InstaReM's AMAZE MasterCard

[xRenol]

Has anyone encountered the card getting declined when making transactions overseas?

This month my card has been getting declined while in Australia and Japan (was working perfectly fine till the end of March). It started in Australia slightly more than a week ago. Contacted support and they said it was the linked card bank’s rejecting, so I checked with the bank, but the bank said my linked card was in good standing and they didn’t receive any declined transactions. However, I tried making a random purchase in SG and it worked. Also, whenever my transactions get declined, I will receive a email from Instarem saying “declined due to our security and risk policy”. Checked with the support on this and they said it doesn’t mean anything as it’s auto generated (but why would you send a email like this if it’s the problem with the bank???)

Support kept asking me to try another Mastercard but it’s my only Mastercard with some form of reward (nobody should use the card linked with a Master without rewards; given their high FX spread, even with the 1% cashback spending you’ll still be losing money). So I didn’t try that nor using my linked card on its own overseas.

I suspected was because I made a few large purchases last month overseas (totalling about SGD5k), but answers given to me doesn’t support my suspicion, so hopefully anyone with similar experience before could shed some light!

Did you enable Overseas Transactions?

 

[jayjay0702]

Did you enable Overseas Transactions?

Yes I did, on both my amaze card and Bank card.

I probably will stop using Instarem. Even with Citi rewards card at best I’ll be getting 1% cashback (am not a miles chaser). Also my app has a permanent notification badge that is stuck with I can’t get rid and it’s pissing me off…

 

[xsoldix]

Yes I did, on both my amaze card and Bank card.

I probably will stop using Instarem. Even with Citi rewards card at best I’ll be getting 1% cashback (am not a miles chaser). Also my app has a permanent notification badge that is stuck with I can’t get rid and it’s pissing me off…

I also find that amaze is sometimes weird and risky.
but for overseas travel, i would bring a couple of cards. in my bag i will have :
amaze
trust bank card
youtrip
revolut
wise
bigpay

if need, i have it all.
and of course, some local currency in cash.

 

[ekardo]

I also find that amaze is sometimes weird and risky.
but for overseas travel, i would bring a couple of cards. in my bag i will have :
amaze
trust bank card
youtrip
revolut
wise
bigpay

if need, i have it all.
and of course, some local currency in cash.

My advise is to bring as few cards as possible when traveling.

 

[xsoldix]

My advise is to bring as few cards as possible when traveling.

Most of my prepaid debits are empty unless i need them.

in these bunch of chaos, amaze and trust will be my main/backup.

cus sometimes the pos terminal may error with some of these cards.

 

[ekardo]

Most of my prepaid debits are empty unless i need them.

in these bunch of chaos, amaze and trust will be my main/backup.

cus sometimes the pos terminal may error with some of these cards.

Amaze and youtrip is my 2 travel call. Trust I will keep in my secret compartment since it’s a credit card but useful and can come in handy. (Although no benefit apart from lower fx rate)

 

[chopra]

Sorry abit wols. So local spends have no insta points at all?

 

[chopra]

but if u pair with cards that giving 3 or 4mpd or 5-8% rebate, still better than using other cards

yes i am

hsbc premium card 5% + hsbc points
hsbc ega giro 1%
instapoint 1%
minus amaze admin 1.8
nett 5.2% plus hsbc points


Read HWZ Forum Rules!

 

[nintendog]

I also find that amaze is sometimes weird and risky.
but for overseas travel, i would bring a couple of cards. in my bag i will have :
amaze
trust bank card
youtrip
revolut
wise
bigpay

if need, i have it all.
and of course, some local currency in cash.

Why not store them in your Apple Pay

 

[demoforce1]

yes i am

hsbc premium card 5% + hsbc points
hsbc ega giro 1%
instapoint 1%
minus amaze admin 1.8
nett 5.2% plus hsbc points


Read HWZ Forum Rules!

what is hsbc points?
hsbc premium card 5% only for whitelist mcc

 

[highsulphur]

Sorry abit wols. So local spends have no insta points at all?

No points

 

[chopra]

what is hsbc points?
hsbc premium card 5% only for whitelist mcc

hsbc points similar to hsbc revo type

yea white list ones. i am using this hsbc premier as my main card. i ditched uob one and dbs vantage as they are c lousy. it is for my petrol, ntuc n fnb



Read HWZ Forum Rules!

 

[xsoldix]

Why not store them in your Apple Pay

Physical card can use atm to withdraw.

 

[nintendog]

Physical card can use atm to withdraw.

How is the charge for withdrawal?

 

[wenguang]

How is the charge for withdrawal?

extra 2%. not worth

 

[xsoldix]

Want to ask,
My card some times on some paywave machines will have error one first scan

sld i get it replaced?
such replacement is chargeable?

 

[xiaosinsinful]

Anyone noticed amaze fees are getting higher and higher?

just brought something for EUR 517.95
XE rate showing SGD 762.50
AMAZE charged SGD 783.70

in other words difference of SGD 21.20 or 2.7%

USD transaction
644.26USD
charged 876.67
XE rate 861.44

in other words diff of SGD 15.23 or 1.7%

 

[ekardo]

Anyone noticed amaze fees are getting higher and higher?

just brought something for EUR 517.95
XE rate showing SGD 762.50
AMAZE charged SGD 783.70

in other words difference of SGD 21.20 or 2.7%

USD transaction
644.26USD
charged 876.67
XE rate 861.44

in other words diff of SGD 15.23 or 1.7%

my USD today is around 2%, which is expected.

 

[edwinksl]

Anyone noticed amaze fees are getting higher and higher?

just brought something for EUR 517.95
XE rate showing SGD 762.50
AMAZE charged SGD 783.70

in other words difference of SGD 21.20 or 2.7%

USD transaction
644.26USD
charged 876.67
XE rate 861.44

in other words diff of SGD 15.23 or 1.7%

The spread is definitely larger than what it was in the good old days but as long as it is still less than FCY fee (~3.25%) and you get some underlying cashback/miles and InstaPoints, Amaze remains the best deal.

 

[xiaosinsinful]

The spread is definitely larger than what it was in the good old days but as long as it is still less than FCY fee (~3.25%) and you get some underlying cashback/miles and InstaPoints, Amaze remains the best deal.

Yes definitely significantly higher