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If you have details of banks which stand out in your memory as having been better than others at dealing with the kinds of transaction which
'yachties' tend to need - wire transfers, cash machines which give US$ as well as local
currency, shorter queues, friendlier staff
and so on, tell us about it.
If you've found a bank particularly un-helpful, tell us about that and we'll try to pass on your criticisms to help them train staff to handle your kind of
business. If they want to know how to get praise on this page they can always have a look at what earns your approval
here.
Any information, anecdotes, whatever, relevant to banks, banking
and finances in general will all be welcomed.
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LEAVE THE CASH AT HOME WHEN TRAVELLING OVERSEAS
That's the advice that VISA give to travellers.
With more than half a million ATMs in service, in 120 countries, travellers have less to worry about than ever. In the Caribbean and Latin America there are more than 38,000 ATMs in 32 countries. For those who are travelling in the area, there is a very useful web site which includes an ATM Locator Guide, showing where the most favourable exchange rates can be
had. The guide offers a choice of languages, including English, Spanish and Portuguese.
It was voted as one of Yahoo's 25 Most Incredibly Useful Internet services!
The online ATM Locator Guide features maps of ATMs in 11 countries and maps for more than 80 major international airports. Addresses for nearly all ATMs worldwide are also located in the Guide.
Log on to: www.visalatam.com
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TIPS FOR USING YOUR VISA CARD AT ATMs OVERSEAS:
- Before you leave, check your cards' expiry date.
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Don't speak the local language? Many of Visa's ATMs include an English version of the instructions.
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Make sure you have a PIN (Personal Identification Number) for your Visa Card. Test the card and number at home, before you leave.
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Memorize the numeric PIN, not the alphanumeric (e.g. 4DAVE) because many ATMs don't show letters on the keyboards or the letters change order with different languages.
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Never disclose your PIN to anyone.
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Make a record of payment card account numbers and telephone numbers for reporting lost or stolen cards. It's a good idea to make a copy of everything in your wallet, including credit card numbers to leave in a safe place at home and keep another copy aboard the boat, if you are sailing abroad.
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Protect your card's magnetic strip and/or microchip, by keeping it away from other cards and objects in your wallet. If it is damaged in any way it may become unusable.
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Keep your receipts until all the bills are in. This confirms that you are charged the right amount.
Your receipts will also have your card numbers on them in case you have not written them down for future reference.
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If your card is lost, or stolen, you may contact the Visa Assistance Center. Ask the financial institution which issues your Visa card to give you the emergency numbers for the countries you intend to
visit. First, click on the link below to check on the list we have provided to see if that country
appears.
You may be eligible for a replacement card or emergency funds.
In countries outside the United States, dial an international operator to make a collect call to 410-581-3836 or 410-581-9994 for immediate assistance.
VISA GLOBAL CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE SERVICE CENTER CONTACT
NUMBERS
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HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED HOW BANK CARDS CAME INTO BEING?
Read this article on the history of the bank card and
you'll never have to wonder again...
THE
HISTORY OF THE BANK CARD
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A USEFUL NEW COMMODITY
Have you ever wished there was a convenient and secure way to carry cash in every currency you need when
traveling? Now, apparently, there is, with Visa TravelMoney.
Visa TravelMoney is a pre-paid travel card that gives you 24-hour access to your travel funds in any local
currency.
With Visa TravelMoney, you can conveniently obtain cash to pay for taxi and metro fares,
gratuities, museum entrance fees, telephone calls, souvenirs, snacks, and many other cash expenses.
Your dedicated travel funds can be quickly accessed from over 450,000 Visa/PLUS ATMs
worldwide.
What's more, your funds are fully protected by your personally-selected PIN (personal identification
number).
Because Visa TravelMoney is a pre-paid, disposable card - not associated with any of your bank accounts - you can simply throw away the card when your funds are
depleted.
Why Use Visa TravelMoney?
