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Q: I want to get a credit card. Can someone help me?
I'm sure that some of you know it's next to impossible for a Westerner to get a VISA or MasterCard credit card here. :(
* So, can I get a JCB (I don't know what those letters mean. ?),Maestro or Solo credit card here? VERY frustrating! :(
* Please provide as much information as possible.
Thank you!
11 years 39 weeks ago in Money & Banking - China
The only kind of credit card you can get here is a 'secured' credit card. Which basically means that the money you put into the card is the balance of the card. (Does that make sense?)
You can get one at any of the major banks. They act like a normal credit card, with the exception that you have to put money in the card before you can buy anything with it.
LAR:
Thank you John. ** "secured" credit card..okay..yes,that makes sense. ** Okay, so again I'm asking..can I get one of the cards that I mentioned in my OP today? ** Maestro,JCB or Solo? Pls. reply ASAP.
LAR
Xpat.John:
Unfortunately, I do not know of any of the cards you mentioned. I have never got a Chinese credit card before. Either I use cash, or I use my ATM card, which in my opinion works just as well as a secured card.
If you want a card that you can use around the world go to Citibank or HSBC.
LAR:
Hi brisguy,
Yes, I've thought of those banks..but I'm waaaaaaay up in NE China. (DaQing) I have no idea where those banks are located closest to me. ?? * Harbin? BeiJing? ?
You can apply very easily for an international MasterCard in ABC Daqing, I got it within a week. It is important that you know that my salary account is in ABC as well so maybe that made it easier. I had a colleague to help me through the process but nothing difficult.
LAR:
Hi Daniel,
Wow, that's great that you were able to get a MasterCard credit card through ABC Bank here in DaQing. * Can you please mention to your colleague that I teach at Northeast Petroleum University and I want to apply for the same credit card? * Can you please ask him to call that bank and ask if I would qualify? I've had an account with China Construction Bank for over a year. * Also, please ask him to inquire if I would qualify for a Maestro,JCB or Solo credit card?
Thank you so much!
LAR
danielmarino:
My colleague just works with me. You may ask any of your Chinese friends to help you with the translation, that is actually everything my friend did.
LAR: in credit card lingo, the companies that issue credit cards are VISA, MasterCard, Dinners, American Express, etc. what you refer as Maestro, Solo, JBC, etc are the electronic interlinks used by banks to communicate with each other in processing credit card charges. The same as UnionPay, which is the name of the interlink working in China, and the only one Chinese banks are allowed to use, so if you wish a local credit card, it will have the UnionPay logo, not Maestro, JBC, Solo or any of the many other existing.
In summary, Chinese credit cards all work thru UnionPay, which in turn may have working agreements with other foreign based interlinks. If the card is issued outside China, then other interlinks will be used depending on bank issuing the card and interlink they use. for example, VISA is the Visa Interlink, Maestro is mostly used by MasterCard.
