Wol

I really can't be bothered with all these different "rewards" schemes, although I've done literally hundreds of flights and spent a fortune on credit cards (I get special arrangements on flights.) I do seem to remember joining some frequent flyer scheme way back when they started and being given a mile to start the account with - I wonder if it's still there?

I agree though, I wouldn't dream of paying for a credit card, or running a debt on one with the interest rates they charge.

Amazulu

I only have 1 reward scheme and that is QFF - everything goes into that.

Credit cards are great if you are disciplined with them - in fact, you can make money out of them. Our flights to New Zealand in Dec/Jan is costing us about $400 in taxes - nothing when you consider that we will be travelling in peak time.

ABCDiamond

It is the changeover period, just like in the UK, when, from about 2002? to 2006 you could do either. Actually some people can still sign in the UK.

The French who had theirs before the UK, could also not understand why the British had it so wrong. Maybe they didn't consider the changeover period.

I still have one current Australian card that was issued without a chip, so if they made it chip only, before all cards have been renewed and updated with chips, it could be a problem.

But it probably wont be long before the changeover is complete.

Swerv-o

Are you sure it's a changeover period? I had sort of assumed that it was, but I haven't seen anything to suggest that PIN will become the only option in the future...


S

mark213

AMEX have said in AU they are not intending to adopt PIN entry

dave99

There was going to be a change over to pin, but people complained about it and resisted so now its become the norm to be able to just sign, which I personally prefer

Wol

I have just received a reply from HSBC: I asked exactly what the "extra protection" is on my HSBC debit card if I press "Credit".

The reply did not attempt to answer that, just reiterated what is in the PDS about limits and then went on to say how he was sending me a debit card....

Words fail me!

Swerv-o

Why though? It's nowhere near as secure - I can't even remember the last time anybody checked the signature when I bought something...


S

Centurion

Indeed I use solely my Amex for everything as does the dear lady. Charge card means I have to pay it all at the end of the month, there is no option.

I usually fly back to London at least once a year first class on points plus $400 or so as a result. Which isn't bad for doing nothing when its a $12k+ fare otherwise

ABCDiamond

How much do you have to spend on a charge/credit card to get that ?

JetBlast

Hi,

I have an Australian HSBC Bank account. I opened it from the UK a few months ago. I have not been to Australia since, and have not used my debit card. Reading this i am really confused about the system in oz. In the UK you put your debit card in, then your pin and your good to go.

Why do they have the Debit, Credit and Cheque button? To the customer what is the difference apart from the spending limit on the Debit? If you press the credit button does it act like a credit card? Do they charge you?

Sorry about this i am pretty lost by this...

Thanks

Wol

I think it's all part of the Australian "thing" of having to be different, to be honest. Like their electrical plugs, many road rules and so on.

ABCDiamond

Originally it was simply to differential between the 3 accounts.
People had Credit Cards, Savings Accounts and Cheque Accounts, therefore 3 buttons for the 3 options.

But now the MasterCard and Visa companies are offering people the option to select Credit even on their debit cards, so that they (the banking organisations) can charge the retailer a higher percentage of the sale as their commission.

It makes no 'direct' difference to us the customer though.

As I only use a credit card, I just put my credit card in, press Credit, so it knows it is a credit card, (and the retailer pays a higher fee), then my pin and I am good to go

If I used a Debit card, I would just put my debit card in, press Debit, so it knows it is a Debit card, (and then the retailer only pays a smaller fee), then my pin, and again, good to go

If we think too much about it, we can confuse ourselves.

ABCDiamond

I think there are a few countries that are "different" to the UK

Wol

I'm not referring only to the UK though. So far as for example plugs are concerned there are several different standards around the world - getting fewer - but Oz and NZ are AFAIK alone in not adopting a standard widely used elsewhere.