Worldwide 24-hour cash access. You can access your dedicated travel funds in local currency at more than 450,000
Visa/PLUS ATMs in over 113 countries.
Security. Visa TravelMoney is a secure way to carry cash.
You won't have to carry large sums of cash in several currencies, or keep track of the
Travelers' Cheques you use.
PIN protection. Visa TravelMoney is protected by a PIN (personal identification
number) if your card is ever lost or stolen.
Variable purchase amounts. Visa TravelMoney can be purchased in any amount - there are no fixed
denominations.
Assistance. A Service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Multiple cards. You can purchase additional cards to access the same funds with the same PIN or different
PINs, then give them to traveling companions or keep them as instant replacement cards in case your primary card is lost or
stolen.
Where can I get a Visa TravelMoney card?
Contact your bank to see if they offer Visa TravelMoney.
What do I do if my Visa TravelMoney card is lost or stolen?
The Visa Global Customer Assistance Services Center is available to take your calls
toll-free from anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Your Visa TravelMoney Telephone Assistance Directory, included with your purchase of a
card, provides local Customer Assistance telephone numbers to use worldwide.
Precautions to take before you go:
Keep your Visa TravelMoney Telephone Assistance Directory separate from your card when
traveling.
If your card is lost or stolen, call the Customer Assistance telephone number for the country in which you are traveling to have the card
deactivated.
The Visa Global Customer Assistance Services Center will assist you in your native
language.
Worldwide Customer Service
The Visa Global Customer Assistance Services Center is available 24 hours a day from wherever you
travel. Simply call the appropriate toll-free number listed above. You will be immediately connected to a Visa customer service representative who can help with replacing a
card, providing your current balance, or answering any questions.
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WIRE TRANSFERS
Need to organise a cash transfer from time to time?
Here we hope to
gather information on the topic:
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A piece of information you may find useful if you need to send a wire transfer
to yourself or have one sent for you to Chaguaramas,
Trinidad...The payment details are as follows: (Italics are Editor's
comments)
MAKE PAYMENT BY TELEX S.W.I.F.T. MT100 AS FOLLOWS
(Mark it FOR US DOLLARS ONLY unless you want TT$)
Intermediary Bank: Barclays Bank PLC, 75 Wall Street, New York, USA
ABA No 026 002574
Swift Address BARCUS33
Account with Institution: For Credit to A/C # 050 023845
In the name of Republic Bank Limited, SWIFT Address RBNKTTPK
Account No. Beneficiary Customer: To be inserted by remitter (if you bank with Republic Bank and if not, leave
blank)
Details of payment: Reference No, Invoice No etc., or any relevant information relating to the payment
For Further Credit to Republic Bank Crews Inn Branch to pay upon identification
(present your passport)
N/O______________________PP#__________________________ (It is
sensible to give the sender your passport number to include in the
information although we know of cases where the omission of this
information was not a problem, provided the passport was produced at the
time of collection of the funds, and details taken)
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| And finally...
In Horta, Faial, in the Azores (mid Atlantic) it is not
easy to receive a wire transfer except to a local bank
account.
If you need to organise the use of one, Mid Atlantic Yacht
Services Ltd., (Iates Atlântico
Serviços Lda), 9900-144 Horta,
Faial, Açores, Portugal, may well
be willing to allow you to have funds transferred to their account at:
Banco Portugues do Atlântico,
PT-9900 Horta/Faial/Azores Portugal
Account Name: MID ATLANTIC YACHT SERVICES
Account Number: 15796472
Bank Swift Number: ILBKPTPL
NIB-001709150001579647217
The proprietor of Mid Atlantic
Yacht Services is Duncan Sweet who, together with his wife Ruth,
is to be found at the premises, just opposite the marina, on Mondays,
Wednesdays and Fridays in the 'off' season and daily during the summer
months.
Feel free to add information to the communal pool - you
never know when it may be you who is looking for some help with finding a
way to get some money to a remote spot! |
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