over-specific and ridiculous ATM question

the opoponax · Apr 7th, 2007, 17:18

my debit card has the Mastercard logo, but not the Cirrus or Maestro logo.

according to my bank, i should be able to use this just fine in Indian ATMs. (yeah, right, call center girl who barely speaks English...)

according to the Mastercard website, Mastercard, Cirrus, and Maestro are completely seperate networks. you can search for ATMs in different indian cities on this site, which is great, but it doesn't say which ATM is in which network.

is there any way to verify that i will really and truly be able to get cash easily in India? is there any particular bank i should be able to depend on? is "anywhere you see the mastercard sign" a good rule of thumb?

i've read just about all the ATM threads i could find, and none of them adressed this absurdly specific question, which i don't expect anyone to actually be able to answer.

Grantaustralia · Apr 7th, 2007, 17:24

My debit card only has the Visa sign on it and it was fine for ATMs in India. Mind you the exchange rate was lousy.

ba9rn · Apr 7th, 2007, 17:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by the opoponax

according to the Mastercard website, Mastercard, Cirrus, and Maestro are completely seperate networks.

That is true, but Cirrus is tied to Mastercard (you will see that the logo is very similar!) - but it's also the case that many machines will talk to more than one network. In your case (as you only have the MasterCard logo) you will only be able to use ATMs displaying that logo, and probably the Cirrus ones too. Simple really!

Try searching the MasterCard India site. (click the underlined text - you will need to allow the popop!)

the opoponax · Apr 7th, 2007, 17:30

yeah, but i've heard Visa is more ubiquitous.

in fact, i'll probably bring one of those pre-paid "gift" debit cards with a Visa logo (probably HSBC or Citibank, which seem to have actual branches in India) as backup. which will necessitate about 20 different layers of transfers and surcharges, but well, anything that gets me to India, right?

@ ba9rn -- yeah, that's what i said in my original post. the ATM locator function won't tell you which network(s) each ATM belongs to. good to know that it's not completely obvious and easy-peasy, though.

ba9rn · Apr 7th, 2007, 17:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by the opoponax

@the ATM locator function won't tell you which network(s) each ATM belongs to. good to know that it's not completely obvious and easy-peasy, though.

Hmmm! The link I provided was the MasterCard ATM search engine - so it will give the machines that you want (those that accept MasterCard)! ... Or am I completely misunderstanding your problem?

the opoponax · Apr 7th, 2007, 17:43

Mastercard owns both Cirrus and Maestro networks, even though they are apparently mutually exclusive. the Mastercard website (i think) shows locations for all three networks, not only the Mastercard network. Except you can't actually see which network they mean for each location (in my assumption it could be any one of the three, or 2 of 3, or all three). or at least this is what it seemed to me. i certainly hope i'm wrong! i just can't figure it out! probably because it's 6AM my time and i'm still awake for some inexplicable reason!

see what i mean by "over-specific and ridiculous"? this is like some evil GRE question...

ba9rn · Apr 7th, 2007, 17:57

Ah - well like I said in my first post above; although they are different networks, most machines will accept multiple cards. The bottom line is (even though the search engine might not be giving you enough info for a warm feeling), you will find MANY machines with the MasterCard logo on (and Visa, Cirrus, etc.). Do not worry.

icetea · Apr 7th, 2007, 17:59

My card has only the Mastercard logo on it and works just fine at all ATMs I tried so far in India.

the opoponax · Apr 7th, 2007, 18:08

thank you both for that reassurance. that is exactly what i needed to hear.

since i won't be able to bring a lot of cash up front with me, and will need to access an ATM fairly regularly (long complicated story not worth explaining), this was the one big thing i was worried about more than anything else. well, once i flipped my trusty card over and noticed a conspicuous lack of important international networks other than Mastercard.

will work out as many backups and contingency plans as possible, though, just in case!

edit -- massive brain fart. short, sweet, and to the point thread right on the 2nd page of this topic, entitled "Mastercard??". forgive me, IMmers, for i have sinned... my penance is finally getting to sleep, now...

fsg · Apr 7th, 2007, 19:32

I have used a Visa card throughout , did not get bum notes out of the ATM. sometimes spanking new.
I got a rate 50 pai less than the Deccan Chronicle rate, a bl**dy sight better than the bank with cash.

