Hello I have a prepaid card from almawared bank( MY Choise card), been using it for online purchases but everytime i make a transaction on amazon or on steam or any other online place they always take a profit of 2.5% from the total (according to almawared).
I dont know enough about how banks works.
Is it normal they take a profit?
Who is taking profit? The bank takes 1.5% from the SELLER, not from you, for credit card transactions. You may be paying a fee for currency exchange if the card is in LBP for example and you are buying in USD. But otherwise, there shouldn't be a 'profit'
They are taking the profit from me, and the card is in USD .
Amazon always take 1 euro for card verification while they verify it perhaps every-time I want to place an order!!
This is called authorization charge. But what is happening in my case is for example when i bought from amazon for 370$ after 3 or 4 days almawarid took 9.25$ profit, yesterday I bought a game from steam they took 2.5$ profit.
Maybe it is a characteristic of the card you are using. In 99% of cases, there are no extra charges for using credit cards. Your bank is screwing you.
Yeah it seems this is their policy, I know banks do not make profit like this but I wanted some explanation. But this is called a scam and would be a waste of time telling them about it. I wll not deal with them again.
Any suggestion about another banks I could have a prepaid card?
Ramnesia wroteYeah it seems this is their policy, I know banks do not make profit like this but I wanted some explanation. But this is called a scam and would be a waste of time telling them about it. I wll not deal with them again.
Any suggestion about another banks I could have a prepaid card?
Telling them about it won't change anything i guess, you probably signed on a paper that says that you will pay them 2.5% too.
Ramnesia wroteYeah it seems this is their policy, I know banks do not make profit like this but I wanted some explanation. But this is called a scam and would be a waste of time telling them about it. I wll not deal with them again.
Any suggestion about another banks I could have a prepaid card?
I work at BLOM and we have prepaid cards. They don't take anything extra from me when I use them, but I'm an employee so I'm not sure if it's the same for individuals. Al Mawarid isn't ehm, the best bank, so you're better off trying some other place. There's customer service reps in all branches for your card needs.
Thanks for your replies, will look into it.
@Ramnesia

I have a credit card and another card specialized for internet payments from Audi Bank - No extra charges on online payments. Been using the two cards for 3 years for online purchase transactions.

Happy Online Shopping ;)


eSurf - For your online purchases

eSURF Prepaid MasterCard enables you to do your online purchases with a peace of mind.

Recharge your card with the amount you desire:

Free of charge on eSGBL

USD 1 per recharge at SGBL counter



SMS Alert is a default option included but you can't use it on ATM/POS
dduetto wrotehttp://www.sgbl.com.lb/Pictures/Produits/esurf.gif

eSurf - For your online purchases

eSURF Prepaid MasterCard enables you to do your online purchases with a peace of mind.

Recharge your card with the amount you desire:

Free of charge on eSGBL

USD 1 per recharge at SGBL counter



SMS Alert is a default option included but you can't use it on ATM/POS
Do you know if they charge an extra amount with every transaction?

I am thinking about having a trip to these 2 banks Blom and Audi and ask them about it.
Above all else, switch cards. While you are doing this, call someone at Al Marid bank and ask them what the fees are on your specific card (don't tell them you have one). If the person on the other end doesn't list your fee, push them further and ask them if they are sure. If they say they are sure, then list your complaint and try to get the charges reversed. If otoh, they state that charge, just move on to another carrier. (you could ask them why they don't state it on their flyer, but you will get bs based on my experience)

Unfortunately, disclosure notices aren't as complete or clear as they are in other countries. GL

I do have a card from Blom also---they don't take any extra fees and I am not an employee either.
Ramnesia wrote
dduetto wrotehttp://www.sgbl.com.lb/Pictures/Produits/esurf.gif

eSurf - For your online purchases

eSURF Prepaid MasterCard enables you to do your online purchases with a peace of mind.

Recharge your card with the amount you desire:

Free of charge on eSGBL

USD 1 per recharge at SGBL counter



SMS Alert is a default option included but you can't use it on ATM/POS
Do you know if they charge an extra amount with every transaction?

