Using my ATM/Debit card in CR

[barman]

1) Is it reasonable that I'll be able to have pretty easy access to using my Bank of America issued debit card while in CR?

2) In the case of cash withdrawals, is it likely that I'm best off going to a bank, making the transacation there and converting it to CR currency?

3) In line with above question, will I likely be using CR currency while there, or are US dollars accepted in wide enough outlets to make that viable?

4) If making a cash transaction at a bank (by accessing my BOA money in USA) what kind of transaction fees am I likely dealing with?

thanks in advance

 

[barman]

Oh...got my official birth certificate copy from state of Texas today so I can now get my long overdue processing on passport for travel down in December

:smoker2:

 

[wolfie_cr]

1) this depends, I suggest you call them and tell them in advance the dates you will be here so that they make a note and don't freeze your card thinking that something fishy is going on


2) I would just withdraw it in colones immediately, one less line, you wont be saving a ton I don't think, if you are going to be doing it for a relatively long period of time, do it once and check how much it 'costs' you versus taking the US dollars and trading them into colones (you might be paying an ATM fee anyway which depends on your bank also so you really wont know till you try)

3) pretty well accepted but if you pay with dollars at a supermarket expect to wait an additional 5 minutes while they do the conversion etc, also some places don't accept bills of 'x' amount because of fraud concerns, I would say, get colones faster and one potential problem less, also you are going to get a worse conversion rate than the one that banks offer

not at ATM machines give USD , actually is a small % that do

 

[barman]

Right on...thanks for the reminder to tell BOA that I'll be using the card out of country.

Looking at about eight to nine days...maybe a couple extra if SheBar can come down for final few.

 

[wolfie_cr]

boy was I still sleep or what

I meant, not all ATM machines give dollars :nohead:

I would suggest this, use your ATM for the very few things that cant be paid with a credit card (taxi/that dental work I saw you talking about/etc) . Use your credit card as much as you can (hotel/supermarkets/restaurants etc) and do NOT use your debit card anywhere but the ATM machine

also I know that you know, but try not going to the ATM machine alone/really late at night/be discrete with your money/dont go around flashing it or counting it right on the street etc (all the common sense things but still worth repeating)

Credit cards are WIDELY accepted here for amounts as small as 4 dollars etc

 

[barman]

Well it's a Debit card in that transactions are pulled at time of purchase, but it's guised with a Visa logo.

And yeah, I got what you meant about ATMS > US Dollars.

Also certainly aware of general big city/strange city handling of money.

I'm not one to wear bling and my general intent will be to try and appear as poor and unworthy of robbing as NESADVANTAGE

 

[wolfie_cr]

what I meant about using a credit card (in case you have one) for purchases was aiming at the protections/ease of dispute in case of a fraud

I know this has changed recently but I dont know on a bank-bank basis (before debit cards had almost zero recourse while you could dispute any transaction made with credit cards) so if your debit card with BOA doesn't have a mechanism where you can dispute a transaction and get your money back then try to use credit cards for purchases

 

[TTinCO]

Bring cash & save yourself a few bucks.

Although your ATM card will work just fine pretty much everywhere, Visa charges a surcharge(3%?) since it is out of the US.

 

[HunterS.Thompson]

your smartning up quick there Ttinco!!!

 

[wolfie_cr]

is that 3% to get colones or just to get dollars?

if its just to get dollars that sucks, I have a debit card from the otherside of the world that charges much less, then again, banks in the US have a fee for almost anything known to man

 

[TTinCO]

The "surcharge" is on all charges-point of purchase or atm($ or colones)

(I just checked, and it's only 1%, not 3 with my bank)

 

[wolfie_cr]

gotta love my Tico cc that doesnt charge me those ridiculous surcharges , there is a 3% exchange rate surcharge if the purchases are in currencies other than $ or colones

disclaimer: the interest rates are ridiculous, even more so than the US cards but paying it off each month solves that (I have compared interest rates with Mrs Wolfie card and well.....no wonder the banks always have huge profits LOL)

 

[AdamSelene]

Bring cash & save yourself a few bucks.

