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alanh
Frequent Guest
Joined: 14 Oct 2004
Posts: 22
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 Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2005 3:14 am Post subject: |
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| Note that most Visa/Mastercard credit cards now charge a 3% commission on foreign transactions. There are still a few holdouts, so check with your card issuer. American Express charges 2%, but may use a worse exchange rate. |
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MrSpice
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 14 Jul 2003
Posts: 3431
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| Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2005 7:56 am Post subject: |
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| My MBNA Quantum charges only 1% and my Citibank ATM card charges 2% for the foreign exchange transactions |
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init6
WayToRussified
Joined: 01 Jun 2005
Posts: 363
Location: Москва, Россия
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| Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2005 7:02 pm Post subject: |
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Your Citibank card charges you 2% at Russian Citibank ATMs? If this is the case, there is no reason for me to get a Citibank checking account, and subsequent ATM/debit card, if it's going to gouge me for 2% each transaction.
Then again, 2% is only US$2 on US$200 (I'm assuming that's the maximum withdrawal amount via ATM, just like in the US?) so it's not so bad after all.
I just can't bring myself to pay in the neighborhood of $15-$20/month in ATM fees for the "privelege" of withdrawing my own money! |
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MrSpice
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 14 Jul 2003
Posts: 3431
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| Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2005 7:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Just to correct myself - I am not 100% that Citibank charges 2%, but I heard that and read it somewhere. In the interest of mathmatics, I would like to mention that 2% of $200 is $4, not $2. |
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e
VIP
Joined: 23 Apr 2005
Posts: 654
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| Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2005 11:01 pm Post subject: |
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I told you that it would costly Casy.  |
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init6
WayToRussified
Joined: 01 Jun 2005
Posts: 363
Location: Москва, Россия
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| Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2005 8:40 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah, I never have been good at math. 
$25/month in ATM charges is bullshit, plain and simple. Then again, I usually pay $35+ right now for a $7 "low balance fee" (bastards) and usually one or so NSF charges of $29 each month, hehehe. I'm changing banks soon, obviously, but I need to call Citibank. I'm about a month out from getting my money, so I'll call them in a couple of weeks.
And, bonus information, I found out from my attorney that I can basically ignore the suit that Discover Card filed against me (yeah, I have awesome credit ), and no criminal charges can come of it, they can't stop me from leaving the country, etc. *thumbs up* |
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e
VIP
Joined: 23 Apr 2005
Posts: 654
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| Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2005 10:27 pm Post subject: |
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And, bonus information, I found out from my attorney that I can basically ignore the suit that Discover Card filed against me (yeah, I have awesome credit Laughing ), and no criminal charges can come of it, they can't stop me from leaving the country, etc. *thumbs up* |
WHA?  Dude! What happened? What did you do? |
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init6
WayToRussified
Joined: 01 Jun 2005
Posts: 363
Location: Москва, Россия
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| Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2005 11:12 pm Post subject: |
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Oh, nothing big, I just stopped paying them. I'm not sure how they tracked me down to be honest, as I use a PO Box for almost all my correspondence and I use my parents' address as my "permanent address." Almost no mail comes to my house because my roommates are filthy dirtbags and pile up all the mail, so I can't find it anyway.
I had heard a few years back from someone else that Discover Bank would file suit against you if you stopped paying them, but I dismissed it as fear-mongering - whoops. I can't declare bankruptcy because my assets currently exceed my liabilities and a judge would just order me to settle with my creditors. If I did that, I can't afford to move to Moscow so pffft on that. So, I'll just have really bad credit for the forseeable future and it could hurt my employment prospects with American companies that hire you after a "clean" credit check, because I damn sure won't have one.
No criminal charges can come of this, and that's what I care about. So I'll take my lumps and do what I have to do, but I am moving out of Florida and I am definitely moving to Europe for a long, long while.
I'm thinking I need to become a citizen of a Baltic state... |
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bytemare
Just Starting
Joined: 01 Jul 2005
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2005 12:17 am Post subject: phone service |
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I also have cingular (lg l1400). I'll just be in Russia for a few days. What's the easiest and cheapest way to get phone service? Cingular told me that using my phone would be 4.99 a minute plus roaming!!  what are my options?
Thanks! |
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MrSpice
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 14 Jul 2003
Posts: 3431
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| Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2005 12:37 am Post subject: |
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What I did was something that no one recommends on any of the russia-related web sites but it worked like a charm. I just bought the cheapest cell phone I found and bought a pre-paid Megafon plan (Megafon is one of the largest cell providers in Russia). I.e., the plan that does not have any monthly charges. You can always buy a card for 5-20 dollars and "put" more money on your phone. They asked for my passport with hotel registration at a cell phone shop in St Petersburg. The cell phone cost me $55. The cost of talking was 21c/min if you call a landline phone or any other phone, or someone calls you from abroad or a landline phone and 6c a min if you call a cell phone in St Petersburg. If someone calles from a cell phone, it's free.
That is if you go there for a relatively long time and want to have/use cell phone. Otherwise, you can buy a regular phone card and use payphones.
If you need to call abroad, you can go to any internet cafe and buy a telephon card. I bought one for $5 - I could call states for over 60 min. |
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e
VIP
Joined: 23 Apr 2005
Posts: 654
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| Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2005 2:01 am Post subject: |
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Check to see if your phone is a GSM tri band phone. Ask Cingular and tell will you. If so and if its easily unlockable, then you can buy a megafon (or any other comapny) SIM card and install it on your phone.
If not, then I would follow Mr Spices advice. |
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traceymill
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 05 Apr 2005
Posts: 84
Location: chicago il
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| Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2005 5:07 am Post subject: |
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Casey, I always use my atm card for cash, I do not like carrying alot of cash with me, and you get the best exchange rate. Yes, most banks charge 3%, but it is worth it not to have to deal with the whole money exchange thing, it is a lucrative business there, and can be kind of creepy. In Moscow there are many good atm's that are INSIDE banks, and that is the best way to go. Also, everywhere takes credit cards(debit), at least all the big stores, restaurants, supermarkets and such, it really is easy.........  I am going to take $100 over in cash to travel on, and get money at the atm at the airport in Moscow when I land, it is what I always do. Only one week until I leave!! |
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