In the past I have found usually good rates at the airport just to get started, but now with ATMs everwhere there is no need

However MY Visa provider does not charge commission on overseas transactions........ a really big bonus.

Check out the card providers commission charges,

I always carry a wad of cash just in case

hawaiiyogagrl · Apr 8th, 2007, 06:06

Don't worry.
I think that if you do have a problem, and I don't think you will, the problem is not going to be as devastating as you think it may be. Having a small wad of cash (on Brooklyn terms) can get you around pretty far in places where ATM's are scarce or don't take your type of card. (and in places where you will need cash, there will be more ATM's than you can handle)
I spent some time last year in rural central India, forgot to go to the ATM in Delhi, arrived into a city where the only ATM was broken and continued on in my travels winging it on very little cash. (ironically, I had a pile of US money that I hadn't changed and no one would change it) When I did make it to an ATM I filled my wallet with a wad of "comfort cash".
I have some great stories out of the whole episode, and saved dough to boot.
Good luck, NY-er, India will be fun. When do you arrive?

akt · Apr 8th, 2007, 11:19

MC logo is ubiquitous in Indian ATM's, you should have no problem.

the opoponax · Apr 9th, 2007, 03:21

last week in August is the plan. i'm definitely in the Can I Really Afford To Do This stage. that and the Holy Crap I'm Totally Going To India! stage. right now my major goal is figuring out the nuts and bolts, things like getting cash, what shots do i need, etc.

the funny thing is that, after living in New York (and coming here with basically nothing, "fresh off the farm" as it were), i'm not so worried about some of the things other travelers are. i know the Purposeful Walk and the proper response to touts and icky staring guys. i have been ripped off before. i can pick a dodgy corner pizzeria from a locals' favorite hole-in-the-wall at 20 paces. bring it on, Delhi!

akt · Apr 9th, 2007, 03:56

You will be fine. Suggest you bring some cash ($20 bills seem best to me), so even if the ATMs are acting up at the airport, you can get a smooth start, and figure it all out peacefully later. God luck and have fun.

Apr 7th, 2007, 17:18	#1
the opoponax Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brooklyn, via New Orleans Posts: 1,052	over-specific and ridiculous ATM question my debit card has the Mastercard logo, but not the Cirrus or Maestro logo. according to my bank, i should be able to use this just fine in Indian ATMs. (yeah, right, call center girl who barely speaks English...) according to the Mastercard website, Mastercard, Cirrus, and Maestro are completely seperate networks. you can search for ATMs in different indian cities on this site, which is great, but it doesn't say which ATM is in which network. is there any way to verify that i will really and truly be able to get cash easily in India? is there any particular bank i should be able to depend on? is "anywhere you see the mastercard sign" a good rule of thumb? i've read just about all the ATM threads i could find, and none of them adressed this absurdly specific question, which i don't expect anyone to actually be able to answer.

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Apr 7th, 2007, 17:24	#2
Grantaustralia Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Sydney Posts: 274	My debit card only has the Visa sign on it and it was fine for ATMs in India. Mind you the exchange rate was lousy.

Apr 7th, 2007, 17:30	#4
the opoponax Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brooklyn, via New Orleans Posts: 1,052	yeah, but i've heard Visa is more ubiquitous. in fact, i'll probably bring one of those pre-paid "gift" debit cards with a Visa logo (probably HSBC or Citibank, which seem to have actual branches in India) as backup. which will necessitate about 20 different layers of transfers and surcharges, but well, anything that gets me to India, right? @ ba9rn -- yeah, that's what i said in my original post. the ATM locator function won't tell you which network(s) each ATM belongs to. good to know that it's not completely obvious and easy-peasy, though.

