Angeles City

[QUOTE=Westcoast1;1367240]Honestly, I can't remember the last time my ATM / Debit card was NOT hit with a p200 ATM fee, including Citi.[/QUOTE]Using a non-Citi foreign bank card I know I paid a p200 fee at Citibank in Makati. But what was more shocking was the dreadful exchange rate for the transaction, which was 34 to the US dollar in October when the rate was approx 42:1. Citi stated this was my bank's rate. My credit union stated it wasn't them. After a few goes at Citi, each time getting the same crappy rate, I switched to Metro, and found the exchange rate significantly improved. Using metrobank yesterday my exchange rate was 40. 3:1 There was the p200 fee, and my credit union has an international transaction fee of $2. 43 and an atm fee of $1. It remains unanswered why the exchange rates were so different. Perhaps different intermediary banks. Something to consider.

Speak to the manager of your bank at home. If you're a serious account holder who travels internationally with regularity they will usually agree to cover any ATM charges or other surcharges accumulated abroad. My bank charges nothing for international withdraw, no matter the country or network, and they cover the charges like the 200 php fee discussed here within 30 days. Remember banks work for you. They live off the interest made on your deposits.

Don't forget, in addition to charges, and in my case and personal research, I found I got 5% less with the exchange rate compared to cash notes changed with Money Changers. On more than one occasion I withdrew money from ATM, then headed for Money Changer straight away. Via ATM I was getting 5% less with the exchange rate.

The problem with cash, once you lose it, say stolen or lost, you have lost it forever. Not so with cards.

As one said, a mix of cards and cash is a good way to go. Whether cards or cash, try and do same inside the bank, not out on the street.

[QUOTE=GoodEnough; 1367244]Sorry Stroker, but HSBC-at least the branch in Davao-charges Php200 and has for some time. I use it because it's the only bank I've found here that lets you take out Php20, 000 in a single transaction, but it does charge.

GE[/QUOTE]GE.

My HSBC card lets me withdraw up to 40, 000 and does not charge me any fees. Maybe as it is an overseas card? Seems odd that a bank will charge a good client a fee to withdrw his / her money from his / her chosen bank but then banks like to screw all of us whenever they can.

Happy New Year!

[QUOTE=Hutsori;1367261]Using a non-Citi foreign bank card I know I paid a p200 fee at Citibank in Makati. But what was more shocking was the dreadful exchange rate for the transaction, which was 34 to the US dollar in October when the rate was approx 42:1. Citi stated this was my bank's rate. My credit union stated it wasn't them. After a few goes at Citi, each time getting the same crappy rate, I switched to Metro, and found the exchange rate significantly improved. Using metrobank yesterday my exchange rate was 40. 3:1 There was the p200 fee, and my credit union has an international transaction fee of $2. 43 and an atm fee of $1. It remains unanswered why the exchange rates were so different. Perhaps different intermediary banks. Something to consider.[/QUOTE]Its your bank that is charging the differing exchange rate (not the ATM). My bank here in the States fessed up (Wells Fargo). The manager at my bank told me that their exchange rate changes daily, computer-controlled based on the actual daily exchange rate. He said, out loud to me, that I could subtract 10-20% on any transaction from the actual exchange rate. For example, when the actual rate is 41:1, the bank gives me about 35:1. I've noticed the exchange on every ATM withdrawal overseas, and every swipe of my ATM card (when used as a VISA CC) , I lose almost 20% (but never in the US). He said the percentage difference is different for specific countries.

I have long known this to be true also of my bank in exchanging actual dollars for pesos, and vice-versa. When I hand my bank $40USD (about 1600 pesos) and ask for pesos, they give me back about $34 in pesos (1375 pesos). They also charge a more-than-healthy "delivery" fee, as the pesos must be delivered from another city. When I return from phils and go back to my bank to exchange my leftover pesos for dollars, they do it again. I give the bank 1375 pesos, they should hand me back about $34USD. But they give me $28 (about 1200p).

[QUOTE=Rick Rock;1367263]Speak to the manager of your bank at home. If you're a serious account holder who travels internationally with regularity they will usually agree to cover any ATM charges or other surcharges accumulated abroad. My bank charges nothing for international withdraw, no matter the country or network, and they cover the charges like the 200 php fee discussed here within 30 days. Remember banks work for you. They live off the interest made on your deposits.[/QUOTE]I've spoken to branch managers at two of my larger US banks, Wells and BofA, where I have sizeable holdings. Both say they are unable to refund any transaction fees."When the government started clamping down on the various credit card fees we used to charge, corporate started charging other fees for many other services, including your debit card. Got to make money somehow." Obviously, making money by living off the interest on my deposits is not enough.

