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#1
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card/ATM incompatibilities, UK vs. Hungary & Romania
I had no problem using bank cards (mostly Visa Electron) in Hungary
last year. This year it was different. Very few banks in Budapest had machines that accepted my card (this time I only used a Visa Electron) and it was the same in Romania. At one bank I tried (a branch of Volksbank) the staff could tell straight off that the card wouldn't work just by looking at it, but they couldn't tell me what the problem actually was. Fortunately every Diebold ATM seemed to work, both in Hungary and Romania. I found these at branches of K&H Bank in Budapest and CEC Bank in Csikszereda, Romania. My bank manager in Edinburgh doesn't have a clue about this. It was news to her that there was any problem, let alone what might be causing it. Anybody here know what's going on? Is there any way I can specify a card that will be compatible with these newer ATMs overseas? I'm with Abbey National, now part of Banco Santander. There's no branch of that in Budapest so I couldn't ask for explanations there. ==== j a c k at c a m p i n . m e . u k === http://www.campin.me.uk ==== Jack Campin, 11 Third St, Newtongrange EH22 4PU, Scotland == mob 07800 739 557 CD-ROMs and free stuff: Scottish music, food intolerance, and Mac logic fonts ****** I killfile Google posts - email me if you want to be whitelisted ****** |
#2
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card/ATM incompatibilities, UK vs. Hungary & Romania
"Jack Campin - bogus address" wrote in message ... I had no problem using bank cards (mostly Visa Electron) in Hungary last year. This year it was different. Very few banks in Budapest had machines that accepted my card (this time I only used a Visa Electron) and it was the same in Romania. At one bank I tried (a branch of Volksbank) the staff could tell straight off that the card wouldn't work just by looking at it, but they couldn't tell me what the problem actually was. Fortunately every Diebold ATM seemed to work, both in Hungary and Romania. I found these at branches of K&H Bank in Budapest and CEC Bank in Csikszereda, Romania. My bank manager in Edinburgh doesn't have a clue about this. It was news to her that there was any problem, let alone what might be causing it. Anybody here know what's going on? Is there any way I can specify a card that will be compatible with these newer ATMs overseas? I'm with Abbey National, now part of Banco Santander. There's no branch of that in Budapest so I couldn't ask for explanations there. ==== j a c k at c a m p i n . m e . u k === http://www.campin.me.uk ==== Jack Campin, 11 Third St, Newtongrange EH22 4PU, Scotland == mob 07800 739 557 CD-ROMs and free stuff: Scottish music, food intolerance, and Mac logic fonts ****** I killfile Google posts - email me if you want to be whitelisted ****** I've come across similar issues (although I've never had someone say "it won't work" just by looking at a card). In one case (Japan) only a small number of machines have connectivity to international networks - in banks there will be specific machines for "foreign" cards but then you have to find the right bank as well. Interestingly your other source in Japan is 7/11 stores and although I don't *know* I'm guessing that it has something to do with the fact that 7/11 came from the USA and probably served US servicemen stationed in Japan. In a similar vein I proffered a card in Hong Kong early this year. The machine called for my PIN which I entered. The waiter then insisted I sign as well! In the USA I've learned to take out largish amounts because for about 2 days after a transaction my bankcard seems to be blocked for cash withdrawals - I'm guessing that's to do with cycle times of batch run processes. But then I had absolutely no problems in Brazil and Argentina a few years ago. I believe that some countries use 5 number PINs (in the UK we use 4) and that can be an issue occasionally. I've simply learned to carry several cards (both cash and credit) from several banks. In the end 1 seems to work! |
#3
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card/ATM incompatibilities, UK vs. Hungary & Romania
I had no problem using bank cards (mostly Visa Electron) in Hungary
last year. This year it was different. Very few banks in Budapest had machines that accepted my card (this time I only used a Visa Electron) and it was the same in Romania. At one bank I tried (a branch of Volksbank) the staff could tell straight off that the card wouldn't work just by looking at it, but they couldn't tell me what the problem actually was. Fortunately every Diebold ATM seemed to work, both in Hungary and Romania. I found these at branches of K&H Bank in Budapest and CEC Bank in Csikszereda, Romania. My bank manager in Edinburgh doesn't have a clue about this. It was news to her that there was any problem, let alone what might be causing it. I submitted a query at the website for the Hungarian part of Volksbank this afternoon, not being very optimistic about ever hearing back. Within a couple of hours I got a reply that included this: : The mentioned problem was unfortunately a known issue to us that our : technicians have been working to resolve. I can happily inform you : that these type of cards are now accepted by all of the Hungarian : Volksbank's ATMs and you are free to withdraw the amount you request : using our terminals. Good grief. A bank that actually listens. Well done, guys. (There are Volksbank branches in most cities in Eastern Europe, so that's the problem well and truly solved). ==== j a c k at c a m p i n . m e . u k === http://www.campin.me.uk ==== Jack Campin, 11 Third St, Newtongrange EH22 4PU, Scotland == mob 07800 739 557 CD-ROMs and free stuff: Scottish music, food intolerance, and Mac logic fonts ****** I killfile Google posts - email me if you want to be whitelisted ****** |
