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Torn money
Submitted by parrotheadnica on Fri, 2010/02/05 - 16:46.
(1 vote)
So I went to my bank in the US before I came down to Nica, took out some money. Here, I go to the bank, to change the bills into cords.
"Ah, lo siento, here's a small 1/2" tear in the bill, we can't accept it.."
Okay, no problema. So then I go to my favorite tienda, and then another one - same thing: "Oh, this bill isn't good, it's torn, it's folded, it's bent, it's not pristine....."
I really don't want to go up to Rivas and find a coyote - so what's the alternative?
I remember when cordobas looked like they'd been through the laundry - pounded on the rocks for weeks, so this really is kind of laughable.
Ink, too
FYI, in case you haven't run into this yet, the same is true for ink marks. Any bill with the tiniest bit of writing, marks, or ink smudges on it will be turned away, too - regardless of whether offered by gringos or Nicas. You just have to go into the bank and request clean bills, and inspect them all closely before you leave the building - in the US they'll look at you funny, but in Costa Rica the tellers would just say "oh, going to Nicaragua?"
Better yet, just wait and withdraw dollars or cords from ATMs in Nicaragua. I always go this route as I don't like carrying more than $100 on me at a time.
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Life is what happens while we're busy making other plans
It's easy
Only bring perfect money from abroad, only accept perfect money here. Try to pass off your damaged money at a super or gas station where they might not be so picky. I'm seen this eslewhere in Latinamerica, but Nic. seems to be worse.
More fun? I've had to fill out and sign my bank deposit slip as many as 3 times per transaction until I came up with a satisfactory signature.
¨Latin America devours its revolutionaries¨ -Simon Bolivar
BDF and BANPRO symptoms
At least in Estelï, this is the kind of caca you have to put up with in both BDF and BANPRO. BANCENTRO and Banco ProCredit, don't even use deposit slips anymore.
When I first moved to Estelí, both BDF and BANPRO had managers that seemed to understand that the idea of a bank was the same as other businesses—to serve customers. Both are long gone and both banks are pretty much just an irritation these days. For example, I occasionally get a check in the name of Phil Hughes, my semi-universal nickname in which I have lots of things including multiple credit cards. In today's BDF, just to deposit such a check requires the manager to FAX copies of the check and my ID in that name to get permission to do the deposit. In BANCENTRO, there is never even a question.
The good news is that this attitude is not everywhere. You just need to shop for service.
Need a microscope
Because of this issue and the crime, I have cut my visits to Nica way down (but mostly because of the crime). I have had restaurants refuse my money because of cuts that you would almost need a microscope to see. It makes no logical sense. To me, its psychological play on their part, resenting the Americans and a way to get back at us. Very backward with negative impact.
Are you serious?
The crime issue is your call, your comfort level.
But the "resenting the Americans and a way to get back at us" comment.
Come on man!
I need a microscope to see that "Miopic" snapshot you took.
So how do you explain that they do it with Cordoba notes as well?
"resenting Americans and a way to get back at us" comment...
...so how does that explain that it happens to Nicaraguans too? Because when I discussed this, I learned our friends had also experienced the "damaged notes" issue as well, and they are Nicaraguan. I experienced it in Mexico. It happens all over.
As for crime, go to any inner city in the U.S. and if you go to Los Angeles, be careful which areas you drive through. If you end up near the Rampart district or near certain parts of Hoover you might laugh at crime in Nicaragua, from what my husband tells me.
Crime in perspective
Yep, I live in New Orleans, and the crime here is much worse than anything I ever saw or heard about in Nicaragua. I live in a relatively safe area now, but I spent 7 months living in a rougher part of town, and in that time there were 6 murders in a 6-block radius of my house, and I was in a crowd that was shot into while walking down St. Charles Avenue. Nearly everyone I know has been robbed at least once (not me yet, thankfully, knocking on wood).
Heck, even Costa Rica - especially San Jose - is equally if not more dangerous. Again, at least half of the people I know - gringos, Ticos, and Nicas alike - have been robbed in San Jose (and again, I've been lucky so far, only losing a few things I recklessly left on the seat of my car, even though it was parked in my driveway). One Nica friend driving a taxi in San Jose was carjacked at gunpoint. Two gringo friends were assaulted with a machete and rocks (one needing numerous stitches afterwards), several other gringo friends-of-friends faced home invasions and assaults. There were at least 3 murders in my small, rural town in the last ~10 months I was there; 2 were found less than a km from my house, and the 3rd was killed in front of "the" bar on a busy Friday night.
In Nicaragua, I would occasionally (if rarely) set down my bag and turn away for a moment, knowing it would still be there when I turned back. You can't do that in Costa Rica - it'd be long gone. Of course I was always cautious in Nicaragua, as I am in CR and the States, but I actually felt safer there.
