last minute question for you russian hacks..

[BrianN]

Leaving in less than 2 weeks.

Crappy trip report below made me wonder about this...

Have any of you guys had any problems using atm's in russia?  (ie... fraud/theft/etc after using an atm?  I mean like... having your numbers and codes swiped by the folks/network owning the atms that is?)

Also thinking about sending myself money thru wu right before I leave just in case I get knocked over the head or something.

thanks

[BrianN]

... in response to last minute question for you russian hac..., posted by BrianN on May 8, 2002

Just wanted to make sure I haven't left out anything, and this topic seems to be quite an obscure one with regards to atms and stuff.

Now, if I can just be sure I don't forget my stinkin passport.

Thanks again guys,
the rustic boy scout.

(ahem, maybe change that these days to old and rusted, instead of rustic, but I wouldn't mind being rostic for 10 days  haha!).

:^)

[John K]

... in response to last minute question for you russian hac..., posted by BrianN on May 8, 2002

If you or the person you are visiting do not know where the ATM machines are, you will likely want to carry more cash.

I read that you should carry money as cash (local and US), traveller's checks, and credit cards (including the atm/visa debit cards).  That way, if something doesn't work (or you get ripped off), you have backup options.  I found out that traveller's checks are something that is almost impossible to cash.  Nobody wanted my AmEx checks, not even the AmEx window in Hotel Ukraina!

With credit cards, they are suspicious of any activity they are not accustomed to seeing.  If you don't do cash advances, or if you rarely use your credit card, make certain you notify your credit card company before you go that you intend to use your card extensively and in what countries you will likely use it in.  Otherwise, the fraud department may shut you down.

Also, make sure you know the daily cash advance limits of your credit cards and the total amount of cash you can withdraw from any credit card.  My experience is that the high interest cards usually have higher cash advance limits than the low to moderate interest cards.  Also, if you intend to use your debit card for withdrawls, you may want to contact your bank to raise your daily ATM withdrawl and credit limits, before your trip.  That really saved my bacon once in Sevastopol.

Just because a hotel says that they take visa, does not necessarily mean that they bill the card directly.  Once hotel in Sevastopol I stayed at made you go to a money changer's window and do a cash advance against your credit card to pay for the room.  That was their "visa support".

I usually now fly into Kiev with only a couple of hundred dollars in my pocket.  Of course, I know that there is an ATM in the Borispol airport, and additional ATMs in Hotel Express and Hotel Ukraina.  I also know a couple of ATMs in Zhitomir and Sevastopol.  If you don't have any idea where these machines are, pack some more cash and stash it in a hidden money belt or pouch.  You'll likely need $400-$500 free cash until you can find banks and/or ATM machines.

Best of luck to you.

[greg2]

... in response to last minute question for you russian hac..., posted by BrianN on May 8, 2002

Brian,

I did not have any trouble with ATM's but reco taking plenty of cash and get a money belt to carry it in.

[juio99]

... in response to last minute question for you russian hac..., posted by BrianN on May 8, 2002

I used ATM many times in Russia and on my latest trip to Turkey . . . all without any problems.  I only used ATMs in lobby of major hotels and inside of banks.

Before one trip, I checked with WU about sending myself money and they said WU would not allow it.  Something about not allowing cash advances which did not make total sense to me.  However, someone else can send you money, so this can be worked through a friend.  Maybe I got the wrong scoop and never tried it . . . so perhaps someone else knows more about the WU angle.

JR

[Jack]

... in response to last minute question for you russian hac..., posted by BrianN on May 8, 2002

Brian one thing about traveling to the FSU, you can count on something not going right. Maybe it will be a minor problem, you certaintly hope so. And if it is a major problem hopefully you will have someone close to you who can help you out.

What city or cities are you going to, maybe I can give you some back-up emergency phone numbers.

As someone wrote down below, it might be good for you to call your credit card/ATM bank and advise them that you are going to be out of the country and might be making withdraws from this country.

I have several employees overseas and I have a seperate bank account here in the states for them. I deposit money into there account one day and the next day they can withdraw and the fee, no matter what amount is withdrawn, is $1.25. Now on these accounts there is a maximum amount of cash that can be withdrawn each day, and that is $700. So if an employee needs $1000 he or she can get $700 one day and $300 the next day.

For the most part the ATM's you see on the streets are not going to give you dollars, but instead rubles or hrivanas. We are aware (thanks to Dan) of one ATM in Kiev that gives you the option of dollars or hrivanas.

I know of clients who have sent themselves money by Western Union and this served only as an emergency. If they didn't need the money they would not withdraw it in Russia or Ukraine, but if they did need it, it was there. I don't think this is a bad idea Brian.

[BrianN]

... in response to last minute questions, posted by Jack on May 9, 2002

We exchanged a couple of emails about six months ago, (i'm sure you talk to a LOT of dewds, so you probably forgot), and you thought I was falling in love via the internet.

No biggie.  I understand your judgement call very well, however, my antennae are just as big as yours are, so take my word for it, I ain't going to pick up some hot russian chick just because she writes me, and I pay for correspondence, and when I get there she's all perky and sh@t.  I have too many complicated (mental idiot) criteria that have to be matched, and if I even get the slightest hint of hesitation, then none of this is happening.  The toughest part though, isn't going there, it's leaving here.

