ATMs in English?
Jan 27th, 2003, 11:10 AM
#5
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Fourth and final attempt.<BR>I've never encountered an ATM that didn't give an English option, but even if it didn't it would be easy to follow even if you don't speak the language. You will enter your pin, then hit a green button for OK, then enter your amount.<BR>One word of caution. I'm used to having to enter two extra zeros at home for cents, but the European ATM's don't usually register cents. When I clicked a 3 then four zeros for 300 euro, I was surprised that I got a message (in English) that it exceeded my allowable amount. Thank God!! That's when I realized that it had registered as 30,000 euro, not 300.00 euro.
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Jan 27th, 2003, 12:37 PM
#9
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Hi<BR><BR>It works like this ............<BR>Your card holds language details.<BR><BR>If you are overseas, you get a choice of languages.<BR><BR>If you are in your own country, you get your nominated language (In Belgium you can nominate French, Dutch, German, English).<BR><BR>So, if you're from US, you should always get the language choice throughout Europe<BR><BR>Peter<BR>http://tlp.netfirms.com<BR><BR> <BR> <BR>
Jan 27th, 2003, 05:04 PM
#10
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Not to worry. I have yet to run into a problem with language. In Austria, Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Finland, there has been no language stumbling blocks.<BR><BR>In some small Swiss villages, I twice ran into a situation where only Visa or Master Card (Cirrus or Plus) cards were accepted at a given bank. In major towns there is no problem at all because the banks are multi networked. In the small towns I visited, I had to find a Raifeisen Bank to use my Visa debit card. <BR>That may have changed since last year.<BR>In Luzern, Bern, Zürich, Interlaken, and Lausanne there was no problem at any of the banks I have used to date.<BR><BR>
Jan 27th, 2003, 06:05 PM
#11
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I recall reading somewhere that its a requirement for all ATMs throughout the world to have an English option. It has something to do with the contractual commitment between Visa, MasterCard and the ATM manufacturers.
Jan 27th, 2003, 08:32 PM
#12
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Yes they do. But a few things about Brussels ATMs. Many ATMs work only for the bank's customers--you have to look for ATMs with either the Bancontact/MisterCash logo or a Citibank machine (there are several Citibank branches in Brussels; the most tourist convenient branch is the one outside the Arts/Loi [Kunst/Wet in Flemish/Dutch] metro station). The Bancontact/MisterCash systems have fairly low WEEKLY limits on withdrawals--about 600 per week per card. So if you need more cash, find a Citibank machine, which is not on the same system.
Jan 28th, 2003, 12:47 AM
#14
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I actually had a sort of funny "duh" moment the first time I used an ATM in Paris. On that particular machine, languages were indicated by little flags. I was short of cash, in a hurry and couldn't locate the familiar stars and stripes. Then I realized that pressing the Union Jack symbol would work . Boy, did I feel stupid.
