LoveItaly..when you find out about the ATM from your friend, could you let us know. I,too, prefer to take a non-visa ATM.

Maybe Patrick will chime in here, but I'm pretty sure he was one who said that on his last trip to Italy, he had a problem numerous times with an ATM-only card, that now many of the machines only take one with a Visa logo, and that this was a new thing.

Here is Federal Trade Commission URL what to do if your wallet stolen

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/getpurse.htm

Also search FDIC site for "stolen wallet"

Yep, here's Patrick "chiming in". After returning from Europe last summer both my partner and I switched our ATM only cards issued by Bank of America to ATM/Debit cards with a Visa logo. This is because last summer for the first time we encountered a number of ATMs which are now being handled by VISA services and will not work with an ATM only card. This included a couple banks that are even partners of Bank of America, where the exact same card had worked the summer before. This same problem happens in Belgium for the same reason. Don't get me wrong, your ATM only card WILL still work at many banks, but apparently more and more are switching to the VISA services for their ATM's and as they do so, an ATM only card will not work.

A little off topic from the original post (best wishes for your student, Kakalena), but to add to what LoveItaly was saying regarding the free credit reports every US citizen is legally entitled to (NOT the special circumstances such as ID theft):

You must go to the web site www.annualcreditreport.com OR call 1-877-322-8228 to request your credit reports by phone. Do NOT go to any other web sites or use any other phone number. You can get a report from all three of the major agencies, or one at time. As LoveItaly states, you may want to request one at time, every four months. But, you are entitled to get one free copy (from each company) every 12 months – Not each calendar year.

So, if you got one from Experian in July ’05, you can get another one from Experian in July ’06. But, if you didn’t get one from Equifax yet, then you can do that in September ’05 and then again in September ’06.

Mark

I hope everything turns out ok. As a leader of student travel groups I've become quite familiar with how much of a pain in the hiney this type of situation can be. Thank God she was smart enough to take care of things instead of fearing to report it. Some of my junior high students would probably be afraid their parents would flip out over their "carelessness".

The good news is she souldn't find a better place to get a new replacement wallet!

Thanks for the advice about the credit report and the gov't. site LoveItaly and Faina. So sorry to hear about your misfortune BTILKE. Beastly!

In the end Global Assist could not have been more helpful. They wire worldwide to Western Union locations. The cash arrived safe and sound in five minutes for a fee of $15.

The college also was very helpful to her.

Additional thanks to everyone here about the ATM/Debit advice for the future.

kakalena

Hi kakalena, it sounds like things are working out well for your student, that is great!

And Mark, thank you for clarifying the number and website for everyone who has NOT had ID theft to contact for credit reports. I was remiss with my information. Good information Mark that I hope everyone here follows through with.

Fodorites are a wealth of information. Safe travels to everyone!

Kakalena - So sorry to hear of your student's misfortune. Just hope it does not ruin her experience abroad.
Take care