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U.S. ATM cards with magnetic strip

3K views 31 replies 12 participants last post by  Gary D 
#1 ·
For several months now, my U.S. ATM card from one U.S. bank no longer works at ATM's in The Philippines. My other Debit card from a separate U.S. bank has a chip in it and works properly.

Bank told me their customers in other countries are reporting the same. I read ATM's here are now only recognize U.S. cards that have chips embedded in them.

Anyone else experiencing the same with their U.S. ATM card?
 
#2 ·
Yes, that seems to be the case. The ATM's here in the Philippines have been changed to accept only cards with the "chip".
We use local Philippine banks only and the same is true with them. We had to exchange our credit and ATM cards a while back because of the new system. Better security but You'll have to have your stateside bank send you cards with the chip.
 
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#5 ·
I didn't pay much attention to your post when I first read it Gene, silly me. Logged into our BDO account online yesterday to see " as of 31st of January magnetic strip cards are no longer accepted in ATMs"........ In big bold friendly letters.

Called them and we can still go into our branch at SM Manila and use our cards over the counter until they reissue new. Looks like we are back to using our Aussie debit cards for awhile with the 200 peso fee.

Apparently BDO banks are franchises so we are better to transfer our accounts to La Union Home) when we are back in a few weeks.

Cheers, Steve.
 
#13 ·
Another interesting take on Credit/Debit Cards. I use both Wells Fargo & USAA Debit Cards to withdraw funds as needed from any of the local BPI branches here in Iloilo. All the ATMs have a sign posted that says that only P10,000 may be withdrawn if the card has the chip imbedded in it. All my cards have the chip and yet I always withdraw P20,000 at each transaction with no problem.

Fred
 
#31 ·
The PBI branches I usually go to have as of last wek installed new ATM machines and no longer allow P20,000 withdrawals (P10,000 Max).

In reference to some other posts on this thread, I noticed on the door a notice that new ATM cards were available to PBI customers to be picked up on a certain day(I am not their customer so I did not pay any heed to the specifics).

Fred
 
#26 ·
All true. Chips are the way to go. I also had to notify my credit card folks that I would be using the cards in the Philippines so there was no consternation on their end when non-USA usage started showing up. I was first denied when I was working overseas in 2007 so I always made sure to put them on notice before returning to work and now that I call the PI home.
 
#27 ·
Always notified my bank in Oz of O/S travel/work for the last 20 years no matter the country or cards held, Nary a problem but when it comes to our BDO accounts in PH? Yes many problems/issues that we have to overcome, Both inshore and in other BDO branches frustrating and yes time consuming for us and the archaic banking system.
Please go to your account branch to fill out the paperwork and indeed it is paperwork....... I asked the last time why are you not inputting straight to the system, sorry sir that is unreliable so we need to document the details in case of failure. OK the system works eventually. Transferring to a different BDO branch brings further idiosyncrasies but must be overcome. Our BDO cards with Magnetic strips are valid until 2022,,,,,,,, were.

As we say, "more fun in the Philippines"

Cheers, Steve.
 
#29 ·
I recall reading somewhere (cannot find the link) that US cards had the lowest rate of usage of chips in them and that the US also had the highest rate of credit card fraud.

As far as I know, the US has low levels of consumer protection on credit card fraud. In my home province we are only responsible for the first $50 in charges if they are made before we notify the bank and no charges after we notify the bank. (In practice the banks usually offer zero risk of fraud because they use chips, have good fraud prevention in place and it is a consumer advantage to do so.) As I understand it in the US you are responsible for all costs until you notify the bank??? The banks make money when you are frequently charged so no incentive to prevent fraud?

I once used my card at a business lunch. The wait staff scanned the card on a portable machine I entered my pin and then the server said that said it was out of power. He got another machine and the transaction went through normally. Within the hour the bank called me, asked if I had just made about $10,000 in charges in two cities (each about 2,000 kms from me in opposite directions lol). When I said no I was asked about my last few charges. I told them and told them about the two machines at the restaurant. All charges against my card were canceled; they never showed up on my bill with a reversal. A new card was couriered to my local bank and I had it in 48 hours.

Why the chip card s are not universal with PINs mandatory at point of sale?
 
#30 · (Edited)
Why the chip card s are not universal with PINs mandatory at point of sale?
I would suppose it is up to each retailer. Some stores such as Puregold do require the use of the PIN but only if they use the hand held unit. Note here--I am very careful of in-store CCTV cameras when entering my PIN just for safety.
Seems like I had to use the PIN when making a purchase at a local department store sometime back but don't recall which one.
 
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