Visa electron card

From Bisnis Indonesia

I am a holder of Lippo Bank's Visa Electron credit-and-debit card. I had my first bad experience with this card when I purchased a ticket at a Mandala Airlines agent. While deciding which form of payment I was going to make, I was told that if I used a debit card, the charge would be 3 percent.

After inquiring about this matter and getting no satisfactory reply, I had to use my credit card. I prefer a debit card to a credit card because, in the case of the former, I can control my spending.

Unfortunately, the regulations for using the Visa Electron debit card is baffling. I debit a sum of money from my own account and for this I have to pay a 3 percent charge? If this is the case, what difference is there between a debit card and a credit card? Obviously, this 3 percent charge is really disadvantageous to debit card holders.

Then on Dec. 18, 2000 I failed to draw cash with this debit card at Lippo Melawai ATM. The other two ATMs I went to, in Panglima Polim and in Bintaro, were both out of order.

Clearly, holding a Visa Electron card issued by Lippo Bank does not help facilitate you. Instead, it means courting trouble. So, what is Lippo Bank's explanation to these matters?

YUNI TRIANINGSIH

Jakarta