Canadian Debit Cards in usa ???

Hi,
A few days ago, I posted a question concerning the use of a debit card to
get "cashback" when doing purchases at retail stores during our next trip.
Our objective was to get cash money while avoiding the high ATM banking
charges.

I received a bunch of informations which I thank you guys.

The bad news came yesterday: My bank notified me that my Canadian Debit
Card ( and ALL other Canadian Banks Debit Cards for that matter ) can only
be used for withdrawal from ATM in USA.

It cannot be used for purchases in USA because of the
non-internationalization of the Interact network used by the CDN banks.

That fact could help some of my fellow Canadians that are expecting to
use their debit card in any future trip in USA. At least, check with your
bank to see the specifics of your card.

Both my bank and another one I've checked with, the charges for withdrawal
at US ATM are 3.00 $ CDN. To this must be added the percentage they'll take
for the exchange US-CDN $, To this, we must add the cost of using a US bank
ATM that could range from 1-3 $ US.

All in all, it's getting to be a pretty expensive proposition.

We finally decided to get US travelers checks.

To me, it's another example that banks, like the petroleum companies, have
understood that they can charge us just about anything; we, in effect, are
their prisonners.

Sad !

Years ago, I, naivly, beleive Bill Gates ( Microsoft founder ) when he
said that a digital world, a computerized world, would make our lives so
much better, easier and cheaper.

Welcome to the new technological world, Claude !!

NOTE: Claude, that's me :(

"Claude Marcil" <acmarcil@m> wrote in message
news:5opqc.18511$qJ5.480831@news20.bellglobal.com. ..
....
> It cannot be used for purchases in USA because of the
> non-internationalization of the Interact network used by the CDN banks.
....
> To me, it's another example that banks, like the petroleum companies,
have
> understood that they can charge us just about anything; we, in effect, are
> their prisonners.
Well, since you're not obligated to participate in any of their "services,"
you have the option (albeit a tough one) to do something else.
....
> Years ago, I, naivly, beleive Bill Gates ( Microsoft founder ) when he
> said that a digital world, a computerized world, would make our lives so
> much better, easier and cheaper.
Lemme see if I understand what you just said. Your "bank" (or insert
service provider of your choice) decides to either exorbitantly charge you
for one of their services, or not participate in mechanisms to ease your
access to same--and you have the clairity of vision to place that burden at
the feet of Bill Gates?

>
> Welcome to the new technological world, Claude !!
>
> NOTE: Claude, that's me :(
>

Methinks that the concepts behind that technology seem to have missed you,
my Canadian friend...(:-)!

Dusty
San Jose, Ca.
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