ATM card question

[Evan]

I got my girl in Lima an ATM card to use. I set up a separate checking account for it to come out of. She says it won`t work, any suggestions It`s a Cirrus card,I never use one one myself so I can`t really tell her what the problem is. Any help is much appreciated !!!
Thanks,
Evan

[ElAbogado]

... in response to ATM card question, posted by Evan on Aug 22, 2001

There is a strange law that says that if you gave her an ATM card with other than HER name on it, you are technically breaking federal law.  In order to get an ATM card with her name on it, she must be a signator to your account, and she must have a social security number.   Sounds great, an account here, deposits here, no transfer fees, instant access to cash etc., but very illegal.

The US government watches all transfers between the US and colomiba, don't get caught in this web.

Call your financial institution and ask them if it's ok to do this, they will tell you the same thing that I am telling you here.

California Attorney

[El Diablo]

... in response to Re: ATM card question ILLEGAL!, posted by ElAbogado on Aug 23, 2001

Cal Attorney,

I'm curious how big brother would know a withdrawl on my U.S. account even occurred.  I guess there must be some kind of transfer between institutions, mine here and the bank or clearing house in Colombia.  Are all international fund transfers subject to governmental oversight.  Who would be watching this and do they really care about about a few hundred dollars here and there.

If they are watching the drug trade for instance, I would think it would be big transfers, like hundreds of thousands of dollars that would draw interest. Even here in the U.S., banks do not report deposits to the government unless they exceed $10,000.

Anyway, my girlfriend has my 2nd debit card and she withdrawls money monthly to pay my apartment expense for me.  I can't imagine, I'll do time for this offense.  The IRS shoudn't care as they've already gotten there half.

El Diablo

[Pete E]

... in response to Re: ATM card question ILLEGAL!, posted by ElAbogado on Aug 23, 2001

Thats what the banks told me.But if you play by their rules you lose the most convenient and inexpensive way to send money,basically zero cost,instant access and the best exchange rate.We have been getting about 2280 pesos Colombian to the dollar,after any fees.
In our case we opened a checking account for my wife.She got an ATM/visa card.The lady at this bank told us,don't say I told you,but you can also get a regular ATM card with the account.We sent this to my mother in law and it worked for awhile and then the ATM  told her the card was bad.(maybe it got damaged or de magnitized).We got a new card for her,changed the pin # and it has worked every since.
I don't know if she could get in any trouble,she has our permission to use the card.Its too good an option to give up because someone says you shouldn't do it.

Pete

[Tai]

... in response to Re: Re: ATM card question ILLEGAL!, posted by Pete E on Aug 23, 2001

Isn't that always how it goes...if it avoids the bureaucratic hassles, and the banks aren't making their share off of it, then it's illegal..."technically".

However, this "technicality" will only have teeth when all the bank presidents, corporate CEO's, doctors, LAWYERS, AND congressmen stop giving their credit cards to their children heading off to college for use "in case of emergency". Not to mention that universities across this country would be in serious trouble, if not for the usage of "daddy's credit card".

Empowering a child in college or a friend/fiance/spouse in another country is the same deal, knowingly allowing someone whose name is not on an account to have access to YOUR money. -Permission IS the deciding factor in enforceablility and/or imposing any penalty.

It has been going on for years. And I know at least twenty to be personally exact, being sent to the store with my mother or aunt's credit card and a note, so that I would be allowed to buy items for them. I also accompanied many friends who were sent on similar "errands" for their parents/relatives.

Technically, there are a whole lot of laws on the books that realistically speaking have no teeth.

just .02

Tai

[Evan]

... in response to Re: ATM card question ILLEGAL!, posted by ElAbogado on Aug 23, 2001

I ended up today changing the PIN mumber so she could use it. I did this through my bank, I told them she had it and was using it. They didn`t seem to care at all and did everything possible to see that it worked properly for her. Maybe you are right, but they didn`t care.

[jim c]

... in response to ATM card question, posted by Evan on Aug 22, 2001

Often some machines will work and some not. I pay my rent with an atm card. My land lord punched in the wrong number twice in a row and an automatic block went into effect. You need to check with your bank to see the card status and remind your girl to use the correct number. Otherwise yo no se  jim c

[Jebster]

... in response to ATM card question, posted by Evan on Aug 22, 2001

I use my debit card a lot in Colombia as it is the best value and very convenient. It should not matter if it is a Visa or Mastercard or a debit card issed with your bank's name on it. The key element is that it needs to be either in the "Cirrus" or "Plus" network, with the Cirrus being the most widely accepted.

ATM's in LA are fickle. I just returned from a 19 day, 4 city trip to Colombia. My reliabale bank ATM card never worked in Medellin but was 100% reliable in Cartagena and Barranquilla and about 75% reliable in Bogota. Sometimes the card wiill not work at any bank, indicating phone line or other network problems. Also, not all ATM machines are part of the Cirrus or Plus networks, but only work for local accounts.

So tell her to keep trying and try different bank ATM's. But again, they must be affiliated with Cirrus or Plus networks. Over time, she should be able to find a few that will work reliably. Of course, this may not apply to Peru, but I think it's worth a try.

Good Luck.

[cdrab]

... in response to ATM card question, posted by Evan on Aug 22, 2001

For my fiancee in Cali I gave her a Debit only card with the PLUS and INTERAC emblem on the back and it works good at most banks.
I also use the same type of card in Cali and have had few problems.
If she is having trouble at one bank send her around to try the other banks in town.
Clint

[Evan]

... in response to Re: ATM card question, posted by cdrab on Aug 23, 2001

Being that this card is in my name only, can she get into any trouble if she asks for help at a bank there. I have never done this before, I thought it would be so much easier than trying to send money. Not to mention...much cheaper.

[cdrab]

... in response to Re: Re: ATM card question, posted by Evan on Aug 23, 2001

I don't think she will have a problem, The card I gave my fiancee has my name on it and she uses it regularily. She had a problem with the bank machine twice and both times went in to complain. They asked her why she had my card and she gave them a brief explanation and everything seemed to be fine.
hope this helps
Clint

[Cali vet]

... in response to ATM card question, posted by Evan on Aug 22, 2001

It has to be a Visa or Mastercard Debit card. If they don't take both you'll find that more ATMs there take VISA.

[Evan]

... in response to Re: ATM card question, posted by Cali vet on Aug 22, 2001

Isn`t Visa part of Cirrus ?? Maybe she is just not punching right buttons. I know when I was there I saw ATM machines all over the place, everyone seemed to be using them. Didn`t someone say a while back that certain machines in Cali did not work for them and then others worked just fine ??

[rubio]

... in response to ATM card question, posted by Evan on Aug 22, 2001

i did the same exact thing in the DR without and problems, but maybe change it to a debit card, the mastercard logo might help