Are Laser cards worth a crap?

Cellar_Door · 27-04-2009 04:38PM #1

I mean, what uses have they besides buying groceries - can you book flights online with them, or order stuff off amazon?

I have one from Ulster Bank

Sean Quagmire · 27-04-2009 04:38PM

Yes, they are brilliant

hobochris · 27-04-2009 04:39PM

they're handy for going up north. saves you getting local cash.

ScumLord · 27-04-2009 04:39PM

Cellar_Door wrote: »

I mean, what uses have they besides buying groceries - can you book flights online with them, or order stuff off amazon?

I have one from Ulster Bank

Aerlingus take DC. So do a few Irish online shops there's a thread on boards somewhere that lists all the shops that take them.

Burning Eclipse · 27-04-2009 04:39PM

Cellar_Door wrote: »

I mean, what uses have they besides buying groceries - can you book flights online with them, or order stuff off amazon?

I have one from Ulster Bank

As opposed to what? Would you prefer a regular old ATM card to Laser?

Quazzie · 27-04-2009 04:40PM

Are you looking for more ways to get into debt.

if so give MBNA a call. I'm sure they'll be only too happy to help.

Debit cards are for people who can't manage there money but still want to look successful paying for 20 benson in the shop.

27-04-2009 04:40PM

I use my laser card a lot especially shopping, you can buy stuff online with them, and paid for my car insurance over the phone with mine
Saves carrying cash around

Biggins · 27-04-2009 04:41PM

I find it better to use them so that the cash is directly taken out of your bank account rather than your credit card being hit and building up.
As others have said, saves carrying a lot of cash, especially if your going to buy something substantial.
I use mine way more than my credit card.

Spunge · 27-04-2009 04:42PM

If you want to shop online they arent great, only some irish and a few english stores accept them.

Seem to be handy for day to day stuff though.

AlmightyCushion · 27-04-2009 04:42PM

Credit cards are much handier. Pretty much everywhere takes them.

Novella · 27-04-2009 04:42PM

Cellar_Door wrote: »

I mean, what uses have they besides buying groceries - can you book flights online with them, or order stuff off amazon?

I have one from Ulster Bank

I loooove my Laser card. What's not to like? You don't have to carry cash and can pay for things pretty much anywhere with them. They can be used abroad provided yours says "Maestro" or "Cirrus" on the back and yes, you can book Aer Lingus flights with them but Ryanair do not accept Laser anymore.

Tech3 · 27-04-2009 04:43PM

Cellar_Door wrote: »

I mean, what uses have they besides buying groceries - can you book flights online with them, or order stuff off amazon?

I have one from Ulster Bank

You can also book hotels with some sites. Its generally very useful taxing a car, insurance etc.

S.I.R · 27-04-2009 04:43PM

i just leave 50 in the bank for smokes during the week... use the lazer.. people look at me funny but yeah, i don't need any more money, just enough for smokes so the lazer Helps

Biggins · 27-04-2009 04:44PM

Spunge wrote: »

If you want to shop online they arent great, only some irish and a few english stores accept them...

Thats strange. ALL the shops in my town accept them, all the shops in Dublin has taken and used it and well as England, and I'm just back from France where ALL the shops there accepted them.

You must be living in one weird/fussy town!

Cellar_Door · 27-04-2009 04:44PM

ScumLord wrote: »

Aerlingus take DC. So do a few Irish online shops there's a thread on boards somewhere that lists all the shops that take them.

DC?

Burning Eclipse wrote: »

As opposed to what? Would you prefer a regular old ATM card to Laser?

Compared to a credit card.

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

Credit cards are much handier. Pretty much everywhere takes them.

That's the thing.

What if I wanted a card solely in order to buy stuff online - books, plane flights, whatever - then a credit card is my best option, right?

banshee_bones · 27-04-2009 04:44PM

Cash back! FTW!

Tech3 · 27-04-2009 04:45PM

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

Credit cards are much handier. Pretty much everywhere takes them.

Agree with you but some people dont know how to use them. I always repay mine within the 28 day period of buying the item, avoids the extra interest payment.

Noopti · 27-04-2009 04:46PM

Burning Eclipse wrote: »

As opposed to what? Would you prefer a regular old ATM card to Laser?

As opposed to a Halifax Visa debit card. Irish banks are in the stone age when it comes to debit cards.

javaboy · 27-04-2009 04:47PM

hobochris wrote: »

they're handy for going up north. saves you getting local cash.

A lot of shops won't take ROI issued laser cards.

ejmaztec · 27-04-2009 04:47PM

And as I've oft said, they keep the chuggers at bay i.e. no cash - feck off.

