Advantage of a Laser Card

Brendan Burgess

Founder
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53,770
I have a credit card and an ATM card. I rarely write cheques.

I just got the combined Laser Card/Cheque Guarantee Card in the post today. Has it any use?

Brendan
 
The only use I ever have for it is for places that won't take credit cards, but will take laser.

Otherwise, I always use my credit card or cash.
 
laser

Laser is less useful than the credit card as is is used in fewer places. If you decide that you need to have a credit card then the laser is really only duplication, for which you will pay Mr Cowan. My preference would always be cash or credit card.
That said, it would be suitable for someone who does not have the discipline to clear the credit card each month. The only other possible advantage is that I recall tickets I once bought being cheaper if you paid by laser (ie no credit card handling charge) but I cannot remember the details.

Also though you have the card at present you do not get hit for the annual fee until you start to use it. So you could save yourself the 2004 fee by not using it for next 2 months.
 
Re: laser

Hi soy

I have never used my Laser Card. I don't ever remember being charged for it either. Is that because I wasn't charged as I didn't use it?

Brendan
 
Laser Card

Myself & hubby use laser cards for petrol/grocery shopping/ shopping in town instead of carrying cash around. It's much more secure. I also use the cashback facility instead of making an extra transaction at an ATM machine. Also you're not as liable to get into debt as with using CC as you can't use it if you've no funds. We have also found it very useful when we travel abroad. Again we don't need to carry loads of cash and if you use it in a EURO zone you don't incurr any extra charges. When not in a EURO zone you can get the local currency on your laser. It's also handy if while you're away your salary is lodged into your account you then have access to this also. I think the main advantage is not carrying cash either @ home or abroad.
 
Re: laser

> I have never used my Laser Card. I don't ever remember being charged for it either. Is that because I wasn't charged as I didn't use it?

Yes - SD is not charged on Laser, ATM or combined cards under the following circumstances - the following applies to debit cards (e.g. Laser) but also applies to ATM cards. Cheque guarantee cards that are not also ATM or Laser cards do not attract SD.

[broken link removed]

 
wrote
We have also found it very useful when we travel abroad.
Click to expand...
It is not the Laser feature that enables [broken link removed].
 
> It is not the Laser feature that enables ATM transactions outside the Auld Sod.

Yeah - it's Cirrus, Maestro or Plus+ that allows for foreign (including eurozone) ATM cash withdrawals. Confusingly PTSB for recently started to bundle Cirrus with their existing Laser cards even though existing cards don't carry the Cirrus logo:

[broken link removed]
 
lots of cards

Laser at home, Maestro abroad. These are DEBIT cards, used to buy goods and services.

Pass machines at home, Cirrus or Plus abroard. These allow cash withdrawals at ATM machines.
 
laser

Unfortunately, Lidl & Aldi accept Laser cards - but not credit cards !
 
Apropos. Our Irish Maestro cards do not work at retailers in Germany. Benelux, Switzerland, Med countries, yes. Germany? I have never had any success with Maestro payments.
 
maestro

I've used Maestro in Germany, Netherlands and UK. No problems. Except that it makes it even easier to spend more money!
 
Aer Lingus and Laser

Aer Lingus will charge less for flights if you pay by laser.
 
Have a combined cheque/laser card. Never use the cheque part of it. Use the cash-back facility instead of ATM machines. Was useful during the recent Brinks allied strike.
 
> Have a combined cheque/laser card. Never use the cheque part of it.

Bear in mind that not using the cheque guarantee facility yields no stamp duty saving in case anybody thought that it did. Cheque guarantee cards are not subject to SD.
 
Re: Separate Cheque Cards no more?

It is an atm card too. I think the bank (UB) don't even issue separate cheque cards anymore. Presumably all/most of the banks have dropped separate cheque cards now?
 
cc charges

on the general topic of using cc vs laser on-line, i have found booking holidays with



you will be charged 2% for cc bookings, but laser attracts no additional fee.
 
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