www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Three weeks after returning from Rio, I'm starting to get these strange "foreign transaction fees" on my bank statement. Unlike my Thanksgiving trip when they occurred immediately and were in definite association with ATM withdrawals, these seem to be occurring at random, and don't seem to be associated with any corresponding transactions.

Also had a transaction charged to me by Terraco Atlantico (the restaurant outside Help) dated the last day of my stay (12-31) in the amount of $196!!! I didn't eat there that day - however, it may have been generated the previous evening in the a.m. hours - though I don't for the life of me remember using the card (always paid cash there) - and certainly don't think we would have wrung up a bill of that amount in any case.

When disputing it, I was told by my bank that it had been keyed in rather than the card being swiped. Interesting...

I've already had the card disabled and will be getting a new one in the mail shortly; however, I'm wondering what might be generating all these other random fees - generally in the amount of $.29 each - that don't seem to be associated with actual transactions?

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Check out http://weluvlatinas.com/ for the web's best info on the latin american monger lifestyle...

GR, What bank do you use?
I'm heading down to Rio for 10 days in early March and would like to avoid getting shaken down like this.
In general, I try to take out larger amounts because friggin Bank of America charges $5 per ATM withdrawal in addition to any fees that the Brazilian bank may charge. Is it possible those .29 charges are from the ATM's down there? How often did you pull Reals?
Oh and btw, I'm bringing sand to the beach.

Just two ATM withdrawals that I recall at the normally reliable Citibank ATMs in Ipanema - no problem with strange charges with these over Thanksgiving. I try to bring all the cash I'll need for the trip with me, and use ATM and credit cards as little as possible.

Have a feeling that one of my little garota friends may have cobbed my ATM card number somehow. But so far, other than the Terraco Atlantico charge and the weird "foreign transaction" charges, no actual card use or purchases.

And did I read this correctly: "bringing sand to the beach" in Rio? With all due respect mi amigo - ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR FREAKING MIND???

Knowing you, I'm sure it couldn't be helped...maybe you'll manage to extricate yourself for a few hours of bliss somehow...possibly pretend you're sick the day she wants to go see Corcavado...

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Check out http://weluvlatinas.com/ for the web's best info on the latin american monger lifestyle...

Um, better check your card "agreement". I'll bet that your bank has snuck in a foreign transaction fee on you. It is happening alot these days. The banks are almost all nickle & dimeing their customers to increase the bank's margins.

As far as the credit card fraud goes, resturaunts are probably the worst places! You hand your server your card & off they go. They can record your details for their own use later, swipe your card into their own reader which they can use to duplicate your card for their own use, mis-charge you after you leave, etc, etc, etc. The list goes on & on.

This is NOT a Tico thing. It has happended to coworkers of mine in England, the US & just about anywhere else in the world we travel.

Fortuneately, if you keep track of your charges the banks are usually pretty good about removeing fraudulant charges. That's about the ONLY goods thing about using plastic.

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Women are like beers. I've never had one that I didn't like. Just some that I like more than others! --Western

You got it right, bringing sand to Ipanema. Honestly, I don't know what I'll do. I told Pauly V that I'm going down under the notion that I won't partake, hard as that seems. I probably have no idea what I'm in for even having seen pics and read up some here and on CH. We havent made a final choice yet but the leading Hotel is 2 blocks from Centaurus. This is killing me. I'll be looking for prime beach placement by the showers on Posto 9. My blood pressure is rising and my chick better be willing at all turns.

My bank charges an ATM fee AND a foreign exchange fee. However, CapitalOne money market doesn't cost a thing! I cannot understand why the Costa Rican banks don't charge to use their ATM's, but I think it best we really not give them any ideas. I use ScotiaBank.

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"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

I belong to a greatest little Credit Union that charges no fees for ATM withdrawls ANYWHERE.
I've literally used that ATM card around the world & the only fees I've ever been charged were the ones charged by the ATM owner.

Also, you can shop around for a credit card with low or no foreign transaction fee. Some banks are charge as much as 4% for foreign transactions! That sucks!

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Women are like beers. I've never had one that I didn't like. Just some that I like more than others! --Western

GR,

Usally in Europe and other places it can take a day or two for the transaction fee to take affect.I have found that the bank fees usally are better than the money exchange places in Europe.When in CR it is the same my bank charges a border fee and a currency conversation fee. I also try and save reciepts to cross reference with bank statement.

There is presently a settlement for foreign tranaction fees from 1996-2006.If you traveled out of the country you should receive it in the mail(received mine in december). Starting 2007 fees were supposed to be made clear to cardmember,mine are very minimal when in CR with .66 being highest. If your card was keyed in it's not a fee but a charge(probably fraudlent).

Yes - I actually received two of those settlement offers and have already filed claims for both.

My concern wasn't really about the $.29 transaction fees so much as the fact that they seemed to be coming out of nowhere with no actual transactions attached. Especially since there was a suspicious use of my card at Terraco Atlantico in Rio, I was very concerned that a garota had somehow pilfered the number and was using it for purchases or to get cash somehow. Fortunately, that doesn't seem to be the case - though it leaves open the question of where these charges are coming from.

BTW - for others that may be going to Rio soon, there's word on Club Hombre that the Asian receptionist at termas 4x4 has been stealing customers' credit card numbers - so beware. Yet another reason to pay cash whenever possible...

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Check out http://weluvlatinas.com/ for the web's best info on the latin american monger lifestyle...

has anyone ever heard of using a pay pal card down there?

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kuni69