Most common payment methods in Dominican Republic

@Cheryl

Using a US based credit card that has no foreign transaction fees and paying in pesos, you will generally get a better FOREX rate than changing money at Caribe Expess or Western Union. 

Always select paying in pesos and verify your credit card does not charge a foreign transaction fee.

@Cheryl

contactless pmt by credit card or local debit card widely accepted in the DR. I use a B H D debit card card, never have much funds just to cover expenses. Debit cards a bit iffy. I use international credit cards where any purchase is reported so you are aware. Also with credit cards you dispute charges. Cash used for colmados, but even that is becoming less and less frequent. Local work such as carpentry or tile work even those guys will accept transfer pmts bank to bank. Change for the beggars always good to have in your car or pocket

I use peso’s when shopping usually getting  58  -1 , peso to dollar , I have a American credit card on file with all the utility companies  TV / internet ,  electricity’s  , water , garbage, my bills come to about $ 150 dollars a month my transaction fees come to about .70 cents to about $1 every month , so it’s very minimal . Plus I keep a $300 limit on that card just in case it gets compromised ,  , I recently found out that the utility companies aren’t allowing new customers to use foreign credit cards they want you to use a credit card from a Dominican bank. This is for new customers. , never use a debit card because if they clear out your bank account if it gets hacked

@Tippj

I haven't heard this about utility companies not allowing foreign credit cards. Can you be a little more specific? Area of country? Utility company? Was it only one office or agent that told you this? Curious...thanks

Recent purchases using a US Credit Card paying in pesos with no foreign transaction fees produced at FOREX rate of 59.23 and every dollar is a mile for frequent flyer programs.

Using APPLE pay further isolates you actual credit card number if you can use that.

@CHRISTOPHER DAVID56

Just paid at CORAAPPLATA with US credit card.

Will pay EDENORTE soon.

By the way, a previous administration had plans to make the DR totally cashless.  Obviously that has not happened.   Yet...

@windeguy

I pay everything with my US credit card here, all my utilities,  why I asked the question who not accepting US credit cards as far as the utilities

@CHRISTOPHER DAVID56

Hola , so I finished renovating a small apartment and wanted to add it to the credit card I keep on file for other accounts with the electric company   , this way it’s auto pay for all bills and nothing gets turned off , I was told by the woman in the office , twice I went , and twice I was told I could not , they no longer accept foreign bank credit cards and I would have to use a credit cards from a Dominican bank , now I do have bank accounts here  , ( one in dollars and one in pesos ) so I will have to look into applying and see what that in tails, I’m in puerto plata , San Felipe

the accounts that I have are still good with the American credit card ,  they’re not affected but I can’t raise or lower the credit limits on the existing accounts going forward , the  women said it made no sense to her but the order came from the ministry of finance ,,,, so says her  , don’t hesitate to reach out with more questions , hopefully I’ll be able to answer……🤞

@Tippj

What Electric Company?

When you pay for your electric do you have the bills on auto payment plan or do you pay every month  , because I use my cards sometimes at the hardware stores with no problem and the supermarket “ Ia Siana and Jumbo “ with out problem ….like I said I have 4 other accounts with them and they said I can continue with the card on file for them but can’t raise or lower the credit limits and they’re not accepting American payment cards  , maybe just on file

@Tippj

Sorry maybe I am missing something. What is the name of the DR Electric Company is not accepting American Credit Cards that you keep speaking about

Company name is EDENORTE as far as I know it’s the only one in PP

Remember I said that they don’t want an American credit card on file for new accounts .“ Not “ sure if they accept American credit cards for walk in payment I now pay for the one apartment (electric )at the pharmacy on the corner every month and sometimes with the same credit card ,,,,

@Tippj

Ok thanks , I know some sections of PP have CEPP Private Electric Company but higher rates. Not sure of the scope of coverage but maybe @planner can expand on it or others..

Thanks for the clarification

PPE elect is basically for hotels and resorts  basically commercial businesses like playa dorado not for the regular consumer  , I just off the phone with someone and they told me that the elect co. Will accept American credit cards for payment in person, but will not accept the cards for on line payment or to open new accounts ,  now here’s a question?? What about all the foreign owners that have condos that must leave every month due to the 30 day visas and can’t pay in person , every time they leave they have to throw food away and their   humidifiers get turned off and then they have to go back and have the electricity company turn on the electricity every time they come down , hopefully the mold doesn’t take over their furniture while away

@Tippj

I'm not sure...fortunately for me all my utilities here accept US CC for payments but I'm a existing customer and already cards on file. I had a friend open a new Electric account in Santo domingo , and setup online payments with American CC and has no issues last month. There are platforms where you can send payments to various DR utilities without issues. Remember,  the thousands of Dominicans that live in the states and still have properties here in the DR and make such payments to thier DR utilities. Have a great day

@CHRISTOPHER DAVID56

Hi Chris , yeah I don’t have any problem with  existing accounts a matter of fact,  , but a friend of mine  has an aunt  who’s staying in New York , Dominican woman and she couldn’t pay her bill online and had to send money to her sister to go pay the bill ,  which I’m sure a lot of people are doing now. The recurring payments on all the other accounts, internet/cable , water , trash collection have no problems  . Chalking it up to living in paradise  , definitely going to look into the bank paying the electric bill (s) every month  , that I heard about on this site

This sounds like one of those "only in the DR" things.  Makes no sense at all. 

@windeguy

Agree! Always choose peso to pay (with US credit cards)