oatia

Hi,

I have an EFTPOS-enabled chip & PIN Visa debit card issued by an NZ Bank.

I could not use it easily in the Far East, and having moved back to the UK now wonder if anyone can please tell me if NZ debit cards will be accepted as supermarkets, also whether there are any problems associated with using the cashback facility when paying at the checkout.

Many thanks,

Dick.

old.sparkles

Is it actually a debit card, or just an EFTPOS? If it is a debit card (can be used online shopping and such) then you should be fine, and you should be able to ask for cash back when shipping too. If it is EFTPOS then it cannot be used shopping.

oatia

Thanks. It is a chip & PIN VISA debit card with the "EFTPOS ENABLED" on the back below the address. I have used it online.

The issuing bank were convinced it would work in any country but the only place I found I could use it in Japan was at the Post Office ATM.

CanadianSpruce

It'll work fine. Japan is a bit of an odd country when it comes to card acceptance, most places only take JCB, even though they have visa, Amex etc logo up.

oatia

Hi,

I was able to use my card in UK supermarkets without any problems, thank you all very much. However, I was never asked to enter my PIN, I always had to sign which I thought a bit strange.

Now, I now have a problem with the replacement card I've been sent, for which the instructions say I have to make a PIN transaction to activate it.

I have tried three different supermarkets and a filling station, none of which will accept my card because presumably I haven't activated it.

I also tried using an ATM at a building society. This appeared to be more promising when it displayed a language menu, but when it asked for my PIN and I keyed it in, it was not accepted.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to deal with the problem please?

Perhaps there are other forum members who have had to face this without returning to NZ, which regrettably is something that I am unlikely to be doing anytime soon due to medical reasons. We really are talking a number of years at least unless my heart makes a sudden improvement.

Any advice gratefully received, thank you.

Benson55

Yes thats the normal way of the replacement cards to make a PIN transaction. You'll have to find a place which will allow that.

oatia

Thanks, but in the Britain, all UK credit/debit cards are validated by phone (often automated). There do not seem to be any ATMs of the type you are referring to here. At the checkouts the Chip & PIN is read as soon as the card is inserted and there are no options to choose from before the transaction goes through.

The only reason I was able to validate my last card in Japan was because the Japan Post ATMs operate differently, otherwise it seemed to be the same at checkouts there.