Debit cards?

**portokiwi** · 4th March 2009, 06:14

Try the BNZ they have a BNZ lite visa,

I was told I cant get one yet as I have just returned from overseas..... (I am a KIWI) but my wife to be is Portuguese but she was able to get a BNZ lite visa

We both arrived to NZ on the same day. I earn much more then her but she can get a visa card and I cant. and she is on a work visa going for perm residence.
Mabe when we move down to Wellington and I get less pay I might be able to get a card

**Number One** · 4th March 2009, 06:26

You may not get a Westpac Debit card either given the 2 year visa thing. When I worked for them they originally only gave them to people with mortgages with them and staff (even though they were at the time advertising it on TV) Seems to have been relaxed a lot but I have a funny feeling that you still have to be a permanent resident.

The reason for this is that when the systems go down (which they invariably do occasionally) this card allows you to draw/spend up to 10K - whether you have it there or not...the chances of catching a system issue and spending that much is slim really but the opportunity exists and so for that reason they are a bit careful.

Anyway good luck they may have relaxed the rules a lot more.

**EatOrBeEaten** · 4th March 2009, 07:14

Thanks portokiwi, have applied for a BNZ lite- will let you know if they give me one!

number one- that makes a bit more sense I suppose but still seems a bit odd. Almost everyone back in the UK has a Maestro or Visa debit card that can be used online and so forth, just seems a bit bizarre that NZ doesn't have that facility :S

**Burtha** · 4th March 2009, 08:01

If you have a credit card & bank account overseas and they work with reciprocal rights to a bank in NZ then that may help. ie; Commonwealth bank in Oz = ASB etc.

**EatOrBeEaten** · 4th March 2009, 09:01

Originally Posted by Burtha

If you have a credit card & bank account overseas and they work with reciprocal rights to a bank in NZ then that may help. ie; Commonwealth bank in Oz = ASB etc.

I'm with HBOS in the UK, and they just got bought by Lloyds, so I might have had a fighting chance with NBNZ is the buyout hadn't caused Lloyds so many problems!

**Clockwork** · 4th March 2009, 14:38

Lloyds sold NBNZ to ANZ about 6 years ago.

**Skunk** · 4th March 2009, 14:40

Loaded seemed to have very high fees. I could be wrong but that is what I remember when I looked into it.

**EatOrBeEaten** · 4th March 2009, 14:42

Originally Posted by Clockwork

Lloyds sold NBNZ to ANZ about 6 years ago.

Does the horse know?

**firefighter** · 4th March 2009, 14:50

Originally Posted by Number One

You may not get a Westpac Debit card either given the 2 year visa thing. When I worked for them they originally only gave them to people with mortgages with them and staff (even though they were at the time advertising it on TV) Seems to have been relaxed a lot but I have a funny feeling that you still have to be a permanent resident.

The reason for this is that when the systems go down (which they invariably do occasionally) this card allows you to draw/spend up to 10K - whether you have it there or not...the chances of catching a system issue and spending that much is slim really but the opportunity exists and so for that reason they are a bit careful.

Anyway good luck they may have relaxed the rules a lot more.

Huh?

Getting a debit card is easier than replacing one of the peice of shit eftpos cards they give ya that shit themselves after the second swipe (or in my case just a month ago it still would'nt read on it's virgin swipe, and I had to go through hell to get them to replace it!)....

Most of my mates have them.....as they're mostly with shitpac for the so-called government package.....

I don't know of anyone who's been refused one.....

**firefighter** · 4th March 2009, 14:55

Originally Posted by EatOrBeEaten

used online and so forth, just seems a bit bizarre that NZ doesn't have that facility :S

It does, you just have to use the right bank, it's the one and only reason I still have an account at westpac.

All my other accounts are with national, due to actual service and the fact they bothered to put me onto the best package- unlike shitpac who left me off the package I should have been on, and had asked to be on for 4 years.....(government package) they even recognised me as "one of the navy guys".....true story btw (small branch in devonport- they recognise you after a couple of visits)

**yungatart** · 4th March 2009, 15:26

Originally Posted by Number One

You may not get a Westpac Debit card either given the 2 year visa thing. When I worked for them they originally only gave them to people with mortgages with them and staff (even though they were at the time advertising it on TV) Seems to have been relaxed a lot but I have a funny feeling that you still have to be a permanent resident.

The reason for this is that when the systems go down (which they invariably do occasionally) this card allows you to draw/spend up to 10K - whether you have it there or not...the chances of catching a system issue and spending that much is slim really but the opportunity exists and so for that reason they are a bit careful.

Anyway good luck they may have relaxed the rules a lot more.

hXc got a Westpac Debit plus card at the tender age of 17, with no income (he was still at High School), and with the bank knowing that he was heading off overseas for a year...to be a student, again with no income!