Haanism

There are a lot of shops and stalls selling shirts, singlets, towels and other types of souvenir with the words "I love Bali". If the words are "I hate the money changers in Kuta", then I'll immediately buy one and wear/use.


I've got experiences with 3 money changers in Kuta. Met the first one on the first day, 16 May 2009.

He offers the best rate I could see around Kuta, where RM1 = 3,050 Rupiah. With RM400, I should get 1,220,000 Rupiah. Rupiah is a little confusing because there are a lot of zeros.


Wooi Yee was together with me that time, and we read about how cunning some money changers could be. So, after I was given the Rupiah, we counted NOT ONLY ONCE.

The first time is always the correct amount. But then when you count again, you'll find it not right anymore. That day, there was missing 20,000 Rupiah (USD 2). We asked for it, then he gave us. I considered that's just a careless mistake he made.


On 18 May 2009, I went to money changer again after breakfast. I said I could go settle by myself, so I was without company. I went to a stall which also offers the same rate.

Normally, they will be very friendly to you, asking where are you from, where do you stay in Bali etc. Same as the first time, my first count was correct, then he took away the pile of money and put it back on the table again. (this is the weird thing, why he had to take it away after first correct count??)

After he took my RM and supposed I should leave, I said, hang on, let me count again. The amount was WRONG again!! He kept saying no, nothing is wrong, and counted in his way... one, two... ten. At last, I really could not stand and wrote on a paper for him.


I clarified to him, that he still owed me 525,000 Rupiah (USD 52.50), but the few 20,000 Rupiah notes were not enough to make up the reamining sum. In short, there was short of around 300,000 Rupiah (USD 30).

He already started to say the word 'bingung' before I claimed the remaining sum from him. Then, he returned me the RM500 given to him previously, and took back all the Rupiah. He said he didn't want to change with me already. Okay, then I took back my money and left.

Bloody hell. I was scolding in my hear. But the other bad experience started not long later.


This third guy, also offered the rate of RM1 = 3,050 Rupiah. He asked me how much I'd like to change, and showed me the amount in Rupiah on calculator. The amount was less than the actual amount. I just made a failed deal with another cunning guy. I still remembered the figure VERY VERY WELL!

I could not believe. I took over his calculator and pressed it myself. Huh, it's still the wrong amount. Cannot be!! I took out my mobile phone and calculated in front of him. Your calculator is not right, I told him.


This time, after I calculated the pile of notes, he again wanted to take away. I asked him to just put it on the table, till I finish calculating ALL. Perhaps he realized he had no chance to cheat already, so he said he would charge commission.

Then I took my RM and said, no need to change, and left. I rather get a lower rate than being cheated by these cunning guys, who are really the big shame of Bali.


You may say I got those problems for myself coz I didn't prepare enough money before departure. For your information, according to my and my colleagues' experiences, changing in Indonesia will get a better rate. However, for Bali, it's very different.

Upon arrival, we see that the rate is only 2,500 at the airport, whilst in Malaysia, you can get at least 2,900. Furthermore, when they try to cheat, they will tell you they don't have 100,000 Rupiah note, which is not considered uncommon. This is another way to confuse you.


Later on, I changed RM for more Rupiah while reaching Ubud. Overall, the rates in Ubud are generally lower than Kuta. The money changer I met offered only 2800, but she did not try to cheat at all. I requested for 100,000 Rupiah note, she said okay and just gave. That's also just a small money changer stall.


So guys, be careful when you go to money changer in Bali! Wikitravel advises the same:

Be careful when changing money. There are some great cons. Always know exactly how much you should be getting in trade for your currency before you go to exchange it. Once you are at the desk make sure that you count the money more than twice, and always be sure that you are the last one to "touch" it and count it. If they see that you are not going to be easily fooled, often they will change the exchange rate and/or act like you are being difficult and call off the transaction.

This is fine, as there are hundreds of exchange places. There are very legitimate ones that will do a straight deal. The Central Kuta chain is across the island and is honest and reliable, and have the same rates as the dishonest ones. Tips: Do not let them rush you. Negotiate how much RP per your currency before you begin counting. Ask for larger bills. This makes it harder for them to trick you. You can be pretty safe if you know exactly how much you should get in RP before you even walk in the door.

Don't accept torn or old bills and remember the RP10.000 notes look very much like the RP100.000 notes. If they pull one over on you, do not let it get to you. Just tell yourself with the exchange rate it really wasn't that much. Avoid the money changers down little gang (alleys), or ones that are a part of another shop, for example a camera shop or leather shop and you will generally be fine.

P/S: Even the money changers are just side by side, their rates could be very different. So, compare first. Please NEVER EVER change at the Ngurah Rai Airport!

By the way, read others' experience here. Also, you can refer to the advice about dealing with money changers.