ATM cards safe over New Years<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Anxiety over the effects of the Y2K bug during
\nthe transitional period into the next millennium has prompted the
\nbanking sector, along with other industries reliant upon
\ncomputers, to take action.<\/p>\n
Aware of the possibilities that electrical and
\ntelecommunication systems may go down during the period, Visa
\nInternational reassured on Monday its credit cardholders.<\/p>\n
Visa International's country manager, Ellyana C. Fuad, said
\naround 800,000 cardholders in Jakarta had been informed of the
\nso-called millennium bug.<\/p>\n
"We recommend our cardholders use automatic teller machines
\n(ATM) cards while traveling or always record their credit card
\nstatement and financial records," she told a media conference.<\/p>\n
She said each of Visa International's 15 affiliated banks had
\nbeen declared capable of running the company's back-up plans.<\/p>\n
The millennium bug, or Y2K, stems from the 1960s when computer
\nunits were larger than they are today. To save memory space,
\ncomputer programmers used two digits instead of four to represent
\nyears.<\/p>\n
Some systems could read 2000 as 1900 and freeze or delete
\ndata, disrupting everything from heart pacemakers, telephones to
\naircraft.<\/p>\n
Ellyana said since late last year Visa International had
\nintensified communications with its members, assuring them that
\nit was safe to use the cards at banks, ATMs, restaurants and
\nhotels everywhere during the period.<\/p>\n
Mark Burbidge, the company's senior vice president, said Visa
\nInternational couldn't guarantee that nothing would happen during
\nthe transitional period, as the Y2K bug is a complicated matter.<\/p>\n
"But, we are prepared for all the possibilities," he said.
\n(01)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/atm-cards-safe-over-new-years-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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