[Will_2007]

It just occurred to me that the only debit cards we'll be taking with us will be Maestro/Cirrus cards rather than the standard Mastercard or Visa. Does anyone know if they're widely accepted in NZ?

Thanks,

Will

[macuser]

You can certainly get cash from cashpoints with switch/maestro/cirrus because I did it at Christmas when we were there on holiday. Don't know if you can use them in shops as debit card though.

Helen

[RamblingPaddies]

i have used a Maestro / Cirrus card on continental europe to pay in shops etc. they insisted on ID though.
never tried it in NZ - look for the symbol i guess

[dusk]

according to the maestro website:
Maestro is widely accepted throughout New Zealand at merchants in the following categories:
Car Rental
Duty Free
General Retail/Department Stores
Hotels
Petrol Stations
Restaurants
Souvenirs
Supermarkets
Tourist Attractions
Travel Agents
whteher that's strictly accurate I can't say though :roll

[mgbridges]

Used my Maestro card at cashpoints no problem although I got charged a transaction fee by the bank every time! I also used it in an EFTPOS machine at Foodtown supermarket when we first arrived. It wouldn't work when I tried to use my pin but was accepted fine when I signed.

Just swhip (sp?) it as you would an NZ EFTPOS card, press CHQ account and then rather than put in your pin press Enter and you should get asked to sign.

Hope that makes sense.
Anneliese

[kanatakiwi]

hmmn thats good news Annaliese, I am going to give that a try. I have been using my card to take money out of my overseas account, but have been carrying around cash as couldnt get the card to work as an EFTPOS card, so will try that signature thing.
thanx

[JandM]

The Spaceship company (campervan hire) couldn't take our Maestro debit card. We had to put it on the credit card instead.

[Familyofmonkeys]

We used our Maestro/Cirrus a few times in supermarket when we first arrived at it caused no problems...only difference is that we had to sign instead of use pin.

[Croft]

If you have time (and you're UK based) get a Nationwide current account. They're the only UK bank that doenn't charge a transaction fee when you use the card abroad.

Our experience with many varieties of UK cards was to select 'Credit', not 'Debit', and it works fine.

I'm not sure about other NZ banks but ASB issued us our debit cards the day we opened the account - names are not printed on theirs so they just assign the number to you and there's a machine for you to slect your own pin.

[Potato]

I'm not sure about other NZ banks but ASB issued us our debit cards the day we opened the account - names are not printed on theirs so they just assign the number to you and there's a machine for you to slect your own pin.

Those are EFTPOS cards, not Debit Cards.

[Jo Jo]

If you have time (and you're UK based) get a Nationwide current account. They're the only UK bank that doenn't charge a transaction fee when you use the card abroad.



I bank with First Direct in the UK, and I don't pay any transaction fees for using my card here (payments or withdrawals at ATMs). But I've had the account for years - I wonder if new account holders have to pay fees for overseas transactions?

Thanks for the tip about pressing credit instead of debit - I've had problems with one of my debit cards so will try that.

[Croft]

Those are EFTPOS cards, not Debit Cards.

I was unaware there was a difference, don't both take money straight from your current account?

Just been reading the entry in Wikipedia... (my bold). EFTPOS and Debit Cards (as called in the UK) appear to be one and the same.

UK

In the UK debit cards (an integrated EFTPOS system) are an established part of the retail market and are widely accepted both by bricks and mortar stores and by internet stores. The term EFTPOS is not used at all by the public, debit card (or Switch card, even when referring to a Solo card) is the generic term used. Cards commonly in circulation include Maestro (previously Switch), Solo, Visa Debit (previously Visa Delta) and Visa Electron. Banks do not charge customers for EFTPOS transactions in the UK, but some retailers make small charges, particularly where the transaction amount in question is small. The UK has converted all debit cards in circulation to Chip and PIN, based on the EMV standard, to increase transaction security; however, PINs are not required for internet transactions.

New Zealand

The EFTPOS (Electronic Fund Transfer at Point Of Sale) system is highly popular in New Zealand, with more debit card terminals per head of population than any other country[6], and being used for about 60% of all retail transactions[7]. According to the largest EFTPOS network provider, "New Zealanders use EFTPOS twice as much as any other country."[8]

Virtually all retail outlets have EFTPOS terminals, particularly supermarkets, "dairies" (convenience stores), service stations, and bars. Increasingly Taxi operators, businesses operating from stands at events and even pizza delivery people have mobile EFTPOS terminals.

New Zealanders use EFTPOS for both small and large transactions. It would not be unusual for a New Zealander to use an EFTPOS card to pay for an amount as small as 50 cents NZD. Because EFTPOS is such an integral part of spending in New Zealand, rare network failures cause tremendous delays, inconvenience and lost income to businesses who must resort to manual "zip-zap" swipe machines to process EFTPOS transactions until the network returns to service.[9] Typically New Zealand merchants do not pay a fee per transaction as is the case in Australia and other countries. Transaction fees are typically borne by the customer, and retailers pay a fixed monthly equipment rental fee. As bank accounts for students and children under 18 years old typically attract low or no electronic transaction fees, the use of EFTPOS by the younger generations has become virtually ubiquitous. In recent times, major banks have started to offer accounts with no EFTPOS transaction fees.