I am thinking about having a trip to these 2 banks Blom and Audi and ask them about it.
I have SGBL account and an esurf card, they don't take $1 when I recharge it because of my SGBL account, plus I can recharge it online by transferring money from my normal account to esurf, and there are no transaction fees whatsoever. not even when the transaction is below $1 or above $400 (~$400 is the highest I ever paid in a single transaction)

They do charge around $1 per month though, for sms fees etc..
xazbrat wroteAbove all else, switch cards. While you are doing this, call someone at Al Marid bank and ask them what the fees are on your specific card (don't tell them you have one). If the person on the other end doesn't list your fee, push them further and ask them if they are sure. If they say they are sure, then list your complaint and try to get the charges reversed. If otoh, they state that charge, just move on to another carrier. (you could ask them why they don't state it on their flyer, but you will get bs based on my experience)

Unfortunately, disclosure notices aren't as complete or clear as they are in other countries. GL

I do have a card from Blom also---they don't take any extra fees and I am not an employee either.
I remember that this charge wasn't included in the disclosure or the flyer, even when I asked about it the first time that happend to me, the employee did not know about it until she asked about it over the phone.

How much do you pay for recharging the card?
Ramnesia wrote
xazbrat wroteAbove all else, switch cards. While you are doing this, call someone at Al Marid bank and ask them what the fees are on your specific card (don't tell them you have one). If the person on the other end doesn't list your fee, push them further and ask them if they are sure. If they say they are sure, then list your complaint and try to get the charges reversed. If otoh, they state that charge, just move on to another carrier. (you could ask them why they don't state it on their flyer, but you will get bs based on my experience)

Unfortunately, disclosure notices aren't as complete or clear as they are in other countries. GL

I do have a card from Blom also---they don't take any extra fees and I am not an employee either.
I remember that this charge wasn't included in the disclosure or the flyer, even when I asked about it the first time that happend to me, the employee did not know about it until she asked about it over the phone.

How much do you pay for recharging the card?
$1 if you do it via online banking if you have an account there--$2 by cash.
I don't think so cause my brother take it with him when he had a trip in EUROPE last year i put for him 500$ in it nd he spend all the money
Ramnesia wrote
dduetto wrotehttp://www.sgbl.com.lb/Pictures/Produits/esurf.gif

eSurf - For your online purchases

eSURF Prepaid MasterCard enables you to do your online purchases with a peace of mind.

Recharge your card with the amount you desire:

Free of charge on eSGBL

USD 1 per recharge at SGBL counter



SMS Alert is a default option included but you can't use it on ATM/POS
Do you know if they charge an extra amount with every transaction?

I am thinking about having a trip to these 2 banks Blom and Audi and ask them about it.
The Difference between me and you that you have bank account but i do it manually by going to any SGBL branch

SMS Alert is an default Option they don't take any fees on it

but i think u pay more than 1$ for the online management access i don't remember if it's 2$ or 4$ monthly

and they take arround 12$ per year for the card cause my card was valid for 2 years when i pass the first year i was charging my card they discounted the 12$ automatically under the reason of yearly fees

Hybrid wrote
Ramnesia wrote
dduetto wrotehttp://www.sgbl.com.lb/Pictures/Produits/esurf.gif

eSurf - For your online purchases

eSURF Prepaid MasterCard enables you to do your online purchases with a peace of mind.

Recharge your card with the amount you desire:

Free of charge on eSGBL

USD 1 per recharge at SGBL counter



SMS Alert is a default option included but you can't use it on ATM/POS
Do you know if they charge an extra amount with every transaction?

I am thinking about having a trip to these 2 banks Blom and Audi and ask them about it.
I have SGBL account and an esurf card, they don't take $1 when I recharge it because of my SGBL account, plus I can recharge it online by transferring money from my normal account to esurf, and there are no transaction fees whatsoever. not even when the transaction is below $1 or above $400 (~$400 is the highest I ever paid in a single transaction)

They do charge around $1 per month though, for sms fees etc..
does anyone hear about International MasterCard you can get it from Lebanese Bank for Business use it let you to add it to PayPal nd Verify your account even you can Send/Receive money on it