C&R

When I was in Oz a couple of weeks ago, I used my UK credit card to pay for furniture. The full amount was refused by the furniture stores payment system, according to the furniture shop because it was a large amount. I could however use my credit card for a smaller amount. The balance of which I have to pay the furniture delivery guys when they bring the furniture to my place next week.

I called Halifax and they told me, I should be able to use my card overseas ok, for any amount no matter how large, the problem lies with the equipment the stores in Oz use. Apparantly with an international credit card the Australian credit card system has a limit the equivalent of 300 pounds, anything above gets refused. If the stores see this refusal, they are supposed to call the credit card provider for authorisation and they can then fulfill the transaction. Let me add, this is nothing to do with using the card overseas and alarm bells going off because the credit card company think the card is being used frauduently [sp]. Apparantly most stores in Oz do not use the payment system called PQD? which does allow all international credit card payments no matter how large.

So my query is, until I get an Australian credit card, I am tied to my UK one. Next week when the furniture guys come I need to pay off my balance, which is going to be over 300 pounds. I have been told by the warehouse the delivery guys do accept credit card. Is their credit card payment machine likely to be the same as the one they use in store, and if the payment be refused, would the furniture delivery guys be aware of calling the credit card company to put in some code into the machine to authorise the payment or what? Has anyone else been in this situation or similiar, with delivery guys and using their credit card to pay for the items, and the amount being over 300 pounds. Sigh...

galba

why don't you try doing multiple transactions? Could be a way to get around the £300 limit. You may need to warn your card issuer though or the transactions may look dodgy!

Galba

gedge

i don't understand why you'd use your uk credit card? won't you have funds over here? or does it have to be on credit?

C&R

I won't have the funds available to me when I arrive on Monday, so am depending on my credit card until then.

gedge

it's too late to open an account and tfr your money across before you get here then? i guess so i just seen you fly Sunday

pogsy

We found the same problem, what we did was to split the payment into an amount that would go through and just do the transaction in a couple of goes.

mick69

We used our english credit card in March (Lloyds) for $2,500. Had no problems with the transaction. The only problem I had was there was a limit on my new australian debit card, maximum of $1,000 per day (which I didn;t know )
Not much help just a bit of info.

Lynne

CathnPaul

The PQD is the actual transaction machine, they are used in every transaction worldwide if using a card including the UK - just in case you needed to know. x

Budgie

I guess you could always use your credit card at an ATM and take out enough over the next few days to cover the payment (bearing the maximum ATM withdrawal). Only problem is you'd get slugged with all the exchange rates/fees etc but it may be better than not being able to pay them at all!

C&R

Thanks for this. I thought about using my debit card and withdrawing the funds from my UK current account, but the maximum withdrawal is 300 pounds. It will work out somehow I am sure.

Pogsy - did you just keep swiping your card until it totaled the amount you had to pay? Were they ok with this?

pogsy

Yes thats right, we bought some prints for $10,000 and they did the transaction four times.

Buzzy--Bee

I paid a deposit on a car in Oz with a Nationwide credit card - was about £1500 and went through OK.

Buzzy

harveyhare

I have a Halifax credit card and you need to inform the clearing department that you are in OZ and what region you are in, it helps if you phone them with the details of amount you will be using and company name.
I have used mine for a couple of big purchases over $5,000 each time with no problem.

Di

What_a_life

I have several Credit Cards one of which being a Halifax, never had any problem using it in Australia, also have several debit cards, never had any problem using them at the ATM's. if your limit is only £300 you can ask the bank to increase it, (normally done by the next working day) mine are all £1000 a day on debit cards.

Jacen

Alan Collett

My wife had a similar problem earlier this week.

The store managed to process the payment on the basis of a Cardholder Not Present transaction ... it might be worth asking the store to try processing a payment on your UK c/card on that basis.

Best regards.