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Bankomat (ATM) problems w/pre-paid Visa card
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Posted by: searcher

My finace has had my pre-paid visa card for over a year.

At the end of last month it stopped working. She was getting some error messages I don't remember exactly what they said, i'll look it up later.

Anyway, I ordered a new card thinking it was possibly a problem with the card but I doubted it was.

She received the new card but she still gets the same error messages. Yet, the previous card worked for over a year.

When I talked to the credit card company, they said they didn't block the card and there are not any restrictions on the card. They could see the error messages in their logs but they didn't know why they occured.

Any suggestions for an alternative means to send money? Any other cards?

I remember reading somewhere about some other pre-paid card that is popular in Europe but I don't remember the name of the card.

Posted by: Khashyar

Hi Mark,

That's a bit of an odd issue...

Is it a visk check card, or an ATM card?

We sent Lena's family a Washington Mutual Bank ATM card, and it is still working fine.

I wonder if the bank in Omsk put a block on the card for some reason? Does the Russian Bank suspect that a Russian citizen is brining in money into the country through inproper channels?

Or perhaps it is some kind of routing glitch, or perhaps the ATM service is no longer working with that brand of ATM card?

I would open a free Washington Mutual Bank account, and send her the WM ATM card, and try that.

Lena's mom has had her Visa Debit card for well over a year, and it is working fine.

Also... to prevent the Russian banks from raising any suspicion, I would have her take out perhaps a larger sum once every month (a few hundred dollars)... (So that it looks as if a tourist is taking out the money).

Lena has a friend from Belarus living in Los Angeles who sent her mother a Bank of America ATM card, and then after a couple of months of large transactions, the card no longer worked. (I believe that Bank of America did not want her to transfer money to a different country without being charged bank transfer fees-- I have always disliked Bank of America

). She then sent her mom a Washington Mutual ATM card, and it has been working fine.

Mark, is the ATM card that you sent her attached to a bank in Los Angeles?

I am sure that you know that you can open a new bank account for her, keep only $100 in the account until the card arrives in her possession, and then you can deposit money into the account when she needs to take money out.

Let us know what the issue was and how you worked it out.

Khashyar

Posted by: searcher

Hi Khashyar!

The card is a Rushcard pre-paid Visa card. It is not attached to any account.

I also bank with WaMu...

its quite ironic that you don't like B of A either. My mother had MANY issues with them in the past and before they started having 2 employees open the ATM deposit envelopes she would occasionally have some money disappear.

I jokingly call them B of S

instead of B of A.

I may try opening another account, that may be an idea.

The new card (with a different account number) doesn't work. It has become quite frustrating.

I wondered if perhaps they were blocking the card or cards from that particular company.

Posted by: Cheburashka

That is wise advice Khashyar. The best way I found to get money to those who need it in Russia is to have the account in an American bank and send them the ATM card. If you call or email them as funds are available in the account, they can go to the myriad of ATMs in Russia and make a withdrawl. I actually get a pretty good exchange rate too. No missing money in Russian banks, no mafia, no hassles...and be sure to change the pin number every time. I opened numerous accounts with Bank One here, and other then the service fees for keeping low balances here, the system so far had worked like a dream.

Good luck!

Posted by: rtking

Yup... great advice, Khashyar! It was from Khashyar's advice that I got a pre-paid credit card to send to my fiancee. (She'll only use it in Kiev for a month before she comes to America.) But it's handy because:

1) I don't worry about the banks (as Steve mentioned)
2) I don't worry if someone will steal it in the mail (I can cancel it)
3) If all works well, Olga can use the card in Ukraine
4) When Olga comes to America, she can continue to use it until I get her set-up on my credit card accounts.

Bob

Posted by: Jutman

As in other tread, I use Ikobo. They started by taking 10$ for a person call, my girl. Meet her and give her the card in person.

Then you control the money at the card and shoudl it be stolen, then its only the money you put on it.

Posted by: lester

I too have asked questions of my Card provider.

I have organised a "2nd User card", over which I have
total control, in "Mrs Woody's" name.
I set the limits and improper use is insured against.
So there is no penalty incurred!

Btw, Citifinancial Europe, is my provider.

Oh! you have not met "Mrs Woody"
Here she is then!

Posted by: mikeT

Could I ask one of you to explain how these ATM cards are set up?

