WARNING: AVOID PRIVAT BANK ATMs IN UKRAINE!!

[Strider]

So today I went to check my account balance and then make a withdrawal.  I used a Privat Bank ATM at Fora supermarket.  I requested the English menu and received my account balance on a printout. The ATM then locked up and would not return my ATM card.  My Ukrainian friend was with me and called the banks service number.  I then spoke with the so called customer service dept.  They advised me that my card will be returned to my bank in America and not to me.  I contacted my  bank in the US.  They did not block the card.  It is valid.  No fraud issue.  I reported the problem to two different Privat Bank branches, including the one closest to the ATM that took my card.  So far, no one can help me.  I will call one more service number when I return to my hotel, but I am pessimistic that this problem will be solved.  I have some emergency cash on me, and one other ATM card with less favorable foreign transaction fees.  However, I cannot imagine staying here longer under present conditions.

Best advice for using ATMs is to avoid ATMs not attached to a bank proper and especially avoid Privat Bank's ATMs.  Either the bank is so corrupt that they are making money from sending ATM cards abroad, or the country is so corrupt that they don't trust that the cards will be returned to their owners without incident.  I have traveled all around the world and rarely had a problem with my ATM card being withheld by an ATM.  I can count those occasions on one hand, and the ATM card was always returned in short order.

This is a massively dysfunctional nation devoid of basic common sense.  How can they expect tourists to come here if the bank ATMs eat cards and refuse to return them? I had a walk around the area of Kiev by my hotel, which is not in the center.  There are more buildings under construction, along with empty new buildings.  A bank collapse is eminent with the war in the East and the rapidly shrinking economy.  Anyone with family or loved ones here should plan on extracting them if possible.  It is hard to see how the present state of Ukraine can survive the massive corruption and stupidity here.

[The Natural]

Sorry to hear about Your problems there With Your card. Things like that are the reason I brought With me at least 1000 dollars and Euros in cash when I went to Ukraine. I hope you will be alright With cash until you leave.

You're right. Ukraine is a failed state and it's just a matter of time when it all collapses, bank, economy, another revolution. Not a Place one would like to be in if one likes Peace and quiet, unfortunately.

Stay safe.

[Hammer2722]

I used to use Privat ATM's every time I was in Ukraine. I doubt the world in Ukraine is coming to an end just because the ATM ate your card. I only ever used my atm as a backup. I primarily came with enough cash to pay for all my expenses.
Sorry to hear that you got bit.

[Anathema]

I almost exclusively use my cards when I travel abroad; I only bring a little bit of cash.  I never had any issues in Ukraine but sorry to hear of your troubles.  Hopefully they'll get it sorted.

[jone]

Mr. T. Anathema!

Thrice welcome!  You are someone that I would love to see posting here on this forum.

[ML]

I have extensive banking and financial experience for over 30 years. 

I have always warned here to not use ATM cards in some countries of the world ANYWHERE (including inside banks).

My cautions are usually met with ridicule.

[jone]

ML,

I am of your (old) school.  I carry sufficient cash to cover a trip and only carry cards in the event that I have an emergency.

[LiveFromUkraine]

I have extensive banking and financial experience for over 30 years. 

I have always warned here to not use ATM cards in some countries of the world ANYWHERE (including inside banks).

My cautions are usually met with ridicule.

How do you access money then?  Some of us travel for months and even years. 

[Hammer2722]

ML,

I am of your (old) school.  I carry sufficient cash to cover a trip and only carry cards in the event that I have an emergency.

Same here......

[Boethius]

I use credit cards when I travel, rarely carry a lot of cash.  Our last trip abroad (other than the US, which I don't really count) was to France.  I had 200 euros when we left, withdrew another 200 while there, and used credit cards for everything else.

[Anathema]

Mr. T. Anathema!

Thrice welcome!  You are someone that I would love to see posting here on this forum.

спасибо! 

[Larry1]

On most of my trips to FSU I have rarely used credit cards, but on my last trip I used a card frequently. Soon after I returned home I got a call from the loss prevention folks at my bank. They asked me about several charges. I confirmed that I didn't make them.

Welcome to the forum, Anathema.

[calmissile]

Sorry to hear about your problem with ATM's.  I have almost exclusively used Privat Bank every time I have been in Ukriane and have not only used my card for ATM transactions but have withdrawn up to $3k by going inside the bank.  I also carry at least $2K in case of emergency or in case I want to buy something expensive and the banks are closed or not handy.

I would suggest having a local go with you to the largest branch or headquarters of Privet and explain your situation.  Since it was a Privet ATM, they should be able to solve the problem.  When I was exploring opening an account there, my (now) wife went with me and we talked to bank managers.  Perhaps you are speaking to someone at the clerk level and need to elevate it to the management level.

Things may seem like gloom and doom, but you might be overreacting due to anger over the issue.  Been there done that, but it was over airline screw-ups.   Let us know if you succeed in solving this problem.

[Boethius]

On most of my trips to FSU I have rarely used credit cards, but on my last trip I used a card frequently. Soon after I returned home I got a call from the loss prevention folks at my bank. They asked me about several charges. I confirmed that I didn't make them.

That though, can happen anywhere, obviously.  My husband's card was compromised while it was still in his wallet.  I check our cards frequently, as the kids have cards as well, and I want to keep tabs on their spending.  There was a charge for a computer in Ontario, so I called the credit card company.  It was made the same day hubby had used his card to buy groceries, 3,000 miles away.  The card was used to withdraw cash (which we never do), for several restaurant meals, and for a cleaning service - $6000 in 4 days.  Some of the charges had not even appeared online when I called.  He also had his bank card compromised once.  I have a $500 daily limit on it, and when he went to pay for groceries, the card was declined.  We then noticed that $450 had been withdrawn the previous day.  That turned out to be a criminal group, eventually caught.  All foreign born, based on Montreal.
 