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Life is what happens while we're busy making other plans
Hoover
I grew up at 120th (Athens Blvd) and Hoover. But, by the mid-1950s that was not looking like the place to live. In L.A., it was very much a if you are in the wrong place, you're dead feeling. One of the positive things I can say about Seattle is that this sort of situation didn't exist. That is, Chinese gangs, for example, just fought other Chinese gangs. If you didn't belong, you were ignored.
While I have not spent gobs of time in Managua, what I have seen is that the people who live in poor neighborhoods are just poor. They are not going to rush out with their machete and attack you. Crime seems to be much more on the level of those that are criminals look for victims, if that makes sense.
That's what my husband told me
Although he has said that it may be dangerous to go out at night if you don't have a car and he has expressed concerns for me as a woman. He doesn't have a car yet obviously because of his situation, so he rides with friends, but even sometimes they ask if he will watch as they unlock the gate when they return (mostly because of his size I think). What he has told me is that there are a lot of glue sniffers and druggies who could rob you with a gun or knife. But that there aren't murders to speak of, or drive-by shootings, or some of the stuff we see in Los Angeles.
He is not talking about poor people, but people who are simply of the ilk that they may be addicted and desperate for money for that reason. Or, some people who take advantage of others, maybe stealing or over charging for things if they think they can get away with it.
I lived in Seattle too, Phil (small world, eh?) About the only thing that struck me odd there was that at an event called Bumbershoot, where there were Jazz and Blues musicians playing on a stage near the Space Needle, there wasn't one black musician that day. I remember that with such an odd feeling, because when I turned and looked at the crowd, what I saw was mostly a sea of white faces and it struck me odd. That was some time ago though, so I'm not sure it is like that now.
Try a casino!
They also give you the best exchange rate going!
Pura Nica, Bobby
casino,
or for the non gamblers I take my "special" bills to the LaColonia, the cashiers could generally care less
Torn bills
I think it's partly going to depend on how big a bill it is. If it's a $20 (or less), and in reasonable shape, my guess is that if you keep trying to pay with it, eventually someone will take it. Or, if you can find someone who is on their way back to the states, sell it to them. If it's a $100, I would be less optimistic.
The guide books always warn about bills that are torn or written on not being accepted. I haven't seen it myself, but several people on this board have.
Damaged Currency Cuba
Cuba was absolutely the worst. You HAVE to change your US (or any other currency) into convertible pesos, and you take a 20% hit in the exchange. Same for Canadian and Euros, I exchanged all three. This is referred to as "Fidel's cut" On the other hand there is no IVA like you see in Mexico and CA (communists don't believe in taxes???). The money exchange is a government monopoly, like 99% of the commerce in Cuba, and they take their sweet time with the exchange, carefully scrutinizing each and every bill. ANYTHING is cause for rejection, marks, stamps, missing corner, tear. It doesn't matter how miniscule. On the other hand, they are happy to take your $100's. We befriended a young Cuban with an old soviet Lada, he acted as our guide and driver for the time we were there. He made the mistake of driving Shelley to the airport for her flight to Cancun (another story for another time - Russian plane). When they got to the airport the car was surrounded by a dozen armed soldiers, brandishing their rifles. Shelley was separated from Jorge, taken to an interrogation room and squeezed for 45 minutes in an attempt to get her to admit that she paid Jorge for the trip. Luckily, she stuck to her story: He's just a friend, I didn't pay him. She was was then ostentatiously followed and watched by a couple of soldiers until her flight boarded. I stayed on for a while (had a boat) but never saw Jorge again. I hope he's out of jail by now. Beautiful country, warm and friendly people. Like stepping back into the 50's
For our upcoming trip to Nicaragua we got a mix of small bills, and my first thought when Shelley came back from the bank was: "How and where are we going to carry all that paper?" Being forewarned, the bank was good about giving us new or almost new currency . . . with a smile. When I was in Nicaragua last July, most of the cambio I got was very worn. It WAS a constant fight to exchange ANY decent sized bill, US or C$, and I spent all my time in Managua and Granada!
No one answered a previous post about whether you could take a credit card in Nicaragua and process it through a bank in the US? It seems very straightforward, all you need is an internet connection, and rates are low in the US. Costco has a 1.9% plan +$30 month. I use a service from PayPal called virtual terminal that allows me to take a credit card anywhere in the world where I have an internet connection. $30/month plus 3%
even if u find
a money changer to take it he is going to charge u to change it..next time tell the bank in the states u want all new bills
And the correct answer is: acc724
Too late this time but next time get the new ones.
I had a $100 bill with half a little finger nail missing on a corner. I got $95 at Banpro in Rivas after filling out several forms, lining up twice and a lecture from the guard cos my cell phone went off in the bank!!.
The money changer at the market wanted to give me 65 bucks!
That was a 3 pair of sandals saving!!.
Hey Sandal man
Next time just come to me and I'll give you a better rate LOL
On the sandals or the money?
Or the earthquake insurance deal?