Bank card rant

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26/07/2009, 9:04 PM
awec

Bank card rant

Ok, got to get this off my chest because the damn system that this country uses is RUBBISH.

Firstly, Laser. Laser. What the hell is Laser? What sort of rubbish is this? Coupled with some freaky irish version of maestro that the rest of the world doesn't support, it gives me a glorified card that I can use to take money out but leaves me unable to purchase my items online. Fecker.

So I ask thee, other than a credit card, is there any way I can get some sort of normal card. Like a Visa or something?

How do you lot all do your internet buying etc, as all the banks I asked down here use this Laser thingy.

Ta.
26/07/2009, 9:15 PM
Sheridan

Yes, I have a Laser card and it's an absolute pain in the arse. This thread might be helpful: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showt...p?t=2054963507
26/07/2009, 9:23 PM
awec

Thanks for the link mate, but I'd also like to get a proper Visa card so I can just pay online at any store.
26/07/2009, 9:24 PM
Dunny

You could use a 3v card...

https://www.3v.ie/
26/07/2009, 9:25 PM
don ramo

get a visa or mastercard, very usefull if your abroad also, i know people who dont carry much cash and just use there credit card till its maxed, then just pay it off, great for tracking your odd spending habbits (well if ya wanna know how odd you are:D)
26/07/2009, 9:27 PM
don ramo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dunny

You could use a 3v card...

https://www.3v.ie/

i had one, the 5 euro charge for every order, and a limited amount you can get, makes it more useless than a laser card
26/07/2009, 9:46 PM
awec

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dunny

You could use a 3v card...

https://www.3v.ie/

Having to go to the shop before every purchase is equally rubbish. ;)
27/07/2009, 1:37 AM
dahamsta

Moved all my banking from the incompetent useless muppets in BOI Douglas to the friendly and helpful peeps in Halifax in Midleton a couple months back and they gave me a Visa Debit card, which is the best of both worlds. Had a little trouble with it in some places in Malta but I'd put that down to: a) it being a relatively new format; and b) the Maltese banking system being a tad kooky anyway (2+ terminals in every store).

Course now the muppets in charge'll shut the branches, and I'll have to move it all again...

adam
27/07/2009, 11:46 AM
thischarmingman

Quote:

Originally Posted by awec

Thanks for the link mate, but I'd also like to get a proper Visa card so I can just pay online at any store.

Came on to post basically what dahamsta said:

Quote:

Originally Posted by dahamsta

Moved all my banking from the incompetent useless muppets in BOI Douglas to the friendly and helpful peeps in Halifax in Midleton a couple months back and they gave me a Visa Debit card, which is the best of both worlds.

Moved from incompetant, useless BOI College Green to Halifax College Green and would recommend it to anyone. Not onlt do you get a Visa debit card (as dahamsta said, the best of both worlds) but the staff are friendly, there's fewer queues and best of all, they have proper opening hours.

I truly couldn't get over the BOI opening hours- 10-4 Mon-Fri; that's almost part time! If you work shift work, like I do, it's possible that you might not be able to go to the bank itself for 2 or 3 weeks, even when you need to do something important. Halifax are open 9-5:30 Mon-Fri and (joy of joys) Sat morning. Don't know how relevant that is to you, but for me that was a massive pro, even with internet banking I still want to be able to visit my bank.

To conclude, I wholeheartedly urge you to try Halifax.
27/07/2009, 12:01 PM
dahamsta

BOI Patrick's Street are a bunch of useless wasters too btw, that's where my wife had to move from. She moved her personal accounts to BOI Midleton, who're fine. Seems to be the inner- and outer-city branches that have taken in the brainless lumps.
27/07/2009, 3:08 PM
awec

My banking in the North is all halifax, the problem is that because I just recently moved down here I have no proof of address (no bills in yet) for down here.

The rest of the banks accepted proof of my northern address but the halifax wouldn't.

Not sure I want the hassle of completely changing banks, but I might open a seperate account with the halifax seeing as they seem to give Visa cards.

Anyone any idea why banks use this Laser rubbish in the first place?!
27/07/2009, 3:20 PM
John83

Quote:

Originally Posted by awec

My banking in the North is all halifax, the problem is that because I just recently moved down here I have no proof of address (no bills in yet) for down here.

My rental contract did me the last time I had to sent one up.
27/07/2009, 3:25 PM
awec

I have a copy of that and I'll get my UPC bill soon so I'll phone the halifax and see if that's enough. AIB wouldn't take the rental contract cause they said it had to be an official document.

If not I'm screwed, none of the other bills in the house are in my name.
27/07/2009, 4:02 PM
MariborKev

Echoing what others have said.

I was a student down here and had an AIB account, but moved back down here for work recently.

My AIB branch was Belfield, trying to mover branches was a disaster. Tried to open a new account with BOI Stephens Green. Despite it being a partner branch of my firm, it was another complete handlebars, and they would only give me an ATM card.

Halifax on Stephens Green was a breeze, Visa Debit card, staff are great. Saturday morning opening hours are the way forward(we have had them at home for a few years
27/07/2009, 4:28 PM
awec

Aye I can't believe they don't open saturday mornings.

And during the week 10-4. How rubbish!
27/07/2009, 10:54 PM
elroy

Quote:

Originally Posted by awec

Aye I can't believe they don't open saturday mornings.

