Re: [AZORES-Genealogy] Re: ATMs in the Azores
*Good point Rick, I have a British Airways Visa Card issued by Chase Bank. The last time I got a new card, they made the point that it has a chip and that it is compatible with European ATM's. I haven't done any European travel since receiving it so I can't comment on how it works in actual use there. On the back there is this statement: "Your card is issued and serviced by Chase Bank USA, NA. Out of curiosity, I just called customer service to find out what transaction fees might apply. For credit transactions there are no fees. For cash advances, there is a 5% transaction fee with a $10 minimum. In previous travel to Portugal, I used my credit union ATM card and don't recall paying any significant charges, but as I said it's been a few years. John Vasconcelos.* On Sun, Feb 24, 2013 at 3:08 PM, Richard Francis Pimentel < rfrancispimen...@comcast.net> wrote: > *I was reading that credit cards in Europe have smart chips and there may > be a problem with some machines accepting ours with the magnetic strips. > Once again I would check with your credit card company.* > > * * > > *Rick* > > * * > > *Richard Francis Pimentel* > > *Spring, TX* > > *Formerly of Epping, New Hampshire * > > * * > > *Researching, Riberia Grande, Riberinha, Achada Grande, Bretanha, and > Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel, Acores* > > * * > > *From:* azores@googlegroups.com [mailto:azores@googlegroups.com] *On > Behalf Of *Margaret Vicente > *Sent:* Sunday, February 24, 2013 4:26 PM > *To:* azores > *Subject:* Re: [AZORES-Genealogy] Re: ATMs in the Azores > > ** ** > > Cheri, > > ** ** > > I was recently in Ponta Delgada and they have ATM's at most locations, > even Gas Stations. I did not experience in extra fees. I used my Visa and > found it cheaper on the exchange than my cash conversion. Anyone > travelling abroad should be contacting their respective Card Companies to > advise where they will be and how long for so they don't freeze their > account if stores or shops don't handle the transaction it right. > > ** ** > > Cheers, > > ** ** > > Margaret Vicente > > ** ** > > On Sun, Feb 24, 2013 at 12:09 PM, Cheri Mello wrote: > > > Ria, > > They are called Multi Bank Boxes (possibly Multi Banco Caxia? in > Portuguese). There's a button to have the screens displayed in > English. > > As for if you can use your Visa card (or MasterCard for that matter), > you will have to call the bank that issued your card to find out about > the out-of-network ATMs and foreign currency fees. Otherwise, you may > come home to a big bill! > > Cheri > > > -- > -- > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. Follow the confirmation directions > when they arrive. > For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail > (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the > right that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my > membership." > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Azores Genealogy" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. > > > > > > > > ** ** > > -- > Margaret M Vicente > > -- > -- > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. Follow the confirmation directions > when they arrive. > For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail > (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the > right that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my > membership." > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Azores Genealogy" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. > > > > -- > -- > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. Follow the confirmation directions > when they arrive. > For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail > (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/gr
Re: [AZORES-Genealogy] Re: ATMs in the Azores
We were in Sao Miguel six years ago and stayed in Ponta Delgada and had similar experience. It was particularly easy to do it right from at the main desk of the hotel. The transaction fee you refer to is very similar to what the fee was here to convert to Euro's. We did try to use up all of our Euro's before leaving to return to the US to avoid a similar fee in trading them back to American dollars. We went for two weeks and started with approximately 2000 in Euros which we purchased at Bank of America here, and only had to buy more cash after we did a shopping day and bought some embroidery and souvenirs. BTW, when you get to the Azores, check out the shops in the airport as you may find as we did that the stuff they sell is sufficient for your souvenir needs. You don't say where you are from, but if you are from near Fall RIver, MA, don't waste time, money and effort buying stuff like wine because it is freshly imported almost weekly to the stores in Fall River and often is cheaper to buy here. On Feb 25, 2013, at 2:05 AM, Tomas Leal wrote: > For the past three years, I have stayed in the Azores for 12 weeks in the > summer and used my debit card from my U.S. to withdraw euros. I've never had > a problem. My bank does charge a "foreign transaction fee" and an "interbank > charge" on these transactions, which work out to about $5-6 per transaction > withdrawing 200 euros.These fees are still less than and currency exchange or > local bank would charge to change dollars. > > There is a daily maximum amount you may withdraw regardless of what your bank > allows in the U.S. That maximum is 200 euros, and I always go the limit. > > That said, my partner had trouble using a Bank of America debit card, which > the bank was not able to correct while we were there. Upon our return, the > bank issued a new card and there wasn't a problem on the next trip. > > Yes, European cards have smart chips in them, which are more secure than the > magnetic strip that American banks refuse to give up. The truth is American > banks know the superiority of the smart chip cards but refuse to invest in a > changeover. > > Unfortunately, it seems you will not know whether your card will or will not > work until you are there. I recommend calling your bank to inform of your > intended use in Portugal. The MultiBanco machines are secure, so that is not > a worry. In contrast, I had repeated trouble using my debit card in Brazil > because of a greater incidence of card theft and fraud. A call to my bank > cleared up with problem and the system cleared my card within 15 minutes. > > Whenever travelling out of the country, it's good to notify your bank ahead > of time, giving the dates you will be in particular countries. The same holds > for any credit card you choose to use. Different card issuers have different > security thresholds at which an account may be stopped. No issuer will reveal > its threshold, of course. A call ahead of time prevents this problem. > > Tomas Leal > > -- > -- > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. Follow the confirmation directions when > they arrive. > For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail > (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right > that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership." > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Azores Genealogy" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. > > Thank you, Frederick Souza 19 Owen Drive Stonington, CT 06378-1012 860-535-2670 mailto:fsouz...@comcast.net -- -- To unsubscribe from this group, send email to azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. Follow the confirmation directions when they arrive. For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership." --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Azores Genealogy" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
