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THEY TURN 18 this year, but the grown-up Laser cards will find themselves off the market in a number of days.
From midnight on 28 February, you won’t be able to use your Laser card, as the cards are being replaced by Visa and MasterCard debit cards.
The Irish Payment Services Oranisation (IPSO) said today that if you try to use a Laser card after 28 February, you’ll get an error message only.
What about if your Laser card is signed up for a recurring payment or subscription?
IPSO says that retailers that currently accepting Laser cards for such transactions should make arrangements with their customers to organise an alternative payment method.
If you’re a business owner or manager, you’re advised to alert your staff members that Laser cards cannot be accepted from midnight on 28 February.
First Laser card
The last Laser file transmission will be processed almost 18 years to the day since the very first Laser transaction in 1996, said IPSO.
When Laser reached its peak in 2011, there were more than 3 million active Laser debit cards in the market.
The highest value spent on goods and services on the cards overall in Ireland was €201 million in one single year – 2010.
Last year, AIB and Bank of Ireland announced that they were to replace Laser cards with Visa and Mastercard debit cards which would enable cardholders to pay for some purchases with ‘contactless’ technology.
People with these new cards can pay by holding the card against a reader to pay for purchases under €15.
Banks have been steadily replacing the Laser cards with new debit cards, but if you haven’t received one yet you would be advised to contact your bank.
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Visa debit card is soo much better for me to manage my money and stop online purchases…. Largely cos I’ve no idea wot my verified by visa password is…. Forgot it completely….
sure why not: ” AIB Laser used to be connected to Maestro, enabling cash withdrawal almost in any village in the world for free. Visa Debet(sic) is far more restricted and not Maestro connected”.
He’s right though: my VISA debit wouldn’t work in the US at Christmas – even my old Laser -and (remember Banklink ?) used to.
er, discuss ? :)
My Visa Debit has worked the world over with no issues…. ATMs, in shops. Never an issue with it….
Exactly. I’ve used Visa Debit in the states hundreds of times and never once had an issue. Pull out a Laser card and see how far that gets you. Hint: Nowhere.
I used to beabel to use my laser in the UK but nowhere else. The Visa debit card works everywhere. I used it in Thailand last year with no problems.
*be able to
VISA debit will work in ATMs in NL and DE, but most shops and restaurants will not accept VISA debit here. Incredibly frustrating.
Where is here? Ireland?
Used mine in Myanmar in December with no problems.
It was a pleasant surprise!
Hated it in my more irresponsible and partying days!
You would go shopping on a Friday of pay day and you would think you were Bill Gates with all the money you had left after a weekend of splurging on booze, clothes etc only for purchases to start popping up on Monday afternoon all the way up to Wednesday.
Feckin thing!
Just banks creating more charges for themselves a pure racket!!..This is been done to tackle online wallets and for more transaction charges!..
Dear remaining Laser Card users –
Please also bear in mind you will have to make alternative arrangements to purchase music for your gramophone turntable and to travel on the Iron Horse. This message is also been sent by Telegraph for your convenience
Ok Fred, heard you the first and second time . Now go away.
I’m going to reserve judgement until I hear Fred Schoenmakers’ thoughts on the matter.
Quick quick get in a I hate banks post… Phew!
18 years? I’ve wasted my life.
Good riddance, shopping online with them was a horrible experience.
just wondering if anybody got strange sum of 9.99 on bank statement after a ride on crowded bus? should we love ‘contactless’?
Contactless can be used 5 times (MAX: €75) before a PIN is required, but to the best of my knowledge Visa debit comes with insurance against purchases made when it’s stolen??
Anyway as somebody who works in retail, contactless is long overdue and seriously needed! The amount of time consumed by people having to put in their PIN for purchases worth 60c or €1 is just madness! Get with the times is all I say!
I just moved to the Netherlands, and have to wait a while before I can set up a bank account. In the meantime, my VISA Debit cards are accepted NOWHERE here (barring places like IKEA etc). It’s the same story in Germany, most places don’t accept VISA cards. It’s incredibly frustrating, as Laser cards used to work everywhere in Europe.
Frustrating indeed, Grainne. I live in the Netherlands. Paying by Visa can be hard to use unless you are in one of the major cities. Most daily transactions are carried out with a standard debit bank card linled to a Dutch bank account. Cash used to be a big thing here, but it’s changed dramatically to card. Even for a purchase of a euro or two. Most supermarkets won’t accept Visa cards. I have an AIB Visa debit card. Works okay for ATM bank withdrawals here, or online purchase, but forget it for over-the-counter payments.
I was in Germany in September and it was accepted in most places. Granted, cash is king in Germany but the places that do accept cards will accept Visa Debit.
I live in Germany and they have their own laser type card called EC card accepted most places and very convenient to have . Visa is accepted almost nowhere.
Fred, Mike, colonel.
AIB Laser used to be connected to Maestro, enabling cash withdrawal almost any village in the world for free. Visa Debit is far more restrand not Maestro connected.
AIB laser, Maestro, village, VISA debet etc
Contactless cash card one step closer to the microchip in the hand.Revelation13….16to18
Well Spotted Frank….this is more evidence of the mighty plan……knew there was something amiss about it all when they peeked in 2011 …… and have been decommisioned. Do you see the connection with the contactless 15 euro limit. obviously an amount that directly relates to the 15th apostle lazarus the invisible apostle…. revelation 21…..12.99 ….it upon us! how long though before the ‘chosen’ ones are able to use their contactless machines on us without reference.
AIB Laser used to be connected to Maestro, enabling cash withdrawal almost in any village in the world for free. Visa Debet is far more restricted and not Maestro connected.
Feck off Fred!!
Not meaning to sound rude but this was difficult to read, sentence structure, spelling and quotation seems to have been ignored which gives me two possible reasons. One: The article was rushed in an attempt to be first. Two: Your editor isn’t checking the articles before publishing and is following too close to the Huffington Post model of aggregation of most news articles from external sources.
You have bitterly failed in your attempt to not sound rude, but at least you meant well.
“my card didnt work online boo hoo” stupid first world problems!
Anybody use Skrill, moneybookers, neteller for online transactions??..with laser it was free to send money from bank acc to online acc. Now conveniently enough with my visa debit I get a nice little charge!!
Was only good for shopping in this country, but worse than useless once you went abroad, and you couldn’t use it online for the likes of eBay or Amazon.
A laser card was always like a credit card…. Accept if u had nothing in it u couldn’t use it, that was the only difference, I think lol
1. Except*
2. A laser card was just like a credit card, in that it was similar sized and shaped and was involved in the usage of money. Other than that it was absolutely nothing like a credit card.
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