What are ATM, POS terminal and PIN?
АТМ is an abbreviation for Automatic Teller Machine.
POS terminal (for Point of Sale) is a special system for recording information from plastic cards in places of sale.
PIN (for Personal Identification Number, or PIN code) is a personal identification number (usually a combination of four digits) that must be entered to withdraw cash from an ATM. A PIN code is printed once and sent by special post to the card holder along with the card. Under no circumstances should the PIN code be written on the card or be kept together with it. We recommend you memorize the PIN code and destroy the envelope it came in.
The card is called a “debit card”. What exactly does that mean?
A debit card is a payment card that acts as an ATM card for withdrawing cash and also for paying your purchases in the points of sale that accept such debit cards. The debit card (unlike a credit card) will not allow the cardholder to withdraw an amount exceeding the balance remaining in the account (“overdraft”). The amount is deducted from the card account instantly at the moment of the transaction.
In my country it is prohibited to have a bank account abroad. Will I be breaking the law if I use my IntwayCard?
No, you will not. Your IntwayCard is a type of “stored value” card. This means that the funds you can manage with this card are kept in a consolidated (traceable) Intway account at the issuing bank. Therefore the account is not opened for the card holder directly, i.e., the card “account” is not a bank account in the pure sense of the word.
Is it possible to make a wire transfer to the card?
As stated in the previous answer, owning an IntwayCard does not mean opening a separate bank account, thus it is not possible to replenish your card with a direct bank transfer.
Is it possible to use my IntwayCard in CIS countries and outside the territory of the Russian Federation?
IntwayCard can be used for withdrawing cash at ATMs and paying for purchases and services wherever STAR and Plus cards are accepted – there are hundreds of thousands of such places in the world.
What personal information must I provide to get a card?
Information that identifies the card holder: name, address, date of birth, and any other data suitable for the purpose.
Can the personal information that I provide or data concerning the transactions performed be disclosed to a third party? If yes, under what terms and conditions?
These data can be disclosed in the following cases:
- when it is needed to complete the transaction;
- when there is a need to confirm to a third party (for example, a merchant) the existence of your card;
- when it is stipulated by a legal decision or control agency;
- when it has your personal written approval.
What currency can I use to withdraw money? Is it possible to take out cash or pay for something in the local currency of the country where I am staying?
The IntwayCard currency is the US dollar. Nevertheless, you can withdraw funds from your card in a local currency in any country where there is an ATM. The bank owning the ATM converts US dollars into a local currency at its own internal exchange rate at the moment of the withdrawal. We recommend withdrawing the money in US dollars, and making purchases at stores accepting this currency -- thus you may avoid losses due to converting currencies.
Why did the ATM debit me more than I expected?
Our service commission for a cash withdrawal on a card is $2.95. However you should remember that the servicing bank (that owns the ATM from which you are withdrawing the money) can charge its own fee for servicing other banks’ cards.
What is a refusal to process the transaction? Why would an ATM inform me that the transaction is declined though there is surely that much money on the card account?
Usually your transaction is declined when you ask for an amount exceeding the remaining balance on your card. In a case when you are absolutely sure you have sufficient funds, the reason for declining might be due to exceeding the fixed limits for card transactions. Keep in mind that every time a transaction is declined, your account will be charged a $2 fine .
How do I find out how much money I still have on my card? What should I do to account for the transactions performed on the card?
There are two ways to find out the remaining balance on the card and account for related transactions:
- You can use the link “Balance” on your account at IntwayCard.com. The service is absolutely free.
- Through an ATM choosing option “Account balance”. The service costs $1 for every review of the balance. We recommend taking a receipt each time you withdraw cash: usually it indicates the remaining balance, thus you get this information free of charge.
I don’t live in Moscow (London, New York), can I also receive the card?
Any person irrespective of the country and city he or she lives in can receive the card.
How do I replenish the card?
The answer to this question you will find in aspecial section.
Can I add funds to the card through another service? Can I add funds to the card from an e-account like WebMoney or e-gold?
At the moment an IntwayCard can be replenished only through our service. As to the electronic payment systems, any direct replenishment through them is not yet possible though you can replenish your Intway account with e-currency (free-of-charge and instantly), and afterward transfer that money from the account to the card.
How long does it take the funds to be added to the card?
Since the card is replenished manually in order to provide more secure transactions, it may take 1 to 3 working days.
How much money can I keep on the card or withdraw from it?
The limit on the amount kept on the card is $4999 per card. There are also limits for adding funds ($500 per deposit, maximum 5 deposits per day, thus a daily total maximum deposit of $2500) and maximum daily withdrawal amount ($1200). Please bear in mind that the limits on withdrawals also depend on the servicing bank of the ATM, and even on the actual ATM machine (it might not have enough money or the right denominations). The maximum number of purchases you may make in a day at POS terminals is 8. The maximum amount you may spend is $2999.
Can other people use my IntwayCard?
Yes and no. On the one hand, you can give the card to anybody because the cardholder’s name does not appear on the card. On the other hand, there is a space for your signature on the card. If someone else is using your card he or she can be asked to sign a receipt to verify the similarity of their signature to the one on the card – this should always be taken into account. Apart from this, you shouldn’t forget that as the card holder you bear complete responsibility for all the transactions performed with it.
Nevertheless, ATM cash withdrawals by other people have no restrictions.
How can I send money with IntwayCard to friends or relatives in another country?
You can buy any number of cards in your Intway account, add funds to them and send them to your friends or relatives by post. You can also make a card-to-card transfer (the service cost is $2,50, the minimum transfer amount is $10).
What is the security protection level of IntwayCard?
It is even more secure than a credit card. First, nobody can use it without the PIN code. Second, the maximum risk that you bear if the card is stolen is the loss of the money on it (but not in the whole bank account as is the case with a bank card). Third, your PIN code is not encrypted on the magnetic strip; consequently an abuser could not find it out using special equipment. Moreover, if you believe that your PIN code has become known to anyone else, you can change it through the management interface of your IntwayCard.
Can my IntwayCard be used to pay for Internet purchases? Can it be used when registering for PayPal and similar web systems, or participating in Internet auctions?
You cannot pay for your purchases on outside services. However, IntwayCard is accepted and will be accepted as a means for payment on all Intway system websites. PayPal, Internet auctions and similar web systems, are outside Intway services and you will not be able to use your IntwayCard for them.
Will I be able to pay with IntwayCard at any point of sale?
It depends on whether the POS terminal has a special device for entering PIN codes – a PIN Pad. Without the PIN Pad it is impossible to pay with the card.
An ATM doesn’t want to accept the card although it shows the STAR and Plus logos.
It happens sometimes that other banks’ ATMs do not recognize the card. There is nothing abnormal in such a situation, we recommend you find another ATM and try to withdraw money from it.
Question:
Is it possible to cancel the card and receive the remaining balance?
Answer:
This is not possible
If you have not found an answer to your question in this section, you are welcome to contact an Intway business member. (Contacts).