Stores in BsAs are charged 10% or more when they accept credit cards. The
annual finance rate here is 70%, so credit cards ("tarjetas de credito") are
being used less and less in Buenos Aires. A store may have a sign in the
window indicating they accept many different credit cards, but this may not
be the case--ask first. Also, some stores will not accept debit cards
("tarjetas de debito") for purchases. Usually their policy is posted where
you pay.
I have to share my recent experience with an ATM. This week I spent the
last cash I had in my wallet to make a deposit on an order with a store.
Since I had only change to take a bus home, I went to the nearest BankBoston
on Corrientes and Pasteur to withdraw more pesos at 4:15pm. I inserted my
debit card in the Banelco ATM and nothing happened. The machine would not
allow me to make a transaction nor would it return my debit card. The bank
was closed by this time. I talked to the security guard about the fact that
the machine retained my card, and I had absolutely no money. He told me I
would have to come back the next day to retrieve my card because there was
no one in the bank who could open the machine at that time. You can
imagine my frustration, but I knew there was nothing else I could do. I
returned the next morning and was directed to see the teller at window 16
downstairs. She told me I would have to wait until 3:00pm that afternoon
when the ATM was serviced and my card was retrieved. I told her I couldn't
wait because I had no money. She said she would see what she could do. And
then she asked me for my "documento." Well, of course, I never go walking
around the city with my passport. If it was lost or stolen, I would have an
even bigger problem. I had brought along a credit card which has my photo
and a photocopy of my passport--both were unacceptable to bank personnel.
So I then walked home and returned to the bank an hour later to show them my
US passport. It is only with an original photo document (passport) that the
bank will return a debit or credit card. The bank personnel made a
photocopy of my passport and had me sign a document indicating receipt of my
debit card. It's a hassle, but this is how it is done. I hope no one has
to go through this, but if an ATM retains your card, be prepared to do the
same thing.
Last year, I walked away from an ATM before completing the transaction. I
just took the money and was thinking about getting in the long line in the
bank to get smaller bills. The problem was I forgot to retrieve my debit
card. Once you enter your PIN, the ATM is ready for multiple transactions
which means anyone can withdraw money using your card. Fortunately, a
honest person turned the card over to bank personnel. I arrived at my
apartment and then realized my worst fear--that I didn't have my debit card
to withdraw money. I ran back to the bank and talked to someone inside
about the card I had left in the machine. The woman merely asked my name
and handed me my card. I will be forever grateful to that anonymous person
who turned in my card to bank personnel. They could have cleaned out my
account with it.
My recommendation is to use only the CITIBANK Banelco ATMs where you insert
your card for the machine to read it and then withdraw it---the machine
doesn't retain your card during the transaction. This way it is impossible
to lose your card in the machine. Only the Banelco ATMs at Citibank are
this way. There is a new CITIBANK location next to Zival's at the corner of
Corrientes and Callao.
There are banks which permit only their customers to withdraw funds from the
Banelco ATMs; foreign cards will be identified and not allowed to process
the transaction.
Pichi de Buenos Aires
