FAQ

Most popular questions...

• Why have I been charged interest on my credit card?

  You may have been charged interest for the following reasons:

  • A cash advance has been made
  • An electronic transfer has been debited from the account
  • An overseas cash withdrawal was done
  • There was a late payment made to the account
  • The full end of the month balance was not paid.

  To reduce interest charges, try paying more than your minimum repayment each month. The more you pay off your balance, the less interest you will be charged. If you pay off your whole balance by the due date, you won't be charged any interest at all on eligible transactions.

  Interest is calculated on the daily balances but not charged until the last calendar day of the month.

• What are non interest free transactions on a credit card?

  Non interest free withdrawals include:

  • Cash withdrawals
  • Any transfer from the account
  • Corporate cheque withdrawals
• How do I pay off my credit card so that I am eligible for up to 62 interest free days?

  You have until 5.00pm (CST) on the last calendar day of the month to pay the balance from the previous month in full to receive the benefits of up to 62 interest free days on eligible transactions.

  This can be done during business hours, or on a Saturday, Sunday or a public holiday.

• Can I change my PIN over the phone or online?

  You can update your PIN through our Mobile Banking App  or online using internet banking.

  Alternatively, you can change your PIN at any People's Choice ATM.
  
  We are also here to assist with PIN changes at your local branch, or through our National Contact Centre at 13 11 82. To complete this process you will be asked to provide appropriate ID, including your Member Access Password (MAP) or a seven point ID process.

• What is a credit limit?

  A credit limit is the maximum amount that People's Choice Credit Union has approved for you to borrow.

  Credit limits should be carefully monitored to ensure that you do not exceed your designated amount. To ensure that you do not exceed your limit, you may find it helpful to keep a pocket notebook with you to write down your purchases. You can also check balances regularly via Phone, Internet Banking and Mobile Banking , noting sometimes there may be purchases still to be processed to your account.

  SMS Banking is also available to help you keep in touch with your finances. You can check your accounts whenever and wherever you want simply by using your mobile phone, another way to ensure you don't overspend. Refer to our terms and conditions for more information on SMS Banking.

More questions...

• How can I request to reduce my credit limit or terminate my credit card or overdraft contract?

  You can use this website to request a reduction in your credit limit to an amount that equals or exceeds the minimum credit limit for your credit card or overdraft or to request to terminate your credit card or overdraft contract.  To do this, please click here to lodge a SecureMail request via Internet Banking. Alternatively, enter the information and follow the instructions on the web form request via this website by clicking here, visit your local branch or contact us on 13 11 82.

• Will my credit rating be affected if I access assistance?

  Getting on top of your financial difficulties early is the best way to make sure your credit history remains in good condition. Get in touch with us as soon as you think you might have difficulty meeting your repayments so we can start working together on a solution.

• I'm after some information on managing payments to my People's Choice loan or credit card. Who do I call?

  You can call People's Choice Credit Union on 08 8124 2148 . For more information, visit the Customer-Owned Banking Association website or you can call The National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007 from anywhere in Australia to talk to a free and independent financial counsellor.

• How do I activate my card?

  We offer a few options for you to activate your card.

  1. Activate your card through our Mobile Banking App by selecting 'Card Management' from the menu within the app.

  GET THE MOBILE BANKING APP

  2. Activate your card online using Internet Banking

  LOG IN TO INTERNET BANKING

  Simply log in to Internet Banking and click on 'Services' in the menu bar. Select 'Activate Card' and enter your new card number and expiry date, then click 'Activate Card'. Done!

  Remember to sign the back of your new card prior to use.

  Alternatively, we are here to assist with card activation through our National Contact Centre on 13 11 82 or by visiting your nearest branch. To complete this process you will be asked to provide appropriate ID, including your Member Access Password (MAP) or a seven point ID process.

• I'm worried that I won't be able to repay my People's Choice loan or credit card. What should I do? 

  You should get in touch with us as soon as possible if you think you might have trouble meeting your financial commitments. You don`t have to wait until you are overdue.We'll then work with you to tailor a plan that helps you stay on top of your repayments. You can call People's Choice Credit Union on 08 8124 2148 or visit your local branch and speak to one of our friendly staff.

• Who do I contact If I'm having financial difficulty meeting my People's Choice loan or credit card repayments ?

  You can call People's Choice Credit Union on 08 8124 2148  or email us at [email protected] or visit your local branch and speak to one of our friendly staff.

• What options are available to me if I can't pay my People's Choice loan or credit card?

  A range of solutions are available to members who might be going through financial hardship. We can tailor a plan depending on individual circumstances, and advise you of organisations who may be able to help.

• Are smart chip Visa cards secure?

  Yes, the smart chip provides the highest level of protection against counterfeiting, card skimming and other fraudulent use as the microchip is virtually impossible to copy.

• How do Visa Debit cards work?

  Purchases and cash withdrawals are directly deducted from your transaction account, so there are no interest charges unless you're using an overdraft option. This means you can monitor your account balance and see exactly how much money you have left to spend. Visa Debit also has the convenience of International access to your accounts and the ability to make purchases made online – still accessing your own funds. All purchases, including payWave transactions, are covered by Visa cardholder protections, policies and chargeback rights.

  The following clip provides a great description of Visa Debit functionality and its uses.

