How to activate the VISA Debit / ATM card?

VISA Debit or ATM card- explanations. - 
A debit card (also known as a bank card or check card) is a plastic card that provides an alternative payment method 

to cash when making purchases. Functionally, it can be called an electronic cheque, as the funds are withdrawn 

directly from either the bank account, or from the remaining balance on the card. In some cases, the cards are 

designed exclusively for use on the Internet, and so there is no physical card.The use of debit cards has 

become widespread in many countries and has overtaken the cheque, and in some instances cash transactions by volume. 

Like credit cards, debit cards are used widely for telephone and Internet purchases, and unlike credit cards the 

funds are transferred from the bearer's bank account instead of having the bearer to pay back on a later date. 

allows you to pay off some money you owe the company over a period of time. Debit cards can also allow for instant 

withdrawal of cash, acting as the ATM card for withdrawing cash and as a cheque guarantee card. Merchants can also 

offer "cashback"/"cashout" facilities to customers, where a customer can withdraw cash along with their purchase.
@knrsekar (1009)
India
October 9, 2009 10:19am CST
Dear members, I have one VISA ATM/ Debit card issued by my bank. With this card, I am able to withdraw money from my account in the ATM machines. But if I try to make any purchase in any of the stores who are allowing VISA debit/credit cards, I am not able to do so and my card is not acceptable. Also If I try to link my card to my Paypal account for verifying my account then I am getting the error message as " This credit card has been denied by the bank that issued your credit card. For details on why your card was denied, please contact your credit card issuer's customer service department. Or, you may want to try adding a different credit card."If I contact the issuing branch, they used to tell as there is no any problem with my card. Is there any activation process to be done for making use of this card in such purchases? Please let me know the procedure. I am not able to verify my paypal account also because of this.
1 person likes this
5 responses
• Philippines
10 Oct 09
unfortunately, the only card that i had was also a visa but only to connect it with my paypal here. and unfortuantely as well, i am not aware of that kind of any kind of procedure because i have a different visa in my country. maybe you should check the site or probably call their customer service.
@knrsekar (1009)
• India
10 Oct 09
I contacted the bank officials yesterday and today I got the reply for that.They have mentioned that the card can be used with only the VBV enabled sites(verified by visa)and pay pal in not vbv site.But most of the members are using the visa card to link with the PayPal account. But it may depend on the issuing back also.Now I am about to contact the PayPal customer support for this issue. If I am not able to link this care, then I need to open one more bank account where the card can be linked.Thanks for your response.
@o0Tora0o (355)
• United States
9 Oct 09
If you are able to make withdrawals at an ATM, your card has already been activated and you shouldn't have any problems at all using it. Are you 100% positive that the card has the VISA logo on it and says "debit"? If it doesn't, it is only an ATM card, not a debit card. You can withdraw money from your account, but it can't be used to make purchases at most retailers. If your card is a debit card and you're still having trouble with it, you need to keep contacting the bank until they get the issue resolved. It sounds like it really could be an issue in their system that's preventing your card from going through.
@knrsekar (1009)
• India
9 Oct 09
Yes. I am sure.It is having the VISA logo and also I have been given a manual along with the card where it has been stated that this card can be used both as a ATM and debit card. The issuing bank authorities are repeating the same thing as there is no any problem with my card. But it seems we have to turn on the internet banking also to make use of the card for such transactions.Thanks for the response and I hope my problem will be resolved soon.
@SuzyLong (775)
9 Oct 09
I usually have to ring my bank to let them know that I have the card. But it sounds like you may have the wrong pin number as that's what comes up when I put the wrong pin in the machine for one of my cards.
@knrsekar (1009)
• India
9 Oct 09
For linking with the paypal account or while making the purchase, I have not been asked for the PIN number except the csv code.Even if the PIN is asked , I can enter easily as I am regularly using that card in the ATM for the cash withdrawals. Now I have sent the mail to the bank support team to resolve this issue and hope they will do this time at least, unlike they failed in the past.Thanks for the response.
@May2k8 (18049)
• Indonesia
9 Oct 09
Have you activated your internet banking? My debit card is also rejected by paypal and I have contact the bank and they told me "your debit card cannot being using for online transaction (eg. Paypal), and you only can use credit card for that". Then, if the issued on your bank can accepted by paypal you must turn on the internet banking. I hope I can help you...
@knrsekar (1009)
• India
9 Oct 09
I did not turn on internet banking so far and I am not sure whether my bank is accepting the paypal transactions or not. Only hereafter I should inquire about this. I think this might be the main cause for that. First after consulting with the bank, I will turn on the internet banking option and then let me link my card. I hope this will work.Thanks for the valuable information.
• United States
9 Oct 09
i have verified my paypal account. i'm not sure what type of account you have, but adding a debit card won't verify it. you need a bank account. you link the debit card to your account, but it won't verify it. you can verify your account by simply giving paypal your routing and account number. they will send a few pennies to your bank account, then you tell paypal the amount you received and that verifies your account. if you've been on paypal for a certain amount of time you qualify for the paypal debit card that automatically verifies your account
@knrsekar (1009)
• India
9 Oct 09
I don't know the this procedure of verification. If this is possible, then I will do this without any difficulty. I have already collected the bank routing codes and my account number is with me.If the pay pal,verify our account in this way,it will be much helpful to me as I am not able struggle with my bank to get the card issue rectified. Now let me check the paypal website for further clarification .Otherwise if I send the support ticked to the pay pal, they may reply. Thanks for the response.