UK sterling in Colombia

Lowell says on Jan 28, 2008, 06:16:

My USA bank Washington Mutual allows $500.00 per day.

Alfred E. Newman. "What. Me Worry?"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Lowell says on Jan 28, 2008, 06:17:

$300.00 per day goes a long way in Colombia.

Alfred E. Newman. "What. Me Worry?"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

larumberainglesa says on Jan 28, 2008, 06:23:

I am talking about 300 mil pesos, not dollars - are you? We need large amounts to pay builders and buy building materials, pay hospital fees and other stuff. Not like a normal holiday.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Gator says on Jan 28, 2008, 07:16:

From YOUR proifile:

"Married to a Lococolombiano from the Costa Pacifico, Have an apartment in Cartagena,Interested in salsa dancing, property, cooking, languages, Work as ESOL Lecturer"

If you don't know the Colombian banking system by now you never will.

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

0 funny, 0 helpful.

tigredelnorte2 says on Jan 28, 2008, 07:17:

American Express travelers checks are accepted at BanColombia.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

sloopskipper says on Jan 28, 2008, 08:08:

And American Express Cards at their ATMs as well.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

jonas says on Jan 28, 2008, 08:42:

why do you want to pay cash for everything? Pay your building materials with a credit or debit card. Withdraw up to 500.000 COP at Davivienda ATM, pay the hospital with credit/debit card

What I have, I do not want to lose, but Where I am I do not want to stay, but those I love, I do not want to leave, but those I know I no longer want to see, but Where I die, I do not want to go;I want to stay where I have never been

0 funny, 0 helpful.

curramberochris says on Jan 28, 2008, 08:47:

You can take out 3 transactions of 400,000 pesos per day. Max 1,200,000 pesos.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

ingles says on Jan 28, 2008, 09:13:

Chris, has it right - you can make more than one withdrawal. Also, if you are in the uk or when you are next back look into opening a Nationwide Flexaccount a current account that does not require monthly funding - it has zero charges for foreign withdrawals. Tansfer money into that account and withdraw from it when abroad.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Robert Jorge says on Jan 28, 2008, 09:26:

The limit for withdrawals in Colombian ATMs depend on two things. #1, your home bank sets a per day maximum withdrawal limit. Most banks allow you to raise or get rid of the limit - thus making your card capable of purchasing or withdrawing up to the balance of your account, more or less. #2 is the Colombian bank ATMs. Some have limits of 300.000cop per withdrawal. Some are 400.000, some are 500.000. I have heard there is a certain bank that allows 6 or 800.000 per withdrawal. When it was time for me to pay bills and rent, I would just go to a Davivienda ATM, and withdraw 500.000 at a time. I once did it 4 times in a row, withdrawing 2 million pesos. A common occurance in Colombia is to have ATMs out of service, due to being empty of money.

--"I believe in making the world safe for our children. But not for our children's children, because I don't think that children should be having sex." - Jack Handy

0 funny, 0 helpful.

ujay says on Jan 28, 2008, 19:22:

Nationwide Flexaccount,get 3 or 4 of these i have 5,on line banking to keep check,million a day each card,cost nothing,best way to go.

www.unionjackedfilms.com

0 funny, 0 helpful.

larumberainglesa says on Jan 29, 2008, 02:42:

Thanks everyone. Gator, for your info, I lived in Colombia and had an account with Davivienda and functioned in pesos. I have only been to Colombia once as a tourist and had terrible problems with changing travellers cheques and could only draw out 300 pesos per day and didn't have a credit card at that time. So although I lived in Colombia and yes, I have an apartment there, I rarely visit (and my husband is going this week, not me and he never had a bank account there - too poor). My mother in law has the nationwide card I sent her. Still haven't got a credit card, so will check the limit with my bank. Of course, some things I can pay for by debit card but don't want to keep being charged £1.50 every time. thanks

0 funny, 0 helpful.

larumberainglesa says on Jan 29, 2008, 02:46:

Correction - have been twice on holiday. Anyway, wanted to know if all ATM's gave out 300 only. Thanks for answers again

0 funny, 0 helpful.

jonas says on Jan 29, 2008, 08:15:

You can also pay at supermarkets etc. with your debitcard and at least my bank doesn´t charge for the transaction-unlike when withdrawing from ATMs. Lots of places accept VISA-ELECTRON and MAESTRO. This is also a LOT cheaper for the business that charges your account- compared to a creditcard transaction. For creditcards they are being charged in access of 10% of the amount, it´s not like in the US... So keep their charges low and control inflation :-)

What I have, I do not want to lose, but Where I am I do not want to stay, but those I love, I do not want to leave, but those I know I no longer want to see, but Where I die, I do not want to go;I want to stay where I have never been

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Gator says on Jan 29, 2008, 10:12:

As you have found out-dealing with travelers checks will be reminiscent of replaying the love scene from "Deliverance."


ATM sounds like the best bet-at our banks with can, but seldom do, make at least three with drawls of 500.000 pesos each but that is a lot of pesos to have while wandering about the town.

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Ctg Bound says on Jan 29, 2008, 10:32:

larumberainglesa, Davienda wil give you 500K a go now, to your limit.

Bank charges vary from bank to bank in the UK from 0.5-6%, many of those charges are hidden, the best card is the Nationwide debit card that comes with the flexaccount as pointed out by a couple of others, the charges are 0.5%, that card works on the Davienda ATMs.

The charges in the Nationwide case is 0.5% less the F/X rate at the time, I have been using the card since 2000 and the charges haven't changed since then, lets hope they don't.

0 funny, 0 helpful.