And during the week 10-4. How rubbish!

Not to mention half ten start on Wednesdays for ah "training" :rolleyes:
28/07/2009, 11:00 AM
thischarmingman

Yup, on a bank holiday week, they are open around 24 hours the entire week, just short of 30 on a normal week. I work 40+ hour weeks!

And you can't go at luinchtime either because the queues are so big.
28/07/2009, 12:03 PM
awec

It's ridiculous and I have to say, it wouldn't happen up North.
28/07/2009, 12:17 PM
DeLorean

Would just like to add my support for Halifax. The main reason I left BOI, or at least the straw that broke the camel's back, was their refusal to grant me a Credit Card. I actually found them really good to deal with in the branch in Tralee but the powers futher up the line refused my application, despite a girl I was dealing with in the local branch fighting my corner in big way. I have a fairly steady job with regular income but I had missed a couple of those min payment on a previous credit card. Didn't matter that I had it fully cleared and had a healthy enough savings account with them. They said they would review my situation in 3 months but to be honest the way things are going I'll will only be earning less by then. Halifax gave me a credit card (with a ridiculous limit I might add) without even having an account there. Coupled with the free banking I moved everything over to them. The Visa debit card was a huge bonus, best thing ever, barely need the credit card now, well kind of!! Also open Saturday mornings and a better online backing facility. Tiny queues and helpful staff.
28/07/2009, 12:25 PM
awec

I applied for a credit card with AIB and they turned me down. Going to go to the branch tomorrow to see if I can sort it out.

My ma said it's cause I've never had one before and therefore have no credit history or something (she works in banking) and said it's unlikely I'll get one.

I was going to get one for internet stuff cause it's a visa or a mastercard, and then I can just pay it off within the 56 days interest free.

Would save a lot of bother.
28/07/2009, 1:09 PM
Den Perry

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeLorean

Would just like to add my support for Halifax. The main reason I left BOI, or at least the straw that broke the camel's back, was their refusal to grant me a Credit Card. I actually found them really good to deal with in the branch in Tralee but the powers futher up the line refused my application, despite a girl I was dealing with in the local branch fighting my corner in big way. I have a fairly steady job with regular income but I had missed a couple of those min payment on a previous credit card. Didn't matter that I had it fully cleared and had a healthy enough savings account with them. They said they would review my situation in 3 months but to be honest the way things are going I'll will only be earning less by then. Halifax gave me a credit card (with a ridiculous limit I might add) without even having an account there. Coupled with the free banking I moved everything over to them. The Visa debit card was a huge bonus, best thing ever, barely need the credit card now, well kind of!! Also open Saturday mornings and a better online backing facility. Tiny queues and helpful staff.

How do you apply for a Halifax credt card? Is there an 1850 number, because I havn't a clue where the nearest branch to me is
28/07/2009, 1:10 PM
awec

Quote:

Originally Posted by Den Perry

How do you apply for a Halifax credt card? Is there an 1850 number, because I havn't a clue where the nearest branch to me is

halifax.ie

You can get phone numbers and branch locations there.
28/07/2009, 1:11 PM
DeLorean

Quote:

Originally Posted by Den Perry

How do you apply for a Halifax credt card? Is there an 1850 number, because I havn't a clue where the nearest branch to me is

Try online. They will require some documents after that. Bank statements, payslips, proof of address, etc.
Halifax Credit Card Application
28/07/2009, 3:06 PM
SkStu

why not try a Capital One credit card, presuming it is available in Ireland...

when i moved here i took one out with a secured credit limit of $300 - you secure it by depositing a check with them. A couple of years later coupled with some decent savings and my credit was good enough to buy a new Lancer and now we're in the process of buying a house.

Just a thought.
28/07/2009, 4:11 PM
awec

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkStu

why not try a Capital One credit card, presuming it is available in Ireland...

when i moved here i took one out with a secured credit limit of $300 - you secure it by depositing a check with them. A couple of years later coupled with some decent savings and my credit was good enough to buy a new Lancer and now we're in the process of buying a house.

Just a thought.

How is a capital one different to other cards? I dunno much about credit cards to be fair.
28/07/2009, 4:23 PM
SkStu

Quote:

Originally Posted by awec

How is a capital one different to other cards? I dunno much about credit cards to be fair.

hey, its a straightforward credit card. Purchase and pay later.

The one i took out was secured with a check which is reimbursed after a period of time or if/when you close the card. Not sure if this is an option in Capital One UK but they do have the highest approval rate of any credit card company in the UK.

It is available in UK only by the looks of things - including Northern Ireland so if you have a nordie address you should be grand. Just put your NI (family?) address as your main address.

Here are some links.

http://www.capitalone.co.uk/creditcards/faq-all.jsf

http://www.capitalone.co.uk/creditcards/cards.jsf
30/07/2009, 8:23 AM
Wolfie

This will all be irrelevant soon.

We'll have resorted to Barter as we plummet further into the economic abyss.

Livestock is the new currency. And canned foods.
30/07/2009, 8:55 AM
thischarmingman

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolfie

This will all be irrelevant soon.

We'll have resorted to Barter as we plummet further into the economic abyss.

Livestock is the new currency. And canned foods.

Or as it's known in Donegal; 'business as usual.'