Visa/Mastercard on one card?

[4ftersh0ck]

Hi guys,

I know this is probably a stupid question, but here goes.

I have been to a store before and there's been an issue with Mastercard cards or Visa Cards and they are only accepting the other. Now this hasn't happened often but it has happened a couple times to me before.

Why can't a card be made to be compatible with both Mastercard and Visa? Is this a ridiculous idea?

Or, instead of having to have an FNB Credit card (Visa) and a Virgin Money Card (Mastercard), what if FNB said "Here, here is your Visa card and here is your Mastercard, both linked to one FNB account"

Am I crazy thinking this?

 

[ScottulusMaximus]

That's a bit like asking why one card can't access both your FNB and ABSA accounts...

I've also never been to a place in SA that will only accept either VISA or Mastercard.

 

[TEXTILE GUY]

And it would upset American Express

Speaking of which ..... I found this gem - which somehow - I think is wrong for SA

https://merchantmachine.co.uk/visa-mastercard-amex/

 

[mister]

NFC phone + mastercard + visa

or something like https://www.fuzecard.com or http://www.swypcard.com

 

[BluStorm]

Nedbank Cheque accounts give you both an American Express and Mastercard cards (two separate cards).

 

[Domains.co.za (Wayne)]

This card does something similar to what you are looking for: https://www.edgesmartcard.com/

 

[4ftersh0ck]

Thanks for the info. guys. I want to earn eBucks though while I'm at it

 

[Grubscrew]

This has never happened to me. I am not aware of any store in South Africa that would accept the one but not the other?

 

[mister]

This has never happened to me. I am not aware of any store in South Africa that would accept the one but not the other?

he is referring to when either mastercard or visa is offline... the other usually works

 

[Grubscrew]

he is referring to when either mastercard or visa is offline... the other usually works

OK, but never experienced that either. Mostly happen that the issuing bank is offline.

 

[mister]

Mostly happen that the issuing bank is offline.

Or that... It's only ever happened to me once

 

[neoprema]

Its coming, right after the BMW 3 series with Mercedes engine and steering wheel badge.

 

[NarrowBandFtw]

Why can't a card be made to be compatible with both Mastercard and Visa? Is this a ridiculous idea?

The EMV (i.e. chip card) standard has supported multiple programs on a single chip for over a decade already. That's all you need for MasterCard and Visa to live side by side, which is to say it's been possible for a very long time.

The only reason you don't see it today is because MasterCard / Visa / card issuers around the world choose not to do it.