I have to use a different card or ask them if they have a machine from a different bank
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@#$#@#%$# ABSA again.... chip credit card
- Thread starter xrapidx
- Start date
I have to use a different card or ask them if they have a machine from a different bank
That's the thing though - I only have one credit card... my girlfirend has a strip card on my account and hers works. But if she's not there - I'm screwed.
I'm waiting for the day I take out clients - and the card is declined at the table...
RustyPrincess
Expert Member
The issue with the chip cards is, if your account gets compromised, then you are liable, not the bank (since you are resonsible for safekeeping of you PIN). A magnetic strip card moves the liability to the bank, if you card is used illegally. (My personal banker at FNB even said its better to just have the strip card)
RustyPrincess
Expert Member
Why don't you get a Virgin Credit Card for situations like this. No fees, unless you draw money or use the petrol card, just keep a positive balance, and you sorted.
Because I don't like having multiple accounts and walking around with multiple cards... I have money clip, credit card and drivers on me... that's it. I also don't see why I should be required to open an account at another bank purely because ABSA are so incredibly slack.
I had a credit card delivered to me in Australia faster than ABSA can replace my card in South Africa.
There "we don't care/its not my problem attitude" really sucks.
It'll usually happen at the worst moment... i.e. out for dinner, buying a large round of drinks at a bar, in a long queue of people....
Greggle
Senior Member
I'm with Nedbank and have the same problem with my AMEX ... totally random in that sometimes the chip works and sometimes not. And I particularly have problems in Woolies in Cavendish Square (CT) ... sometimes the chip works, other times not and I end up giving them my Mastercard.
Budza
Executive Member
Get the Virgin Card and ditch the absa one: you still have one card. It's easy and free. Better rates on cash withdrawals too- wherever you are in the world it's R11 flat.
Sure, you'll need to make one extra payment per month to settle it, but with cellphone banking that takes 30seconds. That per month is worth the hassle free mag strip.
Deprives absa of some fees too
blunomore
Honorary Master
xrapidx, my vote still goes for the tantrum.
You say it will accomplish nothing? What will keeping quiet or talking nicely to a DIMWIT accomplish then ?
You say it will accomplish nothing? What will keeping quiet or talking nicely to a DIMWIT accomplish then ?
Get the Virgin Card and ditch the absa one: you still have one card. It's easy and free. Better rates on cash withdrawals too- wherever you are in the world it's R11 flat.
Sure, you'll need to make one extra payment per month to settle it, but with cellphone banking that takes 30seconds. That per month is worth the hassle free mag strip.
Deprives absa of some fees too
Doesn't deprive ABSA of anything - as they'll still be getting their R350+ each month.... I'll also be paying more interest if I don't pay the full amount each month.
To who though? Walk into a random bank and then get the same story as I got from my banker... its the credit card department, which isn't in the bank.
I got my new credit card in January and lo, behold, it was a chip card. It still has the strip though, so I wasn't too concerned.
They even delivered the card to us. How nice.
The first time I had to use the card (I was out of cash on my Virgin card which I use 99% of the time), I found out that I can't because it asked for a PIN. I don't have a PIN on the chip card. I was never asked to create a PIN for the chip card.
So I asked ABSA about it, and their response was that in order to activate the chip and get a PIN you have to go into the bank with the card.
I ask you.... WHY DELIVER my card to me when in order to use it I have to go into the bank anyway to activate the PIN?
I said screw it, and pretty much exclusively use my Virgin Card now. If the Virgin Card doesn't work, then I ditch my shopping. I'm so gatvol for Absa.
They even delivered the card to us. How nice.
The first time I had to use the card (I was out of cash on my Virgin card which I use 99% of the time), I found out that I can't because it asked for a PIN. I don't have a PIN on the chip card. I was never asked to create a PIN for the chip card.
So I asked ABSA about it, and their response was that in order to activate the chip and get a PIN you have to go into the bank with the card.
I ask you.... WHY DELIVER my card to me when in order to use it I have to go into the bank anyway to activate the PIN?
I said screw it, and pretty much exclusively use my Virgin Card now. If the Virgin Card doesn't work, then I ditch my shopping. I'm so gatvol for Absa.
I've found that if it has a strip - you can't use the mag strip on a chip based machine - when they try it says Use chip or some such.
I've just called the private client support line - lo and behold, they have no record of a card being ordered for me. The woman is going to call me back in a few minutes to confirm - after that, all hell is going to break loose.
I've just called the private client support line - lo and behold, they have no record of a card being ordered for me. The woman is going to call me back in a few minutes to confirm - after that, all hell is going to break loose.
blunomore
Honorary Master
Tantrum? Excellent.
+1
Removing the mag stripe will make it a lot harder to clone a card in 5 seconds.
I'm sure that a chip card can be cloned but it's a lot harder and more expensive to do than just making a simple copy of the magnetic strip.
Also I like not having to sign when I make purchases using a chip based credit card. Some retailers have old systems that still print a place to sign.
TheMightyQuin
Not amused...
It is not the bank that is the issue...it is the chip technology. ALL chipcards give issues, regardless of which bank you are at. My FNB gets declined now and again...I just say :"Try again" and it goes through. I agree on Woolies comment though. I also find it strange to say the least that my chip card goes through with out a pin? Just shows you that system can be bypassed no problem. The system is at fault and the retailers are clearly given shortcuts to bypass the chip issues.
They didn't call back so I called again - spent about 30min on the phone - spoke to a Private asisist person who I made call credit card div. while I waited.
They came on and initially implied I was using the wrong pin - then implied the card wasn't encoded - they can't explain why it works sometime and others not... they then said a new card was delivered to the branch - a chip card - and they won't issue another one.
So I told them I will not accept the card as it is useless.
They then said they can't see any of my transactions being declined (I have sent through the receipts to the bank). They are now going to request an investigation - I told them the card is useless to me - and I will close my accounts and take the .5% hit on interest if they can't sort it out...
I asked the woman what her suggestion is for a purchase of R10,000 and the card doesn't work - she doesn't know.
I'm well aware that its a problem with the technology - and as I've started - its how the bank at a private banking level deal with this - two weeks and no feedback.
When mine declines at a retailer, it does not work - you can try a 100 times.
They came on and initially implied I was using the wrong pin - then implied the card wasn't encoded - they can't explain why it works sometime and others not... they then said a new card was delivered to the branch - a chip card - and they won't issue another one.
So I told them I will not accept the card as it is useless.
They then said they can't see any of my transactions being declined (I have sent through the receipts to the bank). They are now going to request an investigation - I told them the card is useless to me - and I will close my accounts and take the .5% hit on interest if they can't sort it out...
I asked the woman what her suggestion is for a purchase of R10,000 and the card doesn't work - she doesn't know.
I'm well aware that its a problem with the technology - and as I've started - its how the bank at a private banking level deal with this - two weeks and no feedback.
When mine declines at a retailer, it does not work - you can try a 100 times.