When I arrived here seven years ago, my friend Richard told me not to use the many ATM's along Calle B. Badillo or Restaurant Row. They were not good or safe, but to cross the river to Banco Santander. After a few years of doing that I thought I should open an account in Mexico. That way if I ever had to use a credit card (debit card) and it was compromised they could not get to the cash in my American Bank (not that there is much there either). It was a horrible ordeal to open an account and took hours and a couple of trips. I knew they would want a pass port, but an electric bill? Everyone wants a copy of your electric even though it is not in my name.
As it happens, I never have an occasion to use a charge card here. Most places do not take them (even a Mexican one), Basically I forgot about the account. Years later I thought to check and see how much was in it. You never get any statements here. They would not get through the mail anyway. I found that the account was locked. I went in the bank and after waiting for an hour was told that the account was inactive and therefore blocked. In order to unblock it I had to go home and bring in my passport, As I recall this took a fair amount of time, but it was finally done. After that I decided to occasionally pull money out or make a deposit. Every thing was fine.
In a few weeks I am off to Guatemala so for months I have been adding deposits every month and not taking any out. Thank God I had to foresight to make sure it was okay. (It really wasn't foresight, it was because I have lived in Mexico) Also, I had tried to buy tickets to the Frida Kahlo museum in Mexico City and the card was turned down. Sure enough the account was "restricted" Again I went in the bank to complain. First the teller looked at the card and shoved it back at me. I shoved it back to her and complained (not that it does any good here) She pointed a woman seated at a desk across the room.
I stood patiently for about 20 or 30 minutes before she acknowledged me. I told her of my problem. She kept looking at the card and turning it over as if she could spot the problem. Finally the manager came over (who does speak English) and told me she would escort me out to the ATM kiosk. Of course it said "Restricted" just as I had been telling them. The manager took over and told me I needed to bring in my passport.
The following day I returned with my passport and a copy of it. I remembered the hassle Noriko and I had trying to cash her U.S. dollars into pesos. Again I waited for the manager. He greeted me and took me to another desk and a woman who spoke no English. She kept typing something on her computer and occasionally spoke to someone on the phone. It seemed like an hour, but probably not quite that long and nothing was happening. I told her I would be back later and she said "Uno momento" (that can be an interminable amount of time here). Finally the manager strode by and I asked him if I could come back later. All they have to do is strike a couple of codes on the computer. Right? After speaking to the no English woman, he turned to me and said that they may wish to speak to me. WHO?? I have the card, I know the pin number, they have my passport and I had the receipt from my last deposit. What is the problem? With a perfectly straight face he said, "They may decide it is easier just to issue you a new card" ARE THEY JOKING?? How long would it take? He said, "Maybe a week" Well I have lived here long enough to know what that can mean, so I insisted they unblock my account. I wanted the card for the trip to Guatemala. I then asked him if I had to make a charge or withdrawal every month. He said "Yes or the account is deemed inactive and is frozen" Even if I am making deposits every month. YES! Does this make any sense to you? BUT IT'S MEXICO !
The woman continued typing on her computer with the phone in her ear. I knew whatever she was typing had nothing to do with me. She would pick up a file, put in a couple things in the computer then write something on it and turn it over on the other side of her desk. Finally she motioned me to get up and follow her. She asked if I knew my PIN number. Of course I do, how stupid does she think I am. (Do not go there!) Sure enough it worked, but the balance was at least 1,000 less than what I thought should be in the account. I asked her if I could get a statement. She either did not understand or did not want to answer. I said, "I need to know what the debits and credits are to this account" She looked at me like I was asking for the code to the bank vault walked away. I did not want to reenter the bank again that day. Maybe Never !
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