How to hack a stupid tourist.

or a truly innovative way to stop the dollar carry trade. Nepali banker's way.

First of all! I love Nepal and especially Nepali people. That's why I live here instead of my doomed home. And I have some little understanding of local economy, so I'm easily pay extra for fruits and vegetables I brought from some street vendor and other Tourist prices. But not to bankers.

Now how it works here. You got to Nabil Bank or Nepal Investment Bank ATMs in Thamel (tourist crowded area). Put your VISA cars in and check the balance. Everything is seem as you expected - your account converted to NPR in case of NIB, or displayed in your account's currency in case of Nabil. Then on NIB's ATM you have two choices - Fast Cash and Withdraw money, but oops, second one is disabled. So, you press Fast Cash, press 10000 and got the money and receipt. Everything seems fine, unless one small thing - it didn't print a remaining balance on the receipt.

So, just wondering, you're requested your balance and wow - you 14xxx NRS gone. 12xxx remain. Just in stupid rush you're trying to get another 10000 (yes I'm got blank and stupid) but to no avail. It says 'Transaction declined', not 'Insufficient funds' as it should. So you press 8000, got it, check account again, and got 3xx.

Ok. I'm agree, some times it is even good to cheat a little some self-centered and too-proud-of-himself western tourist, but selling a cash for 40% without any notice (actually 45% with fees) - that's seems to much. (In case of Nabil Bank they just got only one menu item CASH and also didn't print remaining amount on receipts - there are a lot of them in a dustbins.)

So, just by altering a little ATM's software they got a very good business. Last winter (2008) they didn't have that Fast Cash thing and you were able to choice exact amount you want via old Withdrawn menu item. I know that because I have been here last winter.

btw, NIB's ATMs in a tourist-free areas of the city were just refused to accept my VISA card. As expected.

Now staring at kismet's output of busy Thamel area I'm thinking should I be a stupid tourist or what?