First National Bank
FNB Credit Cards declined in Brazil

I have been travelling to and from Brazil on and of for a year. During each stay I have used my FNB Credit Card without any problems. However, when I arrived this time my card keeps getting declined.

I spoke to a co-worker and his wife who is also in Brazil, both of them FNB clients. Apparently FNB Credit Cards have not been working for three weeks now. Strangely FNB Cheque Cards work without fail.

I contacted my banker -- who told me the stores can contact the FNB authorizations line in Johannesburg. This is ridiculous advice -- your average clerk in Brazil does not speak English! And they definitely are not going to phone an international number to authorize a payment.

FNB said they have no record of the transaction attempts on their side. And somehow it seems that because it is not FNB's fault it is also not their problem.

My position is -- I am a client of FNB. If there are in problem in the chain of processing a credit card I should contact FNB who can then forward the issue to the correct institution. Because FNB Cheque Cards work in Brazil, Virgin Money Credit Cards work and Nedbank Credit Cards work. Only FNB Credit Cards don't work.