AlmightyCushion · 27-04-2009 04:48PM

Cellar_Door wrote: »

That's the thing.

What if I wanted a card solely in order to buy stuff online - books, plane flights, whatever - then a credit card is my best option, right?

Pretty much so. I've seen plenty of sites that don't accept laser cards. As long as you set up a direct debit to take the amount out of your bank as soon as it comes in and aren't an idiot who spends more than you have you'll be fine.

Cellar_Door · 27-04-2009 04:48PM

Novella wrote: »

They can be used abroad provided yours says "Maestro" or "Cirrus" on the back and yes, you can book Aer Lingus flights with them but Ryanair do not accept Laser anymore.

Excellent. I didn't know that. Yeah, mine has Maestro on it. So that just means it can be used abroad?

Biggins wrote: »

Thats strange. ALL the shops in my town accept them, all the shops in Dublin has taken and used it and well as England, and I'm just back from France where ALL the shops there accepted them.

You must be living in one weird/fussy town!

Interesting. I spoke to someone in my bank, and she sort of hinted that Laser can't be used to book flights and very few stores online accept them. Hmm

Biggins · 27-04-2009 04:49PM

javaboy wrote: »

A lot of shops won't take ROI issued laser cards.

While I can't say absolutely not, I have yet to come across one that refused to accept the use of mine in all the shops I've bought items in.

What shops near you won't take them? I find that very strange.

Novella · 27-04-2009 04:49PM

Quazzie wrote: »

Debit cards are for people who can't manage there money but still want to look successful paying for 20 benson in the shop.

Oh yeah, you're only successful if you charge things to your Visa or Mastercard because that means you're grown up enough to handle a bill. Ooooooh.
It's a bit pathetic you actually posted that. Maybe you think paying with a card looks better than cash or having a credit card makes you feel great but that's pretty sad.

Cellar_Door · 27-04-2009 04:49PM

On another forum, which I found via google, someone wrote

"You should be able to use your Laser card online anywhere that accepts Laser. However, its Maestro function does not work online."

Huh?

AnonoBoy · 27-04-2009 04:50PM

ejmaztec wrote: »

And as I've oft said, they keep the chuggers at bay i.e. no cash - feck off.

Chuggers don't normally want cash though - they just want you to sign up your bank details.

Also - do you let them frisk you or something? Even if you had cash you could just lie (ssshhhhh.... I know they make baby jesus cry but still!) and say you have none.

Cellar_Door · 27-04-2009 04:52PM

Novella wrote: »

Oh yeah, you're only successful if you charge things to your Visa or Mastercard because that means you're grown up enough to handle a bill. Ooooooh.
It's a bit pathetic you actually posted that. Maybe you think paying with a card looks better than cash or having a credit card makes you feel great but that's pretty sad.

I think tongue was firmly in cheek when he wrote that.

Though I could be wrong... I tend to give people the benefit of doubt.

javaboy · 27-04-2009 04:53PM

Biggins wrote: »

While I can't say absolutely not, I have yet to come across one that refused to accept the use of mine in all the shops I've bought items in.

What shops near you won't take them? I find that very strange.

PC World in NI wouldn't take my AIB issued Laser.

Biggins · 27-04-2009 04:53PM

Cellar_Door wrote: »

Interesting. I spoke to someone in my bank, and she sort of hinted that Laser can't be used to book flights and very few stores online accept them. Hmm

This is true. Internet purchases at the mo have to be done through the credit card system.
However banking abilities are currently being adapted as we speak. American sales sites do accept their American bank laser cards issued. Its a matter of time when the Laser becomes more on-line usage.
The credit card companies/banks DON'T like this idea however for obvious reason and are trying to delay the current progress for pure card interest profit reasons.

Earthhorse · 27-04-2009 04:54PM

Yeah, I think they're pretty handy for making big purchases. And yes I have a credit card and know how to use it but I prefer to use my Laser card.

ibarelycare · 27-04-2009 04:54PM

Biggins wrote: »

Thats strange. ALL the shops in my town accept them, all the shops in Dublin has taken and used it and well as England, and I'm just back from France where ALL the shops there accepted them.

You must be living in one weird/fussy town!

I think spunge was talking about online stores.

I use my laser a good bit if I'm going around town or a shopping centre shopping, because I hate carrying a lot of cash and it saves running to the ATM if you see something you want to buy. It annoys me seeing people paying for a pint of milk and a pack of cigarettes with them though!

The downside to them is that I don't take as much notice of what I'm spending when I'm not physically handing over cash. I started writing down everytime I used it so I could have more control over my finances but that lasted about 3 days!

Are Laser cards worth a crap?

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