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Post Info TOPIC: Master Card use in Australia
Mobi Condo


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Master Card use in Australia
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Good morning to all, Should I be seen as being too nosy with this post, please dump this, but we are keen to know if Master Card is easily used across Australia and even REMOTE regions.

We have noticed that some traders have a listing of Cards which they will deal with and often have seen Master Card on the list of not accepted. However we have used VISA since May 1998 across all regions with out problems.

We have been informed by the shops etc. which refused Master that they do not deal with them due to the slow payments by Master Card, where as VISA is prompt.

Why do I ask? Well our Banking Institution has just announced that our beloved VISA card is to be replaced by a Master Card by end of this financial year. We hence wish to find out just how well served we will be by that city centric commercial move.

Cheers

 



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Cheers - Ian

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Also the older I get the more I realise I do not know.
brickies


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You may need to find another bank that offers Visa and say good bye to present bank .

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Peter_n_Margaret


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I have NEVER seen any merchant that accepts Visa and not MasterCard, either in Australia or overseas.

Cheers,
Peter

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rockylizard


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Gday...

My bank is also changing from Visa to Mastercard ... from end of March 2018.

I was a little perturbed but a bit of research has alleviated my fears ... well 99% so

See this - 

https://www.canstar.com.au/credit-cards/visa-or-mastercard/ 

Mastercard 01.JPG

Cheers - John



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jules47


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I have a MasterCard, that is a debit card - but can be used as a credit card - have never had a problem anywhere here in Oz - nor with buying on line, using it as a credit card (simply choose the "credit" option on the pin pad. That includes purchasing from overseas. And I don't think I have ever seen where a MasterCard is not accepted. Even in some more remote places. We always carry some cash for the places that don't do electronic payments.

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Blues Man


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Are you sure it is visa and not American express .We have never had a prob with our Master card .



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RustyD


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Be interested to see if it was the EFTPOS provider (bank or other) who was slow on the MasterCard payment, not MasterCard itself.

Always carry some cash. You never know when electronic payments are not available for various reasons. Was recently camped at a fully catered for function in the middle of a state forest 25kms from the nearest civilisation. One attendee was gutted that there was no EFTPOS. He had to do a 50km round trip to get cash for a beer and a burger.

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Hurls


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Hi,

We have used Mastercard all over Oz and overseas (Viet Nam & Thailand). Used as a credit card and to withdraw cash from ATMs. Never had a problem or a knockback anywhere including remote spots. 

Cheers 

Hurls 



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gwb


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Our bank just changed from mastercard to visa.
Geoff and Bev

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SouthernComfort


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Mastercard and Visa are almost joined at the hip, as others have said, if one is accepted they both are. Never experienced any issues with m/card either here or overseas. Some banks (like ours) are dumping the complimentary "companion" Amex card originally issued alongside the M/card. Had plenty of knock-backs with that one in Oz (never an issue overseas though) and it's disappearing in April. Won't be applying for a real-deal Amex card any time soon, who'd bother paying the annual fee!

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Tony

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 The moral: Focus on the Facts

 
Dickodownunder


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SouthernComfort wrote:

Mastercard and Visa are almost joined at the hip, as others have said, if one is accepted they both are. Never experienced any issues with m/card either here or overseas. Some banks (like ours) are dumping the complimentary "companion" Amex card originally issued alongside the M/card. Had plenty of knock-backs with that one in Oz (never an issue overseas though) and it's disappearing in April. Won't be applying for a real-deal Amex card any time soon, who'd bother paying the annual fee!

 Totally agree with this.

From a vendors point of view payment from Amex is slow and the fees are higher than any of the others.

We did not accept Amex when we were in business and I dont think it really worried anyone as most Amex users are used to it.

I have an Amex card issued as SouthernComfort explained above and I have never used it or even presented it.



-- Edited by Dickodownunder on Monday 5th of February 2018 04:59:57 PM

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RustyD


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I had a private AMEX for over 20 years that I used privately and on business. It was useless other than in 5-Star hotels. Overseas I could buy US travellers cheques that I then cashed into local currency to buy food. Then I got issued with a corporate AMEX that was even more useless (couldn't even buy travellers cheques). I'd kept my private AMEX. Just as well. The corporate AMEX was then replaced with a Diners after the AMEX was considered useless and too expensive with fees. The Diners was even worse and soon got abondonned. The good side of AMEX is that when I did use it overseas the AMEX exchange rate was always good.

It was the suggested I get a VISA or MasterCard, depending on which bank I used. Initially had MasterCard (Westpac) now have VISA (NAB). No troubles with either. Only problem was paying my drink bill on a cruise ship. The ship was British so the bill went via the UK and I got hit with a $50 foreign exchange fee even though I was billed in AUD. Had a big argument with NAB then the cruise line. I lost. Apparently there was something in the 50 pages of very, very, very fine print conditions. Next cruise I stated up front I was not going to pay foreign exchange. And I didn't.

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TheHeaths


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Never had an issue with MasterCard anywhere we have travelled.

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Regards Ian

 

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Wylie foxes


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Hi mobi condo. We're travelling from the UK and have used a pre load MasterCard for months and never been refused. We have a Barclaycard credit card as back up have not needed to use it at all since getting here in October last.
Cheers.

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Mobi Condo


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To all who have offered us their experience & knowledge here, a BIG THANK YOU, as we have a better picture of what is out there and feel a bit more at ease with the situation.
Amazing "family of info" here on this forum.
Cheers

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Cheers - Ian

I slowly realise as I get older that I am definitely NOT the fastest rat in the race.

Also the older I get the more I realise I do not know.
dogbox


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Blues Man wrote:

Are you sure it is visa and not American express .We have never had a prob with our Master card .




American express is the one that a lot of retailers won't accept due to the high fees

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