Although your ATM card will work just fine pretty much everywhere, Visa charges a surcharge(3%?) since it is out of the US.

Perhaps you mean a "cash advanced" fee taking cash off a credit card; I've never been charged anything more than an ATM fee ($3-8) to withdraw cash from a foreign Visa-label debit card (issued by a US bank, UK bank, or Hong Kong bank).

Private bank ATMs (BAC, Cuscatlan) have fairly high withdrawal limits ($400-500 per transaction, $1000 per day).

 

[Masxmenos]

Right on...thanks for the reminder to tell BOA that I'll be using the card out of country.

Looking at about eight to nine days...maybe a couple extra if SheBar can come down for final few.

Barman,

Make sure you have them issue a card with an International PIN number. This is limited to 4 numbers/digits. If your PIN is not Intl or 4 digits, it will not work in CR.

 

[barman]

That's more good information, thanks.

My PIN does happen to be four characters now, but we'll confirm with bank that it is set to work in CR.

 

[ScubaSteve]

1) Is it reasonable that I'll be able to have pretty easy access to using my Bank of America issued debit card while in CR?

2) In the case of cash withdrawals, is it likely that I'm best off going to a bank, making the transacation there and converting it to CR currency?

3) In line with above question, will I likely be using CR currency while there, or are US dollars accepted in wide enough outlets to make that viable?

4) If making a cash transaction at a bank (by accessing my BOA money in USA) what kind of transaction fees am I likely dealing with?

thanks in advance

I use BOA as well, and definitely tell them that you will be in CR. While you're on the phone with them, get em to give you the direct 800 number to the Debit Card Protection department. It's an automated system usually, and even though BOA knows I'm here, my card usage here still sometiems triggers whatever fraud screening they have going on, and i have to call in real quick and 'authorize' the charges, and get my card unfrozen. however, when they freeze ur card, it's only frozen at the POS, you can use the ATM.

As for the fees for withdrawing; I withdrew $700 yesterday, and I was charged $5 by the owner of the ATM. BOA doesnt charge me when I use ATMs. BOA's currency exchange rate is exactly right in line with what you'll see published on bancobcr.com, so no need to go into the bank to go an exchange. Just withdraw your money in colones. I'd say the only reaosn that you need to go inside the bank at all is if you want to withdraw over your ATM limit, and want them to charge your card, like a cash advance. However, just call BOA, and have them incrase ur atm limit. they can do it temporarily or permanently. Max ATM limit per day is $1,500 and max POS limit per day is $5,000 i think. YOu won't have to get a special pin from boa. Their atm pin numbers are 4 numbers long.

 

[miami don]

im in the states and my wife is in costa rica is there a prepaid atm or something where i can post cash and get a card here and just mail it to her down there and have her take cash off it in cr

 

[Jack Herer]

im in the states and my wife is in costa rica is there a prepaid atm or something where i can post cash and get a card here and just mail it to her down there and have her take cash off it in cr

Don't worry, she doesn't need your money. Carlos will be taking care of her now.

 

[AdamSelene]

The least expensive way to transfer large amounts of cash from Miami to Costa Rica will be BAC Florida, if it's a convenient location for you.

http://www.bacflorida.com/eng/locations.html

Open an account there, deposit cash, preregister her BAC San Jose account for transfers (to get over the $1000 per day limit); the transfer fee is $5 for any amount, and it's freaking *instant*. Not sure what the max transfer is, I've done over $15,000 (from Panama, not from the USA).

Citibank owns Banco Cuscatlan, but no idea if they allow account transfers between the two.

 

[wolfie_cr]

that is great advice if she has an account with BAC San Jose already

opening a bank account here is a lesson in hassle..........specially if you are a foreigner.....they have gotten (all banks) very aggresive with this "know your customer" crap