Malaysia: Introducing Maybank Mastercard Platinum Debit

Just when we thought we had heard the last of the Visa Debit cards, Maybank is now introducing the Maybank Mastercard Platinum Debit.

The joke of the day lies in the fact that Maybank Visa Debit already has a cherry background, and here is Maybank trying to introduce a "Platinum" status card to the Mastercard Debit, where customers have already associated the cherry with the Visa Debit.... man, you guys need to get creative.

All black is better than all cherry.

Click here for more information.

Maybank: Limited Version "SonyCard" Application Approved!

Recently, during the Maybank Treats Fair at Mid Valley, I decided to put in an application for credit card. There were a number of credit cards on showcase, so it took me a while to decide which card to apply for.

Finally, the consultant then informed that I could put in an application for a few cards, and the credit card processing department will choose one that I was most qualified for. So, I decided to put in an application for not only the Limited Version "SonyCard", but the American Express Gold Credit Card as well.

After waiting for two days, I received a text message on my mobile informing me that my application for the card was approved!

The card comes with exclusive Sony discounts, extended warranty, sale previews and more. Among its features include:
* Free For Life No Annual Fee.
* Up to 24 months' extended warranty on Sony products
* Built-in Visa Wave feature: just wave and go!
*10X Treat Points when purchasing Sony products at Sony Style, Sony Centre and selected Sony Designated Stores

Anyways, as I had only just started working in Malaysia recently, I was told only to provide

• A copy of 3 months pay-slip (original).
  
• A copy of my job offer from my Employer (original)
  
• A photocopy of my university degree (which was certified, in my case).
  

I was told it would only take 3 hours to receive the text message, but in my case as it was my first application, it took about 2 days. Well, that was an experience!

Since I was away when I received the text message, and had only just returned from Penang, I called the bank, and was informed that they still had the card with them, and would be forwarding the card to my home-branch for collection.

Oh well. Better safe than sorry sometimes. ^^ Can't wait to get my card!

Maybank: Visa Debit Payment reinstated.

Previous to this, I was writing about someone having swiped my card.

Here's a piece of good news to all who haven't had any. Some time last week, I received a call from an agent of Maybank who told me that the amount that was swiped from my account will be absorbed by them!

The best part was that I didn't have to prove anything.. apart from writing a letter in..

The lesson learnt is that .. if you are in Malaysia, and intend to start a Maybank Visa Debit account (or at any other banks), think twice about putting too much into it. For even though the card may have many safety features, it is useless unless the human factors are vigilant in enforcing the protocol and procedure in checking that signatures on cards are matching.

Otherwise, just stick to the pin-based type of ATM card/EFTPOS. It may be a hassle, or look "uncool", but at least no one can simply swipe your card and use up all your money!

Maybank: Unauthorized Visa Debit Visa Transactions

On 7th March, I found out that my Maybank Debit Visa card was missing from my purse when I wanted to go to their branch in Uptown PJ to withdraw cash out. My mother told me to go home and check first...

Horrors beyond horrors, when I arrived home and checked online that my card has been swiped & used in unauthorized transactions by someone on a shopping spree across town on an amount of up to RM500!!

MY GOODNESS!!!

What was so distressing was that the transactions at the hypermarkets are manned by humans, and require a person's signature. It is understandable that the transactions at service stations were not manned, so no prior signature was required, but it seems that the transactions at TESCO and MYDIN were allowed to pass through.

The question I am asking here is, shouldn’t the staff at these terminals have checked that the signature on the transaction slip were to match the signature on the card?

Maybank switched their yellow ATM card to the Cherry Debit Visa card promoting the benefits of their "ease of shopping" and safety features of embedded chip.

However, but what I have realised from this incident is that although the bankcards in Australia have yet to be chip embedded, it was generally still very safe to use. EFTPOS is a commonplace practice, using normal bankcard for everyday transaction with the added security of pin-access to prevent fraud and unauthorized transactions from taking place.

In allowing the bank to switch from just an ATM to a Visa Debit card, customers would hope that Maybank will ensure that the security of its cards would not be compromised as it is too with the normal ATM card, as Maybank states on their website for the Visa Debit page info, listing among its benefits to provide “peace of mind with smart chip security”.

It can be seen here that the former Maybank Yellow ATM card seems to be even more safer as should these cards fall into the wrong hands, it still requires a pin keyed for any transactions to pass through, but the VISA Debit does not seem to provide the same kind of security. Further, even with an embedded pin card for supposed higher security is not very useful at the terminals if the personnel managing the terminals do not even bother to check whether the signatures of the cards are matching.

Perhaps Maybank should think twice about promoting the conversion from the ATM to the Visa Debit if that is the case as this will really shake the confidence of their customers in allowing merchants who have personnel who are not discerning, or do not care about the security concerns of their customers.

So today, attaching the printout of the police report I made yesterday, and my complaint letter, I sent in to the Maybank Mega Mandung. All I can do now is wait and see what the staff at Maybank will do.