Credit card use in South Africa

hansi

If anyone has used a credit card in SA, do they have chip and pin or do they just use signature please?

jack7

Hi,

I've been to SA twice over the last couple of years and on both occassions we have had to enter our pin number and also sign. The first time we were in Hazyview / Kruger and last year Cape Town and the Garden Route. Unfortunately, we were burgaled last year and lost all our spending money so used the old credit / debit cards a lot.:eek:

hansi

Thanks. Sorry about your burglary. We are going to Durban, Garden Route abd Cape Town, so it will probably be as you say. PIN and Signature.(Belt and braces job);)

BugsyBrowne

Would rather drive through cape town than london.

sundance12

they get you to insert pin and sign. I spent 3 months in SA in Cape Town and all along south coast.

I have suffered from fraud and I would strongly advise to be VERY careful in using your card at all. I was exceptionally careful with my card and it was still somehow compromised. I stupidly made the mistake of agreeing transactions that they called to check which included fraud and genuine transactions and by the time I checked statement and saw error I was down over £3000 and I have been declined a refund.

Even if you have fraud the hassle of calls and worry and time delays in my mind dont make it worthwhile even if you get your money back.

I would instead simply use the card or debit card from hole in the walls take cash out and use the cash instead of using CC in shops via one of the hand terminals. I think the hole in the walls in the Malls or the ones with guards outside are far safer.

Or rather get one of those visa passport card things that you load up with cash and then use as as normal. Yes you pay for times ytou use but if they get the details its not a credit card so no worries. You can top up while on holiday as well I beleive.

SA fraud crime is rife its big business and its impossible to be 100% protected and just keeping your card in sight is not adequate as they can link extra cables to the machines which you cant see which can then be detatched and sent to fraudsters (saw a UK TV programe 2 days ago about it) some actual keypads used direct from manufactures to stores somehow have already imbedded a device which records all transactions and then sends a mobile call to wherever who can then get the data. So somebody in the factory is corrupt I assume - Amazing the retailer even doesnt know.

The crooks are very sophisticated and as such it is impossible to know if its 100% safe or not. Probably most are but the hastle and worry you go through if its one of the bad ones is not worth it.

If you do use it take a small book and write each and every transaction value and name of vendor and date and keep this with you. keep all receipts and store them in suitcase or wherever and check statement as often as you can using internet cafes or hotel internet or whatever. Once a month is no use. I was checking mine usually weekly or every 2 weeks but that was not enough to help me.

If your card is barred on holiday its because every store has a fraud score rating and when you use enough of them it adds up your total fraud score which when it trips a certain figure the CC company bars it and then randomly asks you to confirm a few transactions which may or may not be the fraud ones you then have to be 100% sure of all transactions before you confirm. (my CC company has just explained the process of how and why they bar the card) Rather defer the call to another day and put up with the barr until you can check things rather than confirm somwething you are not too sure.

I will go back to SA but will def not be using my credit card apart from car hire and maybe internal flights if I need them . Otherwise I will use one of those visa passport cary things (I saw a leaflet at the airport) or just top up my cash when I need it by using hole in wall and suffering the charges. Yes you could get mugged and you lose it but even if you lost £100 its not the end of the world.

Be aware CREDIT CARD FRAUD IS RAMPANT in SA as I have found out from many sources but after the fact.

You cannot protect yourself completely by just watching your credit card .

Use a different way to pay and use CC in emergencies only would be my honest advice.

BugsyBrowne

hansi wrote: »

If anyone has used a credit card in SA, do they have chip and pin or do they just use signature please?

Mate ask your own bank if they do a visa travel card..
Its so much easier they give you a phone number transfer money over to it anytime when you are there no worry about using your credit card then..
You use the travel card just like your credit card but unlike a credit card you have not as much to lose..