Warning to Credit Card users

[johnny333]

Has anyone tried to book a tix with one of the budget carriers

I can tell you that using a CC to pay will cost you extra.
For Jetstar it is $8, for Airasia it's $16,....

On top of these extra charges, from Oct 22nd for online purchases you will have have to do an extra verification. Before the merchant will processes your order, they will request a verification passcode from you. This passcode will be SMS to you by your bank. Once you receive this SMS you will have 60 seconds to type it online.

Someone at MAS must have come up with this super duper system
These are the same clowns that require you to inform the banks before travelling overseas, if you want to use your ATM or Credit Card overseas.

For people like me I have several CC cards & not all the banks have a record of my handphone number. In the past it was unnecessary.

I can foresee many problems .
What if I change my handphone number What if I forget to bring my handphone when I travel & need to purchase a tix. What about if I lose my handphone? ....

 

[chonburifc]

Umm... Though cc is the only payment method?

 

[looneytan]

Umm... Thought passcode has been around for some years already?

 

[syed putra]

can pay directly using your bank account for certain banks.
no charges.

 

[TeeKii]

debit card also can book online budget airline tix. For jetstar, if you want to avoid the Internet convenience fee, you must pay at any 7-11 or SAM within next 48hours.

 

[johnny333]

Umm... Thought passcode has been around for some years already?

It may have been around for years but I've never encountered before:o

When I called the bank they told me that some merchants "might" require it. However I've used Airasia before & never had to provide a passcode in the past. So it was an unpleasant surprise.

What popped up on the screen was a warning that from Oct 22 onwards blah blah blah So I think it is something new

 

[johnny333]

can pay directly using your bank account for certain banks.
no charges.

debit card also can book online budget airline tix. For jetstar, if you want to avoid the Internet convenience fee, you must pay at any 7-11 or SAM within next 48hours.

I have a Citibank account & I'll have to check if I can pay directly from that account.

It's just a pain because for years I've been using a CC & it was was very convenient.
This extra charge for CC users is something new Other things I've noticed is the extra they charge for a seat
Yes there is an unavoidable charge for the seat

They also try to get you to pay for travel insurance. Since I'm not flying Tiger I doubt I'll need that

 

[johnny333]

Umm... Though cc is the only payment method?

For Airasia they have more payment options available to non-Sporeans i.e. Malaysians, Thais,..

Spore is rather backward when it comes to choices of different methods of payment. So charging a processing fee for CC users is an example of an extra charge.

In Spore it's only convenient if you are paying a fine or bill. There's Giro, the post office, AXS,...

 

[roadrunner]

Singapore is just catching up with the rest of the world lah, budget airlines in other countries have been increasing their fees & imposing all sorts of methods to save money, from turning around a plane on tarmac to reduce airport charges to making you pay for everything. Using a CC means budget airlines company will have to take the hit for you using your CC (processing fee), so they pass that cost on to you now.

The extra verification is another "tie up" between Visa & your bank to provide online safety & security through SSL pipes from 3rd party sites like the budget carrier's website.

Informing your banks about overseas trip is also standard these days, if they see overseas spending on your card & you're still in SG, they will automatically stop it as cloned cards are often used by criminals in other countries.

You just have to organise your card usage a bit better, like use 1 card for SG only, another for business trips etc. it's no big deal, everyone is doing it.

 

[singveld]

sorry i dun go budget airline, the saving is not worth it.

 

[halsey02]

Has anyone tried to book a tix with one of the budget carriers

I can tell you that using a CC to pay will cost you extra.
For Jetstar it is $8, for Airasia it's $16,....

On top of these extra charges, from Oct 22nd for online purchases you will have have to do an extra verification. Before the merchant will processes your order, they will request a verification passcode from you. This passcode will be SMS to you by your bank. Once you receive this SMS you will have 60 seconds to type it online.

Someone at MAS must have come up with this super duper system
These are the same clowns that require you to inform the banks before travelling overseas, if you want to use your ATM or Credit Card overseas.

For people like me I have several CC cards & not all the banks have a record of my handphone number. In the past it was unnecessary.

I can foresee many problems .
What if I change my handphone number What if I forget to bring my handphone when I travel & need to purchase a tix. What about if I lose my handphone? ....

