We are Sorry, International Transactions are not Available at the moment (Samba Bank Pakistan)

Hello brothers,
This is my first post here due to in my life i face the issue very first with. Like Every other day i went to withdraw my payment via Samba bank and on processing they gave me the error that International transactions aren't available at the moment. I went inside the bank to ask what is this issue. I asked the guy out there and he told me that they banned the any international transactions by the new law provided government and other banks will ban this too you will not be able to earn any more via your online sources like freelancing websites or any other so i got worried i went to MCB i withdraw the 20,000 Pkr and it worked 100 percent fine. I did 3 or 4 more transactions of same amount and it worked very well. I don't know why he said that? If this is true? Then what we are going to do? Any other brother facing the same issue with Samba bank? Because i am worried if what he told me is true because i am earning full time online my whole family and house depend upon it. So, kindly share your thoughts and if you faced the same problem and talked with bank.

Thank you

Comments

  • Nasir Khan
    Nasir Khan Member Posts: 163 ✭✭
    edited July 2015
    Two more users are facing withdrawal problem from samba, mcb and scb http://community.payoneer.com/en/discussion/2800/atm-withdrawal-in-pakistan/p17

    My last withdrawal was on 24th July 2015 from Samba Bank, expecting some money around 10th of August.  Very disappointing and frustrating situation. See what happens in next few days :-(

    It looks that government and fbr have notice our international earnings and want some taxation from these international transactions or want us to be income tax return filer. Government will never banned these international income permanently as it increase our foreign surplus. So we hope that matter will be resolve shortly.
  • rehanvempire
    rehanvempire Member Posts: 4
    I hope the same bro but i am very disappointed right now
  • sufyan.irshad23
    sufyan.irshad23 Member Posts: 1
    I have experienced the same thing today. But somehow i got my transactions done from mcb. Government will not let the international transactions down because alot of govt officials and many businessman depend on it. If there is any official statement issue regarding this please update.. :)
  • shobi
    shobi Member Posts: 19 ✭✭
    Brother use Bank Al-Falah, Some of their Atm Machines are working fine with payoneer. So you just need to spot a Good Bank Al-Falah Atm machine near you.
  • ikazi1
    ikazi1 Member Posts: 20 ✭✭
    Today, July 31st I went to SAMBA bank, same error 'INTERNATIONAL BANKING IS NOT ALLOWED" and I asked bank's guy and he said that our LINK is down or something.

    I asked how many days it will take, he replied that 'he doesnt know" .

    Strange, isnt?

    here in this website I first time figure out that 'bank al falah' also worked..... wow. if yes then I will try now.

    But the main issue is not their feeses, but the rates also.

    USD 1 DOLLAR SUPPOSE TO BE 97 RUPEES but 'MCB gives only 86 rupees' let me try bank al falah.
  • fadhi
    fadhi Member Posts: 91 ✭✭
    edited July 2015
    who said that mdb charged 86 rs ???? are you kidding i try many time withdraw money from mcb and its almost 95 to 97 or sometime little less but not 86 you need to try now and bank al falah is also working fine you need to try this if any issue let me know
    Expectations always hurt :(
  • babloo89
    babloo89 Member Posts: 33 ✭✭
    hi guys tried samba bank, bank road sadar today same error as you all faced also tried alfalah bank main branch sadar the status kept showing "Processing your request" while i didn't even put my pin no strange guys???same thing happened in chandani chowk branch, also tried faysal bank  sadar....nothing is working whats going on guys :(
  • ikazi1
    ikazi1 Member Posts: 20 ✭✭
    > @rehanvempire said:
    > Hello brothers,
    > This is my first post here due to in my life i face the issue very first with. Like Every other day i went to withdraw my payment via Samba bank and on processing they gave me the error that International transactions aren't available at the moment. I went inside the bank to ask what is this issue. I asked the guy out there and he told me that they banned the any international transactions by the new law provided government and other banks will ban this too you will not be able to earn any more via your online sources like freelancing websites or any other so i got worried i went to MCB i withdraw the 20,000 Pkr and it worked 100 percent fine. I did 3 or 4 more transactions of same amount and it worked very well. I don't know why he said that? If this is true? Then what we are going to do? Any other brother facing the same issue with Samba bank? Because i am worried if what he told me is true because i am earning full time online my whole family and house depend upon it. So, kindly share your thoughts and if you faced the same problem and talked with bank.
    >
    > Thank you

    > @fadhi said:
    > who said that mdb charged 86 rs ???? are you kidding i try many time withdraw money from mcb and its almost 95 to 97 or sometime little less but not 86 you need to try now and bank al falah is also working fine you need to try this if any issue let me know

    @fadhi bro, Since 2 days I tried SAMBA bank in 'Tariq road branch, Press club branch, Gulshan Branch, Sharah e Faisal brach, but same error 'international banking not availale'.

    Then I disappointed and for only testing reason I made 1 thousand rupees transaction and it costed me $1.4x , so if i deduct 2.5 transaction fees of MCB, it means it deducted '1.2' for 1 thousand rupees only. which means 1usd is : 83 Rupees or something.

