The wierd thing is that I had no problems at all last year with the exact same card (with basically nothing in the checking account once again) and using the same exact ATMs. I just don't remember for the life of me if they gave me the choice of either account (perhaps not likely based on the previous comment) or it just took money out of the savings for some reason last year.

The (it took money out of the checking when I wanted it to take it out of savings) problem happened at one atm in Rome this summer - but not at any other in Italy. again can't remember if i was given a choice btwn accounts or not.