Boy, banking overseas is tough. I had my debit card “captured” a few days ago after trying to withdraw 3000 pesos (about $73.01 after service charge) from my bank account from home. The ATM took my card in and blipped some lights at me, sat, waited, spit out a receipt for 3000 pesos, and told me it took my card. It never gave me money but according to my online banking statement, they took it somewhere. Maybe there's a 3000 peso charge for having one's card captured. I'm not to sure of that though.
I did get my card back and was curious where the 3000 pesos were, the teller told me no bills were dispensed and showed where it said just that on the receipt. True, my wallet is awfully empty, terribly, but it's also true that my pesos aren't in my bank account either. Somewhere in BPI (Bank of the Philippine Islands) is a grip of pesos prancing around unaccounted for. I'd like them corralled home.
Let's talk service charges.
-200 pesos for a withdrawal, steep but I can deal as long as I withdrawal large sums infrequently.
-500 pesos for account summary of savings. Whoa! I didn't know about this one until I checked my account online last night. It's a surprise charge and oh how unpleasant it is. Did I tell you that it wouldn't actually show me my account summary for my savings? Yeah, I'm charged 500 pesos to see an ATM sputter out a receipt that says I didn't put my pin in correctly and also display some random account sum that's of a novel low sum. Every time it says “nope, you didn't give me your pin, also I'll show you a miniscule sum for what you have in your account. How's that for your sanity? Are you panicking over your savings account only having about $2.10? Beep boop beep. Lololololololo.”
My accounts are fine. For now. I emailed my bank to see if I can have something worked out so I don't pay crazy fees, we'll see how that works out in a couple days. I just got my Peace Corps bank account with PNB (Philippine National Bank, loving called PeaNut Butter) and even have an ATM card to boot. I don't know if I can transfer funds from my bank account back home to my new bank, but if it'd be cheaper or just work, that'd be money.
Anyway, banking, after worrying so much about my savings, I'm spent.
WOW!?! You handle this sort of non-sense far far better than I likely ever shall. B of A has a long way to go to get to the abysmal level of the banks(s) you're confronted with. I shall use this experience of yours as a point of perspective when I"m being had at some point in the future at some distant ATM. Makes me wonder if some scammers don't put out their own ATM's with the intention of skimming/scamming the unsuspecting? Anymore, I'm scarcely surprised ;o( Chiao
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