Interesting Experience Today

Went to Chapala Santander ATM today to get pesos, as I've been doing for years, and the ATMs wouldn't let me insert my card. I tried two of the machines there and a Mexican girl tried hers with no luck either. Many others in line not having a problem. Went to City Hall to use that Santander one, same deal, could only insert the edge of the card and no more. The security guy said to try Bannamex next door, it took the card but then said it could not read the card and spit it out. Then went to Scotia machine by Dominos and soon as I put the edge of the card into the slot the green lights turned red and it locked the card out.

Low on pesos, I started to freak. Went to SL and asked Pancho if he knew if something was up or if Mexican banks were refusing foreign cards, which happened in Joco once, and he said he hadn't heard anything. I tried the MultiVa machine in the store and it worked.

Anybody have any ideas? I've been using this card for years, just used it 2 weeks ago in the Chapala Santander ATM. . .

Sounds to me like the magnetic strip on the card is giving up. The machine detects it then opens up. The last machine you tried wasn't so picky. I would definitely order a replacement card.

There used to be problems with eel skin wallets demagnetizing those strips and making the card useless.

Good thoughts, the card is only 3 mos old and I keep it at home. But maybe. 

I was thinking maybe they were giving preference to Santander customers? Esp weekend? Or soon as it read the card's country of origin it blocked it? Dunno. 

Once when I lived in Joco I let myself get down to no pesos (pure laziness), gas or food and went to the Santander ATM in Joco and there was a computer printed note that said the machine was not accepting foreign cards. I freaked. Luckily I found the local loan shark and he let me write him a check. Viva Jocotepec! Viva Mexico!

A bank declining a transaction fee is akin to Trump saying something intelligent........ Never gonna happen!!

lol
Then what?

Your card can get demagnetized or scrambled. Try those machines again. If it still happens get a new card. If it is OK then fugget about it.