I just returned from Paris yesterday (fabulous!!). Prior to leaving for my trip, I read some posts about ATMS, BNP Bank, Commerce, etc. While in Paris, I experienced problems with my Bank of America debit card. Although I notified them of my trip to France ahead of time, I was only able to withdraw 400 Euros out of a BNP atm the first day. The next day,it was rejected from all the ATMs and when I contacted Bank of America, I was told a block was placed on my card. It was a hassle to contact Bank of America and getting the block lifted. My friends had their Commerce debit cards and never had a bit of trouble. Im' glad I had a credit card as a back up plan.

Why did B of A block your debit card?

Sounds like they failed to properly update / notate your record.

There is a daily limit for withdrawls there, just as there is here. (the reference to 400 euros) Please explain, however, why the card was accepted on day one but not later. That would be impt info for anyone w/a BofA card.

I can't understand either why I was only able to withdraw the first day. When I phoned Bank of America, they told me a "Fraudalent Block" was placed on my card. They implied I didn't notify them about my trip, yet during my conversation the B of A employee suddenly found a message on my account with the exact dates of my trip. Then she implied perhaps I didn't tell them soon enough. Over one week notice sounds enough to me! And I notified them in person and again by phone prior to my trip. I've read about this happening to others so I wasn't surprised, just hassled. By the way, before my trip, a lady at B of A suggested I write down a special telephone number to use overseas "just in case" of a debit card problem. It sure came in handy. Go to any pay phone and dial 0800 990011, then dial 18004321000. You'll be connected to B of A. You don't need any money or phone card to do this.

In my experience with notifying B of A about trips overseas they told me to notify them either 24 or 48 hours prior to departure never earlier. I would prefer to notify them at least a week in advance as there are just too many things to do and remember before leaving for a trip.

I do find B of A to be inconsistent with their security procedures. They are quite strict about situations like these with the ATM cards used overseas. But I've found that when I charged foreign transactions like hotel reservation deposits they never even questioned those. I suppose the bank is more strict than their credit card division.

Anyway, sorry that you had such an unfortunate experience and thanks for posting B of A's phone number.

Phoenix, you are so right about B of
A's inconsistencies. That's why I phoned them again the day before my trip (still didn't save me). My credit card backed me up great!

I've never had any problems with mine (Capital One and AAA Visa), and I do notify them several days ahead, so I don't forget at the last minute. It is always good to have the customer service numbers, of course, and a backup plan.

If you had the phone numbers, couldn't you call them and get them to lift the block? I thought that's what they were for. ONe of my prior cards blocks a purchase, and then approved it as soon as we called them on the phone and I talked to them and told them to knock off the blocking (they were just blocking me for a purchase in the US of $100 worth of sheets, saying that was unusual for me --- geez, so I don't buy sheets every month). But, I think some cards do put the block on after they've gotten one purchase that is flagged as unusual, so one goes through. ATMs may work the same way, they can't block things until they get some card/pattern flagged.

oh, I realize I got a little off track as this was basically a debit card -- but you know, I have never notified my bank about travel, and they've never blocked my card for ATM withdrawals. I figured if I had a problem, I'd call them when it happened, as I actually don't like a lot of folks knowing personal things about me (like my travel dates) if it's not necessary. Of course, any ATM is going to have limits on it, most likely, but I have never withdrawn more than 200 euro at once.

This is very interesting, and I wonder if the block is put on by the local branch or the "national" offices of BofA. I say it's interesting because in all my years of travel and using a BofA ATM card for dozens and dozens of foreign withdrawals, I have never ever notified them in advance that I would be leaving -- unlike my Citibank credit card -- which I always give notification.

One part puzzles me though. In the original post you said "It was a hassle to contact Bank of America and getting the block lifted." But in your later post you mention the phone number they gave you for a direct call. Didn't that work?

I have to agreee with Patrick here. I've been a BofA customer ever since they took over our local bank, about 12 or so years ago. I do have several accounts, mortgages etc and am an Advantage member, but I have never had one lick of trouble with them. I do notify them about travel, as I do my credit cards and they supplied the direct number to me years ago.
Our local branch has a foreign currency desk, and though I know I pay a premium, I appreciate having a source for a hundred dollars or so in Euros or pounds.

I wonder exactly what all the complaints about Bofa ARE..JUST CURIOUS!

As I mentioned in my trip report, I too had BOA trouble. I called before I left but then couldn't get cash. So I call from Bayeux and BOA tells me they have no record of me calling, but I am unlocked and should now be able to get cash. I ask up to how much and they say 1000 Euros. I go to BNP and try to withdraw 600 Euros, but get nothing. I call again and they tell me I was blocked because 600 Euros is a suspicious amount. Hello - I just spoke with you - which they even confirm. And they treated me like it was my fault. I've got to get my butt in gear and write them a complaint.

I posted recently about the problems we had in Paris with ATM machines. We bank with CIBC (Canadian bank) and couldn't get any cash for the first day. We ended up having to get a cash advance on one of our Visa cards (and one of those cards was declined). It was a nightmare! Anyway, I did talk to the bank - they had no explanation, and it did end up working the next day. By the time we got into Paris (after another adventure getting our Paris Visite cards where both our visas were declined, but our Amex was accepted), I told my husband that if we had been competing on the Amazing Race, we'd have already lost.

To Job8162, BOA treated me the same exact way. They told me it was suspicious how I tried to withdraw different amounts (without success) from the BNP Bank ATM, working my way down from 1000Euros. Meanwhile, they previously told me my limit was the same as yours. To NeoPatrick, yes, it is a hassle to call your bank overseas when you've notified them properly before travel. I called Bank of America while in Paris and they were unavailable because of the time difference. I called them the next day and got the block lifted. It's frustrating to pause your vacation to try different ATMs, walk into banks to unsuccessfully resolve your problem or stand in a phone booth wasting time calling your bank. Luckily, my credit card filled in as my back up. By the way, Paris was so great I'd go back in a second if I could.

This may not apply to the "block" on your card. But, this year while in Italy and last year in Austria we accessed the ATM and received cash. Went the next day and could not. We realized that there was a limit in a 24 hour period and we had to wait another hour. It then worked like a charm.

Roberta and job, when you send a letter of complaint to BoA, send a copy to the Federal Reserve and let them know you're doing that. Banks HATE that, as the Fed. is obligated to put them through their paces.

It's an inconvenience for you, but your ATM problems could have been far more than an inconvenience. What if your wallet was stolen with your backup cc and that ATM card was all you had? You need to be able to count on your bank when you are overseas. It's your money, yet some banks act like they are doing you a favor by giving you access to it.

Lots of other people have comlained about the very thing you've both experienced:
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/finance/bofa.html

Good luck, and DO file a complaint; things won't change unless people make an effort to report them. It also sounds as though spotty training of telephone service personnel is a problem, and a complaint in the right place will help BoA remedy that.