Amsterdam ATM machines
July 16, 2011 3:40 PM Subscribe
Why won't my ATM card work in Amsterdam?
My Capital One Direct Banking ATM card (MasterCard, American bank) is failing in every ATM I've attempted in Amsterdam.
The customer service agent with Capital One told me the card "would only work in the newest of ATM machines." He couldn't elaborate, or give me information on where to find some machines. He did confirm that the card was authorized to work in the Netherlands, and that my bank wasn't blocking the transaction.
The card is a standard looking MasterCard ATM card. It is not the chip cards that are common in Europe.
Can anyone tell me what is going on, or where I can find an ATM that will work with my card? We are running out of cash fast and will be here for another week. Thanks!
My Capital One Direct Banking ATM card (MasterCard, American bank) is failing in every ATM I've attempted in Amsterdam.
The customer service agent with Capital One told me the card "would only work in the newest of ATM machines." He couldn't elaborate, or give me information on where to find some machines. He did confirm that the card was authorized to work in the Netherlands, and that my bank wasn't blocking the transaction.
The card is a standard looking MasterCard ATM card. It is not the chip cards that are common in Europe.
Can anyone tell me what is going on, or where I can find an ATM that will work with my card? We are running out of cash fast and will be here for another week. Thanks!
How long is your pin? I've heard that pins longer than four digits won't work in some ATMs abroad.
posted by dubitable at 4:01 PM on July 16, 2011
posted by dubitable at 4:01 PM on July 16, 2011
Response by poster: Standard 4 digit PIN. I'm 100% certain that I'm keying it in correctly.
posted by steinwald at 4:02 PM on July 16, 2011
posted by steinwald at 4:02 PM on July 16, 2011
Response by poster: I asked at a teller at an ING bank if he could help me figure out what was going on - he said I needed to contact my bank - Capital One - for help. Capital One was extremely unhelpful in resolving the situation, and I do plan on closing the account as soon as possible.
posted by steinwald at 4:04 PM on July 16, 2011
posted by steinwald at 4:04 PM on July 16, 2011
Have you looked at the various icons on the back of your card (e.g my US ATM card has Cirrus and STAR icons) and compared with the icons on the ATM? Those indicate which network the card/ATM works with, and there has to be at least one in common.
posted by Emanuel at 4:08 PM on July 16, 2011
posted by Emanuel at 4:08 PM on July 16, 2011
Response by poster: Yep - the network symbols on my card are matching the one or more of the symbols on the ATMs I try. I'm really at a loss as to what is going on, and fell like Capital One is not taking the issue very seriously.
posted by steinwald at 4:11 PM on July 16, 2011
posted by steinwald at 4:11 PM on July 16, 2011
Response by poster: Neustile - I definitely have tried ING, Rabobank, and a couple others that I don't recall.
posted by steinwald at 4:13 PM on July 16, 2011
posted by steinwald at 4:13 PM on July 16, 2011
It is not the chip cards that are common in Europe
It's not that chip cards are "common" in Europe, it that's chip cards in Europe are pretty much required for electronic transactions. You should have asked Capital One to provide you a chip-and-pin before you went abroad (most banks will do it upon request).
You might want to try an American Express Travel location and see if they can help. Also, have you asked if your hotel concierge will do a cash exchange? They may be willing, and either do it with your card, or charge it to your room bill.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 4:20 PM on July 16, 2011
It's not that chip cards are "common" in Europe, it that's chip cards in Europe are pretty much required for electronic transactions. You should have asked Capital One to provide you a chip-and-pin before you went abroad (most banks will do it upon request).
You might want to try an American Express Travel location and see if they can help. Also, have you asked if your hotel concierge will do a cash exchange? They may be willing, and either do it with your card, or charge it to your room bill.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 4:20 PM on July 16, 2011
I just got back from NL (Amsterdam, Leiden, Voorburg) two days ago and used my US credit union-based Visa check card in ATMs and as a credit card all over the place. Notably, it didn't work in an Albert Heijn grocery store, and another customer said their machines require chip-and-pin cards, which
mine is not.
OP, I really don't think this is a chip-and-pin issue. Can you get Capital One to somehow wire or send you cash? I'd lean on them pretty hard for help. Also try ABN Amro bank ATMs.
How frustrating.
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 4:39 PM on July 16, 2011
mine is not.
OP, I really don't think this is a chip-and-pin issue. Can you get Capital One to somehow wire or send you cash? I'd lean on them pretty hard for help. Also try ABN Amro bank ATMs.
How frustrating.
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 4:39 PM on July 16, 2011
I just got back from Amsterdam & Belgium two days ago, and had no problem using my ATM card regularly in both places. It's just a regular US ATM card. I'm guessing there's a problem with the magnetized strip on the OP's card.
posted by me & my monkey at 4:40 PM on July 16, 2011
posted by me & my monkey at 4:40 PM on July 16, 2011
Response by poster: I don't think there is a problem with the mag stripe on the card; I used it in prior to leaving the US without a problem. I just got off the bank with Capital One, which assured me the card should work in any Cirrus branded ATM; I went out and tried a machine down the street, but still have the same problem.
