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Mastercard ATM problems: Warning!



 
 
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  #1  
Old May 14th, 2004, 02:06 PM
Dan K
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Mastercard ATM problems: Warning!

The ATM card issued by my bank (Charter One) is a Mastercard. I have
always used it as an ATM card in Europe with no problems. Last week I
was in Rome, Italy, and went to use it to get cash, and was told by
the ATM machine "Card not valid for international transactions." I
tried many different ATM machines, and kept getting the same type of
message. Fortunately, I had brought some travelers checks along, so I
cashed those.

I got back yesterday, and called my bank to ask if they had any idea
why I had problems. "Oh, yes" said the customer service rep. "We've
blocked the use of Mastercard in a number of countries!" Apparently,
due to fraud problems, the Mastercards can't be used in many
countries, including Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Japan, China, and
a dozen others. In some countries the restriction was for PIN
applications only (like ATM machines), in other countries (incuding
all the ones I listed above) the cards couldn't be used for anything,
even as a credit card. It wasn't clear if this was a Charter One
policy, or a Mastercard policy; one rep said it was a general
Mastercard policy, another rep didn't know.

Therefo If you are planning a trip to Europe or Asia, and plan on
using a Mastercard ATM card (or any ATM card for that matter), call
your bank first, and confirm that you can use it. And have a backup
plan for getting cash, such as traveler checks or an alternate ATM
card.

Message to Charter One: Thanks for not bothering to let your customers
know about this policy!!!

Happy trails.
Dan
  #2  
Old May 14th, 2004, 03:50 PM
Mark Fagan
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Mastercard ATM problems: Warning!

It's always a good idea to call your credit card and ATM card providers
before going on a trip. A change in use patterns might trigger an
anti-theft hold on your card, in which case you then have to call home and
get it unblocked. Some companies will only do this if you call from your
home phone, for security reasons. Obviously tough to do in the middle of
Provence or where ever!

"Dan K" wrote in message
om...
The ATM card issued by my bank (Charter One) is a Mastercard. I have
always used it as an ATM card in Europe with no problems. Last week I
was in Rome, Italy, and went to use it to get cash, and was told by
the ATM machine "Card not valid for international transactions." I
tried many different ATM machines, and kept getting the same type of
message. Fortunately, I had brought some travelers checks along, so I
cashed those.

I got back yesterday, and called my bank to ask if they had any idea
why I had problems. "Oh, yes" said the customer service rep. "We've
blocked the use of Mastercard in a number of countries!" Apparently,
due to fraud problems, the Mastercards can't be used in many
countries, including Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Japan, China, and
a dozen others. In some countries the restriction was for PIN
applications only (like ATM machines), in other countries (incuding
all the ones I listed above) the cards couldn't be used for anything,
even as a credit card. It wasn't clear if this was a Charter One
policy, or a Mastercard policy; one rep said it was a general
Mastercard policy, another rep didn't know.

Therefo If you are planning a trip to Europe or Asia, and plan on
using a Mastercard ATM card (or any ATM card for that matter), call
your bank first, and confirm that you can use it. And have a backup
plan for getting cash, such as traveler checks or an alternate ATM
card.

Message to Charter One: Thanks for not bothering to let your customers
know about this policy!!!

Happy trails.
Dan



  #3  
Old May 14th, 2004, 07:05 PM
Alfred Molon
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Mastercard ATM problems: Warning!

Dan K wrote:
The ATM card issued by my bank (Charter One) is a Mastercard. I have
always used it as an ATM card in Europe with no problems. Last week I
was in Rome, Italy, and went to use it to get cash, and was told by
the ATM machine "Card not valid for international transactions." I
tried many different ATM machines, and kept getting the same type of
message. Fortunately, I had brought some travelers checks along, so I
cashed those.


