Discovery leaves traveller stranded in a foreign country

<p>Imagine landing in a foreign country and finding yourself stranded, without a cent. </p> <p> </p> <p>I never dreamt it would happen to me… but Discovery Card made it come true.</p> <p> </p> <p>How?</p> <p> </p> <p>I book a flight abroad.</p> <p> </p> <p>A month before departure I call Discovery Card to activate my card in the destination countries. Discovery assures me it they have activated the card.</p> <p> </p> <p>A week before departure I again call Discovery to double check. Discovery confirms the card is activated in the destination countries.</p> <p> </p> <p>I arrive in Europe. Insert card into ATM. Key in my PIN no. The machine accepts the PIN and takes me to the transaction menu.</p> <p> </p> <p>I ask for a very modest sum in Euros.</p> <p> </p> <p>The transaction is declined.</p> <p> </p> <p>Try again, this time asking for an even smaller amount.</p> <p> </p> <p>Transaction declined.</p> <p> </p> <p>I go to a supermarket, and tender my Discovery card at the till.</p> <p> </p> <p>Transaction declined.</p> <p> </p> <p>Every ATM, every credit card terminal declines my card.</p> <p> </p> <p>Cringing with embarrassment, I am forced to borrow money from people I have just met.</p> <p> </p> <p>Upon returning to SA I phone Discovery Card.</p> <p> </p> <p>First, I speak to Jabulile, who tells me “There was a PIN error”.</p> <p> </p> <p>Not accepting this, I speak to Jabulile’s superior, Candy.</p> <p> </p> <p>“There was a PIN error,” insists Candy.</p> <p> </p> <p>Next, I speak to Candy’s superior, Rayleen.</p> <p> </p> <p>“There was a PIN error,” insists Rayleen.</p> <p> </p> <p>All three are unable to explain how come in each case the terminal ACCEPTED THE PIN before going on to the next menu, WHEREAFTER the transaction was declined.</p> <p> </p> <p>Nothing, but nothing, gets through to them. “It was a PIN error”, they parrot.</p> <p> </p> <p>Candy’s superior is one Mr Ulrich de Klerk. Mr de Klerk is conveniently “in a meeting”. Candy won’t give me his e-mail address. Candy assures me Mr Ulrich de Klerk will call me.</p> <p> </p> <p>Mr de Klerk never does call. Thus, Mr de Klerk completes the Discovery ring of failure. </p> <p> </p> <p>Warning to Discovery Card holders: If you travel abroad, take a backup card from another bank. Take cash. Take travellers’ cheques. Take SOMETHING.</p> <p> </p> <p>Discovery took the thing that “could never happen to me” and brought it to life. Don’t let them do it to you too.</p>