Apr 7th, 2007, 17:43	#6
the opoponax Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brooklyn, via New Orleans Posts: 1,052	Mastercard owns both Cirrus and Maestro networks, even though they are apparently mutually exclusive. the Mastercard website (i think) shows locations for all three networks, not only the Mastercard network. Except you can't actually see which network they mean for each location (in my assumption it could be any one of the three, or 2 of 3, or all three). or at least this is what it seemed to me. i certainly hope i'm wrong! i just can't figure it out! probably because it's 6AM my time and i'm still awake for some inexplicable reason! see what i mean by "over-specific and ridiculous"? this is like some evil GRE question...

Apr 7th, 2007, 17:57	#7
ba9rn Macha Doabout Nothing Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Pompey fan in exile Posts: 574	Ah - well like I said in my first post above; although they are different networks, most machines will accept multiple cards. The bottom line is (even though the search engine might not be giving you enough info for a warm feeling), you will find MANY machines with the MasterCard logo on (and Visa, Cirrus, etc.). Do not worry.

Apr 7th, 2007, 17:59	#8
icetea 'sort of hate India' club member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Chennai, via Romania Posts: 917	My card has only the Mastercard logo on it and works just fine at all ATMs I tried so far in India.

Apr 7th, 2007, 18:08	#9
the opoponax Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brooklyn, via New Orleans Posts: 1,052	thank you both for that reassurance. that is exactly what i needed to hear. since i won't be able to bring a lot of cash up front with me, and will need to access an ATM fairly regularly (long complicated story not worth explaining), this was the one big thing i was worried about more than anything else. well, once i flipped my trusty card over and noticed a conspicuous lack of important international networks other than Mastercard. will work out as many backups and contingency plans as possible, though, just in case! edit -- massive brain fart. short, sweet, and to the point thread right on the 2nd page of this topic, entitled "Mastercard??". forgive me, IMmers, for i have sinned... my penance is finally getting to sleep, now...

Apr 7th, 2007, 19:32	#10
fsg Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: U.K Posts: 253	I have used a Visa card throughout , did not get bum notes out of the ATM. sometimes spanking new. I got a rate 50 pai less than the Deccan Chronicle rate, a bl**dy sight better than the bank with cash. In the past I have found usually good rates at the airport just to get started, but now with ATMs everwhere there is no need However MY Visa provider does not charge commission on overseas transactions........ a really big bonus. Check out the card providers commission charges, I always carry a wad of cash just in case

Apr 8th, 2007, 06:06	#11
hawaiiyogagrl Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hawaii Posts: 241	Don't worry. I think that if you do have a problem, and I don't think you will, the problem is not going to be as devastating as you think it may be. Having a small wad of cash (on Brooklyn terms) can get you around pretty far in places where ATM's are scarce or don't take your type of card. (and in places where you will need cash, there will be more ATM's than you can handle) I spent some time last year in rural central India, forgot to go to the ATM in Delhi, arrived into a city where the only ATM was broken and continued on in my travels winging it on very little cash. (ironically, I had a pile of US money that I hadn't changed and no one would change it) When I did make it to an ATM I filled my wallet with a wad of "comfort cash". I have some great stories out of the whole episode, and saved dough to boot. Good luck, NY-er, India will be fun. When do you arrive?

Apr 8th, 2007, 11:19	#12
akt Account Closed Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: USA Posts: 438	MC logo is ubiquitous in Indian ATM's, you should have no problem.

Apr 9th, 2007, 03:21	#13
the opoponax Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brooklyn, via New Orleans Posts: 1,052	last week in August is the plan. i'm definitely in the Can I Really Afford To Do This stage. that and the Holy Crap I'm Totally Going To India! stage. right now my major goal is figuring out the nuts and bolts, things like getting cash, what shots do i need, etc. the funny thing is that, after living in New York (and coming here with basically nothing, "fresh off the farm" as it were), i'm not so worried about some of the things other travelers are. i know the Purposeful Walk and the proper response to touts and icky staring guys. i have been ripped off before. i can pick a dodgy corner pizzeria from a locals' favorite hole-in-the-wall at 20 paces. bring it on, Delhi!

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Apr 9th, 2007, 03:56	#14
akt Account Closed Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: USA Posts: 438	You will be fine. Suggest you bring some cash ($20 bills seem best to me), so even if the ATMs are acting up at the airport, you can get a smooth start, and figure it all out peacefully later. God luck and have fun.