[QUOTE=Wicked Roger; 1367298]GE.

My HSBC card lets me withdraw up to 40, 000 and does not charge me any fees. Maybe as it is an overseas card? Seems odd that a bank will charge a good client a fee to withdrw his / her money from his / her chosen bank but then banks like to screw all of us whenever they can.

Happy New Year![/QUOTE]You are not getting the p200 fee when you use the HSBC card at a non-HSBC ATM?

'sizeable' LOL. Other than a 1% foreign transaction fee (a wash given you get the commerical foreign exchange vs the 'tourist' rate) there are no fees with BoA premier account.

All my accounts were opened at the same branch. I make it a point to show my face often. Keep the personal in personal banking. (it's 5 blocks from my place) There are some fees that are non-refundable. As in there is no mechanism programmed at corporate level to allow for it or they are limited by regulation. I'm not sure about Wells and BoFA (like they really care about customer service) but my district manager has discretionary funds that he can spend as he sees fit. I also have a considerable line of credit that I have never used. The yearly fee is $50. I have never paid for this.

I'm pretty brutal when it comes to the banks. I see them as worthless. Customer service has gone to shit and all they care about is turning profits. And I'm with ya! These asses borrow money from the fed for 0% or the give us. 024% on our deposits. They went from "too big to fail" to "government guaranteed profits" All Dod Frank did was make it impossible for the average guy to get a mortgage.

[QUOTE=Rick Rock;1367263]Speak to the manager of your bank at home. If you're a serious account holder who travels internationally with regularity they will usually agree to cover any ATM charges or other surcharges accumulated abroad. My bank charges nothing for international withdraw, no matter the country or network, and they cover the charges like the 200 php fee discussed here within 30 days. Remember banks work for you. They live off the interest made on your deposits.[/QUOTE]I tghink the trick is you have to remind them that they wok for you. Too many people get hoodwinked by the herd mentality. Think for yourself is my motto.

[QUOTE=John Traveller;1367004]Last nite I barfined a girl from Lollipop. In the bar she was entertaining and pleasant, but when we got to my bed most inactive and boring. I have never experienced anything like it in AC (or any other place for that matter). Anybody had any similar experience from Lollipop? (Thinking about it afterwards I think I have read some negative reports of this bar before, I should haver remembered!)[/QUOTE]I had a couple of pulls from there: one was Reya (27) and the other a 19 yr old whose name escapes me right now. Both were quite adequate for the needs at hand. The 19 yo had to go home by 2130 to take care of baby, we were talking around 1500. I naturally did not feel like getting LT for that amount of time. She told me "I will come back at 8am to your room" I was quite skeptical but figured I would roll the dice as an experiment. She did return. It worked out well as I was due for a good night sleep alone at that point.

Lollipops in general is fun and from what I have read most people are ok with it. It was my wingmans and mine hangout bar. This kind of stuff can happen to anyone in any bar I supposse. Thus the vets will underscore the value of the interview.

[QUOTE=Funman13; 1363549]However, I am drawn to AC every year exactly because there is nothing else to do. It is the ultimate relaxing vacation, no agenda, no time table, no hassles. I sleep and wake up whenever I want to, eat whenever and whatever I want to, sometimes one meal a day, sometime three meals a day. If I want to drink and / or get pussy, I can. If I don't feel like it, I don't. During the day, I relax, catch up on my reading, surf the web, cleanup the junk-data in my laptop, walk in the mall, or just do nothing in my room.[/QUOTE]This sums it up very well. I do not understand why so many people hear engage, over and over, in the same arguments. It is all about chilling and doing what you feel like. Relax. I will buy you a beer and we can tell each other tall tales. See you next year!

As my work may take me there semi regularly: is it easy enough to just bring some $$, open a bank account there and then use a local ATM without getting hit with international fees and / or crappy exchange rates?

Surely many here, expats or otherwise, have done this.

TIA

Picts taken with my 2006 Sony-Ericsson camera. As bonus, here is pic of gal I had last night too. One thing interesting. It was her day off, and just found her last night on Field's, outside of the schwarma place. Offered her a schwarma, and then she came to my place for 1000 ST. Works at one of the Neon Bars end of Fields, and sometimes she a regular gal (EWR: 1900p) , and once or twice a week is a "spotlight" gal (EWR: 3000p).

Proves that packaging is everything. Just gave her 1000 for ST. Nice gal too.

Here a few New Years fireworks from Raymond, and Field's Ave. You wish you were here.



--Popper

[QUOTE=Westcoast1;1367319]You are not getting the p200 fee when you use the HSBC card at a non-HSBC ATM?[/QUOTE]I don't use non HSBC ATMs WC but if I mis read the original FR then apologies