Discover no FTF but can't use anywhere It seems??

[UncleB]

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@Open123 wrote:

Ah, Discover is farily accepted in Asia, not to the extent of, say, Visa or MC.  Also, in Asia, Discover works on Union Pay and JCB Terminals, though the Merchants may not be aware of it.

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It would be so much easier if Discover would just put the emblems on the back of the card, like they do with Diner's Club. 

I imagine folks from Asia with JCB or Union Pay cards have similar problems here, since most clerks (outside of the hospitality industry) won't be aware they can be run as Discover.  Add in a language barrier, and it can get pretty challenging.

[Open123]

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@UncleB wrote:

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@Open123 wrote:

Ah, Discover is farily accepted in Asia, not to the extent of, say, Visa or MC.  Also, in Asia, Discover works on Union Pay and JCB Terminals, though the Merchants may not be aware of it.

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It would be so much easier if Discover would just put the emblems on the back of the card, like they do with Diner's Club. 

I imagine folks from Asia with JCB or Union Pay cards have similar problems here, since most clerks (outside of the hospitality industry) won't be aware they can be run as Discover.  Add in a language barrier, and it can get pretty challenging.

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It's certainly a challenge, given the regions different views on the "customer is always right" adage.

It usually, goes something like this:

Me:  Can you try it?

SE Asian Merchant:  No.

Me:  Please?

SE Asian Merchant:  No.

Me:  May I confer with your Manager?

SE Asian Merchant:  I'm the Manager.

Me:  Ah, ok.  

However, one time in Singapore (as is customary in the region, all sales are final the moment the ring it up), I had left my Visa/MC/Amex in my hotel.  Only card I had was Discover, and the Owner just said, "don't worry, just give me *any* card.  We'll call them."  He had no choice, since the moment they ring up something, the sale is final.  LOL

By the way, Discover worked on this transaction.  So, they can process it, but most times, just refuse to.

[TiggerDat]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Discover is probably the worst card to take abroad. They claim you can use it in China, but most merchants won't accept it. Discover works on the UnionPay network, but since it doesn't have the UnionPay logo many merchants won't even swipe it.

It is also relatively worthless in Japan, since many places don't take credit cards to begin with.

Stick to Visa and MC instead.

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Ha ha, I use it everywhere in China!  It is more widely accepted there than Visa or MC, actually!  The issue isn't acceptance by the business, but by the person doing the transaction!  You kinda have to force some of them to take it!  If you can't speak the language and no one around you speaks English, then try using an OK with your hand and a swiping motion while shaking your head yes. 

One thing about the Union Pay network and China is that Hong Kong is not really China....  It is, but it isn't.  For some reason in HK, they don't take Discover at Union Pay locations, probably some reason about it not being equal as the mainland and some regulation. 

I had a waiter that told me I couldn't use my Discover card and I informed him I could.  He said no, I said yes, he said no, I said just try.  He came back and apologized and gave me my receipt to sign.   You just have to push them sometimes.  (Some times you actually have to basically force them, they are a very rules orientated society by culture, so they don't handle something they haven't been informed on well enough too easily.)  I have used it at hotels which don't say Discover or Diners on the door and at stores, restaurants, little shops, and just about everywhere.  Some take it and don't even look at the card, others say no, occasionally some say they will try.  The only time it has not worked for me, was when Discover placed a fraud alert on my card.  For that I simply had to call in and have it removed.

In other areas where you go to use it, tell them to try, make up an excuse, you might find it will work.  Some places don't know they take Diners. 

It might not be as widely accepted in some parts of the world, but I always try to use it first.  The most annoying place to not accept it is Hong Kong, since you would think that Diners Club would accepted there, and the Union Pay aspect....

[Callandra]

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@Open123 wrote:

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@UncleB wrote:

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@Open123 wrote:

Ah, Discover is farily accepted in Asia, not to the extent of, say, Visa or MC.  Also, in Asia, Discover works on Union Pay and JCB Terminals, though the Merchants may not be aware of it.

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It would be so much easier if Discover would just put the emblems on the back of the card, like they do with Diner's Club. 

I imagine folks from Asia with JCB or Union Pay cards have similar problems here, since most clerks (outside of the hospitality industry) won't be aware they can be run as Discover.  Add in a language barrier, and it can get pretty challenging.

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It's certainly a challenge, given the regions different views on the "customer is always right" adage.

It usually, goes something like this:

Me:  Can you try it?

SE Asian Merchant:  No.

Me:  Please?

SE Asian Merchant:  No.

Me:  May I confer with your Manager?

SE Asian Merchant:  I'm the Manager.

Me:  Ah, ok.  

However, one time in Singapore (as is customary in the region, all sales are final the moment the ring it up), I had left my Visa/MC/Amex in my hotel.  Only card I had was Discover, and the Owner just said, "don't worry, just give me *any* card.  We'll call them."  He had no choice, since the moment they ring up something, the sale is final.  LOL

By the way, Discover worked on this transaction.  So, they can process it, but most times, just refuse to.

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Okay, that made me laugh out loud. I'm having flash backs to my days of living in Japan. 