I had no luck at all today trying to get one from US Bank for my fiancee. I first said that I wanted to create a new account for her, into which I would put money. No, they can't do that unless she comes to the bank and signs the papers personally. I then asked for a second ATM card on my personal checking account but in her name. Same answer -- she has to come into the bank. Finally I just asked for a second ATM card on my account, in my name. No to that too.

Did I say something wrong? Or did I just get a cranky telller?

Posted by: Khashyar

Hi Mike,

Welcome to the Russian Meeting Place...

I have a Washington Mutual Bank account, and I can have as many ATM cards for that account as I would like.

Lena and I set-up a seperate bank account for Lena's parents, and then we have two ATM cards issued (both of the cards in my and Lena's names).

We then sent one of the cards (which is in Lena's name) to her parents (while having only $100 in the account until they safely received the card).

If you can open a new bank account in your name, and have an ATM card issued, then send your fiance that ATM card, and activate the card only after she receives it.

You don't need to tell the bank what you are using the account or ATM card for.

Whenever your fiance needs money, transfer money into that seperate bank account.

If your current bank will not do it, then find another bank who will. (I don't personally like Bank of America, but I know that another friend of ours uses her Bank of America account and accompanying ATM card for her parents to take out money in Belarus).

Good luck,

Khashyar

Posted by: mikeT

I understand. By opening a second account in my own name I get a second ATM card, which will be hers. My name goes on the card, not hers, until she comes to America.

Thanks!

Posted by: Khashyar

You're welcome, Mike.

Some banks do not care about someone using their bank's ATM card overseas, but I would also call your bank and tell them that you travel frequently and probably will be using your ATM card overseas in Russia, and for them to be aware of that.

Some banks will make a note on your account, and this not flag overseas ATM use as being potentially fraudulent.

Khashyar

Posted by: mikeT

I learned that lesson the hard way. Several years ago in Madrid, when I tried to get a cash advance on my credit card, it was instantly suspended, for the duration of my trip.

Now I always phone all the banks and give them my travel dates, whenever I travel.

Posted by: Khashyar

Banks help us learn some important lessons

I really must express my dislike for the HUGE BANK culture of Bank of America.

Of course business, banks and money are very important, and can serve very good ends.

However, whenever I used to go to Bank of America to the teller line, there was a gloomy the-small-customer-is-not-important feeling present there.

It just came to me that a better name for BOA would be:

"Bank of Corporate America"

On the other hand, I have mostly enjoyed the atmosphere and customer service (and free checking) of Washington Mutual Bank.

I would rather give my banking dollars to a company that treats me with friendliness like an appreciated customer.

I am sure that you can find a bank card that will work for your fiance.

You want to also ask your fiance which ATM (or in Russia, bankomat) symbols and company logos are accepted in her town's bankomat.... For example, does the ATM in her town accept "Star," or "Plus," or "Maestro"? Also, does her ATM accept a VISA ATM card, or a MASTERCARD ATM card? During my 2002 trip to Russia and Belarus, some bankomats only accepted MASTERCARD ATM cards, while I had a VISA ATM card.

Khashyar

Posted by: mikeT

The card is going to be a surprise gift when I visit Novosibirsk in September, but I can quiz her now about Visa vs. MasterCard by pretending it[s my own card that I[m concerned about. Your suggestion may save her a considerable amount of hassle

Posted by: Texas Proud

Questions about the use of WaMu ATM card!!

I have a Chase account and found out the hard way they started to charge 3.5% for international withdrawl.. This is a new fee as I had used them in about 6 other countries between 3 and 5 years ago without any fee.

Also, are you getting a 'bank' exchange rate? That was one of the good things about using my ATM, I got the interbank exchange rate which you could not get from exchanging money or buying travelers checks.

Posted by: Khashyar

Hi Texas...

We are still being charged just $3 per withdrawl in Belarus, whether Lena's parents take out $30 or $300...

They take out U.S. Dollars from the ATM, so they can pay in dollars if they need to, or exchange for Belarusian Rubles if that is better for them.

As I eluded to earlier, some banks treat customers like a corporate ATM machine, charging unreasonable fees.

Thank God for capitalism and freedom of choice in this case... we can find the bank that gives us the best deal, and take our money and business somewhere else if a company is not offering us the best deal.

Khashyar