#4
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card/ATM incompatibilities, UK vs. Hungary & Romania
"Jack Campin - bogus address" wrote in message ... I had no problem using bank cards (mostly Visa Electron) in Hungary last year. This year it was different. Very few banks in Budapest had machines that accepted my card (this time I only used a Visa Electron) When my customers have problems buying online, there is a fair chance the card will be Visa Electron. I don't know why, but it has always seemed to cause more problems than most. Solo was even worse, but that has largely been phased out now. By far and away, the most popular and reliable card is the ordinary Visa card. However, when travelling I carry Visa, Mastercard and American Express, just in case. It doesn't have to be a problem with the card that make one unusable. On one occasion, when I was in Florence, the staff at a restaurant had not been trained in how to deal with a security check and, as a result, my American Express card was suspended until I could get to the local office and answer the security questions. Colin Bignell |
#5
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card/ATM incompatibilities, UK vs. Hungary & Romania
On Aug 20, 9:17*am, "nightjar" cpb@insert my surname here.me.uk
wrote: "Jack Campin - bogus address" wrote in ... I had no problem using bank cards (mostly Visa Electron) in Hungary last year. *This year it was different. *Very few banks in Budapest had machines that accepted my card (this time I only used a Visa Electron) When my customers have problems buying online, there is a fair chance the card will be Visa Electron. I don't know why, but it has always seemed to cause more problems than most. Solo was even worse, but that has largely been phased out now. By far and away, the most popular and reliable card is the ordinary Visa card. However, when travelling I carry Visa, Mastercard and American Express, just in case. It doesn't have to be a problem with the card that make one unusable. On one occasion, when I was in Florence, the staff at a restaurant had not been trained in how to deal with a security check and, as a result, my American Express card was suspended until I could get to the local office and answer the security questions. Colin Bignell cash $'s are good |
#6
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card/ATM incompatibilities, UK vs. Hungary & Romania
"Martin" wrote in message ... On Thu, 20 Aug 2009 08:17:35 +0100, "nightjar" cpb@insert my surname here.me.uk wrote: "Jack Campin - bogus address" wrote in message ... I had no problem using bank cards (mostly Visa Electron) in Hungary last year. This year it was different. Very few banks in Budapest had machines that accepted my card (this time I only used a Visa Electron) When my customers have problems buying online, there is a fair chance the card will be Visa Electron. I don't know why, but it has always seemed to cause more problems than most. Solo was even worse, but that has largely been phased out now. By far and away, the most popular and reliable card is the ordinary Visa card. HSBC replaced their customers Visa Electron cards with Visa debit cards earlier this year. However, when travelling I carry Visa, Mastercard I carry a MasterCard and an ABN Amro World Pass/Maestro card. and American Express, just in case. It doesn't have to be a problem with the card that make one unusable. On one occasion, when I was in Florence, the staff at a restaurant had not been trained in how to deal with a security check and, as a result, my American Express card was suspended until I could get to the local office and answer the security questions. The number of outlets accepting AMEX cards is relatively limited. AMEX mark up is too high. -- Martin I suspect the problem wasn't related to Amex. I had a problem with both a Visa and a Mastercard in New Zealand earlier this year. Now, as it happened the fact that neither worked was my fault. When I asked the retailer to phone the authorisation centre I was met by a blank look. The young lady eventually called her supervisor who understood what I was asking but had no idea what to do. Happily I was carrying a Visa debit card as well and that worked. I then made calls back to the UK and found out what the problem was. But, the point is, many people have a limited understanding of the systems behind Amex, Visa etc and if the machine doesn't say "yes" they assume "no". The fact that it might have said "contact centre" is something they fail to understand. Two other examples of what I consider to be part of the same problem (lack of training) but with different impacts: 1) Entering my PIN to confirm a transaction and then having the retailer insist on a signature as well. 2) A retailer who, when chip/PIN was introduced in the UK said "I'll only be able to take chip/PIN cards after introduction date". Happily when I told him about Chip/Signature cards and asked what he would do if a foreigner produced a non chip card he had the sense to make further enquiries but he said later he had had to push his payment provider to provide the correct information. |
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