ATM withdraw

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michaelchow
michaelchow

Arrived Catacocha three days ago from Piura, Peru. I had some US dollars in my wallet but they're running out. So I tried to withdraw money from 3 ATMs here today but all the attempts failed. Not sure if it's because of the PINs. The machines were asking a four-digit PIN while the PIN for my HSBC debit card (with PLUS network) is six digits.

My plan is to move to Loja early in the morning tomorrow, with a hope to try some some banks over there. Have anyone succeeded to get access to ATM cash withdrawal with a 6-digit PIN card in Loja?

I remember there's option to withdraw US dollars with the ATMs in Peru. But the idea of getting back to Piura, Peru to get money and crossing the border into Ecuador again frustrates me.

Do anyone have any other suggestions? Thank you.

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polyglot25
polyglot25

Most travel guides, in the 'money' section, specifically advice owners of 6-digit PIN cards to get a 4-digit PIN before heading abroad on travels. Presumably this is why - 4 digit PINs are the norm in Europe, Australia and by the looks of thingsSouth America. Have you tried contacting HSBC directly? I would if I were you, because those guidebook warnings about 6-digit PINs are pretty stark in the edition I have...

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michaelchow
michaelchow
In response to #1

Thanks for your message.
1. I have contacted HSBC and my request to issue a 4-digit PIN card was refused due to coporate policy.
2. LP does have the same waning about ATM in its Peru edition but the fact is that I can use my 6-digit PIN card without any problem during my stay in the country for almost two months.

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jgcp
jgcp

You will have to go into the bank and withdraw money with your card there and to do that you will also have to take your passport... It will be a hassle but it can be done.....

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michaelchow
michaelchow
In response to #3

That sounds a good news to me! So I just need to take my card and passport to the counter of ANY banks in Eucador. And they have ways to access my bank account with my card and hand out cash to me as I request. Is it correct?

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snowflakes100
snowflakes100

If it doesn't work going to a bank office to withdraw money you can always have money transferred to you via Western Union. It is quick and there are lots of agents around the country.

I had problems with my bank card last summer when I travelled for seven weeks in Panama and Ecuador, but the chip on my card was damaged and therefore I couldn't withdraw money from an ATM, nor from a bank office.

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jgcp
jgcp

We have withdrawn larger sums from Banco Del Pichincha and Banco Guayaquil and a couple of smaller banks too without too much rouble. We did with our Visa cards but most of the time we use ATMS when we don't want large amounts. It takes more time to go into the bank and wait for them to access the Visa account...

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michaelchow
michaelchow

Thank you for all the messages. The idea of getting trapped at a place without access to money frightened me. In fact I didn't have too much dollars left any more. I could not afford a gamble. So I returned to Peru to withdraw money and entered into Ecuador afterwards for the second time.

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