[AZORES-Genealogy] Re: ATMs in the Azores
Do check with your card company about fees. When I went, I found that my Chase card was going to charge hefty fees for both exchange and out-of-network ATMs. So before I left I got a card from our Schwabb account that had no fees at all. I did not experience any problems with the chip thing anywhere in Portugal or the Azores, but that is also worth checking into. Exchange rate was definitely better with the card than with cash. Steve On Sunday, February 24, 2013 9:04:46 AM UTC-8, Cheri Mello wrote: > > Repost for Ria, nazdar2000 at gmail.com > > Hi Everybody, > Does anyone know if Azores, Ponta Delgada City if the banks have ATM > service and if we can use it with our Visa card? > Thanks > Ria > -- -- To unsubscribe from this group, send email to azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. Follow the confirmation directions when they arrive. For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership." --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Azores Genealogy" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
[AZORES-Genealogy] Re: ATMs in the Azores
For the past three years, I have stayed in the Azores for 12 weeks in the summer and used my debit card from my U.S. to withdraw euros. I've never had a problem. My bank does charge a "foreign transaction fee" and an "interbank charge" on these transactions, which work out to about $5-6 per transaction withdrawing 200 euros.These fees are still less than and currency exchange or local bank would charge to change dollars. There is a daily maximum amount you may withdraw regardless of what your bank allows in the U.S. That maximum is 200 euros, and I always go the limit. That said, my partner had trouble using a Bank of America debit card, which the bank was not able to correct while we were there. Upon our return, the bank issued a new card and there wasn't a problem on the next trip. Yes, European cards have smart chips in them, which are more secure than the magnetic strip that American banks refuse to give up. The truth is American banks know the superiority of the smart chip cards but refuse to invest in a changeover. Unfortunately, it seems you will not know whether your card will or will not work until you are there. I recommend calling your bank to inform of your intended use in Portugal. The MultiBanco machines are secure, so that is not a worry. In contrast, I had repeated trouble using my debit card in Brazil because of a greater incidence of card theft and fraud. A call to my bank cleared up with problem and the system cleared my card within 15 minutes. Whenever travelling out of the country, it's good to notify your bank ahead of time, giving the dates you will be in particular countries. The same holds for any credit card you choose to use. Different card issuers have different security thresholds at which an account may be stopped. No issuer will reveal its threshold, of course. A call ahead of time prevents this problem. Tomas Leal -- -- To unsubscribe from this group, send email to azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. Follow the confirmation directions when they arrive. For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership." --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Azores Genealogy" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
RE: [AZORES-Genealogy] Re: ATMs in the Azores
I was reading that credit cards in Europe have smart chips and there may be a problem with some machines accepting ours with the magnetic strips. Once again I would check with your credit card company. Rick Richard Francis Pimentel Spring, TX Formerly of Epping, New Hampshire Researching, Riberia Grande, Riberinha, Achada Grande, Bretanha, and Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel, Acores From: azores@googlegroups.com [mailto:azores@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Margaret Vicente Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2013 4:26 PM To: azores Subject: Re: [AZORES-Genealogy] Re: ATMs in the Azores Cheri, I was recently in Ponta Delgada and they have ATM's at most locations, even Gas Stations. I did not experience in extra fees. I used my Visa and found it cheaper on the exchange than my cash conversion. Anyone travelling abroad should be contacting their respective Card Companies to advise where they will be and how long for so they don't freeze their account if stores or shops don't handle the transaction it right. Cheers, Margaret Vicente On Sun, Feb 24, 2013 at 12:09 PM, Cheri Mello wrote: Ria, They are called Multi Bank Boxes (possibly Multi Banco Caxia? in Portuguese). There's a button to have the screens displayed in English. As for if you can use your Visa card (or MasterCard for that matter), you will have to call the bank that issued your card to find out about the out-of-network ATMs and foreign currency fees. Otherwise, you may come home to a big bill! Cheri -- -- To unsubscribe from this group, send email to azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com <mailto:azores%2bunsubscr...@googlegroups.com> . Follow the confirmation directions when they arrive. For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership." --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Azores Genealogy" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com <mailto:azores%2bunsubscr...@googlegroups.com> . For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. -- Margaret M Vicente -- -- To unsubscribe from this group, send email to azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. Follow the confirmation directions when they arrive. For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership." --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Azores Genealogy" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. -- -- To unsubscribe from this group, send email to azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. Follow the confirmation directions when they arrive. For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership." --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Azores Genealogy" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
[AZORES-Genealogy] Re: ATMs in the Azores
Ria, They are called Multi Bank Boxes (possibly Multi Banco Caxia? in Portuguese). There's a button to have the screens displayed in English. As for if you can use your Visa card (or MasterCard for that matter), you will have to call the bank that issued your card to find out about the out-of-network ATMs and foreign currency fees. Otherwise, you may come home to a big bill! Cheri -- -- To unsubscribe from this group, send email to azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. Follow the confirmation directions when they arrive. For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership." --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Azores Genealogy" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
