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Way to Russia Talk Lounge Forum Index -> Russian Visa Forum

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romdur Lounge Lizard Joined: 17 Mar 2010 Posts: 189	Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 8:28 am    Post subject: Different types of cards: In the USA (I don't know about other countries), a debit card looks very much like a credit card, and can be used in the same way. The main difference, is that card transactions draw directly from the balance of a bank account belonging to the card's owner. They have the logo of a credit-card bank network (Visa or MasterCard). American debit cards normally work also as ATM cards. You must enter a PIN code in order to use the card in an ATM. But when a debit card is used for purchases, the PIN code is not required: a debit card may be used to make purchases just like an American credit card, WITHOUT using the PIN code (American credit cards don't have PIN codes). An ATM-only card CANNOT be used to make purchases. It only works in ATMs, and can never be used without knowing the PIN. A thief who finds or steals an American debit card can use it to make purchases without knowing the PIN. A thief who finds or steals an American ATM-only card, but does not know the PIN, can't take any money from the cardholder's account. In some countries, credit and debit cards can never be used without a PIN; if you have such a card, there is no distinction like the one I have written about. At least for American banks, an ATM/debit card and an ATM-only card are NOT the same thing: an ATM-only card has no risk associated with loss.
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romdur Lounge Lizard Joined: 17 Mar 2010 Posts: 189	Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 8:48 am    Post subject: Quote: Currency exchange operators are sharks and should be avoided at all costs. I routinely exchange dollars for rubles, within about 1% of the market exchange rate on that day. For me, this is more rubles per dollar than I will get from any ATM. I've never had a problem in Peterburg, but I was effectively robbed once in Moscow: I was rushing to catch a train, and didn't take the extra half minute to calculate how much money I should get; afterwards I realized it was about 500 rubles less than it should have been. If you: 1. change larger amounts (say, 500 Euros) at a time 2. calculate how many rubles you should get at the market exchange rate 3. compare the rates and commissions at different exchanges (remembering that the actual rate depends on the amount exchanged) 4. ask the cashier to confirm the amount 5. count your money at the window then you will do fine. But of course, travelers who are overwhelmed, flustered, don't speak any Russian, etc. are at some risk of getting a bad deal. It is necessary to exercise judgment.
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