That part is even more complicated, but whatever.  I have to respect my own needs first which is the one reason why I've decided to go.

I know the difference between lust and love.  I know the difference between sex and making love...... and the-well, you get the point.  Anyway, Ever since we talked in email, (I think it was in november or something), I've wanted to make this point, because it sounded like you kind of "gave up" on me for some lost fool that didn't know his head from a hole in the wall.  

However, so many guys (I used to spend a LOT of my time counseling navy guys with their newfound loves in asia-non-proper), can still f-this-up.  And it seems not to be a matter of big head vs little head but just let me run straight into the wall and i don't care how much it hurts just be sure it hurts me good etc.  Hence the guys that marry twice, give away two of their houses to women they hate, marry a third time and decide to get a pre-nup.  Sounds more like a legal way to protect ones self, from feeling sorry, or guilty out of being chivalrous and a Godly Righteous man for their women no matter how much the women don't want them.

Yeah, my thoughts exactly.  Find a woman you hate, give her your house and get it over with (this is an old radio talk show line).

Ok, let's go to russia, find a woman that we love, but hates us eventually, give her a new life and the house, and then we'll repeat it all again.

Nope.  Done it already.  I must say, the worst part of being in a bad marriage or relationship, is being rejected for the man that you are.  My requirements are very specific, (but not photographic), and if a lady that's interested in me, does not want to follow my ambitions (which are very large), then she can go the way of the rest.

If she can do that and understand the enormity of it all, (outside of her life in russia), then she's on board and then I'll allow myself to be vulnerable.  

Personally I'd love to be openly vulnerable, and just let things go.  But I'd end up giving away too many houses.

For what it's worth, search your old email for clippey, and you'll find it.  I'm going to novosibirsk via moscow on a wovo thing, and if it turns to crap, or if red flags fly, then I'll end up hanging out with bruce in akademgorodok, and just get drunk for a few days, (and try to find a flight early) to england to visit friends there, or hang out with my interpreter...etc.  Much cheaper than a house.

I'm still trying to figure out why I wrote all of this, but what the heck.  The submit message button is too easy to click and patrick made this textbox form too big.  yeah, blame patrick for this post!

I'm tired.

bd.

PS: I will email or call you from novosibirsk if I run into a situation where I need help, and my visa/mc is good for it.  Nothing paid, nothing gained.  I don't believe in a free ride except on planet-love... haha thanks patrick for the forum.

[Jack]

... in response to Well Jack... (you didn't ask for all of ..., posted by BrianN on May 10, 2002

I don't really re-call our past written correspondence so I will just reply in general.

So, Brian, it looks like you are traveling half way around the world to visit one woman and you have no back-up plan in place. You must have very strong, sincere feelings about this woman and in your heart you feel as though she is the one and that things are going to work out fine.

Of course I, and I think I can say everyone on P-L, wishes you the very best and we will all be pulling for you and will be excited in hearing back from you.

[BrianN]

... in response to Best of luck Brian., posted by Jack on May 10, 2002

Well thanks... but, believe it or not, I would not be too disappointed if I came back empty handed.  I think the fun of going just to go, will be just as important.  (yeah there is a back up plan... dam good one too... but I don't really want to talk about it here, thx!)

[CornellGuy]

... in response to last minute question for you russian hac..., posted by BrianN on May 8, 2002

For my 2 trips to Russia last year, I lived off regular ATM cash advances from my credit cards, keeping my cash as emergency backup.  For 5 weeks in Russia, I made about 30 cash withdrawals; never had a problem.  Just remember to use bank or hotel ATMs only, and notify your CC company that you'll be taking regular cash advances from your CC (otherwise they'll freeze your card).  My only problem was 11 years ago in Kuwait, where an unauthorized $300 charge was made at the Sheraton? Hilton?  My CC company was quick to credit me the $300.  Once out of many, many international charges over 15 years isn't bad!

[Bobby Orr]

... in response to last minute question for you russian hac..., posted by BrianN on May 8, 2002

Bring an American Express card and a Visa card.  You can get a cash advance by going into their main office.  Use it only if you have an emergency.  Bring cash, $200 per day, which is way more than you will need, but enough in case of an emergency.

[John F]

... in response to last minute question for you russian hac..., posted by BrianN on May 8, 2002

In Ukraine, not Russia, I get a cash advance from my credit card directly from the bank.  It's not difficult and it's secure.  It does require a little bit of time while they check with the card company.

[Philb]

... in response to last minute question for you russian hac..., posted by BrianN on May 8, 2002

I have used ATM's affiliated with banks numerous times in Moscow without any problems.  I do remember reading about some ATM fraud that occured on a fairly wide scale in Russia 2 or 3 years ago.

I have also used my bank card to get cash directly from a bank.  This is handy when you are in an area which does not have an ATM.  This is also by far cheaper than WU.

[RfB]

... in response to last minute question for you russian hac..., posted by BrianN on May 8, 2002

In my trips , I used ATM's only in a major hotel. I didn't feel comfortably using the many machines available on the street level outdoors.