Careful what US dollars you bring to Indonesia

[kingwilly]

Warning for when you visit, Indonesian shops and money changers are really strict about the condition of your US dollars, they will not accept creased or torn money, even a single fold will result in a lower rate.

Also, check the serial numbers, any starting with A,B or C are refused, a fact that I probably should have mentioned to some friends that are here now with a wad of useless dollars. Series F is best. Keep your money as flat as possible, you can change thai baht here, but probably only in big cities.

[AntRobertson]

Warning for when you visit, Indonesian shops and money changers are really strict about the condition of your US dollars, they will not accept creased or torn money, even a single fold will result in a lower rate.

I struck the same thing in Cambodia.

In actual fact the hotel (who had requested payment in USD) weren't going to take one of my notes because it had a crease in one corner.

[Stinky]

So whats their reasoning for not wanting the A B C notes?

[kingwilly]

So whats their reasoning for not wanting the A B C notes?

Been in circulation longer and therefore more likely to be a forgery...

[Stinky]

So I take there's a lot of forgery in Indo

[watterinja]

I wouldn't bother spending my loot, if they are that fussy. Stuff 'em.

[Stinky]

Many places have these problems, when I was in the PI they wouldn't take pristine sterling, only wanted dollars, that includes the banks too

[watterinja]

How well are traveller's cheques accepted in Indo/PI?

[kingwilly]

So I take there's a lot of forgery in Indo

Yup, I've been given fake notes before, fortunately managed to return them to the business that had passed them onto me.

[kingwilly]

I wouldn't bother spending my loot, if they are that fussy. Stuff 'em.

Just letting you know, I don't think they are particularly worried about you arriving here or not, the serial numbers is a government regulation. You can't blame them really.

[Stinky]

How well are traveller's cheques accepted in Indo/PI?

Some banks would not take my sterling Travelers cheques either, I only found one that would, the Dollar is king in PI, cash of TC

[Stinky]

How well are traveller's cheques accepted in Indo/PI?

I wouldn't let that little detail put me off, not now that I know what the deal is.

Cheers KW

[kingwilly]

Sorry diaw, no idea about TC, I asked MrsKw and she has never even heard of them, possibly not a good sign.

[WujouMao]

Many places have these problems, when I was in the PI they wouldn't take pristine sterling, only wanted dollars, that includes the banks too

i would of told them to fuck off. if my dosh aint good enough for you, someone will have it

How well are traveller's cheques accepted in Indo/PI?

Some banks would not take my sterling Travelers cheques either, I only found one that would, the Dollar is king in PI, cash of TC

that really pisses me off about the philippines. money is money dumb shits. not everyone is happy carrying USD around. i get mistaken for a yank anyway and then get told my english is naff, and now they are asking to use dollars. feck off!!

[Davis Knowlton]

For a long time money changers in the Philippines wouldn't take 1996 series $100 bills. Seems that there were a bunch of counterfeit 1996 100's for about a two month period in 2004. Restriction lasted about three or four years. They will take creased notes, but if it is even slightly torn, or badly faded, they won't. I have never heard of anyone having any problem at all changing any type of currency here - at least not in Manila. The bar girls come up with an amazing assortment. Might be a different story in the boonies.

[watterinja]

Sorry diaw, no idea about TC, I asked MrsKw and she has never even heard of them, possibly not a good sign.

Thanks KW.

I've often used Thomas Cook traveller's cheques in USD / UK denominations for world-travelling. Never found a single problem at airport currency exchanges. Perhaps its different outside the airport.

[kingwilly]

Philippines

accepted in Indo/PI?

the Dollar is king in PI, cash of TC

that really pisses me off about the philippines.

OI! You lot! Read the forum that this is in!

Indonesia Forum

[Mr Brown]

All relevent

[watterinja]

Same, same...

Sorry about that.

[Stinky]

Many places have these problems, when I was in the PI they wouldn't take pristine sterling, only wanted dollars, that includes the banks too

i would of told them to fuck off. if my dosh aint good enough for you, someone will have it

But the "fuvk you attitude" wouldn't have got me very far on my travels.



[quote=Sdigit;1254060]

How well are traveller's cheques accepted in Indo/PI?

Some banks would not take my sterling Travelers cheques either, I only found one that would, the Dollar is king in PI, cash of TC

that really pisses me off about the Philippines. money is money dumb shits. not everyone is happy carrying USD around. i get mistaken for a yank anyway and then get told my english is naff, and now they are asking to use dollars. feck off!!

Once when I went to a bank and they didn't deal in Sterling,
the teller took my money,
went to another bank,
got it changed to pesos
and brought it to my hotel for me.
Now that really is going above and beyond the call of duty

[WujouMao]

[quote=Sdigit;1254647]

Many places have these problems, when I was in the PI they wouldn't take pristine sterling, only wanted dollars, that includes the banks too

i would of told them to fuck off. if my dosh aint good enough for you, someone will have it

But the "fuvk you attitude" wouldn't have got me very far on my travels.

How well are traveller's cheques accepted in Indo/PI?

Some banks would not take my sterling Travelers cheques either, I only found one that would, the Dollar is king in PI, cash of TC

that really pisses me off about the Philippines. money is money dumb shits. not everyone is happy carrying USD around. i get mistaken for a yank anyway and then get told my english is naff, and now they are asking to use dollars. feck off!!

Once when I went to a bank and they didn't deal in Sterling,
the teller took my money,
went to another bank,
got it changed to pesos
and brought it to my hotel for me.
Now that really is going above and beyond the call of duty

well, this is something that i can't understand. vietnam, cambodia and Loas both use their own currency and USD. it never bothered me and i never lost my temper, but chip over to the philippines, and i know they use their own currency, but its straight away, hey you, you change american dollars? hey! you americano!!. are you american? are you a marine, you're English. i don't understand. pffef. that was when my temper flared. as it did last night. it just brought memories back. boiling memoires

i think if they kept shtoom and didnt open their mouth, then i wouldnt lose my rag

[Stinky]

IMHO it's rarely a good idea to lose the rag on your travels, far better to do the homework and be prepared for what they hit you with. Problems are halved if you know whats coming