Question for Laurieco - HSBC ATM card use in Italy
 

Hi Laurieco

If i remember correctly, you mentioned you worked with HSBC and use their ATM card during your travels.

I have an account with HSBC too and was wondering if you ever had any problem using the card in Italy? I could not access my account in the whole of
switzerland last year (including at the HSBC in Zurich) and had to use cash advance from my credit card instead! something i hope to avoid in Italy. Have you used it there before? p.s. I had no problem in Australia and France

Thanks

Hi Hornbill, I don't work for HSBC but I do my banking there. I never used my ATM card in Italy. I was in Italy a long time ago, before ATMs! I have used the card all over the world however, in Asia, Australia and Europe and never had a problem. Sometimes there could be maintenance to the system, which could knock it out for a few hours but I can't imagine why you had a problem in Switzerland, although I haven't been to Switzerland in 25 yeears so never used an ATM there. I assume your PIN is 4 numbers and that you access from your checking account? While I can withdraw from my savings account using an ATM at home, overseas, it has to come from my checking account, it won't work from the savings. You may want to check with the bank before you leave to see if there will be any potential problems. Good luck.

thanks for replying. the bank says they cant guarantee that it will work in italy. they say it should. they dont know why it didnt work in switzerland when it worked in france on the same trip.

doesnt matter. just have to hope no such problem there.

there is sometimes an issue in italy about the number of digits for your pin...some say it has to be 5, but my 4 digits worked perfectly...not hsbc, however

mine is 6 digits. i think in malaysia, minimum is 6 digits. many atm and credit card frauds here. terrible

hornbill, I've always read that in order for an ATM card to work outside of the US, the PIN must be 4 digits. Most ATM cards in the US are only 4 digits anyway, but you may want to ask HSBC anout getting a 4 digit PIN for your card. That may have been the problem you encountered in Switzerland.

Hmmm, now I'm wondering, if the minimum in Malaysia is 6 digits, will my ATM card work there? I sure hope so or I'm going to be very unhappy!

Laurie, as recently as last November I used my ATM card in Malaysia with its 4 digit number and got cash from ATMs.

Thanks Kathie, one less thing to worry about.

thanks for all the input. will just bring some euros and hope the atm works and that most things can paid by credit card