cookiestar

I got my ATM/EFTPOS card through for my new Australian bank account yesterday. It took me ages of looking at the card to realise it looks weird because it's not a chip and pin card. How does EFTPOS work in Australia - is it like the "old" way here in the UK where they swipe your card and you sign the slip?

Also, I have a cheque book for my account. Does this card act as a cheque guarantee card? It say Maestro, Cirrus and EFTPOS on the back, but no mention of a cheque guarantee limit.

moneypenny20

You swipe your card and enter your pin number. You don't use the card with the cheque book but you can chose which account you want to use with the card as you'll be asked if you're using Savings or Cheque account. Personally I wouldn't use a cheque book. You get charged for every cheque you use. If I need a cheque, I get a bank one (normally a large amount of over $1,000) and get charged $5 for it. Works out a lot cheaper.

The Bloke

Which bank is the card from, as the major banks are now rolling out chip and pin cards to customers as they are renewed?

The Bloke

....... and make sure that you can see the flashing lights around the card entrance slot.

cookiestar

I didn't realise that about being charged for writing cheques. Thanks for pointing that out. I never write cheques here in the UK anymore anyway, so I'll continue that pattern.

At the moment we just have a credit card account and one current banking account, but noted about the savings/cheque account option too. Thanks.

cookiestar

It's HSBC Premier.

alipally

Good News!!

With an HSBC Premier account, i don't think you get charged for cheques.

Be aware though that accessing your money through an ATM can be expensive in Aus. You can only use Westpak or HSBC free of charge.

ATM abroad is really expensive too!

Ali

ABCDiamond

My Australian HSBC card has a Chip and pin.
My Woolworths Credit card also has a Chip and Pin.
So does the ANZ card.

My Westpac card doesn't
My St George card doesn't either

But all of them have pin numbers, and can be swiped and a pin number entered.

cookiestar

That's good then. I think the paperwork said I can use the Post Office free of charge too? I really should read it all properly.

I don't use ATMs abroad as a rule, but I'm keeping a UK bank account for possible trips back to Europe.

How funny that your HSBC card has a chip ABC and mine issued this week doesn't.

Shellyj

I must have been visiting the wrong shops on my visit in April. Not one place I went to had the chip & pin machines installed, I had to sign everywhere. I was wary of this having not done it here for an age.
I did find the whole savings or cheque thing odd, good though so you dont need to go to the bank to withdraw from savings account.

ABCDiamond

Yes, you can use the Post Office, free of charge, and for deposits. With only a few branches in the country, that's what I have always done. And that is for any HSBC account. But make sure you only use HSBC or Westpac ATM's, or you will get charged.

What is even more puzzling is my Woolworths card being Chip and Pin, and that is issued and serviced by .... HSBC.

Keeping a UK bank account, and credit card, is a great idea. I still have mine.

ABCDiamond

I think that most people in Australia won't even notice much difference with the new chip cards, as they have been using the PIN for many years with the swipe cards.

These newer chip cards also have the swipe facility, so can be used in either machine with the PIN number, or signature if people prefer that.

The Bloke

The replacement card you get when your current one expires should have
C & P.

montgomail

Does anyone use a Nationwide flex account card for ATM cash withdrawals?

MartinLuther

I have a HSBC account and they haven't charged me for using cheques. (Not that I use them very often.)