 3% + $5 + whatever the ATM charges you. (if you withdraw $100 usd you are guaranteed to lose at least $8).

Capital one 360:0% + $0 + whatever the ATM charges you.

Charles Schwab: 0% + $0 + $0 (you get charged extra at first but refunded back at the end of the month).

[Jinxx]

Tried this on a Banorte ATM. Wanted to exchange at 21 and change and I declined. Still spit out money but at 23.80. So far, I've only found Banorte to give an option if to accept exchange rate or not.

What bank is your ATM card? The other day when this topic first came up I went with my wells fargo card to a citibanamex ATM, a banorte ATM, and 3 bbva atms and none of them showed anything about any exchange rate. It just asked if I was ok with the ATM fee and that was it. But I think I did get a good rate, and not a crappy low rate. Bbva gave the highest fee like 81 pesos and I think citibanamex gave the lowest fee if I remember correctly.

I also have a capital one 360 ATM card but I didn't try it because I currently don't have any money in that account. But I think I do remember using my capital one card at a bbva ATM in Tijuana and it saying something about a shitty lower than usual exchange rate. I never thought to decline the withdrawal since I was in a hurry to get to the zona and get into some tits and ass. When I get a chance I'm going to go back and try again with my capital one card and see what happens.

Another reason that I came to the conclusion that I hate Mexican atms is that I've lost 3 ATM cards by just walking off and leaving my card in the machine. I'm used to American atms where you have to pull your card out of the machine before it will dispense your cash, therefore making it impossible to leave your card. The Mexican ATM's don't do this. They spit out your cash and it's up to you to remember to not leave without your card. Yea I know it's completely my own fault, but it still pissed me off, each time having to call my bank and request a new card.

[VitoDerEine]

Tried this on a Banorte ATM. Wanted to exchange at 21 and change and I declined. Still spit out money but at 23.80. So far, I've only found Banorte to give an option if to accept exchange rate or not.

Yes. This is definitely the case. The first time I accepted even though the exchange rate was really bad because I needed the money and thought I wouldn't get it if I didn't accept. Then I heard about this scam and so declined the next time I saw it. Sure enough out pops my money anyway at the favorable rate like I have always had in the past. Don't remember which banks it was at though, but I don't used independent ATMs only bank ATMs.

The exchange rate on ATM withdrawals (when no affected by this scam) have always been better than any rate posted at any casa de cambio. Usually quite close to the interbank rate quoted on the financial services.

[Hargow20]

A friend that lives in Tijuana told me that the police are cracking down on people that are out & the curfew as well. If any happens visit the Zona please post. ?

[Dickus Maximus]

Why bother with the ATM macines in Tijuana. Just take what money you need and go the exhange places. A lot of the ATM's in the Zone will try and scam you. There is a few reliable ATM's by HSBC and across the street. The problem you will pay a surcharge.

I have never had a problem using an ATM in Mexico. Its faster and cheaper than the money exchanges services. I usually go to Zona Rio and any of the major banks there. But I have used ATMs all over Mexico with no problem (save this exchange rate scam). I would not use one of the private ATMs in the clubs though. I always stick with the banks.