Mastercard is a credit card. It's better to use a true ATM card
(Maestro), which charges lower fees than a credit card. With my Maestro
card I have never had problems withdrawing cash from ATMs.
--

Alfred Molon

http://www.molon.de/Galleries.htm - Photos from Myanmar, Brunei,
Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Nepal, Egypt, Austria, Budapest and
Portugal
  #4  
Old May 14th, 2004, 09:50 PM
Miguel Cruz
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Mastercard ATM problems: Warning!

Dan K wrote:
Therefo If you are planning a trip to Europe or Asia, and plan on
using a Mastercard ATM card (or any ATM card for that matter), call
your bank first, and confirm that you can use it. And have a backup
plan for getting cash, such as traveler checks or an alternate ATM
card.


Just for the record, this is about your particular bank, not about
MasterCard.

miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu
  #5  
Old May 15th, 2004, 12:38 AM
A Mate
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Mastercard ATM problems: Warning!

Sure you weren't over your credit limit!!!?

I can't imagine Mastercard wiping out so many large markets in one foul
swoop!!!!

'fess up, Dan!!



"Dan K" wrote in message
om...
The ATM card issued by my bank (Charter One) is a Mastercard. I have
always used it as an ATM card in Europe with no problems. Last week I
was in Rome, Italy, and went to use it to get cash, and was told by
the ATM machine "Card not valid for international transactions." I
tried many different ATM machines, and kept getting the same type of
message. Fortunately, I had brought some travelers checks along, so I
cashed those.

I got back yesterday, and called my bank to ask if they had any idea
why I had problems. "Oh, yes" said the customer service rep. "We've
blocked the use of Mastercard in a number of countries!" Apparently,
due to fraud problems, the Mastercards can't be used in many
countries, including Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Japan, China, and
a dozen others. In some countries the restriction was for PIN
applications only (like ATM machines), in other countries (incuding
all the ones I listed above) the cards couldn't be used for anything,
even as a credit card. It wasn't clear if this was a Charter One
policy, or a Mastercard policy; one rep said it was a general
Mastercard policy, another rep didn't know.

Therefo If you are planning a trip to Europe or Asia, and plan on
using a Mastercard ATM card (or any ATM card for that matter), call
your bank first, and confirm that you can use it. And have a backup
plan for getting cash, such as traveler checks or an alternate ATM
card.

Message to Charter One: Thanks for not bothering to let your customers
know about this policy!!!

Happy trails.
Dan



  #6  
Old May 15th, 2004, 12:59 AM
Dan K
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Mastercard ATM problems: Warning!

Alfred Molon wrote in message m...
Dan K wrote:
The ATM card issued by my bank (Charter One) is a Mastercard. I have
always used it as an ATM card in Europe with no problems. Last week I
was in Rome, Italy, and went to use it to get cash, and was told by
the ATM machine "Card not valid for international transactions." I
tried many different ATM machines, and kept getting the same type of
message. Fortunately, I had brought some travelers checks along, so I
cashed those.


Mastercard is a credit card. It's better to use a true ATM card
(Maestro), which charges lower fees than a credit card. With my Maestro
card I have never had problems withdrawing cash from ATMs.


Yes, but the only ATM card that Charter One issues is their Mastercard
debit card. So if you are a customer of theirs, you have no choice.
Next trip I plan to get a pure ATM card from a different bank.

Dan
  #7  
Old May 15th, 2004, 01:17 AM
S Viemeister
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Mastercard ATM problems: Warning!

Dan K wrote:

Yes, but the only ATM card that Charter One issues is their Mastercard
debit card. So if you are a customer of theirs, you have no choice.
Next trip I plan to get a pure ATM card from a different bank.

My bank automatically 'upgraded' me to a debit card. I insisted on having
it changed back to a 'plain vanilla' ATM card, even though the first few
people I spoke to, insisted it was impossible and claimed that 'all our
cards are debit cards now'.

  #8  
Old May 15th, 2004, 02:03 AM
Tom Bellhouse
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Mastercard ATM problems: Warning!


