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

[Tobias Diedrich <ranma@example.com>]

Stephen J. Turnbull wrote:
> Tobias Diedrich writes:
>  > Ok, I know this is not in any way linux related, but I'm wondering
>  > why it seems to be so difficult for japanese websites to accept
>  > non-japanese credit cards.
> 
> Because the Japanese financial system is deliberately set up to
> "encourage" use of Japanese banks.  Japanese banks also don't like the
> potential liability that goes with the possibility that a customer
> would refuse to pay, which most foreign countries impose by law.

Hmm, interesting.

>  > And then there are the Conbini ATMs that show the Visa logo but
>  > also only accept japanese Visa (Except Seven-Eleven I guess).
> 
> If you think that because 7-11 was originally an American company,
> that doesn't matter.  They operate under Japanese rules and by
> Japanese customs.

No, that's because their ATMs take my european checking account
EC-card, so I'd assume the Visa should also work, but haven't tried
it.
And their website claims they do: ;)
http://www.sevenbank.co.jp/intlcard/index2.html

>  > To make matters worse, I've read that you must have been in Japan at
>  > least 6 months or have a job to be able to open a japanese bank
>  > account and since I've been here only for two weeks and don't have a
>  > job at the moment I can't get a japanese credit card.
> 
> I don't think that is true about bank accounts; there, you give the
> bank money and they only have to give back as much as you've given
> them.  You do need a fixed address, "the blue tent on the east bank of
> the Sumida-gawa under the Asakusa Bridge" (or a hotel) won't do.  And
> you need a visa (in your passport) that allows you to stay for a long
> period of time.  Have you tried opening an account?

No, not yet.  I have a one year work and travel visa and a 証明纔瘢韭絎竢蹠\xC2 閹
逋 笊鴪緕\xF4 痲糅纉\xF3 \xA8瘤\xE4 鼈阨趙 艱\xF4 逋 外人登録証 in a little over
two weeks).  I guess I should just go and try getting a bank account
then.  Any recommendations on a good bank to use if I plan to change
my location every now and then?

>  > (BTW: I called barclay, but they say they don't see any transaction
>  > in their log for the last few days, which includes my attempt at
>  > registering with eplus and with wallet.yahoo.jp)
> 
> It was probably rejected as soon as they realized it was going to
> leave Japan, and never got to the point of querying the international
> system.

For eplus that's likely.  Yahoo at least claims to support some
foreign cards...

Cheers,

-- 
Tobias						PGP: http://9ac7e0bc.uguu.de