Debit/Credit Cards + cash- diversify
Posted: February 23rd, 2023, 6:47 am
As if foreseeing the future, on my last visit to the Philippines, I took multiple debits and credit cards with me- and I had set up PINs on the credit cards. It was like three debits and a few more credit ones.
I also took some dollars in cash. Although I did not carry it on me.
I spread the cards around my pockets and in other different places.
First, my US Bank debit card was swallowed up by an ATM in Manila- and I was living in Angeles and it was Sunday. Wisely, I had a Capital One credit card with a PIN. I got some money, and my life continued.
A month later my hotel room was burglarized and they took my wallet with my Bank of America ATM. Then my Barclay Card was locked because they said someone else was using it.
Then, the Capital One card was either stolen or I forgot it somewhere.
I called Barclay's to ask them to send me a replacement card but it never got to the Philippines.
But I still had my Citibank Debit and other credit cards with PINs. Some of them would not be accepted by Philippine ATMs. Probably some incompatibility with the network.
I ended up having a PayPal Mastercard and my Citibank debit card as my main sources of cash. Plus, some cash that I had. PayPal Mastercard was a star.
I was justified in having sworn to myself to never leave home without several debit and credit cards. Even if the money is not much in them, it is better to have a little here and there than to have them all in one account.
I had learned my lesson in NZ. I only had a Bank of America ATM and it was locked by the bank because they said it was compromised. Had to call my mother for a Western Union remittance. Ruined my trip.
Capital One has no foreign transaction fees and it actually costs less to get an advance at an ATM than to get cash from a US ATM card.
( Now, you can start with your " I ve never had any problem, I have one and I was never robbed because I treat people with respect. bla bla bla". And I also never had any problem before. But then, they strike.)
I also took some dollars in cash. Although I did not carry it on me.
I spread the cards around my pockets and in other different places.
First, my US Bank debit card was swallowed up by an ATM in Manila- and I was living in Angeles and it was Sunday. Wisely, I had a Capital One credit card with a PIN. I got some money, and my life continued.
A month later my hotel room was burglarized and they took my wallet with my Bank of America ATM. Then my Barclay Card was locked because they said someone else was using it.
Then, the Capital One card was either stolen or I forgot it somewhere.
I called Barclay's to ask them to send me a replacement card but it never got to the Philippines.
But I still had my Citibank Debit and other credit cards with PINs. Some of them would not be accepted by Philippine ATMs. Probably some incompatibility with the network.
I ended up having a PayPal Mastercard and my Citibank debit card as my main sources of cash. Plus, some cash that I had. PayPal Mastercard was a star.
I was justified in having sworn to myself to never leave home without several debit and credit cards. Even if the money is not much in them, it is better to have a little here and there than to have them all in one account.
I had learned my lesson in NZ. I only had a Bank of America ATM and it was locked by the bank because they said it was compromised. Had to call my mother for a Western Union remittance. Ruined my trip.
Capital One has no foreign transaction fees and it actually costs less to get an advance at an ATM than to get cash from a US ATM card.
( Now, you can start with your " I ve never had any problem, I have one and I was never robbed because I treat people with respect. bla bla bla". And I also never had any problem before. But then, they strike.)