Chile Forum

I am an American student staying in Santiago, I've been here for about a month and it has been amazing. However, the other night disaster struck, and my atm card was stolen. Fortunately I was able to quickly cancel it before any funds were lost, but now I am stuck here with no means of getting cash. I have an emergency credit card, so things are not terrible I am pretty sure I can use that at some supermarkets. The bad part is that I really need cash, so I did some research and called my credit card company and they told me I should be able to go into a bank and have them charge my credit card to get some cash. I would be able to do this at an ATM, but my card was never set up with a pin number so I have to wait 7-10 till they can generate one for me. Anyway my main question is do you know any banks that might be gringo friendly and have staff that speak English, because my Spanish is pretty bad and definitely will not get me through this situation.

If your credit card doesn't have a pin number, you're most likely going to have a hard time finding shops that will let you use your card. Most stores now have Pin Pass for credit card purchases.

I hear Scotia bank in La Dehesa (on Ave El Rodeo) have English speaking staff, I would try them if I was you, or otherwise try and find someone who will interpret for you.

Good luck!

yes many of the scotia banks have some english speakers in the management level. Or there is 1 Royal Bank of Scotland in Providencia and they speak english too good luck

Ok so I just said my card was stolen because I wanted to just get this thread to focus on finding some English speaking banks and not turn into a discussion about American banks, but that I've gotten some advice lets start bashing capital one for what they're doing to me right now. When I left the states I was using a local bank, and I told them I was going abroad and they said that I should sign up for their special traveling student back account which apparently is helpful in cases of theft and some other stuff. So I did, but now my bank has been purchased by capital one and they're saying that there are some differences in policies with my international student plan so they have just decided to freeze my account, and that could not have happened at a worse time. I have rent due and less than 2 luka in cash on me, so hopefully I can figure out how to get some cash out of this credit card. Alright, I'm just venting now thanks for your advice.

Crap (Capital) One has a reputation of extremely bad customer service (though their credit card and bank ATM card charge no international fees).

You have NO other US bank account where you can get a debit card?

The funds are frozen to the extent that you cannot even do an online initiated ACH transfer into another US financial account?

If no to both, your only option is to keep calling them (hopefully toll free on their dime or use Skype) and emailing them and try to get a manager to hear your case.

Suerte.

To other US based persons, one should have multiple accounts setup before leaving with an established US address of record (even a Mailbox Etc. or UPS Store address is OK).

Regarding the magnetic strip USA credit cards.

All my cards came with a pin. This is usually sent separate from the card mailing in one of those small see-through-prevention security carbon type envelopes. I can see how this can be misplaced or lost especially after a couple of years as who would think of using it for a cash advance with outrageous fees?

The other line of attack is to see if the credit card company will allow you to retrieve your pin or reset it remotely.

Find a friend who needs to buy something in jumbo (they use signature not pin, pisses me off every time i need to get my ID out), you pay for it, they give you cash equivalent!

I'd be very surprised if a bank will give you cash from a frozen credit card. I've gotten a cash advance on a credit card at a bank and they ran it through the computer right then and there to verify that the charge was accepted.

You do understand, don't you, that if you somehow take cash out of an account that you know is frozen, that's at a minimum fraud, and probably theft? You are taking goods and "paying" with a bad credit card. The person who gives you the cash or good is not likely to be reimbursed.

Chile seems to be a lot more serious about credit cards than the USA, so not a good place to commit credit card fraud.

You are a student. Do you have family that can wire you some money to get you through until you get the bank account thing cleared up?

oregon woodsmoke wrote:I'd be very surprised if a bank will give you cash from a frozen credit card. I've gotten a cash advance on a credit card at a bank and they ran it through the computer right then and there to verify that the charge was accepted.

You do understand, don't you, that if you somehow take cash out of an account that you know is frozen, that's at a minimum fraud, and probably theft? You are taking goods and "paying" with a bad credit card. The person who gives you the cash or good is not likely to be reimbursed.

Chile seems to be a lot more serious about credit cards than the USA, so not a good place to commit credit card fraud.

You are a student. Do you have family that can wire you some money to get you through until you get the bank account thing cleared up?

I didn't understand it that way. I understood the credit card to be a separate card, unrelated to the ATM card on the account that has been frozen.