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-   -   American Express ATM Cash Card (https://www.fodors.com/community/mexico-and-central-america/american-express-atm-cash-card-467542/)

sail10 Aug 16th, 2004 02:16 PM

American Express ATM Cash Card
 
I am thinking of getting a american express cash card to use in playa del carmen.The question i have do the atm's in playa del carmen take these cards ? I have looked on american express web site with no luck and called them with ( lol ) no answer. I currently do not use a Atm card, that is why the question. Any help would be appreciated. sail

mikemo Aug 16th, 2004 02:26 PM

There are hundreds of posts re: this issue in the last two months!
M

RobertSDF Aug 17th, 2004 06:08 AM

There are ATM's all over Playa. However,I am not familiar with the AmEx
cash card and do not know which machines accept it For example, most Master and Visa Cards are marked to work in the Cirrus or Plus network machines, etc.
I suppose AmEx will have to answer this question.

Dondiega Aug 17th, 2004 08:22 AM

sail10, last November I got one of these cards for a trip to Brazil. At first I loaded it with some money weeks before my trip and in the US I used it with no problem. Then when I thought it was good about 2 weeks before my trip I phoned to load the card up with all the money I needed for my trip. The money never got into the card for some reason and customer service for AMEX was no help as when I called I spoke to people in the Phillapeans, they knew nothing, it was really a shame for such a great company that their customer service is so lacking because they want to save money.

Ok so I get to Brazil and the only money in the card is what is left from the original load about $800 so I first try to use it in a restaurant as a credit card which it is supposed to be, they reject it, I can't use it, it won't convert to the Brazilian money. Then I try to use it in a Brazilian ATM, they won't give me my money, they reject it, no conversion to Brazilian money. Now I call AMEX from Brazil to the Phillapeans again, what a mess they told me I can get my money back in a month, I told them what if my card was lost or stolen, they told me it would still take a month. Do not get stuck with this mess, try another avenue. Luckily I found an American express office in Rio and I was able to pull money from the card but with hefty fees. This card was a mistake.

sail10 Aug 17th, 2004 08:55 AM

Doniega thanks for the info. The cash card is a fairly new product and not much info. on it even from american express. If anyone else has had a simular problem or good results from using one in playa del carmen , mexico i would like to hear about your experience. thanks all, sail

Dondiega Aug 17th, 2004 08:57 AM

Another sugestion: On another trip to Brazil after the disaster with the American Express travel funds card which I still have but won't use anymore. I went on line to citibank which has ATM'a all over the world, I opened an account online and funded the account with the money I would need for my trip, they sent me an ATM card, I used that card in Brazil with no problem, the whole deal had some fees but it was worth it. When I returned from Brazil I closed the account all done online, I never went to a citibank branch and everything worked fine.


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