Another Banamex Experience

I went to Banamex this morning to get money out of my checking account, as well as to pay my internet & phone bill and my gas bill.

I took a number, waited to be called and went to the cashier upon my turn. The cashier spoke English! Hooray! But, then he told me that my debit card can only be used at the ATM OR at a different Banamex three blocks away. WHAT? Why can one Banamex location pull money out, using my debit card and ID...but another one cannot?

So, Annabelle and I went outside and tried the ATM out there. Low and behold, we were able to take money out! Super! Then, we went back inside, got a new number and waited again...so that we could pay the bills.

In a few weeks we are going to Cabo for a long weekend. We will be leaving Molly at Villa Mascotas (www.villamascotas.com). To reserve Molly's spot, I need to deposit 50% of the cost into the owner's Banamex checking account. Then, give the driver the other 50% when he picks her up.

I am just going to have to go back to Banamex to do this! I only have so much patience each day!

Credit Card and Debit Card Issues

While I was back in the U.S., I cut up my previous credit card. Then, called the number on the newly issued card and activated it.

We used it a few times, at O'Hare airport, then at the grocery in Mexico, etc last Sunday.

When I went to Sam's Club Monday morning...my card was declined at checkout. Lovely, especially with the language barrier between myself and the checkout person.

So, I left the line and called the international number on the back of my credit card. I got disconnected twice (lovely when you are paying 59 cents a minute for the calls), then got ahold of someone on the third call. He told me that my card was never activated. WHAT? How could it not be activated, yet four transactions had already gone thru on it?? Regardless, he "activated" it and I got back in line, successfully paying for my stroller full of items.

Then, today, I went to a Banamex ATM (remember Banamex = Citibank) to use my debit card and take out pesos, so that I had enough to pay my cleaning woman tomorrow! My debit card wouldn't let me take any money out!! It let me see my balance...but wouldn't allow me to take any denomination of money out.

Very frustrating! I should be able to go to Banamex here, hand them my ATM card and photo identification and get the pesos out....but, I am hesitant to try because my debit card has my maiden name imprinted on it (even though the account is now in my married name)...and my photo ID is all in my married name.

I feel like I have made things more difficult on myself than necessary. Perhaps, when I got married, I should have changed everything over immediately...rather than gradually doing so throughout the years. Perhaps then, my debit card would have my married name on it!

Banking at Banamex

Banamex is one of Mexico's largest banks. It is owned by Citibank.

Today, Annabelle and I went to our local Banamex branch, in Polanco, to see if we could get pesos out of our U.S. Citibank account.

It was an interesting experience.

First, when you walk in...it's like going to the DMV in the U.S. You immediately take a ticket, then go sit down in the rows of chairs, until your number is called.

There must have been 30 people waiting, with more coming in the door behind me! I wanted to take a picture...but in the U.S. for security reasons, that is generally not allowed. So, I figured I shouldn't take a photo in Mexico...

Apparently you can pay utility bills at Banamex, which is probably what the majority of people were doing.

I ended up just paying my gas bill, as I wasn't able to take funds out of my U.S. checking out. However, they were very nice about getting someone to speak English with me and tell me what I need to do to get a Banamex Mexico checking account! -- documents needed include my FM3 visa, passport and a utility bill with my name on it!