No need to take what they propose. Other people got better cards, especially from Taishin. 
Noted⊠thanks!
In this case it looks like a paypal issue and not a card issue⊠
OK, so we already heard that this is a Costco issue and not a card issue.
Hm⊠that is a rather unspecific evaluation, and to me it seems that the card is good enough when compared to other cards in the same category. Why would anyone want to get it, you ask: because generally, itâs a good idea to have several cards (many of the cards mentioned here have been reported to not work in some odd circumstances), and, anyway, some people get by with cards that do even less than the PO card, because they use Taiwanese credit cards only to pay for purchases in shops in Taiwan. 
d.p.
My card (Visa Electron) now also works without a hitch on the bookdepository.co.uk site. âFreeâ delivery here I comes!
Noted⊠thanks!
In this case it looks like a paypal issue and not a card issueâŠ
[/quote]
It could be an issue with my bank or with import stuff, too. But sucks that I canât get cash in the paypal accountâŠalthough the payment method makes that unnecessary.
Hm⊠that is a rather unspecific evaluation, and to me it seems that the card is good enough when compared to other cards in the same category. Why would anyone want to get it, you ask: because generally, itâs a good idea to have several cards (many of the cards mentioned here have been reported to not work in some odd circumstances), and, anyway, some people get by with cards that do even less than the PO card, because they use Taiwanese credit cards only to pay for purchases in shops in Taiwan. [/quote]
I have heard nothing but negative comments regarding the Post Office bank in general. Itâs one of those holdovers from pre-modern ROC (PRCâs post office bank is terrible, as well). My classmates always complain about it because the ATM card doesnât work anywhere except the post office, you have to find a post office to withdraw money, and the line is always too long. They also donât have the ATM you can deposit cash in. The only 2 pros to having the account is that it allows people 18 years of age to open an account (banks are 20?), and they give preferable interest rates to government employees.
Myself, I have Chinatrust and First Bank. Chinatrust because it always works and seems to be the largest bank here and First Bank because when I was at Zhengda they forced me to open either First Bank or Post Office and I went with First Bank.
My Chinatrust card worked overseas in Malaysia and Singapore when I wanted to withdraw cash with no issue, FYI. Their mobile app is garbage and completely useless, but at least the card worked. Also the plastic with the magnet stripe came off the back of my First Bank card but the bank wonât give me a new one unless I bring that stupid ass bank book I canât find. It still works in the ATM (from the chip), so whatever. I rarely use it. Right now the Chinatrust cardâs plastic is also coming off at the back endâŠIâm afraid the ATM is gonna catch it when it spits the card out nowâŠ
About the Paypal not working when you log in: Cards can only be added if they are issued in the country that the Paypal account is registered to. For example, an American Paypal account cannot add a Taiwanese card/bank for funding. A Taiwanese Paypal can, however, add an American card. American cards and bank accounts work on all accounts worldwide, so itâs better to hold a TW Paypal account and add your American info.
Ah⊠life in the countryside: in Hualien i can pull cash out of my POB account at any post office (of which there are quite a few) or Familiy Mart ATM (of which there are even more), and i can deposit money at post office ATMs as well. And i:ve been able to cope with these long lines, too (like, one person in front of me, at most!) Of course, in the big city things may well be different - as everywhere, Y(or your classmatesâ)MMV - but at least i have no reason to complain.
Good to knowâŠ!
The issue of how to maintain bank books, cards, and other âvitalâ items related to our modern way of life in good working order is definitely there. Your comments will, so i hope, serve as important reminder to everybodyâŠ
when the plastic strip came off mine, they told me not to worry. eventually, I lost it and still havenât signed the new one. I use it all the time to buy stuff in shops - no one has ever even mentioned it, let alone denied the purchase!nyway I lost it and still havenât signed the new one. I use it all the time to buy stuff in shops - no one has ever even mentioned it, let alone denied the purchase!
Do you guys can pay with any of those debit card a HSR ticket at the machine ? For me it worked once only ! I selected âCredit cardâ put my 4 digit pin and got a ticket. Never worked again.
Iâve used regular ATM cards in the HSR ticket machines. No problem at all.
I used it two days ago (Chinatrust card) by pressing éèćĄ and doing the six digit code. It took forever (45 seconds maybe) to process, but it went through.
Little update on Taishin.
I had to get a replacement card because my previous one developed a crack. Went in, showed them the crack and they said they could replace it while I wait. Took about 5-10 minutes. The new card doesnât have my name on the card or the raised digits on it, and says âelectronic use onlyâ. I was worried, especially because of the lack of name and double-checked that it was the same type of debit card. They assured me it was and will work everywhere except on an actual airplane (buying duty free in-flight).
Just linked it to Amazon and bought a Kindle book, added it to Paypal and did the verification charge and it worked okay.
So I tried to get a Visa debit card from Taishin Bank the other day and they told me that they only offer foreigners the 13 digit ATM cards that canât be used for anything except withdrawing money from ATMs in Taiwan. I even had a Taiwanese friend ask, and they assured him that foreigners canât get Visa debit cards. Maybe theyâve changed their policy lately?
