Australian debit/credit cards ?
#1
Australian debit/credit cards ?
We opened a west pac account from the UK and since arriving 2 weeks ago have received a handycard each. We need a debit card like our old barclays connect card to do on-line shopping and for paying things over the phone using available funds from our day to day account that our salaries are paid into. what do i need to ask for at the bank as debit and credit seems to mean different things here! We don't need to borrow credit. I thought i needed to request a mastercard debit card but was told we are not eligable. We are currently on a 457 visa, does it make a difference? PARH
#2
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: Leamington Spa, UK
Posts: 26
Re: Australian debit/credit cards ?
I did the smae as you ie westpac in uk and opened withing a week of getting here. I was offered a mastercard DEBIT card on the spot. I also kept every one of my accounts open in the uk, including nationwide with 1k sterling in it as a just in case for the first few weeks. I would go back to westpac and demand a better card or threaten to move your money
#3
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,133
Re: Australian debit/credit cards ?
We opened a west pac account from the UK and since arriving 2 weeks ago have received a handycard each. We need a debit card like our old barclays connect card to do on-line shopping and for paying things over the phone using available funds from our day to day account that our salaries are paid into. what do i need to ask for at the bank as debit and credit seems to mean different things here! We don't need to borrow credit. I thought i needed to request a mastercard debit card but was told we are not eligable. We are currently on a 457 visa, does it make a difference? PARH
#5
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: Sydney
Posts: 68
Re: Australian debit/credit cards ?
We opened a west pac account from the UK and since arriving 2 weeks ago have received a handycard each. We need a debit card like our old barclays connect card to do on-line shopping and for paying things over the phone using available funds from our day to day account that our salaries are paid into. what do i need to ask for at the bank as debit and credit seems to mean different things here! We don't need to borrow credit. I thought i needed to request a mastercard debit card but was told we are not eligable. We are currently on a 457 visa, does it make a difference? PARH
BTW onlione shoppping is very behind here too
#6
Re: Australian debit/credit cards ?
Oz is a bit behind on their debit cards and though you can use them for EFTPOS (EPOS in UK!!) most can't be used for online or telephone purchases because of the PIN No. (no idea why as obviously can in UK). So if you want to use a debit card for online/telephone purchases the only bank I know of who have this type of card is NAB and they've literally only just released it!
BTW onlione shoppping is very behind here too
#7
Re: Australian debit/credit cards ?
We are with the Commonwealth and we were unable to get a Visa or Mastercard Debit card with them. So we had a Credit Card instead. With the internet banking we can just transfer the money straight across to the Credit Card as and when we use it. It is also good for the rewards points. However having a Credit Card to fall back on has been useful. Also remember that the limit of your Credit Card is automatically taken off the amount you can borrow on a Mortgage, so for example if you qualify to borrow $250,000 and you have a credit card limit of $5000 they will only lend you $245,000, even if you don't have an outstanding balance. This will only cause a problem though if you are borrowing up to your absolute limit - which a lot of Australians seem to do! You only have to look at some of the huge new houses with crappy old cars on the drive to prove that.
#8
Re: Australian debit/credit cards ?
We are with the Commonwealth and we were unable to get a Visa or Mastercard Debit card with them. So we had a Credit Card instead. With the internet banking we can just transfer the money straight across to the Credit Card as and when we use it. It is also good for the rewards points. However having a Credit Card to fall back on has been useful. Also remember that the limit of your Credit Card is automatically taken off the amount you can borrow on a Mortgage, so for example if you qualify to borrow $250,000 and you have a credit card limit of $5000 they will only lend you $245,000, even if you don't have an outstanding balance. This will only cause a problem though if you are borrowing up to your absolute limit - which a lot of Australians seem to do! You only have to look at some of the huge new houses with crappy old cars on the drive to prove that.
#9
Re: Australian debit/credit cards ?
Another option if you want a Visa card for online shopping is a Bopo card. It is a prepaid card (just visit your local Bill Express newsagent) which you can 'load' with cash when an online transaction is required. http://www.bopo.com.au has more info. For id you have to present the usual 100 point documents at a newsagent.
#10
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: Leamington Spa, UK
Posts: 26
Re: Australian debit/credit cards ?
Dont get it confused, it is not a CREDIT CARD, it is a DEBIT CARD which has the Mastercard symbol and can be used online. Sorry to be anal but this may be where the confusion arose from in the first place, ie; asking for something incorrectly
#11
Re: Australian debit/credit cards ?
http://www.westpac.com.au/internet/p...t%20mastercard
#12
Account Closed
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,316
Re: Australian debit/credit cards ?
Oz is a bit behind on their debit cards and though you can use them for EFTPOS (EPOS in UK!!) most can't be used for online or telephone purchases because of the PIN No. (no idea why as obviously can in UK). So if you want to use a debit card for online/telephone purchases the only bank I know of who have this type of card is NAB and they've literally only just released it!
BTW onlione shoppping is very behind here too
EFTPOS is used for shopping and direct credit and BPay are used for buying things online. I can't see any reason why debit cards should "take off" here.
I will agree that Direct Debit is behind the UK as the control of these lies with the supplier rather than the customer (making it harder for the customer to cancel a direct debit).
Last edited by MartinLuther; Jan 19th 2008 at 1:55 am.
#13
Re: Australian debit/credit cards ?
Does any one know of an Australian credit card that does not charge an annual fee?
#14
Account Closed
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,316
Re: Australian debit/credit cards ?
There are others as well.
Have a look at this site. http://www.infochoice.com.au/banking...ds/default.asp
PS: You can get free banking here as well but don't tell everyone as they like to have something to moan about.
#15
Re: Australian debit/credit cards ?
Oz is a bit behind on their debit cards and though you can use them for EFTPOS (EPOS in UK!!) most can't be used for online or telephone purchases because of the PIN No. (no idea why as obviously can in UK). So if you want to use a debit card for online/telephone purchases the only bank I know of who have this type of card is NAB and they've literally only just released it!
BTW onlione shoppping is very behind here too