I also once had a charge on match.com.  When I called the credit card company, they suggested I may have registered and forgotten.  I told them I'd been married for over a decade, and no, I had never used match.com, not even unwittingly.  They then suggested my husband may have used it.  I told them if he had, he would not be stupid enough to do so on a credit card that I monitor.

[jone]

Bo,

Give us your profile on Match.  We'll all check you out!

[Natali_Tsymbalyuk]

I think you just got unlucky.
I had a similar situation. But it was with another bank. This was two-fold. First time IMEKSBANK. 2nd time VEBBANK. Both times my card stuck in the ATM. I immediately call the bank my card and its block. I then do a new card. Unfortunately we ATMs are easily damaged. so it is normal for our country.

[pokerintherear]

One day people will learn "Cash is King"

[Strider]

So, I called the main CS number and got the same communist era response.  Nyet.  It is "impossible" to return my ATM card to me.  I advised them that they were embarrassing their bank, and their country and I was writing about this on the Internet, and they did care at all.  The only chance left is if the local bank branch by the ATM can retrieve the card.  Though from what I am hearing, Privat bank contracted with someone to service the ATMs and the contract is to return all ATM cards found in the machine to the bank of origin.  They will do this even when the problem is a malfunctioning ATM. I will visit the branch across the street from my hotel to see if this happened tomorrow.  The odds of success appear to be low because the stupidity factor is so high.

I have used Privat bank ATMs on visits to Ukraine in the past without problem.  This is a big problem and they are officially refusing to solve the problem.  When I first came here years ago, I had cash and travelers checks on me, but soon learned ATMs were the best solution.  I always have some cash, but the ATM is usually the best bet.  No nation that wants to encourage travelers to visit would ever permit anything this stupid.  The world may not come to an end, but Ukraine could soon come to an end because of the massive corruption and stupidity here. 

I used to use Privat ATM's every time I was in Ukraine. I doubt the world in Ukraine is coming to an end just because the ATM ate your card. I only ever used my atm as a backup. I primarily came with enough cash to pay for all my expenses.
Sorry to hear that you got bit.

Getting back to Poland shouldn't be a problem.  I think I can get a train ticket by credit card, and if not, I should have enough cash for it.  Then life should be more normal and Western. 

The collapse of the novel state of Ukraine is coming.  The question is how much Western aid will be squandered as a gift to the ruling oligarchs before it happens.  I was astounded at the buildings under construction and the empty new buildings.  The only chance that the banks won't fail is hyper inflation, and even that may not save them.  More tanks and military equipment crossing the border from Russia was in the news today.  Putin will continue to take bits and pieces of this rotting carcass of Stalin's creation until it collapses completely.  It is not a question of if it will fail, but only a question of when it will fail and what will be done with it then.

Sorry to hear about Your problems there With Your card. Things like that are the reason I brought With me at least 1000 dollars and Euros in cash when I went to Ukraine. I hope you will be alright With cash until you leave.
You're right. Ukraine is a failed state and it's just a matter of time when it all collapses, bank, economy, another revolution. Not a Place one would like to be in if one likes Peace and quiet, unfortunately.
Stay safe.

[msmobyone]

'cash is king' until you get mugged / robbed ...I'd rather keep 200 Euros / dollars / UK Pounds and use the cards.

Swings and Roundabouts 

[jone]

I only keep around three hundred on me at any one time.  The rest is hidden in a (somewhat) safe place.  Not in the hotel safe or a safe in the room.

[JayH]

I think you just got unlucky.

100% agree.
It can happen anywhere you use the card.  BTW--while I was in Ukraine trying to book air tickets--  some idiot decided something was wrong with my card-- and reported it to my bank-- who innappropriately cancelled ALL my cards held at that bank.
That" idiot" was in America !!
To the OP-- no doubt you are angry now-understandably--but--BUT-- seeking to denigrate Privat in this was is innappropriate and wrong.Of all the banks in Ukraine it is one I recommend using for ease of use.
You can go to the counter to do transaction-- and if you had stuck to simply withdrawing funds you would not have had a problem( at a guess) --so why look at balance in that way? Not thinking?
As a rule anywhere--if you are not getting the answer you want-- go to next level of management.

For all others--- using Privat ATM is as easy as using one in home country--menu has english option.One point-I would do a series of transactions in preference to one large one eg 2000 grv at a time.
Also-- have more than one way to access account/and/ or have another account-just in case!!

[Faux Pas]

Strider
Lighten up Francis. Your ATM card and the state of Ukraine are not connected. My ATM card has been sucked into the abyss twice. Once at a store branch bank. I knew the manager on duty and he just handed it back to me. Another was at a solo machine and I never got it back. It took two weeks before I was sent a new one. Cest la vie. Shit happens. It sucks I know but that can happen anywhere. Expect the unexpected in your planning

[AC]

I only keep around three hundred on me at any one time.  The rest is hidden in a (somewhat) safe place.  Not in the hotel safe or a safe in the room.

One strategy is to send to yourself, via Western Union, some additional emergency money for your trip.

[Anotherkiwi]

One strategy is to send to yourself, via Western Union, some additional emergency money for your trip.

A very good, and simple, idea - surprised that nobody has mentioned it before.  However, the fees that you would be charged would surely be higher than any credit card.

[AC]

A very good, and simple, idea - surprised that nobody has mentioned it before.  However, the fees that you would be charged would surely be higher than any credit card.

Yes of course the fees would be higher, but that is the point -- the cc or atm card may be eaten by a machine, and then what?  I thought of this years ago, or it may be that I read somebody else who thought of it.  Either way I like to have many possible back-ups.