  All our Visa Debit cards have the latest smart chip technology which is virtually impossible to copy, which provides an unrivalled level of protection against counterfeiting, card skimming and other fraudulent use. Our cards are also covered by Visa Secure which adds another level of protection when buying online. People’s Choice also provide a fraud protection service to members free of charge which monitors transactions to detect unusual activity, suspicious transactions and block the card if necessary.

  In addition, all Visa card holders have admittance to Visa Entertainment providing access to concert and theatre ticket presales, film promotions and exclusive offers.

• What is an outstanding authorisation? 

  An outstanding authorisation is when the estimated value of a purchase (eg. Hotel stay) has been held up for a period of up to an estimated six days to allow the merchant to process the transaction.

  It can also be used as a security measure for transactions such as Hotel stay or Car rental. In this case, after six days the amount drops off the system. Whilst the authorisation is in place your available credit balance is reduced by that amount, but not the balance owing on the card.

• I'm going overseas. How can I access my money?

  The most convenient way to access your accounts overseas is to use your Visa card with a PIN at an ATM or Merchant facility.

  Refer to our Disclosure documents for more details and applicable fees and charges.

  All our Visa debit and Visa credit cards come embedded with a smart chip, making cards virtually impossible to copy and offering a new level of security against counterfeiting, card skimming and other fraudulent use. If you are travelling overseas and your current card does not have an embedded chip we recommend you contact us to update your card prior to travelling.

  If you are travelling overseas, make sure you're signed up for Internet Banking so you can keep track of your accounts while you're away.

  Alternatively, rediCARD PLUS cards can be used in overseas ATMs that display a PLUS symbol. If your current rediCARD does not currently have the PLUS functionality contact us to update your card prior to travelling.

• What information does the smart chip contain?

  A chip card is a Visa credit or debit card with an embedded smart chip. It appears as a gold square on the left hand side of the card. Like the magnetic stripe on the back of current credit and debit cards, the embedded microchip securely stores account details - account name, number and account expiry date. But unlike the magnetic strip, the microchip is virtually impossible to copy, which provides an unrivalled level of protection against counterfeiting, card skimming and other fraudulent use.

• Can I continue to use the magnetic strip on my card?

  Your Visa card can still be used in traditional swipe EFTPOS terminals with PIN or signature approval where a merchant allows this method. You can also use your Visa card at ATMs. As merchant terminals are upgraded, however, contactless payments and entering a PIN where required will often be  the  easier, faster and safer way to transact. If you are travelling overseas, we suggest you memorise your PIN as this is now the preferred payment authorisation method for most merchants.

• What do I do if my card is lost or stolen?

  If your card is lost or stolen during business hours, call us on 13 11 82 or visit your nearest branch as soon as possible. We can cancel your current card and arrange for a new card to be mailed to you.

  Outside of business hours, call the Visa 24 hour hotline on 1800 648 027. You'll then need to contact us to arrange for a new card to be sent.

  If you're overseas when you lose your card, please contact us on +61 2 8299 9101. If you need to arrange for an emergency Visa card to be issued to you, visit the Visa website to find the contact details for each country.

  There may be a fee for ordering a replacement card. Refer to our Disclosure documents for more details.

• My card has been captured by an ATM. What should I do?

  You will need to contact us to arrange for a new card, as captured cards are not returned to People's Choice Credit Union.

  There may be a fee for ordering a replacement card. Refer to our Disclosure documents for more details.

• My new card won't work, what's wrong with it?

  When you receive your new card (if lost, stolen or captured) it will not be active. 

  To activate your new card, choose from the following options:

  1. Activate your card through our Mobile Banking App by selecting 'Card Management' from the menu within the app.

  Get the Mobile Banking App
  

  2. Activate your card online using internet banking

  Log In to Internet Banking 

  Simply log in to internet banking and click on 'Services' in the menu bar. Select 'Activate Card' and enter your new card number and expiry date, then click 'Activate Card'. Done!

  Remember to sign the back of your new card prior to use.

  Alternatively, we are here to assist with card activation at your local branch, or through our National Contact Centre at 13 11 82. To complete this process you will be asked to provide appropriate ID, including your Member Access Password (MAP) or a seven point ID process.

• What is a cash advance? 

  A cash advance is an option cardholders can use to withdraw cash against their approved credit limit. Receiving a cash advance can simply be a matter of using a credit card at the nearest ATM.

  Please note that there are no interest free days that apply on cash advances, interest charges are incurred from day one. Fees and charges apply to a cash advance. Refer to our Disclosure documents for more details.

• Do I need more than one card to access all of my accounts?

  In most instances you will only require one card. Your card will provide you access to all of your accounts in our branches or agencies, even those that you are signatory to. In addition, you can link up to three transactional accounts to your card for access at ATMs and [email protected] Our credit cards also allow up to two additional transactional accounts to be linked to access via EFTPOS and ATMs.

  If you require access to more than one account via EFTPOS or ATMs on a Visa Debit or rediCARD PLUS card then an additional card may be required. rediCARD PLUS cards are subject to an annual fee per card.

• What do I do if there has been a transaction on my account that is not authorised? 

  Call us immediately on 13 11 82, contact us via the website, or go to your nearest branch and speak with a consultant.