Re: [tlug] [OT] Japan and 海外 credit cards

[Brett Robson <tlug@example.com>]

Tobias Diedrich wrote:

> stuff about credit cards.


I worked in inter bank card processing many, many years ago.

Much of this is historical. Mastercard and Visa didn't handle their
introduction to Japan very well, they allowed the local agencies to do
things their own way. I think it was Visa who used Tokyo Bank initially
expecting Tokyo Bank to promote Visa cards but instead they kept it to
themselves.

The way credit cards are processed in Japan is different to most of the
rest of the world. Normally if the issuing institution can't be reached
then Visa or Mastercard can authorise on their behalf, but in Japan card
processing is intentionally not integrated as a form of non-competitive
competition. To accept all Japanese credit cards you have to sign up
with many authorisers or use an expensive independent intermediary.

As for the Plus network - the world's biggest debit card system. I went
to Mitsubishi UFJ Japan United Inc or whatever it's called this week,
and asked if they accepted Plus cards and they suggested I go to the
7-11 next door! The Post Office is the only other place I know you can
use Plus cards, (probably Citibank as well). But I was also told once
that to cash a 2000yen cheque made out in yen written against the bank
itself would cost 8000yen.

Yahoo specifically excludes foreign credit cards as a policy decision.
My Australian card used to work there but a few years ago they stopped it.



Brett