Watch out for new chip and pin credit cards
If anyone is using the new chip and in credit cards that are being issued in the uk and elsewhere, or have friends coming form overseas, then beware.
I tried to use mine in Big C today. Thailand, lagging behind the times, has not had the equipment to handle chip and pin and so the cards default to the swipe and sign mode. But, Big C seems to have new euipment that handles chip and pin. Trouble is, nobody has trained the cashier in what to do, so when faced with a request for a pin number she quickly typed in zeroes, without asking me. This happened 3 times, during which she would not stop and listen to me, and of course then the card was declined and blocked, and i can't use it again until i go back to the uk and reset the pin number. :mad:
I always wurry about credit cards in Thailand
In the past i had a lot off problems using my credit card in AT M's in Thailand. Mostly i go inside a bank, but they accept only if you ask a minimum from up 20.000 bath. I use 2 credit cards visa and MasterCard. Must be a nightmare, not having to much cash and your credit card is not working
Whores MAY have a heart of gold. Banks? Ha HaHa hahaha ha!
Read your card agreements carefully.
(Sorry. Those who already knew all this please bear with me for anyone who may not have. Thank you!)
Some banks are charging (Flat) Cash Advance fees (On Credit Cards), including; ATM withdrawals, as High as $10.00 per withdrawal. Or some cards cards charge\charged Cash Advance fees of 3% & had\have a max. of $50 but the maximum may be\now may be $75--And Some are charging as-high-as 5% with no maximum--Including on ATM withdrawals. (Same as a C/A.)
And (Unless you pay the entire balance monthly, every month.) the Cash Advance interest charge may be at a higher rate--And the higher rates are the last paid off--So taking one of those "attractive" 'promotional' rates: i.e. 1.99% to 5.99% with no cash advance fee, and until it is paid off, can be a trap: the charges you made\make at a higher rate will go on for a longer\the longest time as payments are applied to those (Higher interest rates.) last.
If you default on your card member agreement in any way: i.e. a-day-or-more late with your payment, pay less than the minimum required payment, miss a payment; the rate can go as high as 34%--On all your cards. And if you forget, or get cute, and try to mail it early (Before the statement arrives.) just be sure you mail it so it does not arrive before the 'statement date.' If it does, that counts as two payments in that month--And none in the next--and...Whoops!...34%!
You can set the payments up on 'automatic payment' from your checking account but some banks are charging for that service--And some have been known to be late making the payment; which may depend on the balance in your account. If checks have not cleared, you may have a problem: your payment arrives late &\or an overdraft charge. Some banks will make the payment, with or without an OD charge; some may transfer funds from another account: i.e. Savings at the same bank: providing your account is set up this way--So check with the bank. Read the rules re your checking account. In any case; it's your responsibility\fault. (I find many older people don't know...Assume everything is the same as it was__years ago.)
If you set accounts up on auto pay, be prepared to make manual payments until you are sure the creditors are receiving the auto-pays. If you change banks, proceed with caution. If your bank changes hands; watch out!...As I found, recently. Thankfully it was only my health insurance--And I was not in the process of having major surgery: my lobotomy and butt-lift won't be till Spring: fat from my head will be injected in my butt--And a little in the frown lines, courtesy of Dr. Frank N. Stein. :shaking2:
Good news? Or Bad?
A new U.S. federal law went into affect this month (Look at your last statements.) that the minimum monthly payment is now set at 1.5% of the debit balance. Most were at 2% (Good news?) but many were as low as, 'the interest charge + $10.00': what the media whores are talking about when they say...Boo-f-ing-Hoo!..."This law may force some families* into bankruptcy!"
*And, singles?...Huh? Who gives a shit about singles?
Bottom Line\Gotcha!:
Before you take off on an extended trip, make sure someone\someplace trustworthy will handle making or mailing your payments. Don't expect compassion from the card company if you arrive home to find a payment was late. They have none.
A closing thought:If you have no heirs; no one you care if you leave an estate to, or not--And if you are standing with one foot in the grave and one on a banana peel; run all your cards to the limit and go out and party!