I don't know about the rest of Asia, but if your'e going to Japan, just bring Traveler's Checks and expect to use mostly cash. If you want to bring a card, bring a Visa and don't expect to use it too much outside your hotel and maybe some big restaurants. For some reason, using non-Japan issued cards in Japan tends to be a hassle (even if it's a Visa); my friend who I used to go shopping with all the time ALWAYS had an issue with her US Bank Visa card (it would always get declined) and she'd have to call them every single time we went shopping at least once. I know my other friends have had issues too. 

[TiggerDat]

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@Open123 wrote:

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@UncleB wrote:

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@Open123 wrote:

Ah, Discover is farily accepted in Asia, not to the extent of, say, Visa or MC.  Also, in Asia, Discover works on Union Pay and JCB Terminals, though the Merchants may not be aware of it.

---

It would be so much easier if Discover would just put the emblems on the back of the card, like they do with Diner's Club. 

I imagine folks from Asia with JCB or Union Pay cards have similar problems here, since most clerks (outside of the hospitality industry) won't be aware they can be run as Discover.  Add in a language barrier, and it can get pretty challenging.

---

It's certainly a challenge, given the regions different views on the "customer is always right" adage.

It usually, goes something like this:

Me:  Can you try it?

SE Asian Merchant:  No.

Me:  Please?

SE Asian Merchant:  No.

Me:  May I confer with your Manager?

SE Asian Merchant:  I'm the Manager.

Me:  Ah, ok.  

However, one time in Singapore (as is customary in the region, all sales are final the moment the ring it up), I had left my Visa/MC/Amex in my hotel.  Only card I had was Discover, and the Owner just said, "don't worry, just give me *any* card.  We'll call them."  He had no choice, since the moment they ring up something, the sale is final.  LOL

By the way, Discover worked on this transaction.  So, they can process it, but most times, just refuse to.

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Wow, I have never really have an issue when I ask them to simply try and run it in China, it might take a little effort on my part, but I prefer to put that effort forth, as it might benefit someone else in the future.  Of course I never get waited on by the manager, in fact if I every have a problem the manager seems to be on break, out for lunch, off for the day, or some other excuse.  Once I did have a clerk tell me for certain they did not accept it, even though they did accept Union Pay.  I told him that is fine I would shop somewhere else and then he got a little snippy and took the card and said, "here I will prove we don't take it," and ran the card.  He ate crow that day.  One time using a credit card I did have them say they would have to charge me the fee they pay for credit cards.  My response was the same, I will take my business elsewhere and they took the card and didn't charge me a fee.  I usually find that in any situation in China that if it comes down to not making a sale, they will make the sale and quit talking.

[Grabiela]

I have used my discover all over central america and have never had any problem. And i have used it in south america and NO problems.

[taxi818]

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@Anonymous wrote:

My wife and I just got back from Toronto tonight  I was amazed that her discover card which we called to verify had no FTF wasn't accepted anywhere I mean nowhere not even yesterday at trump hotel having a drink but yet Amex which seems to charge retailers higher fees was accepted at just about every restaurant we went too why is this?  Thank god I have a cap1 card I burned 700 thru that in 3 days. I don't get why discover touts no FTF but u can't use it anywhere??  I mean it's not accepted anywhere in Europe I think Canada is the closest think to the states and we Couldn't use it at all.  Just venting but man it made me sit there and think this thing is just useless lets burn it. 

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Should always do research on your cards when leaving the country. Remember that Discover is the newest network out of them all. A baby in comparison. So international acceptance is not that big except in 1 catagory. they only came to existance in 1986 which is clearly in many of our collective memories. In any case. Diners club international which is owned by Discover is still accepted in most countries including canada. That is the network you shouuld have been looking for. and if they ran your disco on that network it would have went right thru.Hell most out of the country never even heard of Discover. so how can they say than can accept it? but if you say diners club. they will take it. just look at the back of your discover and your will see the logo. Sorry this happened to you.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

My wife and I just got back from Toronto tonight  I was amazed that her discover card which we called to verify had no FTF wasn't accepted anywhere I mean nowhere not even yesterday at trump hotel having a drink but yet Amex which seems to charge retailers higher fees was accepted at just about every restaurant we went too why is this?  Thank god I have a cap1 card I burned 700 thru that in 3 days. I don't get why discover touts no FTF but u can't use it anywhere??  I mean it's not accepted anywhere in Europe I think Canada is the closest think to the states and we Couldn't use it at all.  Just venting but man it made me sit there and think this thing is just useless lets burn it. 

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haha guess it doesnt matter Discover took over amex to be #1 in CS this yr with JD Power. not accepted in a lot of places in US also..

[takeshi74]

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@Anonymous wrote:

It is also relatively worthless in Japan, since many places don't take credit cards to begin with.

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@Callandra wrote:

I don't know about the rest of Asia, but if your'e going to Japan, just bring Traveler's Checks and expect to use mostly cash. If you want to bring a card, bring a Visa and don't expect to use it too much outside your hotel and maybe some big restaurants. For some reason, using non-Japan issued cards in Japan tends to be a hassle (even if it's a Visa); my friend who I used to go shopping with all the time ALWAYS had an issue with her US Bank Visa card (it would always get declined) and she'd have to call them every single time we went shopping at least once. I know my other friends have had issues too. 

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My wife and I just got back from Fukuoka and neither of us had problems with our Chase Visa cards (CSP and UMPE).  There were a few places that didn't take cards but we used them quite a bit while over there.

[zerbherb]

i can agree to agree. discover isn't useful for abroad.