Sending an ATM Bank Card Overseas

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Sending an ATM Bank Card Overseas
My parents recently sent me a debit card from the USA to Manila, Philippines. It cost about 75 US Dollars using Federal Express, and I was thinking,
“I am lucky I have parent to help me, what would I do if I did not have parents or a good friend to help me?”
“Would the Bank send me a bank card by Federal Express?”

(Do not use DHL, they add all sort of extra cost, and will hold packages, even though paid in advance. UPS will work most of the time.)

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Manila, Ermita Philippines
Friday, August 8, 2008
Blog of Andy HoboTraveler.com --- Add a Hotel --- Backpack Design Survey
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My Mother and Father put the Visa Debit Card ATM Bank Card inside a Tom Clancy book, taped it shut with Duct Tape, then sent to me with Federal Express.

I wanted to receive the card in the Philippines because the Philippines people understand English well enough and the Tagalog language uses the Roman Characters.

Strange as it sounds, if someone calls for me at a hotel in countries like Thailand, and ask,
“Is Andy there?”

They say, "no."

I called Singapore to ask if Boy Genius was in the Hotel, and they said,
“No, he is not in the Hotel.”

I was 100 percent positive he was in the Hotel, the bottom line, very few hotels will even recognize your name, know you, or even work a little to help the caller. The caller must know you room number, without a room number, there is no way to even start to find a person. Boy genious was in the Dorm, he did not have a room number.

Well, to send a package by Federal Express, 90 percent of the staff is afraid, what is Federal Express, they do not understand, and they also would be afraid to sign for it, they might do something wrong.

I can speak in English here in Manila, the owner of the Hotel is Australian, and this is a huge advantage over a Thailand Hotel.

I am lucky, 300 USA dollars can last me up to one month, if I was staying in a 100 dollar per night hotels, and I would have needed that card in two days.

I carry at all times, two cards, but it is possible to have all my possessions stolen. If a person robbed me in the taxi, say the taxi stopped in an alley and his friend jumped in the car and stole all my possessions, how would I get money?

Would the bank Federal Express me a new ATM Bank Card?

Complicated, but I have an account in my Fathers name with Western Union online. I cannot send money to myself. However, I can get on my fathers internet online account with Western Union and send to my name money, this is one solution.

I am not married, my parents are older, I need to find an alternate way to receive help. One of my best friends works in the Bank, I have sisters and brothers, they will help me, I hope.

However, the best situation would be for the bank to send me the card direct. I am not sure, they always want to send to my Homeless Address in the USA, I do not have a Home. I can have packages sent to my parents, but I am Homeless, I do not have a Home.

Do not shine light up you butt, you will lose your card, need a card, if you are a perpetual traveler, you need help from your home country.

Who is going to help you?

There are mail forwarders, I suppose in Florida, there are mail forwarder that can send overseas easy, they do this for Sailboat Owners, I need to figure this out and implement.

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Reader Submitted Comments | Deleted Comments (0)

Rune said on Thursday August 7th, 2008 10:23:00 PM

Certain "offshore" banks (ie. banks outside your home country) do send ATM cards to any address worldwide. You just specify the address, and they send it anywhere.For example, I have an account in Griffon Bank located in Dominica (and my home country is not Dominica), and they sent me the ATM card by FedEx to Indonesia for 70 USD. Great service!

Andy HoboTraveler.com said on Friday August 8th, 2008 06:54:00 AM

I am wondering, is this also your permanent addresss.I need to send it to a place that is not where my statement would be received.But I would think the Offshore banks would work better.

Baron said on Friday August 8th, 2008 09:16:00 AM

I read on another blog (almostfearless.com) about a company called "earth class mail".Here's the link to that blog post:http://almostfearless.com/2008/07/10/how-to-travel-the-world-carefree-and-still-get-your-mail/

Andy HoboTraveler.com said on Friday August 8th, 2008 01:49:00 PM

I have been perusing this option for years, if you search in google for "Mail Forwarding," you will find many companies similiar.I read this post, however, I do not want NEW company, I want 10-20 year old company.This "EarthClassMail.com"Creation Date: 11-feb-2007I went to www.internic.net and checked the date of creation.This website is spouting some real bullshit.First, the goal here is not to receive a scanned document, it is to receive a ATM Card, the real thing, not some virtual mail.I love this idea, but as I said in my original post, I would go to Florida or find some real long term sailboat cruisers or ship owners. They have had this problem for years.I am just upping the ante here, I know I should get busy and check for the long-term mail forwarding companies for the boat owners.There are systems for Boat Owners, and the Oil Jobbers, that make us travelers looks like children. There are people in the oil business or the military that have lived in more countries than imaginable. Plus the embassy workers also have a serius problem.I am looking for the pro version of this Earth Class Mail, the one that does not even advertise on the internet because they are swamped with referrals.There is really no mail that is needed to be scanned. I have not received mail in 10 years.But, I would like the Internal Revenue to send me mail, and the Bank, after that, why do I need mail.

Andy HoboTraveler.com said on Friday August 8th, 2008 02:04:00 PM

I have the Bank Problem solved, I have a long-term relationship with the bank officer who deals with my account. She can assist me when advertisers or payments for photographs are made.She knows me by name and voice, we are long term friends and business associates.When I need an ATM card quick, she receives it at her desk in the office, and she would Fedex the card to me everwhere in the world. On the other hand, I want this service formalized, advertised by the bank, explained this way by ads, not just by a special relationship I have been able to make so anyone knows this bank will do this forwarding by FedEx.NOTE>>> WARNING, if you receive an ATM card at the desk of a bank, the address of the card will also need to be change. I have to then again call the bank and change the address and check it is correct to whichever address I want.I need to know the perfect address to use online where the statements are received, or the address on file. I keep this in a box on the internet email, and can repeat it back perfect to buy over the internet.

Anonymous said on Sunday August 10th, 2008 10:59:00 AM

I have had my Diners Club card sent to me by express delivery to Poland. You can always call me if you need any assistance--your lawyer-friend in New York City, James

Andy HoboTraveler.com said on Sunday August 10th, 2008 05:04:00 PM

Support at home, what does a traveler do who does not have support at home?Is there a bank that provides paid help to travelers?A traveler moves, this cannot just be forwarded, it has to be timeed to arrive where I am located or any traveler.