@#$#@#%$# ABSA again.... chip credit card

[xrapidx]

Well - after all my hassling - I was told they won't issue a non-chip card - I can go and get a backup non-chip debit card linked to my credit card for backup

After complaining, and requesting a new banker (yet again) to the "Manager Client Relations" - I got a response from her saying that my banker misunderstood and thought I wanted a new chip card. I asked for an explanation as to how she got confused by these two emails:

04 March:
"Could you point me in the right direction – I’m having issues with
this chip credit card of mine. Quite often it says “TRANSACTION
DECLINED” immediately after putting in my pin. Today I struggled for
almost 20min – before giving the woman my old card with the damaged
strip, which I only had on me by chance, thankfully it went through
after a few swipes.

I’ve had this at about four different retailers now – these times I’ve
resorted to using cash, thinking it was their machines – but I see it
doesn’t happen when xxxx uses her non-chip card.

It’s also not a pin issue…."

and then
05 March
"Further to the below, here is a copy of a declined transaction, its
getting embarrassing. 10 minutes later the card worked perfectly at
another retailer, then this morning it was declined again.

If there isn't an answer to this I'd like the card replaced with a
non-chip card."

 

[zulgin]

Why do people still use Credit cards after you're able to buy almost anything nowadays on the debit card?

I went over to capitec a while ago, I have never made an investment where my interest outweighs my bank fees, so I go where I pay fewer bank costs, so maklik soos dit

 

[killadoob]

Why do people still use Credit cards after you're able to buy almost anything nowadays on the debit card?

I went over to capitec a while ago, I have never made an investment where my interest outweighs my bank fees, so I go where I pay fewer bank costs, so maklik soos dit

You do not pay for using a credit card, you pay 4-10 rand for using a debit card.

 

[xrapidx]

Why do people still use Credit cards after you're able to buy almost anything nowadays on the debit card?

I went over to capitec a while ago, I have never made an investment where my interest outweighs my bank fees, so I go where I pay fewer bank costs, so maklik soos dit

Interest free credit.

 

[Voicy]

I've requested the replacement card to be purely mag strip ... the bank will probably **** this up the first time round.... and then I'll have to wait another two bloody weeks.

What exactly do they expect you to do when the card doesn't go through and you don't have any other way of paying? i.e. after a dinner.

Process it manually as per the olden days? Quite simple really. Stensil your card name & number on the invoice and sign it. I suppose people don't remember what those etch pads looked like that the garages used to use.

 

[zulgin]

You do not pay for using a credit card, you pay 4-10 rand for using a debit card.

they do charge you interest one way or another the bank makes it money back.

Capitec however never charge above R4, in most stores its either free or R1, and you can also withdraw money from a pick and pay, thus I never put myself in the R7 position..

What is your monthly purchases and interest on your credit card and how many people don't roll their credit card for 2-3 moths, there is no way that money is comparable to the bank charges. One way or another regardless of the bank's deal they will find a way to get the money back from you, in South Africa banks are a business and a very good one at that.

Here is a study done by solidarity on the banking fees in SA http://www.solidaritysa.co.za/downl... Vergelyking van 5 banke ENG (TC rem)opt.pdf&
basically anyone who is still with ABSA needs to have his head read.

 

[xrapidx]

most payments go through my credit card ... and its a large sum monthly, I settle the full balance each month, therefore, no interest.

 

[zulgin]

most payments go through my credit card ... and its a large sum monthly, I settle the full balance each month, therefore, no interest.

ah ok, it makes sense that way, I myself however am not a fan of having credit, I am still stuck to the old 'piggy bag ' idea, if there is money in the bank I can buy it, if there isn't money in the bank - I can't buy it. These bank costs, bonds, credit card, loan, skemas are just there to get the best of you.

My theory have always been that regardless of how I pay for something, I eventually have to pay it back, the sooner I pay it, the better.

Anyways, Absa still seems to be to bloody expensive, the old wet van transvaal, k@k en betaal is evident there

 

[notayoba]

Anyone have one of these ****ty chip credit card?!?

My credit card was replaced in Janaury because of a faulty strip, they replaced it with the new chip credit card....

Ever since then, every 3rd or so time I use it, it says TRANSACTION DENIED immediately after I enter my code. It doesn't matter how many times a retailer tries. I can then walk across the road to another retailer and it works fine.

I let ABSA know on the 4th of March, my banker promised to order a new card - I'm still waiting, and this is still happening.

