Myths and Truth about Cards

There is a belief that...
When paying with a card:

a commission has to be paid;
it is not true - the buyer does not pay a single santims in commission for purchases. If you want to know what procedure applies to purchases abroad, ask your bank.

there is a possibility that the card will not be accepted and the purchase will have to be left at the outlet;
The possibility that an outlet will not accept a card is possible only if the card's validity term has expired, it is registered as stolen, there is no money on the card or the card user is not the card holder as specified on the card. The possibility that it will be refused to accept a card due to technical reasons is 0.5%.

it is hard to keep track of one's expenses;
When a payment card is used for payment, a copy of the receipt, which certifies the amount of purchase, is printed from the POS terminal. If the merchant does not give a copy of the receipt to the buyer, he latter has the right to demand and receive it. By saving copies of receipts, a card user can keep track of one’s expenses within a particular period. Another way how to find out your account balance is to use the free service at ATMs – account balance inquiry, which can be done at ATMs of your or another bank.

The seller might charge more money than required;
Every transaction with a card has to be verified with the card user’s signature for magnetic-strip cards or by entering a PIN code upon a transaction if the POS terminal accepts smart cards. Therefore, smart card technologies are justly regarded as a safer way how to prevent fraudulent actions. However, if a card user has reasonable suspicions that fraudulent actions have been carried out with his or her card or that somebody has used the card for payments or cash withdrawal at ATM, the card user has to file a claim to his or her bank and, if necessary, to the police without delay. Every claim will be investigated and, if necessary, First Data Latvia will take part in it. If it is found out that the claim is justified, the bank will have to return the money to the client’s account.

the data of my card can be illegally copied and used then to access my money;
If all the security requirements are complied with when paying with a card (at an outlet or on the Internet), illegal copying of data is excluded. However, if you have suspicions that somebody has obtained your card data and is using them illegally, your bank and the police has to be notified without delay. Never entrust your card or its PIN code to other persons, not even to members of your family.

somebody might see my PIN code when I enter it at an outlet or ATM;
When you enter your PIN code at an outlet or ATM, make sure that nobody is trying to watch your actions. In order to prevent that, you have the right to move the POS terminal closer to you, ask the person standing beside you to step back from the POS terminal for a moment, or, if necessary, cover the digit buttons of the POS terminal with your palm. PIN code is personal security data for illegal obtaining and use of which a criminal punishment may be imposed – from 5 to even 15 years of imprisonment.

service is much slower than when cash is used;
At present, one transaction at POS terminal takes 20 – 30 seconds. The time can be also shorter, depending on the communications connection type chosen by the merchant - dialup or direct line. Very often payments with a card take a shorter time than acceptance of cash and giving of change.

if I block a lost or stolen card, I won’t be able to use my money because the money is on card and not in the account.
Blocking of a card if it is lost or stolen practically blocks access by any other person to the card user’s bank account, thus protecting your money and turning the card into a worthless piece of plastic. The card holder can access his or her account at the bank or by making transfers through the internet bank if it is needed immediately, or after a new card is made.