The Bank of New Zealand introduced EFTPOS to New Zealand in 1985 through a pilot scheme with petrol stations.

EFTPOS is operated through two primary networks. One, EFTPOS NZ, owned by ANZ, and a second operated by Electronic Transaction Services Limited which is owned by ASB Bank, Westpac, and the Bank of New Zealand. The ETSL network processes approximately 80% of all EFTPOS transactions in New Zealand on their Paymark EFTPOS network and has over 60,000 points of sale.[10]

During July 2006 the five billionth EFTPOS payment flowed across the ETSL/Paymark EFTPOS network since the electronic form of payment was introduced in New Zealand in 1989.[11]

On 9 May 2007, Payment Express was certified as the first (and to date only) IP / broadband certified terminal allowing EFTPOS transactions to be transmitted securely over the Internet.

However security issues regarding EFTPOS payments over the public Internet and the costs associated with legacy (dial up) terminal replacement has hampered the growth of the IP medium in New Zealand. One company, Merchant IP Services (MIPS) offers an alternative IP-POS solution allowing for the secure IP connection of most legacy (dial-up) terminals without the need for terminal replacement. The PCI compliant and Paymark certified MIPS IP-POS system consists of a MIPS WebNAC connected to the legacy EFTPOS terminal converting dial up transaction data to IP before transporting the payment securely to the bank switch.

[Croft]

I bank with First Direct in the UK, and I don't pay any transaction fees for using my card here (payments or withdrawals at ATMs). But I've had the account for years - I wonder if new account holders have to pay fees for overseas transactions?

Thanks for the tip about pressing credit instead of debit - I've had problems with one of my debit cards so will try that.

You may be lucky with your First Direct account!! According to this - http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/overseas-card-charges - First Direct load an extra 2.75% on exchange rates and 1.5% (min £1.75) on ATM withdrawals for Debit Cards. The Nationwide Debit card is the only one that is completely free.

[Jo Jo]

You may be lucky with your First Direct account!! According to this - http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/overseas-card-charges - First Direct load an extra 2.75% on exchange rates and 1.5% (min £1.75) on ATM withdrawals for Debit Cards. The Nationwide Debit card is the only one that is completely free.

I think it must be because I've had my account so long - I've often wondered about this because I definitely don't pay anything for overseas transactions, but have never seen first direct mentioned on this forum as a bank that doesn't charge for withdrawing cash overseas, which suggests it isn't the norm. Next time I talk to them I'll ask if (and why!) I'm getting special treatment. Actually, I probably won't just in case it's an oversight!

[CJ22]

Must be. I've been charged for First Direct withdrawals in the US, and I've had my account for quite a few years, but maybe not as along as you.

[Potato]

I was unaware there was a difference, don't both take money straight from your current account?

Just been reading the entry in Wikipedia... (my bold). EFTPOS and Debit Cards (as called in the UK) appear to be one and the same.

Debit cards allow you to buy online or over the telephone. NZ EFTPOS cards don't allow this (unless it's an EFTPOS Plus Card). Though I'm definitely not saying that they aren't useful - I love them. It's amazing how you can be out in the sticks in the only shop within a 2 hours drive and yet they will take your card! When I was back in the UK, I had a haircut and forgot to take cash. They didn't take cards. Bit of a culture shock ;)

[Croft]

Debit cards allow you to buy online or over the telephone. NZ EFTPOS cards don't allow this (unless it's an EFTPOS Plus Card). Though I'm definitely not saying that they aren't useful - I love them. It's amazing how you can be out in the sticks in the only shop within a 2 hours drive and yet they will take your card! When I was back in the UK, I had a haircut and forgot to take cash. They didn't take cards. Bit of a culture shock ;)

So UK Debit cards more flexible, but not accepted as widely? I think they're still the same, just more restrictions on their use in NZ. It is a bit of a jolt these days when you come across somewhere that doesn't take them. Out in Spain in January and we needed to pay 2400 Euros for my Father-in-Laws funeral so we could get the death certificate and allow my mother-in-law access to their bank accounts etc - wouldn't take plastic of any description.

[Potato]

So UK Debit cards more flexible, but not accepted as widely? I think they're still the same, just more restrictions on their use in NZ. It is a bit of a jolt these days when you come across somewhere that doesn't take them. Out in Spain in January and we needed to pay 2400 Euros for my Father-in-Laws funeral so we could get the death certificate and allow my mother-in-law access to their bank accounts etc - wouldn't take plastic of any description.

Supposedly, UK debit cards should be accepted wherever a visa card is accepted. Debit cards have the Visa (or whatever) symbol in a corner. Unfortunately, some people won't accept this. Last time I tried, Air NZ wouldn't take "Visa Electron" cards for online purchases. So whilst they are useful, still not quite as useful as a true credit card.
But compare this with an EFTPOS card, I wouldn't even be able to start using that to make any online purchase.
I did have issues using my debit card in NZ, apparently you should choose "Credit" and then sign for it.