Urgent help

I don't know that area, but ask a local (at your hotel, perhaps) where the nearest bank is. Many banks have ATMs right outside their buildings, or even better, in the vestibule. It's also possible there's something wrong with your card. Twice while in Europe we had to call home to our bank to get a problem with the card cleared up.

Worst case scenario: hang on until Monday when the banks are open; someone inside should be able to help you. Good luck.

Can you explain a little better what "won't take" means? They won't accept your card at all, will read the card but won't dispense $$, etc?

Did you inform your bank/credit union of your travel dates and locations? If not, the card may be locked for 'unusual activity'. You'd need to call them to get it unlocked.

Also, not all ATMS will dispense more than a certain amount, and sometimes that amount is low. If you, say, tried to get 500 euros and were rejected, try a lesser amount. We found some which wouldn't do more than 250 euros.

Did you notify your bank that you were traveling? Call the number on the back of your card.
Next, check the network logos on the back of your card and make sure one of them matches a network logo on the ATM.

Your home bank may only allow a specific limit per day; that is a bank day, usually Monday-Friday. It's possible you won't be able to withdraw funds until Monday.

this really sounds like a problem with the particular card; we once had a problem like this in China and also once in Paris even though we had alerted the bank.

1. fraud triggers are very delicate at most US banks and even with advanced notification they may not allow withdrawals. So check with your bank about this. Annoying but if that is the problem they can correct it.

2. the actual card may be defective; if the bank find that you have a valid card and it is authorized for money withdrawals in France, then they should be able to make arrangements to get a new one to you.

It is very helpful to have a personal banker or at least know your local bank manager so that if the general number on the card for help doesn't get you anywhere, a human you know could help.

A US debit card generally works in the ATMs of Europe so this is almost certainly a card specific issue and assuming you gave appropriate notification before the trip, it is probably something you can't fix without help from the bank in the US. If you didn't give notification, it will be very hard to establish the card as legitimate while you are on the road.

Hope it works out.

janettravels44
www.janettravels.wordpress.com

Can also be a systems issue; these always seem to strike at the weekend and may even be planned maintenance that at home would be overnight but in Europe is during the day.

I had the same problem with my bank card. Luckily, my husband had another card and his worked. I finally got mine to work at an atm outside a post office.

I tried another ATM and it worked. Thanks, everyone!!

Hopefully yours is not one of those pre-loaded cards which have always given our groups problems.

cs,

If it's a MasterCard product, it should be widely accepted at most ATM's. It's difficult to say why you're having trouble with it, especially as you appear to have tried different ATM's at different times of the day. The first step should be to give the card issuer a call, using the "collect" number on the back of the card. They're available any time, so the time difference isn't a problem.

Your predicament is exactly why I always recommend taking at least two ATM cards and at least one credit card. I've also experienced failures of ATM cards while travelling (also in France). Fortunately I had a "backup" card on hand.

Good luck!

On an extensive trip to Italy, Germany, and the Balkans last year, I had no trouble with my credit union ATM card except in eastern Germany. There was one major bank there (don't remember which one) whose ATMs didn't like my card. Folks inside one of the bank branches verified that I needed to go elsewhere. They particularly mentioned the post office as an option.

Great ideas, Ken. Thanks!