Korean Job Discussion Forums

reluctant · Joined: 18 Jul 2007 Location: siheung, Seoul

Hi, I wonder if anyone can help me.

When asking for a debit card that I could use for internet transactions in my very local kbstar (with a shameful 'in-ter-net sho-pping juseyo'), they gave me a meastro card. However I can't make a purchase with it online or over the phone just yet. I looked on the maestro page, which just said the bank needs to activate the card. Now the prospect of going back to kb with this one scares me a little. Sorry to sound pathetic (I know I could write down a translation but what if the kb person still doesn't get it? I feel like they would prefer to usher me out - along with the inevitable language breakdown - as soon as I've stepped through the doors anyway) does anyone have any advice with this matter and/or any experience with using maestro in and out Korea?

Many thanks

Reluctant

Fresh Prince · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Location: The glorious nation of Korea

The card probably isn't a real debit card even though it probably says "debit," on it. It's probably just a cash card that you can use at the ATM and certain large chain stores that are connected through your bank's system.

chasmmi · Joined: 16 Jun 2007 Location: Ulsan

My Lloyds bank card from England does weird things here. It doesn't work at weekends which really scared me when I arrived in Seoul on a Saturday with just 40,000 won in my pocket and a debit card that didn't seem to work.

Some debit cards here are temperamental, they will do certain things at certain times it seems. Just experiment a little.

jackooboy · Joined: 02 Jun 2007

VISA, it's everywhere you want to be Wink

reluctant · Joined: 18 Jul 2007 Location: siheung, Seoul

I don't get it. Surely the banks aren't being honest when they say a card is a 'debit' one? Perhaps the lloyds bank card only works during england banking hours?

Has anyone tried the 'rainbow plan' at Shinhan bank? It's apparently a more foreign friendly way to send money to your home account; and as far as I can tell, doesn't impose a transfer limit, or else the limit is pretty big. Because for example if you transfer 2000 dollars a month, the bank offers a discount for this service. Now 2000 dollars a month is a hell of a lot more than kd star's measely 5000 uk pounds a year (10 000 US dollars).

Take care everyone

kimchi story · Joined: 23 Nov 2006

2000 dollars a month is more in tune with the rule that you can remit 100% of your earnings - if that is still the rule.

As for the maestro card - talk to the guy you remit money with. Usually those guys speak some English. Your post just made me think of this - mine stopped working as a debit card months ago and I didn't pursue it for the same reason you have cited - the language barrier. I've just been using my mastercard instead. If I wasn't going home in a month, I'd take it to the remittance guy.

boyne11 · Joined: 08 Jul 2007

blueskies · Joined: 15 Jun 2006

I have a Maestro card too and Fresh Prince is right. You can use it as an ATM card and as a debit card through stores like Emart but most stores aren't set up to take the card as payment...not very convenient unfortunately.

JJJ · Joined: 27 Nov 2006 Location: Seoul

I hear ya with respect to the KB card. They lied to me about it as well and after all the threads about it and the supposed new rules for foreignors regarding tranfers and using it overseas (not)...I finally decided to move all my money to SC Chartered bank. Best thing I ever did. They are a huge Hong Kong based bank, so none of the Korean rules apply. They speak great English, very helpful, kind and professional. And the card works overseas. Of course they have fewer offices in Seoul but as my buddy said, if I only take out cash about twice a month on average, I either go to a SC branch or pay the buck fee at a nearby KB, Woori, Hana, etc branch. What's 10 to 20 bucks a year for dealing with a great bank. Check them out.

lsrupert · Joined: 27 Aug 2006

HA! Yeah, when I first arrived, I had a debit card (the maestro card) through KB bank. I learned the hard way that it is only an ATM card though. I asked for an international debit card, telling them that I wanted to use it in the states when home on vacation. I paid the extra 2000 won, and was fine. Last summer, I went home and was able to use it at the American ATMs, no problem. So, I got another, and gave it to my parents.. they could just pull money out of my account rather than me transferring money. When they got the card, they couldn't get it to work anywhere. I came home this summer, and had the same problem. International Debit card.. you would think that it would work internationally, right? I finally called the only KB bank in America, which is located in NYC, and had an interesting conversation. "Oh. You cannot withdraw foreign currencies with that card. It's especially hard for non Koreans." What???? Needless to say, I'm not too happy with KB.

reluctant · Joined: 18 Jul 2007 Location: siheung, Seoul

So am I right in discerning that kb lied (to me and many others judging from this topic) in that I could transfer only 5000 UK pounds (10 000 dollars) in a year? Actually the guy (I think) intimated that if I brought a korean with me they would allow me to transfer more than that. I don't know if all this is dodgyness conveniently hidden/exacerbated by the language barrier or no kb bank employee follows a central company policy (with rules changing depending on who you speak to) - which seems pretty unbelievable. Does anyone have any experience with shinhan bank?

Thanks