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mutedtempestYes, this is a rant. I am going to gripe and bitch, which I realize is pointless in terms of rectifying the situation. But dammit I'm pissed off and I'm going to vent, so deal with it.
The funds in my new bank account with SEB were accessible as of yesterday. At around 11:30 the postman delivered my PIN-code, and I happily went grocery shopping and to the ATM. No problems whatsoever, and it felt good to finally have a Swedish debit card. I figured it'd be smooth sailing when I made online purchases from here on out, since I have both Swedish and American-based debit cards in my name.
I couldn't have been more wrong. When I got home from my shopping excursion I went to IKEA's website to buy myself a couch and a bookshelf. All was well until I got to the payment page...
SEB gave me a Maestro card with my account, which I was told works exactly the same as a Mastercard and is accepted as such at all merchants. Basically, the bank teller said I could use the Maestro as a Mastercard for all intents and purposes. I prefer Visa, but didn't have a problem with Mastercard and was just happy to be able to access my money.
However, despite being told that the card would be accepted everywhere Mastercard is, IKEA kept telling me it was an invalid card. I typed the number in several times to no avail, then called the bank's 24/7 helpline. After being assured that the card was indeed valid, I tried it again, to no avail. I figured that perhaps it was too soon to use the card online as it had just been activated that day. I decided to wait and try again today.
That didn't work, and every site at which I tried to make purchases says my card is invalid. SEB's helpline seems baffled, and I'm a bit concerned. Not so much with buying merchandise, although that is a pain. I'm more worried about when I have to return to the states...how the hell am I gonna pay for a plane ticket? Granted, I can always Western Union money back home and have my family put it on my Visa, but I don't think I should have to.
I did some Googling and got a lot of different answers about Maestro cards and their acceptability online. Apparently, they're generally used for youth accounts. My account is a student account, since it's an agreement between the bank and Lund and is all I qualify for without a personnummer. But gah.
I also found a site called Goyada, and was happy to read that they offer a prepaid MasterCard, available for purchase at any ATG agent. page link I was going on That seemed like it would solve things, so this morning I went to Coop to get one. Once there, the lady behind the counter seemed very confused and after consulting with her coworker in Swedish she reported that they don't sell them. Uhhhhhhh....then why exactly does the site say what it does?? I really don't get why it seems like I'm always being told different things by different people over here. Not sure what the issue is but it's really frustrating. If you don't know, say that. Don't tell me something as if it's fact when you have no fucking clue if it is or is not. That happened time and again with the school fiasco and I'm guessing it's a cultural thing, but criminey.
So, I'm not sure what to do. I can't seem to get a prepaid card and my debit doesn't work at 99% of places online.
This sucks.
The funds in my new bank account with SEB were accessible as of yesterday. At around 11:30 the postman delivered my PIN-code, and I happily went grocery shopping and to the ATM. No problems whatsoever, and it felt good to finally have a Swedish debit card. I figured it'd be smooth sailing when I made online purchases from here on out, since I have both Swedish and American-based debit cards in my name.
I couldn't have been more wrong. When I got home from my shopping excursion I went to IKEA's website to buy myself a couch and a bookshelf. All was well until I got to the payment page...
SEB gave me a Maestro card with my account, which I was told works exactly the same as a Mastercard and is accepted as such at all merchants. Basically, the bank teller said I could use the Maestro as a Mastercard for all intents and purposes. I prefer Visa, but didn't have a problem with Mastercard and was just happy to be able to access my money.
However, despite being told that the card would be accepted everywhere Mastercard is, IKEA kept telling me it was an invalid card. I typed the number in several times to no avail, then called the bank's 24/7 helpline. After being assured that the card was indeed valid, I tried it again, to no avail. I figured that perhaps it was too soon to use the card online as it had just been activated that day. I decided to wait and try again today.
That didn't work, and every site at which I tried to make purchases says my card is invalid. SEB's helpline seems baffled, and I'm a bit concerned. Not so much with buying merchandise, although that is a pain. I'm more worried about when I have to return to the states...how the hell am I gonna pay for a plane ticket? Granted, I can always Western Union money back home and have my family put it on my Visa, but I don't think I should have to.
I did some Googling and got a lot of different answers about Maestro cards and their acceptability online. Apparently, they're generally used for youth accounts. My account is a student account, since it's an agreement between the bank and Lund and is all I qualify for without a personnummer. But gah.
I also found a site called Goyada, and was happy to read that they offer a prepaid MasterCard, available for purchase at any ATG agent. page link I was going on That seemed like it would solve things, so this morning I went to Coop to get one. Once there, the lady behind the counter seemed very confused and after consulting with her coworker in Swedish she reported that they don't sell them. Uhhhhhhh....then why exactly does the site say what it does?? I really don't get why it seems like I'm always being told different things by different people over here. Not sure what the issue is but it's really frustrating. If you don't know, say that. Don't tell me something as if it's fact when you have no fucking clue if it is or is not. That happened time and again with the school fiasco and I'm guessing it's a cultural thing, but criminey.
So, I'm not sure what to do. I can't seem to get a prepaid card and my debit doesn't work at 99% of places online.
This sucks.
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no subject
Date: 2010-01-26 03:26 pm (UTC)With Maestro you can order stuff at home if you do the payment afterwards, using the invoice coming with the goods and use "bankgiro" or "plusgiro" at the bank's website (in your case probably Swedbank) - but you can't pay with it directly. Which is ass.
So what you should do is see if you can order stuff using invoice. Other than that I have no tips other than SEB should be fucked over real hard. -___-
no subject
Date: 2010-01-27 01:36 am (UTC)I guess I'll try the invoice thing. Still looking around for some kinda prepaid card since i kinda need to buy a plane ticket to go back to the States! :P
no subject
Date: 2010-02-01 01:39 pm (UTC)Are you allowed to stay or not or are you going home anyway? I feel like I haven't been so updated with you or the other Rhino's lately and it hurts my heart. :C
no subject
Date: 2010-02-01 04:02 pm (UTC)And I don't know yet! Haven't heard a peep from Migrationsverket yet so I'm stressing a little. It's only really been two weeks since I submitted the application but I think I might call down there tomorrow anyway. I don't want to get in trouble for staying too long! If i can stay it'll only be until april anyway, and I'll have to go home for three months then. But I can come back for another 6 after that, so either way I think it'll be okay.
And yeah we need to have a meetup or something soon! My place is all finished now so we can always have something here.
no subject
Date: 2010-02-01 04:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-02 08:38 pm (UTC)BAH! That really sucks. I'm crossing fingers and toes that you will be able to stay. Do call, better to see if they have processed it yet than be put on a leach. Maww, we'll all miss you when you have to go back. :C But April is better! Sucks you couldn't go back in late May instead, we won't be able to go see Iron Man 2 together (I mean, dude, you know that'll be fucking revolutionary for me?) xD
Yes, yes! Sounds like a very good plan. I'm still interested in taco night.