Today I actually had to leave CNA, walking back to the office, get my cheque card - and go pay for my purchases.

I am so sick of a bank who can get nothing right.

I REALLY WISH COMPETITIVE HOME LOAN INTEREST RATES WOULD COME BACK ALREADY!

I found this thread after googling because I have the same issue. I figured out one part of the mystery. It only happens on FNB POS machines, and not on all of them, but at least 90% of them. Whenever I see an FNB POS machine now I have to go and draw money. It has never happened on a non-fnb machine and I use my card at least 2 or 3 times a day.

No matter how many times you try it just declines the moment you enter your pin. It doesn't even attempt any connection.

OP: Did you manage to resolve this? I think it could be an issue with my Absa card having a 5 digit pin, and maybe those fnb machines only work for 4 digit pins.

 

[xrapidx]

I found this thread after googling because I have the same issue. I figured out one part of the mystery. It only happens on FNB POS machines, and not on all of them, but at least 90% of them. Whenever I see an FNB POS machine now I have to go and draw money. It has never happened on a non-fnb machine and I use my card at least 2 or 3 times a day.

No matter how many times you try it just declines the moment you enter your pin. It doesn't even attempt any connection.

OP: Did you manage to resolve this? I think it could be an issue with my Absa card having a 5 digit pin, and maybe those fnb machines only work for 4 digit pins.

Yip - turns out ABSA pin cards don't work with FNB machines... can't believe they haven't fixed it.

I sorted it out by moving to FNB - I'm now paying two sets of bank charges just so I don't have to deal with ABSA, they're pathetic.

 

[AniV]

You do not pay for using a credit card, you pay 4-10 rand for using a debit card.

I have a Capitec Debit Card - Swiping is free.
I have a Virgin Credit Card - because I can't buy stuff online with a Debit Card.
I have closed up my Absa Accounts.

Hubby is also looking at moving from ABSA to FNB or elsewhere because Absa's fees are insane.
Only problem is our Virgin Money Home Loan was recently converted to an Absa Home Loan, so we will be stuck with Absa anyway.

 

[notayoba]

I have a Capitec Debit Card - Swiping is free.
I have a Virgin Credit Card - because I can't buy stuff online with a Debit Card.
I have closed up my Absa Accounts.

Hubby is also looking at moving from ABSA to FNB or elsewhere because Absa's fees are insane.
Only problem is our Virgin Money Home Loan was recently converted to an Absa Home Loan, so we will be stuck with Absa anyway.

Yep, that's my problem too. My my home loan is at ABSA and they were the only bank willing to give me one, so I'm sort of stuck.

 

[xrapidx]

Yep, that's my problem too. My my home loan is at ABSA and they were the only bank willing to give me one, so I'm sort of stuck.

Thats the situation I'm in... but with all the hassles I have with ABSA I moved to FNB anyway...

So I now have a ABSA Credit card and Cheque account I don't use....

And then my FNB accounts.

 

[blunomore]

I moved to Capitec about 6 months ago and it is fantastic.

I actually only closed the ABSA account this week, been to busy with the baby, etc. So I went into the branch and the lady at enquiries asked me why I want to close the account and I said "because your fees are too high and your service is atrocious" and she said in a very demeaning tone: "Gosh, I hope you're not moving to FNB". She clearly does not know that ANY bank is a better option than ABSA.

Oh and just for interest's sake: the balance on the account was zero, I had no debit orders on the account and no transactions have taken place on months, yet they said I can only close the account if I pay R50 for "outstanding fees". Trust them to screw you right to the very end.

I am now rid of them for good and it feels so great !

 

[Mars]

Personally i'm shocked we still using mag stripe cards! I wish retailers would all move over to support chip cards... It's just that much safer for the consumer.. And I don't mean mag strip+chip, they should only be chip...

But there are always places that don't accept chips cards, or it's not setup properly and hence the frustration consumer have...

Its not really much safer. The pin is stored on the card and can be retrieved.

The main thing with the chip is that the responsibility falls to you. If the mag strip is used for a fraudulent transaction ( the vendor can choose to bypass the chip/pin if he wants to) then the vendor has to pay, but if you chip/pin is used for a fraudulent transaction then you lose that money because its your fault you compromised the pin.

My issue is this, unless I act like a paranoid idiot there is always someone who can see what my pin is. In some situations I have to reach almost over the teller to enter my pin, so imo its only a way to pass the buck.