BB&T debit card woes
Dec 31st, 2006, 05:40 AM
#3
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As long as the ATM network listing on the back of your card matches the one on the ATM you'll be fine. Why don't you call your bank and ask if there have been problems? I don't even know what BB&T stands for.
Dec 31st, 2006, 07:06 AM
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I think patiboo is referring to this post I made a day or so ago, regarding a similar question by the same poster:
Hi patibon,
I used a BB&T debit card in Switzerland a few years ago, and it was a total fiasco. The card didn't work in ANY bank machine anywhere; I tried every machine in several towns. I called BB&T, and they basically said, "too bad, not our fault." The Swiss banks also said it was not their fault.
When I got home, I closed my account and got another bank. It wasn't only that the card didn't work, it was their total lack of care. They had nothing to add, no ideas to help.
I wish BB&T had just offered some sort of solution -- anything. Maybe an emergency replacement card. But, even after about four calls (on MY dime), they continued to be uncaring.
By the way, this wasn't my first use of debit cards/atms in Europe. I first used them with another bank in Grindelwald in 1995. I've been using my new bank's cards (USAA) with no problems at all since then (about two trips to Switzerland and Germany).
I wouldn't use BB&T if you paid me.
********
s
Hi patibon,
I used a BB&T debit card in Switzerland a few years ago, and it was a total fiasco. The card didn't work in ANY bank machine anywhere; I tried every machine in several towns. I called BB&T, and they basically said, "too bad, not our fault." The Swiss banks also said it was not their fault.
When I got home, I closed my account and got another bank. It wasn't only that the card didn't work, it was their total lack of care. They had nothing to add, no ideas to help.
I wish BB&T had just offered some sort of solution -- anything. Maybe an emergency replacement card. But, even after about four calls (on MY dime), they continued to be uncaring.
By the way, this wasn't my first use of debit cards/atms in Europe. I first used them with another bank in Grindelwald in 1995. I've been using my new bank's cards (USAA) with no problems at all since then (about two trips to Switzerland and Germany).
I wouldn't use BB&T if you paid me.
********
s
Dec 31st, 2006, 09:59 AM
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BB&T is a bank, I think. I see them all over the mid-Atlantic area where I live (Maryland/No. Virginia/DC) but never used to, so I think they must have bought out some other bank. I don't know why their card wouldn't work, but if it didn't, I don't know what they could have done to help or why a replacement card would solve anything. I'm not surprised the bank didn't really care much if their card can't be used in some ATM in Europe. If I complained about that, I doubt if my bank would really care much, either, but I always have backup options so wouldn't depend only on one source of money. I can bet the type of clerks who answer customer service lines probably really wouldn't know what to do.
I've never had a problem using my ATM card in Europe from Chevy Chase Bank which is a very large bank in the same area, and I don't even have any ATM fees per transaction as they don't charge any fee for using any ATM outside their network anywhere in the world. You may need to have one of the higher level accounts for that, I'm not sure (I have the Platinum Banking account, which also gives you free travelers checks). Maybe BB&T is spread across a much larger geographic area than I see, though, so that wouldn't work.
I've never had a problem using my ATM card in Europe from Chevy Chase Bank which is a very large bank in the same area, and I don't even have any ATM fees per transaction as they don't charge any fee for using any ATM outside their network anywhere in the world. You may need to have one of the higher level accounts for that, I'm not sure (I have the Platinum Banking account, which also gives you free travelers checks). Maybe BB&T is spread across a much larger geographic area than I see, though, so that wouldn't work.