"Mark Fagan" wrote in
message
...
It's always a good idea to call your credit card

and ATM card providers
before going on a trip. A change in use

patterns might trigger an
anti-theft hold on your card, in which case you

then have to call home and
get it unblocked. Some companies will only do

this if you call from your
home phone, for security reasons. Obviously

tough to do in the middle of
Provence or where ever!



My card was blocked in Turkey. I was able to call
the 800 number on the back of the card, identify
myself, explain that it was "really me" in Turkey,
and get the block lifted. Much easier to d it
before leaving home, tho.

Tom



  #9  
Old May 15th, 2004, 02:51 AM
Carole Allen
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Mastercard ATM problems: Warning!

I had my card blocked in Spain in 1997(because I didn't return their
fraud check calls to my HOME phone (while I was in Spain of course!).
About a month before I leave on a trip I contact my cr card companies
(and my credit union for my ATM card), advising I will be traveling
outside the country and using my card. I follow up in writing, and I
identify the countries where I expect to use a card. I ask that the
letter be included in my records. I send a copy to both customer
service and to the fraud division for the cr cards. I send it
certified mail, return receipt requested. Have not had a problem
since.

On 14 May 2004 06:06:00 -0700, (Dan K) wrote:

The ATM card issued by my bank (Charter One) is a Mastercard. I have
always used it as an ATM card in Europe with no problems. Last week I
was in Rome, Italy, and went to use it to get cash, and was told by
the ATM machine "Card not valid for international transactions." I
tried many different ATM machines, and kept getting the same type of
message. Fortunately, I had brought some travelers checks along, so I
cashed those.

I got back yesterday, and called my bank to ask if they had any idea
why I had problems. "Oh, yes" said the customer service rep. "We've
blocked the use of Mastercard in a number of countries!" Apparently,
due to fraud problems, the Mastercards can't be used in many
countries, including Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Japan, China, and
a dozen others. In some countries the restriction was for PIN
applications only (like ATM machines), in other countries (incuding
all the ones I listed above) the cards couldn't be used for anything,
even as a credit card. It wasn't clear if this was a Charter One
policy, or a Mastercard policy; one rep said it was a general
Mastercard policy, another rep didn't know.

Therefo If you are planning a trip to Europe or Asia, and plan on
using a Mastercard ATM card (or any ATM card for that matter), call
your bank first, and confirm that you can use it. And have a backup
plan for getting cash, such as traveler checks or an alternate ATM
card.

Message to Charter One: Thanks for not bothering to let your customers
know about this policy!!!

Happy trails.
Dan


  #10  
Old May 15th, 2004, 03:48 AM
EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Mastercard ATM problems: Warning!



Dan K wrote:

Alfred Molon wrote in message m...
Dan K wrote:
The ATM card issued by my bank (Charter One) is a Mastercard. I have
always used it as an ATM card in Europe with no problems. Last week I
was in Rome, Italy, and went to use it to get cash, and was told by
the ATM machine "Card not valid for international transactions." I
tried many different ATM machines, and kept getting the same type of
message. Fortunately, I had brought some travelers checks along, so I
cashed those.


Mastercard is a credit card. It's better to use a true ATM card
(Maestro), which charges lower fees than a credit card. With my Maestro
card I have never had problems withdrawing cash from ATMs.


Yes, but the only ATM card that Charter One issues is their Mastercard
debit card. So if you are a customer of theirs, you have no choice.
Next trip I plan to get a pure ATM card from a different bank.


I think I'd change banks, period! (Especially if they didn't see fit to
inform their card-holders of their change of policy.) My bank offers a
combination VISA/ATM card (which acts like a debit card, with
transactions being immediately charged against your bank account).
However, when I said that was NOT what I wanted, they were perfectly
willing to provide an "ordinary" ATM card. I make it a practice to have
credit cards only with independent credit-card companies, not my bank.
That way, I have control over whether or not I pay a given charge.
(It's much easier to get an erroneous charge reversed if the vendor
doesn't already have your money!)
 




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