    While 'SAMBA' gives me USD 97 per dollar.

    Any help?

    Qazi
  • Nasir Khan
    Nasir Khan Member Posts: 163 ✭✭
    I mostly used Samba Bank, Press Club branch but from your post its looks that it is also not working. Very disappointing. I am expecting some money in few days, will check Samba Bank, press club. Thanks Qazi for update.
  • ikazi1
    ikazi1 Member Posts: 20 ✭✭
    Hi Nasir, if you go and get success please let me know as well.

    Regards
    Qazi
  • ikazi1
    ikazi1 Member Posts: 20 ✭✭
    Hi, yesterday August 02, 2015, I successfully withdrawn 37 Thousand from BANK AL FALAH, KAMRAN CHORANGI branch

    Qazi
  • rehanvempire
    rehanvempire Member Posts: 4
    > @ikazi1 said:
    > Hi, yesterday August 02, 2015, I successfully withdrawn 37 Thousand from BANK AL FALAH, KAMRAN CHORANGI branch
    >
    > Qazi

    At what rate bro? 97 or 96?
  • ikazi1
    ikazi1 Member Posts: 20 ✭✭
    > @ikazi1 said:
    > Hi, yesterday August 02, 2015, I successfully withdrawn 37 Thousand from BANK AL FALAH, KAMRAN CHORANGI branch
    >
    > Qazi

    At what rate bro? 97 or 96?

    @ 97 bro

  • webdeem
    webdeem Member Posts: 50 ✭✭
    Hi to all,

    Yes I've got same message "International Bank Transaction facility is not available at the moment" on Saturday and today at Samba Hyderi Branch ATM.

    I've been using Samba bank for last 1.5 years without any problem and my last transaction was on 14-Jul-2015 at Samaba which was successful.

    I will try Bank Alfalah today as you guys recommended.

    But the big worrying thing is if other banks also started closing International withdrawal facility then what we all Freelancers will do.

    Please research and if there is any official press release or anything else found regarding banning international withdrawal facility or imposing taxation from State Bank of Pakistan or Ministry of Finance then do share here as we all freelancers are worry at the moment.
  • webdeem
    webdeem Member Posts: 50 ✭✭
    Salam,

    I've withdrawn Rs. 60,000 from Bank Alfalah Hyderi Branch today after failing on Samba Bank and you guys recommended Bank Alfalah.

    I've got $201.38 per transaction of Rs. 20,000 awesome :)

    That's great alternative of Samba Bank but its still a worry sign that why Samba has banned International ATM Withdrawal and one of their guys told one of our friends that they've banned it as per Govt. instructions.

    We have to investigate what's the actual matter is.
  • fadhi
    fadhi Member Posts: 91 ✭✭
    yes bank alfalah working very nice and yes samba stop working with payoneer may be in future they start working again but til now i have no update for that.
    Expectations always hurt :(
  • A.Talal
    A.Talal Member Posts: 18 ✭✭
    SAMBA bank is just crapping. They must be suffering financially or must be lazy to reload ATMs with money as Payoneer card holders cash that all out. Besides, there is no such policy which bans foreign transactions. That SAMBA bank guy just lied to curtain the incompetence of bank. In fact, blocking inward flow of money will shake a country's economy badly.

    Payoneer must also initiate local bank drawal facility for Pakistan as well. That will help us get rid of ATM use to receive money.
  • rooch99
    rooch99 Member Posts: 6
    it is not issue of samba only but standard chartered now they are not giving servies any more
  • A.Talal
    A.Talal Member Posts: 18 ✭✭
    > @rooch99 said:
    > it is not issue of samba only but standard chartered now they are not giving servies any more
    >

    What is Standard Chartered ATM saying?
  • rooch99
    rooch99 Member Posts: 6
    > @A.Talal said:
    > What is Standard Chartered ATM saying?

    it said this card is not supported on this atm machine
  • saqibrana
    saqibrana Member Posts: 1
    Samba bank has already stopped supporting Payoneer cards. Every time I use payoneer card the machine says "International banking is not available at this time".

    MCB placed a limit on withdrawal of Rs. 10,000.

    Today I tried Standard Chartered in 2 different branches and both times I got this message "Transaction Reversed".

    I think the government wants us to stop using payoneer cards and withdraw money to bank accounts directly so that they can get jagga tax.

    Now the only option for me is to check which branch of Bank Alfalah is supporting payoneer withdrawals. Anyone in Islamabad using Bank Alfalah for payoneer withdrawals?
  • kashifm
    kashifm Member Posts: 18 ✭✭
    Usually I withdraw from Bank Alfalah but for the last two attempts (Sunday/Thursday) I tried Samba bank but same result (International transactions not available message pops up).

    So I went to my old Bank ALfalah ATM and did two successful transactions. I have not tried any other banks.

    Please do update us about Samba Bank status and if you have any success with other bank ATMs then also share it here.

    Thanks and God Bless you All.
  • BibaBacha
    BibaBacha Member Posts: 4
    do you guys know bank alfalah location in Multan where I can cashout from ATM
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