Visa Debit Card

A Visa Debit Card has the following features:
 

1. Debit Card number: A 16-digit number unique to the card. It is not your bank account number. You’ll need to use this card number when you shop online.

2. Expiry date: All cards have an expiry date after which it can’t be used. Don’t worry, we’ll send you a new one when the date gets close. You’ll need to provide the expiry date when you shop online.

3. Call Centre: Any questions, just call this toll-free number, 13 33 30 between 8am and 8pm, Monday to Saturday AEST or by using the number for Overseas Assistance also displayed on the back of your card.

4. Secure chip: This little gold chip contains your information. It is what we read, when you place your card into the Point of Sale (POS) machine, to know that it is you.

5. Visa payWave: Using a Visa payWave reader is a fast way to pay in-store, and you won’t need use your PIN if the transaction is less than $100 in Australia.

6. Magnetic strip: Some retailers still have old POS machines so occasionally you may need to swipe the card in the machine, instead of inserting the chip.

7. Signature panel: Make sure you sign your card within the signature panel as soon as you receive your card. Signing a card is required:

•   in countries where only signature verification is accepted
•   in the scenario where networks are down
•   a signature is required for purchase

8. CVV (Card Verification Value): When buying online or over the phone, you'll often be asked to enter the last 3 digits on your card’s signature panel. It’s an extra security measure that helps keep your money safe.

Using a Visa Debit Card can make life easier – but you need to know how to protect your money and your privacy. Here are some tips on how to beat scammers and protect your money.

Keep your PIN secret:

Select your own PIN but make sure it isn’t too obvious, such as these examples:

• Your birthday
• The date printed on your card
• Consecutive numbers (e.g. 1234)
• Repeated numbers or numbers forming a pattern (e.g. 4444)
• Your telephone number.

It’s important also that you don’t give your PIN to anyone else and don’t write it down and store it in an obvious place (such as in your wallet next to your card).

Beware of phishing:

When someone you don’t know sends you an email asking for your personal details or your bank information, it is called ‘phishing’. Sometimes they might pretend to be someone you do know, such as your bank. Remember, your bank will never email you asking for your banking and login details.

Scammers will try and use any details you give them to rip you off so the best thing to do is to delete their email straight away and make sure you don’t click on any links or reply to them.

Only shop at reputable websites:

Buying stuff online is generally safe and we will usually cover you for transactions you did not authorise³, but a simple rule to avoid any hassles is to only buy from safe, secure sites that you have chosen to visit.

If you receive a link or web address from someone you don’t know, the safest thing to do is ignore it.

Be wary of giving your details out over the phone:

Only give your card details over the phone if you have arranged for the purchase. Just like email phishing and shopping online, be very careful when it comes to receiving calls from people wanting you to buy something and requesting your card details.

When using a point of sale terminal or an ATM you will need to select between the Cheque, Savings, Visa Debit or Credit options to complete your transaction. When asked, you should do the following:

• Press Cheque @ ATMs in Australia - when you are withdrawing cash from an ATM in Australia, you should press the Cheque option to access your primary transaction account.
• Press Savings @ ATMs in Australia – when you are withdrawing cash from an ATM in Australia, you should press the Savings option to access your secondary account (only available when requested).
• Press Credit @ ATMs outside Australia - when you are withdrawing cash from an overseas ATM, you should press the Credit option.³
• Press Credit @ POS - when you are purchasing something while shopping here or overseas. On some terminals, this may appear as 'Visa Debit'.³
• Visa payWave - Wave to go when you see the contactless symbol on a point of sale terminal, you will be able to use the payWave option. After the cashier has entered the purchase amount, hold your card over the reader until the payment has been approved.

Remember, this is not a credit card even though you might be choosing a button called Credit. When you buy something or withdraw from an ATM, no matter which button you select, the money always comes out of your own bank account.