It's really looking like an issue with Capital One, and they aren't being too helpful in resolving the matter.
ABN Amro is the machine I just tried.
posted by steinwald at 5:31 PM on July 16, 2011
It's really looking like an issue with Capital One, and they aren't being too helpful in resolving the matter.
ABN Amro is the machine I just tried.
posted by steinwald at 5:31 PM on July 16, 2011
It's possible that your card's been frozen, because there are foreign transactions and your bank may think your card is showing fraudulent activity. I had this happen to me in London this past November, despite the fact that I've been to London numerous times and used my Chase card with no problem.
After a frustrating few attempts at taking out cash and being denied, I called the number on the back of my card and after a brief chat explaining my situation, my card was reactivated and I continued to use it, no problem the rest of the time.
Best of luck! Hope it's as simple as a quick phone call.
posted by zombiebunny at 5:44 PM on July 16, 2011
After a frustrating few attempts at taking out cash and being denied, I called the number on the back of my card and after a brief chat explaining my situation, my card was reactivated and I continued to use it, no problem the rest of the time.
Best of luck! Hope it's as simple as a quick phone call.
posted by zombiebunny at 5:44 PM on July 16, 2011
Two shots in the dark: 1) Call MasterCard. If the problem lies with Capitol One, it might affect the agreement they have with MasterCard. 2) You said the card last worked in the US. Could something have demagnetized the strip on your journey? I'm thinking a metal detector or a security tag removal device in an airport store are possible culprits. Can Capitol One overnight you a new card at your expense?
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 6:46 PM on July 16, 2011
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 6:46 PM on July 16, 2011
Did you use the same card when checking into a hotel? Because I've been in a situation where the hotel I stayed at put a *massive* hold on my card that completely screwed my vacation.
posted by clicking the 'Post Comment' button at 7:06 PM on July 16, 2011
posted by clicking the 'Post Comment' button at 7:06 PM on July 16, 2011
neustile: "I have had absolutely no problem paying for all sorts of things in all sorts of places throughout Europe with a plain ol' ATM card from the US. Restaurants, hotels, bars, concerts, supermarkets. Including and especially, amsterdam"
This is true for the moment in many stores and restaurants in the NL, but that won't be true in the close future, as they have already started transistioning to a chip-only system.
I think ATMs have been changing to chip-only since 2005, so likely many/most won't work with only a magstripe.
posted by HFSH at 3:19 AM on July 17, 2011
This is true for the moment in many stores and restaurants in the NL, but that won't be true in the close future, as they have already started transistioning to a chip-only system.
I think ATMs have been changing to chip-only since 2005, so likely many/most won't work with only a magstripe.
posted by HFSH at 3:19 AM on July 17, 2011
I recently (June 27-July 5) spent a vacation in the Netherlands, cycling from small town to small town (Amersfoort was the largest place I visited), and I did not have any problems using my magnetic striped ATM card in any of the towns and villages where I got cash. I used Rabobank and ING machines. I suspect your stripe may have been demagnetized.
Does Capital One have any record that your card was being used? If not, that suggests that the stripe isn't working. I'd insist that they express a new card.
posted by brianogilvie at 3:53 AM on July 17, 2011
Does Capital One have any record that your card was being used? If not, that suggests that the stripe isn't working. I'd insist that they express a new card.
posted by brianogilvie at 3:53 AM on July 17, 2011
BTW, if you have a credit card and know the PIN, you can get cash advances from ATMs. If you don't know the PIN, you should be able to get one at most major banks. You'll pay the cash advance fee and (usually) a fairly hefty interest rate, but if you're short on cash and getting desperate, it's worth the cost.
posted by brianogilvie at 3:57 AM on July 17, 2011
posted by brianogilvie at 3:57 AM on July 17, 2011
The card likely won't work without the chip. Same thing in Brazil.
Try a citibank ATM. This would work for sure with an US citibank card. With a Capital One card it is still worth a try...
posted by yoyo_nyc at 6:37 AM on July 17, 2011
Try a citibank ATM. This would work for sure with an US citibank card. With a Capital One card it is still worth a try...
posted by yoyo_nyc at 6:37 AM on July 17, 2011
Wow, that sucks. A regular US card should definitely work at almost any ATM. If all else fails, I live in the NL (Tilburg) and could get you some euros if you want to take the two hour train ride down here.
posted by myeviltwin at 3:06 PM on July 17, 2011
posted by myeviltwin at 3:06 PM on July 17, 2011
Best answer: After trying practically every major bank's ATM machines in the city, I finally succeeded at the SNS Bank.
I ended up calling Capital One's Customer Service four times, and got the same reply every time. I still don't understand why my card wouldn't work in all the other machines that had the correct network logos.
posted by steinwald at 1:04 PM on July 21, 2011
I ended up calling Capital One's Customer Service four times, and got the same reply every time. I still don't understand why my card wouldn't work in all the other machines that had the correct network logos.
posted by steinwald at 1:04 PM on July 21, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Aiwen at 3:52 PM on July 16, 2011