On March 26 went to Commerce Bank in Evesham, NJ to acquire a ATM card for use on an upcoming trip to Italy. I was provided an ATM card that was drawn on my savings account. I told the girl who was attending to me that I would be using the card in Italy so she could tell me what type of card would be most beneficial.
The Commerce bank ATM card is only for use in the United states at nationwide ATMs. It cannot be used abroad. I did not know this but the Commerce Bank employee shuld have. Needless to say I discovered this upon hitting up an ATM in Naples airport. When I got to my hotel (100 km south in Ravello) I contacted the Bank via internet (at a ridiculous cahrge of 12 euros for 20 minutes) and wrote to them about how the card would not work. It actually stated on the screen "Not authorized for international withdrawals." The answer I later received from a customer service rep was part form letter and then a dismissive explanation that the ATM network was down. I knew this to be lie because various people (including my friend) were able to access their cash. I was also told to go back to Naples (100 euro cab fare one way) and seek out a Western Union. I copuld not do this because I had no cash to pay the driver.
Bottom line was even though I could put meals and such on my Amercian Express card, there were alot of places in the small rural towns we visited that only accepted cash.
Commerce apologized, but told me that in the future they would better inform their personnel of how ATMs worked abroad. Great, my vacation was ruined and my miserable experience becomes a training program for Commerce Bank employees.
I also wrote to their CEO, Vernon HIll, But have not heard back from him (what a shocker!)
Commerce Bank "America's most convenient Bank". I think not
0 comments