[trocadero]

Hi

This may show me up for the dumb hick that I really am, but.... Is eftpos available everywhere? Do most shops allow you to pay with funds using your atm card linked to a savings account rather than a credit account?

Thanks very much!

[jimbo]

Think it needs to be linked to a current account rather than a savings account.

[discobay]

trocadero, you are better off with an Octopus card here in HK. Can be linked to your bank account for automatic top-up and accepted in numerous places.

[KnowItAll]

But, the octopus has a smaller recharge. EPS allows you to pay upto a pretty high limit.. we use EPS or credit card (if there is no surcharge) for larger ticket items (> 500) and Octopus at the smaller shops / 7-11 / casual grocery items.

It can be linked to any account. When you pay through EPS, you have the option of selecting which account (current / savings etc) the transaction should be debited from.

[discobay]

Oh yes forgot about EPS! Not as quick a system but can handle much larger amounts.

[KnowItAll]

What is EFTPOS? I thought that was the same as EPS ...

[ontheroad]

Originally Posted by KnowItAll

What is EFTPOS? I thought that was the same as EPS ...

Yep, exactly the same. They're also called debit cards, or ATM cards.

[larac]

EFTPOS is the term used in New Zealand for what is EPS in HK. It stands for Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of Purchase. I second the advice above Octopus is great for speed and smaller purchases where as using your ATM card/EPS takes a bit more time but is convenient for larger buys. I only have about $100 at a time on my Octopus but the limit must be a reasonable amount because people use it in the supermarket to buy big loads of groceries. The good thing about the EPS terminals here is that they are bluetooth so there is no cord tying the base and the piece where you enter your details.

[discobay]

Bluetooth eh I never knew that. Personally, I always have around $300 on my Octopus - you never know when you might need it.

[ontheroad]

Yeay, except, when you lose your Octopus card, you can't cancel it, you lose all the money that's on it, whereas when you lose your EPS card, you can, and so no money lost. So I suppose having large amounts on your Octopus card is a bit dangerous....