Credit Cards vs. Pesos

In the U.S., I never carried cash EVER. If I had to purchase an item for 75 cents and they took credit cards...I would charge it. If I came across something that only took cash, I would move along. But, just about everywhere takes credit cards and it is EXTREMELY rare for a credit card machine to be offline. I used to go to McDonalds every day and get a $1 fountain diet coke. In over a year, I only experienced having their credit card machine offline once.

In Mexico, machines are down frequently and pesos are king. Around here, you better carry pesos, because so many times you'll go out and the credit card machines will be down. Starbucks, 7-Eleven, etc.

I get so frustrated walking to the end of my block into 7-Eleven, loading my arms with bottled water, and getting to the counter, where they ring me up and then tell me that the machine is down (after seeing my credit card in my hand as soon as my intended purchases are on the counter). Then, I have to walk back home, get pesos and come back OR put off stocking up on bottled water for another day.

If it happened once, that's fine. I understand. But this happens all the time. So, now I am forced to carry pesos with me, which I hate because then I get coins back in surplus and rarely use them.

Plus, to get pesos, I have to use my ATM card and then I get charged a "foreign transaction fee". If I use my credit card...I don't have a fee.

Along the same lines...

In the U.S., it is so much quicker to check out somewhere with a credit card. A swipe (sometimes no signature) and you are out the door.

In Mexico, credit cards take soooo much longer. I think people cringe behind you when you take out a credit card. The machines take a ton longer, you have to sign 100% of the time (and they don't hand your credit card back to you until you have signed).

Taking out a credit card here is like someone taking out their checkbook in the U.S. It's almost like "are you kidding me? Why are you paying with that?" So, again, pesos are king here in Mexico City! All part of the experience!!

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!