Also, I tried with HSBC, they offer 3 different account types: Direct, Advance, and Premier. Direct is free to have, Advance charges NT$350 a month unless you have over NT$500000, and Premier charges NT$1000 unless you have over 1 or 2 million NT (I forgot). They all offer Visa debit cards, however the problem is that the Direct cards (the free ones) have no international functioning and canât be used outside of Taiwan. So basically if you want an internationally functioning Visa debit from HSBC you either have to be willing to pay NT$350 a month or have 500k youâre will to just leave around in your account.
While possible, my guess is that itâs just that that branch is, shall we say, ill-informed. If you have time, try another one (or another bank entirely which also offers VISA debit cards). A couple months back when I got mine, I first tried Chinatrust (âIf foreigners want one they need an ARC thatâs valid for three years, not just oneâ), and then walked down the road to Taishin (âPlease sit down and relax while we do all the paperwork for youâ). Good luck
While possible, my guess is that itâs just that that branch is, shall we say, ill-informed. If you have time, try another one (or another bank entirely which also offers VISA debit cards). A couple months back when I got mine, I first tried Chinatrust (âIf foreigners want one they need an ARC thatâs valid for three years, not just oneâ), and then walked down the road to Taishin (âPlease sit down and relax while we do all the paperwork for youâ). Good luck [/quote]
Would you mind telling me what Taishin branch issued you your card? Iâve been having trouble with them too 
I got my Taishin card from the Nanjing East road branch (between Fuxing and Dunhua).
At the time (3 or so years ago), it was only available if you had more than one year on your ARC., but Iâm not sure if thatâs still the case.
Tried Taishin bank again today, this time at the Nanjing East Rd branch, where I figured theyâd be more likely to have someone who spoke English.
Anyways, I spoke to a woman in English who and asked her if they offered foreigners Visa debit cards that would work both online and at ATMs abroad. She said that they did and that the only limitation was that the international functioning would be disabled once my ARC expires, fine, I thought. So after sitting there for about 45 minutes while they typed away on the computer they give me an ATM card with NO Visa logo and no numbers at all! I was confused so I asked the same woman I spoke to earlier why it wasnât a Visa card and she said, âWe donât offer Visas to foreignersâ I argued with her, but she denied ever saying that they did⊠I was furiousâŠ
Back to the drawing boardâŠ
I should mention, the card did have a PLUS logo on the back and the woman said that it could be used to draw money at foreign ATMs, however they only gave me a 6-digit pin so Iâm a bit skeptical.
HmâŠ
The other day, when i was in Taipei, i went to theTaishin main office (ć°ććžäžć±±ćè·Żäșæź”44è / No. 44, Section 2, Zhongshan N. Rd., Taipei - nearest subway station is Shuanglian, and Zhongshan is close, as well) to get my internet banking set up - very friendly service in English, and after all paperwork was done, the guy who had helped the process along walked with me to the back of the building and had me try it out on one of the computers available there. Iâd suggest that people in Taipei who have difficulties getting a card at any of the branches go to the bankâs main office.
In any case, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- every case is different (what you get in this thread are not sure-fire recipes but quasi-statistical data that you can use to your advantage)
- keep trying (donât give up so easily)
- language and attitude!
- once they know you things get easier (quoted from forumosa.com/taiwan/viewtopic.ph ⊠6&start=14)
Hey, that actually sounds like a really good idea. It seems like employees at other branches rejecting foreigners because they donât know that theyâre actually allowed to give out cards to them is a popular recurring theme here.
Anyhow, I went to a local China Trust branch today and did manage to get a Visa debit card from them. I had to argue with them a tiny bit at first since they of course originally said that Visa cards werenât available to foreigners. However, when they saw my ARC they changed their minds. The card should work online and abroad, and has a 6 digit PIN for Taiwan and a 4 digit one for international use.
[quote=âThorsMalletâ]Tried Taishin bank again today, this time at the Nanjing East Rd branch, where I figured theyâd be more likely to have someone who spoke English.
Anyways, I spoke to a woman in English who and asked her if they offered foreigners Visa debit cards that would work both online and at ATMs abroad. She said that they did and that the only limitation was that the international functioning would be disabled once my ARC expires, fine, I thought. So after sitting there for about 45 minutes while they typed away on the computer they give me an ATM card with NO Visa logo and no numbers at all! I was confused so I asked the same woman I spoke to earlier why it wasnât a Visa card and she said, âWe donât offer Visas to foreignersâ I argued with her, but she denied ever saying that they did⊠I was furiousâŠ
Back to the drawing boardâŠ
I should mention, the card did have a PLUS logo on the back and the woman said that it could be used to draw money at foreign ATMs, however they only gave me a 6-digit pin so Iâm a bit skeptical.[/quote]
I hope you closed your account. I would absolutely refuse to do business with a company that would say one thing, and then lie about it when confronted.
I have had such poor success with Taiwan banks as they are the epitome of uselessness. Hopefully they will all sink underwater at some point.