vinolover

My ATM card is not a debit card so it has no credit card company symbol on it. It has always worked in Europe before (Germany, Austria, Italy, France) but after reading several posts here regarding ATM changes in Europe I'm wondering if my card will work in Switzerland. Anyone had a problem with this recently?

Patrick

I'm one of those who has posted about this rather "new" development. Although we did find it a constant problem in Belgium, and a problem at a number of banks in Italy -- for the first time this summer, I've never had a problem with it yet in Switzerland. We spent a lot of time in Switzerland in 2003, but frankly did not enter Switzerland this summer, so I can't see if things have changed there as well or not.

After more conferences with my bank officer (Bank of America) and a total guarantee that I will not be held responsible for charges on a debit card that has been stolen (literally or figuratively) I have now changed my ATM only card back to an ATM/Debit card.

vinolover

Thanks Patrick, yes I did read your post about Belgium. My ATM card is the backup card and our other card does have the VISA symbol on it. I guess I will check with our bank (Bank One) about switching my card but won't have time until after this trip.

But would still appreciate it if anyone who's recently been to Switzerland knows the current situation there.

bo_jack

Could one of you point me to Patrick's post on ATM changes. I tried several searches but could not find it. (I have stayed away from debit cards -- just relied on non-VISA, non-M/C ATM cards in the past. Do I need to change?)

Patrick

http://www.fodors.com/forums/postrep...p;tid=34526812

I think this is the one:

suze

Just back from Switzerland but my ATM card has the Visa/PLUS logos so I'm no help.

Patrick

Nope. Sorry, guess that didn't work, so I've topped the old thread. See:
"New ATM use info in Italy (and maybe rest of Europe)".

BigJohn

I share vinolover's concern, wondering if my ATM card (no credit card logo) will now work in Austria and Germany. Anyone with recent experience in that regard, please comment. Thanks,

Big John

nibblette

Don't know about Germany or Austria, but the UK's (England and Wales at least) bank machines took ATM only cards without a problem as of July 2004. The Italy thing must be fairly recent. I didn't have any problems with my ATM-only card May 2004.
I am waiting for reports from people who have traveled in the past month or so about the prevalence of this problem before switching from my ATM only card. Don't know if my bank will be quite as good about debit card fraudulent charges as Patrick's.

travelerone

Just used my Credit Union's ATM only card today at a BBVA bank branch in a small town in Spain with no problem whatsoever in withdrawing 400 euros. CU had set daily maximum withdrawal to $500.
According to logo on the back of my card, it is accepted in ATM machines with the Cirrus logo. There are no service charges/fees posted by the european bank.

Patrick

Regarding Germany, I can tell you this. In 2003 my ATM only worked fine all across Germany and Switzerland. But in 2004, when I tried it at Deutsche Banks in Naples and in Rome, that's where I ran into the problem. (I was using Deutsche Bank because they are partners with Bank of America who doesn't charge if I use those ATMS). That's where the bank officer inside a Deutsche Bank informed me that this was a brand new policy with them (as of about May this year) that since Visa services was handling all international ATM transactions, that ATM only cards without a Visa logo will no longer work. Now I can't confirm that would be true at a Deutsche Bank in Germany as well, but it sure seems logical to me, since the policy was coming from that bank. I had the same problem at a couple of Italian Banks in Italy.

coco

In the past 4 months I have used my Citibank ATM card in numerous locations/at numerous banks in the following countries without problems: Italy, England, France, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland.

Between trips, I called the bank after seeing the original post and they could not fathom what I was asking. I'd suggest you call your bank just to make sure but I think Patrick's problems may not indicate some universal change in the ATM world as we know it.

Patrick

Ever since I posted my initial remarks about this "new" change in how SOME banks are handling their ATM transactions, people have been trying to misquote or misunderstand me.

No, of course it is not some "universal change". It does not affect all ATM's in Europe or even "most" of them.

Yes, your ATM only card WILL still work at many banks.

Yes, I'm sure some of you have successfully used an ATM only card at some banks in Italy and so have I, but that does not mean that this new policy does not exist at a number of other banks.

But NO, I am NOT WRONG. Read the statement below carefully, please:

Some banks are now using Visa Services for all their international exchange ATM withdrawals. As a result of that change, only cards which have a VISA (debit) capability will be accepted at those ATMs.

We were not left out in the cold. We went to other ATMs in Italy and the same card was fine, but it wouldn't work at a number of ATMs for the specific reason I have mentioned. Whether more and more banks will switch to this policy remains to be seen, but as I mentioned according to two different Belgium bank officials -- all ATMs in Belgium are using that system and will not accept an ATM only card without a Visa symbol and connection. Now, maybe somebody can prove that statement wrong, but we tried cards at well over a dozen different banks in various Belgium cities and they all said the same thing -- so I suspect the bank officials DO know what they are talking about. OK?

coco

Hi Patrick,
Sorry, I never meant to impugn anything you'd posted. My point was that people should not panic and should just check with their banks if they are concerned. My apologies for even dragging your name into it!

tashak

Quickest solution: call your bank ,and ask them to give you a list of the banks in Switzerland that are in their ATM network. That way you'll save time once you are there...