Using a debit card from the US - weird experience

[scottaz2003]

Hi all,

Just arrived in country yesterday, set to move into my condo on Saturday. I went down to Harvey Norman at Suntec to purchase a bed and other things, but after trying to purchase the bed and it not going through, i'm hesitant to try purchases elsewhere.

I was all set, had my mattress and frame picked out, delivery set and was going through the purchase process when they started having issues with my card. We tried just about every cashier counter with no luck and i ended up leaving empty handed, with them saying they wernt on the right network to use my card.

It's a debit card issued from Bank of America with a Visa logo, so I had assumed I would have no issues. I've shopped at various other stores here on previous business trips and i'm able to get cash out from pretty much atm, albeit with fees, so i'm extremely confused. And it gets even more confusing when I look at my bank account online and i can see where two of the transactions seemed to process, one a debit and one for a reversal.

Has anyone encountered something like this? Is my best bet to get a local account through Citi? When i looked online it seemed that their was a monthly spending limit on their debit account

[nakatago]

Does your card have an EMV chip or just a magnetic stripe?

EMV: you can tell by the card having a segmented copper square.

The US is pretty behind the rest of the world with adoption of EMV-equipped cards. Massive deployment is only happening now. Singapore has already adopted such cards.

On the other hand, Singapore isn't exactly known for handling credit cards very well (don't even bother checking the correct signature) and it isn't far fetched that they simply improperly handled your card.

[scottaz2003]

It just has a magnetic stripe, no EMV

[nakatago]

It just has a magnetic stripe, no EMV

To be safe, I'd not use the card anymore for charged transactions. But to clear it up ASAP about transactions that happened anyway (but didn't really).

If you can, settle for cash transactions (since you said you can use it withdraw money) until you can set up a Singapore card for yourself.

[ebbtide]

I'm guessing BOA blocked the account, even if you told them you were moving/traveling to Singapore.

I've traveled for my company for 2 years and constantly have to remind my banks that I travel asia and that they should not lock my account. Every time they say they will note the account and not block it in the future, and inevitably at the most inopportune moment I go to pay for something and it's declined. I have 4 cards - two bank accounts and two credit cards - I carry so I can play "which one will work" just in case.

[scottaz2003]

I checked my email a few minutes ago and had a note from the bank for irregular activity. Called and cleared it up but i'm hesitant to go back down and try the card again.

I can get cash out but i'm not sure I can get it out in the amount needed (over $3k)

What do I need to setup a local bank account and how quickly can it be done?

I'm afraid I wont qualify for credit cards, my credit sucks right now because of some student loans i'm still paying off

[nakatago]

What do I need to setup a local bank account and how quickly can it be done?

http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/sutra594188.html

Moreover, countless others have asked about setting up bank accounts when they've got off the boat so you'll have to search for them.

[Strong Eagle]

For US credit/debit cards, you must call them and give them a list of countries you will be making purchases in. I've had to do this every year for one of my cards. But, once done, no issues, even in Laos, Cambodia.

[scottaz2003]

Thanks for the link, very helpful. I think i'm going to setup an account with Citi this week.

It sounds like my debit card issue was due to my bank declining and not because Harvey Norman couldn't accept it. I may go back down tonight to try the transaction again. I also need to wait to call BOA until their phone lines open, i want to make sure it doesnt get declined again and see what my cash withdrawal limit is

[zzm9980]

I'm afraid I wont qualify for credit cards, my credit sucks right now because of some student loans i'm still paying off

Credit records/scores are not shared internationally. Credit in Singapore will be determine solely by your documented salary. A letter from HR was enough to get me going when I got here.

You'll have to do what Strong Eagle suggests for your US based card. There are a few US based cards that don't have the travel security, such as Amex and Chase Sapphire (those targeting frequent intl travelers), but with bad credit you may not qualify.