My brother and I never carry cash. We use plastic for everything.
I live in the States… but HE lives in the UK and Stockholm.
He must be a complete outcast…
I have read them, all of them. I’m talking about her specific problem and her specific card. I am particularly interested because it’s happened to me.
Thanks for your insight GorillaMan I do know what a CREDIT card is. Many people have had problems with both credit and debit cards, try reading the threads. Don’t be so bloody pompous.
Depends from bank to bank. The ones I’ve been a member of (Natwest, Halifax and some other thats merged away) the standard has been Switch and Solo.
I guess I’m fortunate that paypal within the last year or so has been able to accept the debit card - I was refused a credit card even as a student!
Also living in and out of Berlin for the past year, I can safely say that credit cards are not a common sight over there. EC cards are common, and usually used to get cash out of an ATM, and little more (although there are shops where they have swipers). I often get to hear my friends complain about not being able to use websites such as eBay and others due to not being able to use paypal due to the lack of credit cards and the like.
Well, thats my 1 pence (2 cents American).
~Nesyut returns to lurkerdom
:rolleyes: I was being pompous because evidently I’m not the only one who doesn’t read threads properly.
With regards to the Credit Card not being recognized…could it be that in the UK our year and month on the card are reversed? I have run into this problem before.
Signed up Englishman in Canada
I signed up from Australia using my Mastercard. The whole transaction took about 45 seconds. My bank has already charged my account. The USD$4.95 was equivalent to a charge of AUD$6.70, which is about the cost of a sandwich and a cup of coffee.
So the SDMB may not go under, but by the number of Aussie charter members I see, the SDMB may go Down Under!
Brisbane Australia here. I payed with a Visa debit card- I think it was mine. I keep a debit card with a few dollars only attached to it for just such pleasures. That and clooties.
And its obvious the tipple of choice will have to be XXXX.
I do read the threads, and usually correctly. If you look at BethCro’s time of the original post it was approximately 11 hours before she came back herself and said the problem had been sorted out. I had looked at the thread throughout the day hoping for someone to come up with the answer. Eventually I decided to bump it, and hope it might stir up an answer. I’m afraid your rather condescending remark ”Why would it be a problem “ when it obviously was a problem, both for her and me, encouraged me to post it in this thread instead. Then she came back with another post saying everything was now ok.
I’m just trying to explain the sequence of events, I’ve no wish to go to war over it.
V
FWIW, credit cards give you great exchange rates–usually better than the merchant rate. AFAIK, they don’t charge conversion fees either (unless your card is different to the few I’ve used).
It wasn’t clear to me in your first link to BethCro’s post that it was her specific situation you were referring to - it looked like you were simply citing an example of someone you felt was being ignored somehow. To be fair the Admins, it’s a little hard to expect them to have answers about why a specific overseas credit card is not working when they have their hands full with many public requests for various fixes and likely plenty of private requests as well. The best they can do is suggest switching to another card or asking someone for a hand.
In one of the other threads, someone suggested that some people’s banks may be balking at international transactions without the extra security code being given. If that’s the case with NatWest, it’s much simpler/faster for you to call your bank and find out than for the Admins to do so. And if it is an issue, I’m sure another UK doper would be happy to help you arrange payment.
Every adult I know in Ireland has a credit card.
You leaving makes the place have one less non-us poster. You’re helping your prophecy come true.
Oh and why don’t you at least stay till the 30days free posting runs out?
sunfish,
I linked to that particular post because it mirrored my situation almost exactly, which was why I was disappointed no one had replied. I realise that the administrators are very busy right now which is another reason why put that other post here- there seemed to be a current discussion on a similar matter.
I intend to try again to subscribe at a more convenient time. I have seen many reasons put forward in different threads for this failure with credit card subscription. It will boil down to my Nat West card or nothing though, (my son had an unbelievable amount of trouble with PayPal some time ago) so if it doesn’t work I will just leave here. I haven’t been here long enough to be addicted I’m glad to say. 
V
Well, I hope things can be worked out so you can stick around, Vetch.
[sub]And then you’ll find out you’ve come to the Internet’s version of Hotel California. [/sub] 
I’m in, I’ve paid! With my Visa Delta with not a single problem.
Now, I’m going to darned well make sure I get my moneys worth, so be prepared for lots and lots of posts from me!
Actually, I think this one should just about cover it!
Look, guys, there are LOTS AND LOTS of threads where people with credit cards say they are HAPPY to help out people with currency/card problems. Shit-o-dear, many of them have offered to freakin’ PAY FOR THEMS TOO POOR so if you promise to send them real cash money you are steps ahead. And if you send it in you amusingly colorful local currency you might provide give some cheap Merkin a cost-effective gift for his nephew. “See how this money has Edith Piaf/a boring and dead politician nobody has heard of*/a distressingly alive despot’s picture on it? That shows how much better America is than (fill in your country’s name here).” So could you people PLEASE quit yer griping?**
-
- Hey! I’ve heard of Alexander Hamilton and happen to find him VERY interesting, thankyouverymuch.
** - I wonder if I pissed off anybody so much they subscribe so they can continue to berate me after April 22?
It’s almost the reverse for me. I’m a Canadian Doper, and I’ve hardly posted here in the last year. I got the message this morning that the SDMB was switching to a pay service, thought about it for 5 minutes (after all, I don’t post much here anymore), decided to pay, and now I’m posting madly to make sure I get my money’s worth.
So here is a non-US Doper posting MORE.
Ditto. I’m a Canadian doper who was taking a break from the boards. My roommate (matt_mcl) mentioned they were going over to a paid service, so we paid and I started posting again.
I’m Irish. At $4.95 I think I’ll subscribe. It’s very little really and I think the people who run the board deserve some support.
I tried to subscribe the other day but they said my card was expired - expiry date is 03/2004 - meaning END of March '04. My new card won’t be valid until next Thursday. How will I survive a whole week without the NewPost function?
Oh well. I only have one credit card and I never use my debit card on the net. (I reckon one card’s details floating around in cyberspace is enough and I reckon it’s easier to stop a suspect payment on a credit card than a debit card where the money comes straight out of your bank account).
Anyway that’s by the way. Glad to see some of the names that are staying. I’m sure things will work out just fine…