Ticos Not Handing Over
Their "Plateados"
Some habits are difficult to overcome, as
Costa Ricans (Ticos) seem to be having a
hard time to letting go of their "plateados",
the large, heavy silver coins that lost
their official value as of January 1.
The Banco Central de Costa Rica (BCCR) -
Central Bank - reports that it has received
only 27.9 millions pieces of coins of the
¢5, ¢10 and ¢20 colones domination of the
estimated 205 million pieces believed to be
in circulation.
The Central Bank is asking that the plateado
coins be turned over to the local banks for
exchange until March 31, after which they
can only be exchanged at the Central Bank
office in downtown San José.
The coins were taken out of circulation due
their bulky size, replaced by lighter and
smaller silver and gold coloured coins.
Marvin Alvarado, head of the Tesorería del
Banco Central - Central Bank Treasury - said
they had higher expectations, believing that
people would be quick to hand back in after
losing their value.
Alvarado added that the Central Bank has
received some complaints where local banks
have refused to accept the coins. If that is
the case, the local number to call is 2243
3524 or 2243 3544, where a complaint can be
lodged.
The complaint is only for banks refusing to
accept the coins and not for retailers, who
can in their right to refuse to accept the
plateados for payment.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
