Mar 19, 2013
NEED YOUR HELP
Yesterday we went into town for a few things which I will relate in another post. One thing we needed to do was get some pesos as we are almost on empty. We have not used an ATM machine here in Mazatlan since the end of January. We went to a bank in Centro to get some cash and both of our ATM cards were rejected saying “unable to complete service”. Being the Monday of a long weekend I thought that perhaps the machines were out of cash.
So today we went to a different bank, same response. We walked a few blocks to yet another bank and once again no money was given out. This bank had a message on the screen that said to “call your financial institution”. So back to the Isla we came and I called our bank, Interior Savings, a credit union in Kelowna, B.C. They checked our cards in their computer system and from their end all appears well and to try again. I explained that we had to drive to a ferry boat, take panga over to Mazatlan and then a pulmonia to a bank. Sorry but there was nothing they could do. So I said that if we did try again and the cards still did not work how could we get money out of our account at home in Canada. The reply was “sorry we can’t help you, it isn’t at this end.” “Perhaps the computer there is not talking to the Canadian computer!”
So have any of you experienced this and what did you do?
Any ideas how to get money to Mazatlan from our bank in Canada?
Any suggestions at all please! Yes we have VISA but this is a cash society and we need cash pesos to buy food, pay the chiro guy, and basic things like that. I am not sure where I could go in Mazatlan to get 5000 pesos on my VISA card or even if it is possible.
What a helpless feeling, to be stranded.
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Our Credit Union debit card did not work when we were in Mazatlan. Same message on the screen. I contacted the credit union and they said there are safety restrictions on the debit cards, they are blocked from use in another country, specifically Mexico. If I remember correctly it too two attempts by the credit union to get all the restrictions off. Don’t know if that’s any help, not sure your bank is being as cooperative as ours was. Good luck!
Thanks Marty….but we have used the cards in Mexico every other year and just this past January. Our cards have no restrictions so says the bank.
Your might have to open up a bank account in Mazatlan and then have your bank in Canada transfer money to that account. Good luck!
We were able to get cash on our Visa at Scotiabank after our debit card was hijacked.
Luck, Shelby
Good luck!
we have access C on our credit cards to pull of cash advances should our debits ever give us any trouble..then we can just hop online and transfer from bank account to credit card right away…have you tried your visa for a cash advance? We’ve never had to use it..but it was put in place as a safety thing…good luck
I don’t know if Canadian banks do this but I’m able to walk into any bank and get what they call a cash advance from my debit card (though in reality it’s just a withdrawal). No ATM required and this way allows me to take out the maximum amount my home bank allows (for me $1000).
Good luck!
one day I tried to get cash from a ATM in mazatlan and it said I was putting in the wrong pin number and I know I wasn’t, I retired a few times and no go…went to a different back machine and it worked.
Another time I tried to get cash from a machine and it said “insuffiecient funds” not exactly what you want to hear when on vacation, tried another machine and same thing. Went on line and checked my bank account and there was in fact money and nothing appeared abnormal. Went back to a bank machine 5 hours later and it worked.
A few other times the machine couldn’t read my card but when I went to a different machine it worked.
None of this problaby helps you….sorry
Sorry, not much help…but we’ve had the best luck with HSBC bank machines…never had one turn us down yet in Mexico.
Some Mex.banks seem more problematic than others. HSBC has always been the easiest for us
Keep trying different machines and different banks. ScotiaBank and HSBC always work best for me. Many machines will not take one of the new “chipped” cards. Go to WalMart and try the machines there.
Get your CU to drop their “daily limit” so if you find one that works, you can get more out of it.
Like someone above said, try a credit card and then immediately pay it off or they will charge a ton of interest.
While in Cabo San Lucas, my friend forgot to take her ATM card from the machine after getting cash. The ATM ate her card, and the bank wouldn’t retreive it. She called her credit card company, received a pin number, and the next day used the Mastercard in the ATM for a cash advance with no further problems. Good Luck!
Gail…great suggestion, I will call my Visa company today.
Croft……the banks I used ‘read’ the chip with no problem. However I will try HSBC as they have worked in the past, couldn’t find one in Centro. I know where there is one in the Golden Zone.
Joan…it is not the cap as I tried to take out just 100 pesos ( $9.00 CAD ) and it still would not work.
Elaine…..I will call Visa, not sure if you are saying to use the Visa card in the ATM machine but I will check with VISA first.
Kevin, Pat….looks like HSBC is the bank to try next.
Shelby….mille gracias. I will try that next.
Annie, Elaine, George….thanks!
Maria….all ideas are worth a shot. Gracias!
Jannose…not so easy to set up a bank account here, generally you need to be able to prove residency.
Contessa,
Used to work for a credit union, I would have helped you a lot more than yours did. Just remembering that happened to us once in Mexico.
! So frustrating. We kept trying the machine to no avail. I knew that the Credit Union had a cap on how much we could take out daily and I began to wonder if there had been a change in the Canadian dollar and it was affecting my limit of pesos. Sure enough, I went back to the machine and asked for a lessor amount. Bingo, We got our money. I agree with Croft, ask themto lift the cap so you can take out what you need.