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Topping up PAYG phone at ATM. Metro Bank card doesn't work.

I recently tried to top up a PAYG phone at a Link ATM using a Metro Bank debit card.

Unfortunately, the screen menu didn't even provide the option of phone top up and I assumed that the service was subject to technical problems of some sort.

This morning I tried to carry out an identical transaction with the same outcome. I then used my Nationwide Flex Direct card and the options were displayed and the transaction completed.

I find it odd that I can't do a phone top up with the MB card but all other transactions are available. Is this a known problem? Various searches have failed to return any relevant results.

For the sake of completeness, I can't top up online as the phone in question is not mine and I do not have access to the account. A friend is in hospital at the other end of the country and the ATM route is, or should be, a convenient way of keeping her connected with the outside world.

Comments

  • pmduk
    pmduk Posts: 10,712 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    edited 8 January 2015 at 9:18PM
    I believe Metro issue Mastercards, it may be this is a service not offered by them. Do Metro bank state that this should be possible?

    ETA
    Have you spoken to Metro about the problem.
  • Fortescue
    Fortescue Posts: 60 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 10 Posts
    pmduk wrote: »
    I believe Metro issue Mastercards, it may be this is a service not offered by them. Do Metro bank state that this should be possible?

    ETA
    Have you spoken to Metro about the problem.

    No, I haven't spoken to Metro Bank but, being somewhat naive, I assumed that all the services on the ATM would be available to all the major cards. As you say, MB issue Mastercards while Nationwide use Visa so perhaps that has some bearing on the matter. I'll have a word with MB tomorrow.

    BTW Never had any problem withdrawing cash.
  • reclusive46
    reclusive46 Posts: 2,698 Forumite
    Visa, MasterCard and American Express all support atm top ups but the issuing bank has to be signed up to the service.
  • Visa, MasterCard and American Express all support atm top ups but the issuing bank has to be signed up to the service.

    Ah! The mists are beginning to clear.

    Thanks for that.
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