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ATM
Well Fellow Fordorites, I am in Paris and my bank card will not work anywhere. Am I doing something wrong? We just got chips and I thought I'd be singing pretty. But I am about out of cash (Euros)., any bright ideas?
If my only option is to go to a changer, where would be the best deal? Thanks for any help you can lend. |
If my only option is to go to a changer, where would be the best deal?>
so you have U S dollars? Have you tried going into the bank itself and asking - did you tell your ATM-issuing bank you will have charges coming in from France - if not they may block them. Do you have a charge card that should be accepted for nearly all purchases? |
Have you talked to your issuing bank? And is this a credit card or ATM card? If it's a credit card, are you using the right PIN number? The PIN for cash advances is typically different than the PIN you established (for use with the chip) for purchases. If this is an ATM card, did you contact the bank to alert them to your travel?
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Call the security number (not the 800#) on the back of the card and ask them. I suspect they are blocking.
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Is your magnetic strip in pristine condition - I had one once that was a bit worn - worked here but often not in France.
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topping
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well, I can tell you some good changers. Several along rue de Rivoli are actually pretty good, you'd have to compare. There is one at 33 rue de Rivoli. You'd think they'd be bad because that's a big tourist area, but it's not too bad. I think there are a couple along rue de Rennes just north of bd Montparnasse that aren't too bad, also. If you are desperate, there are Travelex inside train stations.
I suppose Travelex is the most expensive, although ones in St Germain and around the Seine in the 5th are also, I think, about the worst. There are a lot of good ones in Chinatown, it seems to me, I think Asians like to carry cash and that's not in the tourist center, so rates are better. Here is one in Chinatown, the 13th arr. http://www.topchange.fr/ It's not too far from Tolbiac metro. |
On neither thread do you say HOW the card is not working?
How many digits is your PIN? Does it start w/ a zero? I traveled w/ a friend last summer and his card would not work in any ATM and I was floating him loans. He kept trying and once I surreptitiously peeked and noticed the first # he entered was 0 . . . and that solved the problem. PINs w/ leading zeros generally don't work. (The typical PIN issue primarily affects <u>credit cards</i> - not ATM cards so having or not having a chip probably has no bearing on WHY it isn't working) |
. . . And IF it is a matter of the length of PIN or leading zero, you can contact the issuer re changing your PIN.
The other probably possibility is you didn't contact the bank re being out of the country -- that can usually be solved via phone. |
Presume you told your bank you'd be using it overseas; if not, call them immediately. Be sure you are using a debit not a credit card. Go into the bank during their hours and see if they can pinpoint the problem.
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3+ hours later, no word from Original Poster. Problem must be solved (with a phone call) with nary a thank
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she has two threads (not sure why) -- but I suspect it was either the fraud dept at her bank, or the leading zero problem. Wonder if we will ever know . . .
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The change bureau at 59 rue Saint Antoine is probably closest.
There is always a commission charge, so be prepared to lose a percentage of your cash. The only other option you have would be to go to a regular bank - BNP Paribas is good - and make an expensive cash advance on your card. I would avoid this, unless it's an emergency. |
janisj:
My pin starts with a zero and it has always worked in Europe for two of my bank cards. Not ruling it out as an issue but that adds to this mystery. Hope this person comes back as a follow up. |
The leading zero pin number is another one of the urban legends. It gets repeated so often, that many still believe and pass it along as wisdom. Leading zeros is not the problem.
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