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as ScotiaBank customers, are you able to replace lost atm cards or deal with any bank/money issues while in Negril as you would back home?
while doing a search some ScotiaB boardies have mentioned that they don't pay atm fees when they use ScotiaB machines, that could save some real money over a few weeks. is that true?
Thanks
I'm not sure but I'd think that you can't replace the card. The bank in Jamaica has it's own cards for their banks (I have one and a small account). I believe they are affiliated but not the same. Just make sure you hang onto your card! You can ask here and see what they say.
I don't seem to get any fees listed separately in my scotia account from ATM withdrawals. I just see the Canadian amount withdrawn on the statement and I take out JA $ at the ATM. Hope this helps. I'm sure you may pay a little more in the exchange rather than taking Cdn cash and changing it at the Cambio or wherever is the best exchange rate, although it saves you bringing a lot of cash. Replacing cards might be a problem though. I always take my visa in case of that although it would involve cash advance fees. If you lost your card, you could always go on line Scotia and send yourself a Western Union transfer from your account to your name with added fees involved. I tried to ask Scotia in Canada about fees and such and they connected me to Scotia in JA and I really got no specific answers. I never asked at the Scotia in JA.
It may depend how much longer you will be in the area, ie. if you lose it on a Friday and you are leaving Monday or Tuesday, that is cutting it close to have one sent to you.
Be sure to notify your bank that you will be using your card in Jamaica before you go on vacation.
Once, maybe twice I have had cards replaced while in Jamaica. I have also had an ATM withdrawal credited back to my account when the money wasn't dispensed. That one took a little more work and the input of my bank, but it got resolved!
If you have a Scotia account that does not charge you ATM fees in Canada, you won't be charged in Jamaica. I have a mickey mouse Scotia savings account and I get charged $1.25 per each withdrawal, even at my branch. :/ But, I was only charged that same amount when withdrawing in Jamaica....much less than if using another bank card.
I had my wallet containing my Scotia Bank card stolen when I was there on a three-month stay a couple of years ago. My landlady accompanied me to the bank and they explained there was nothing they could do to replace it. I had to phone my bank at home and notify them of the loss of the card. They could have mailed me a new one, but it would have taken several weeks and I didn't feel comfortable having a bank card sent to JA via mail. I had a friend coming down to visit, so arranged for her to bring me cash to last me for the rest of my stay and paid her back when I returned home. So hold on tight to your ATM card! Or find a really good hiding place for it in your room! As for fees, I never was charged a fee to use my card at the ATM in Jamaica.