Paying for a laptop

H

Hardell

Member
Hi.

I'm a student and I've just moved to the UK and I really need to buy a laptop as soon as possible.
I've configured the optimus but I have a problem with the payment. I have a debit card from Slovakia that I could use, but Slovakia isn't on the drop down list of countries. Moreover, I'm limited to paying 600 pounds a day and the laptop I want costs 730.

I'm going to open a student account here in the UK and that will solve the first problem. But I doubt I'll be able to pay 730 pounds at once with such an account.

What are my options?

Thank you.
 
steaky360

steaky360

Moderator
Moderator
If you open a student account here in the UK with a UK bank and get a debit card you should be able to pay for it no problems. I know I didn't have a transaction limit on my student card when I had it, the only limit was on cash withdrawals. You should be good if you get a student account.

You could probably call PCS and see if you can pay a deposit of some kind and then pay the rest off the following day (although I've no clue whether they can/will go for this option). Or get it on finance and pay the finance off as soon as you can?
 
H

Hardell

Member
Thank you.

What bank did you choose?
I'll pop in natwest and barclays tomorrow and see what can be done. I've read there are more limitation for non-UK people.
I won't get it on finance. Just the idea of buying something on finance when I have all the money I need doesn't sound good to me.
 
steaky360

steaky360

Moderator
Moderator
Yeah best to ask the banks if thats what you've heard mate! I used Halifax for my student account (purely because I already had a current account with them at the time). But barclays/natwest do good accounts too!

The finance isn't too bad, if you pay it off before the end of the first year you pay an extra £29. But as you say, if you have the cash, why bother :)
 
Yamikotai

Yamikotai

Expert
If you get a Co-op student account you get £1400 interest-free overdraft, which increases to £1700 in the 2nd year and £2000 in the 3rd.
 
Kalisnoir

Kalisnoir

Super Star
Unless you're in some special savings account the only restriction on money withdrawals in the UK are generally via ATM machines (usually £350~ sometimes £500)
 
H

Hardell

Member
I've just phoned my bank and was told my limit is 1200 pounds.
Is there really no way to pay by this Slovak card?
I'd contact the live support but it's been offline all day.
 
steaky360

steaky360

Moderator
Moderator
Exactly what Vanthus has said!

I would imagine they will take your card, if they do your only issue may be fees from your bank due to using your card abroad but only they can tell you that.

Hope you get good news on Monday mate!
 
H

Hardell

Member
I've used my card for paying online on foreign websites and there's never been a problem with that.
Will call them on Monday.

Thank you all
 
Rakk

Rakk

The Awesome
Moderator
As Vanthus said your best bet is to give them a call or email.

I think they wont take payments from cards registered outside the UK, and require a bank transfer instead, I think it's because if they take the payment, send the PC and then the payment is cancelled it is then very very difficult to get the money back if it is outside the UK so its a safety measure.

Note: I could be wrong, so yeah, give them a call or email.
 
H

Hardell

Member
The thing is, they accept lots of foreign cards, but there's not my country on the list. I don't really see why the country even matters. I have a visa card and as long as I know payments are almost instant.
 
steaky360

steaky360

Moderator
Moderator
What Rakk mentioned does make a lot of sense, to be honest bud, I wouldn't worry. You are right, they do take a lot of foreign cards and therefore chances are they can work something out with you (that will likely be the same for all foreign cards) whether it be a money transfer (as Rakk suggested) or whatever else.

Upshot, as Vanthus etc. said above give them a ring tomorrow and get yer rig ordered :D
 
L

la18aam

New member
Was wondering if anyone eventually got an answer to whether or not they take foreign card payments over the phone or otherwise? I'll be calling on Monday morning to see what my options are, but I've also got a card from a country not listed, but it's pretty much my only way to pay (I live in the UK, but I'm not from here).
 
Bhuna50

Bhuna50

Author Level
Monday is a bank holiday so not sure if they are open.

The only way you will find out is asking them but if it’s not listed I very much doubt it’s accepted.

The only way around this would be to set up a UK account and transfer funds into it to pay by a debit card you will get with it or to arrange a bank transfer payment to them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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L

la18aam

New member
andjef796 said:
Monday is a bank holiday so not sure if they are open.

The only way you will find out is asking them but if it’s not listed I very much doubt it’s accepted.

The only way around this would be to set up a UK account and transfer funds into it to pay by a debit card you will get with it or to arrange a bank transfer payment to them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Thanks! Yeah, I didn't know it was a bank holiday lol. I have tried changing my credit card billing info to be at my UK address though, so hopefully that works out...

[UPDATE] Got ahold of them. They were not able to help me, so for anyone else who might be curious in the future: if you're trying to pay from a foreign banking institution your only option is to do a bank transfer. Cheers!
 
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