A just recent short weekend trip to KL for two:

By Tigers

1. Aviation Levey - S$12.20
2. Passenger Security Service Fee - S$16.00
3. Passenger Service Charges - S$27.80
2. Service Fees ( including Taxes) - S$72.00
--------------------------------------------
Total: S$128.00

The total fees itself is $128.00

By Airasia

1. Airport Tax - RM64.00
2. Fuel Surcharge - RM40.00
3. Insurance - RM21.00
4. Processing Fees - RM16.00
5. SKYB - RM15.40
------------------------------
Total Fees : RM120 ( less SKB & Insurance) S46.00

All paid by CC...which is the S$16.00 fees?? first time I am using Tigers Airways...looks like SINgapore side the fess sounded exactly like the PAP government.. ha ha ha ha what's security fees? hmmm the NS BOYS, patrolling the airport??

 

[Alamaking]

The processing fee lah Hasley. Anyway, those who have UOB ATM card going to Thailand, u need to call UOB to activate your card if you wanna use in Thailand, every transaction have a $5 fee

 

[halsey02]

The processing fee lah Hasley. Anyway, those who have UOB ATM card going to Thailand, u need to call UOB to activate your card if you wanna use in Thailand, every transaction have a $5 fee

I have been using UOB card in Thailand for sometime before the imposed the "call before you go", tried it first time years ago, on a Thai Farmer's Bank ATM machine right on the beach at Patong..just to test, withdrew THB100..the fees then was $3 & used in Bangkok, emergency an I know where the UOB ATM machines are, near Baiyoke Sky Hotel.

Recent trip have to call OCBC activate the card...but didn't use..don't trust activating the POSB one...because of DBS we have to face this inconvenience.. 'ptui'.. if not in times of cash shortage overaeas, Malaysia etc..just find any ATM with the plus ( not NTUC) logo...and just key in pin & withdraw in native currency..of course, one would know..pay the processing fees for convenirnce..that is what it is about - convenience, not having to call the bank, activate this, activate that...confirm by phone, send code...

might as well we go back to those days..change money from money changers..or use Traveller's checks!!:p

 

[yinyang]

to do an extra verification. Before the merchant will processes your order, they will request a verification passcode from you. This passcode will be SMS to you by your bank. Once you receive this SMS you will have 60 seconds....

2 distinct issues here:

1) Modus operandi pricing by low cost carriers (aka budget) adds up all the 'incidentals'. Be it fees, taxes, check-in baggage etc.

2) OTP (one time password) is for your security against possible fraud. Been around for ages (for many banks).

 

[chootchiew]

I am not sure about now, but few years back most travel agencies will charge extra if you used a cc.

 

[halsey02]

2 distinct issues here:

1) Modus operandi pricing by low cost carriers (aka budget) adds up all the 'incidentals'. Be it fees, taxes, check-in baggage etc.

2) OTP (one time password) is to for your security against possible fraud. Been around for ages (for many banks).

Is not complaining about budget carriers Opus Operandi...their $10 or more cheap fares you flight, when the cock crows or the bird is fast in dreamland, that we all know, but it is about the additional charges now you pay by CC imposed by the CC company in cahoots with the merchants..they share the 'loot' I am sure! that is the complaint.

As for the code verification that is going on for ages..now everything they want code

 

[Narong Wongwan]

sorry i dun go budget airline, the saving is not worth it.

Have to agree.... the liquor I consume during the flight more than covers the difference

 

[johnny333]

Must admit that I haven't been using the budget airlines for quite some time because of all the irritating "nickel & diming" tactics & problems with their booking system :o

I wanted to use a budget airline for impulse traveling. Together these airlines do offer plenty of choices on available time slots you can travel.

It's bad enough with all the airline security hassles now we have to add all these banking issues with cards & payments issues. Welcome to the age of the internet

 

[johnny333]

As for the code verification that is going on for ages..now everything they want code

I buy plenty of things from the US using the internet & none of the merchants have asked for a code.
At the most, they'll ask me to fax a copy of both sides of my CC & a picture ID like a passport.

That's why I prefer using Amazon they have never asked for a "code".

 

[johnny333]

I am not sure about now, but few years back most travel agencies will charge extra if you used a cc.

There's really very little advantage to using a CC in Spore, as most merchants will charge you that fee. It's not like in the US where a CC is widely accepted without the extra cost.

With travel agencies it's easy to pay cash. I actually prefer to pay cash because if you use a CC you still have to pay the bank & sometimes I forget & end up paying a penalty. Just hate it when that happens.

When traveling I always carry cash because sometimes the CC gets rejected. I've seen this happen often to some american travellers. The only place where a CC is really a necessity is at the hotel. They want to ensure you don't run off without paying.