Wirex- Bitcoin Debit Card | Buy Bitcoin | Mobile Banking | Send Money

[stompix]

Seems like the app is stable now but I don't have any plans to send some BTC to test it so I don't know if it really works.
At least is not crashing.

LE:
Oh, I see I have 0.004 left, tried to exchange to EUR, took about two minutes but it went through.

LLE:
Guess I was wrong, although the balance was first moved to the euro account is back in BTC after a logout/login.

[gentlemand]

Seems like the app is stable now but I don't have any plans to send some BTC to test it so I don't know if it really works.

I had a test fiddle with GBP. It's very, very sluggish but it didn't outright reject it. I can't be arsed to go through with an actual exchange.

This is what they're saying -



If this move paralyses them then I'll be well clear when the real fireworks happen, however it looks like most of the services are just as hopeless so the bubble top may well be like those exchanges that trade shitforks with dead or crippled  chains - you won't be able to deposit, withdraw or move them but at least you can look at the lovely price that you'll never be able to realise.

[stompix]

So this week I put it to the test:

Done a pin transaction at Aldi (was over 50E so I guessed it was already beyond contactless limits) then went into 3 additional small shops for a beer, ice cream, small stuff just to test the contactless.
Well, it worked as expected, the notifications were almost instant, got a few satoshis in their cryptopayback program, no problems.

In the weekend I was able to test it outside the eurozone in the Czech Republic, went also flawless, and checking the exchange rate was exactly what Google was telling, no problems here either.


Apart from the scare last week, till now let's say I like it, enough to feel sad to see them gone..
But!, I'm still not leaving more than 25 euros on it (in BTC and euro).

[gentlemand]

Apart from the scare last week, till now let's say I like it, enough to feel sad to see them gone..
But!, I'm still not leaving more than 25 euros on it (in BTC and euro).

As an actual card I've found it flawless. Much, much less cranky than the Xapo one which failed in quite a few places. I think my Bitpay one never gave me any gip but I didn't use it as much.

But of course Wirex don't run that aspect. It's their back end that has me wondering.

[stompix]

And the "back end" strikes!

Got a notification about the wallet splitting, which I think that although it does complicate things a bit is a great idea if you spend stuff on places you don't fully trust or you're afraid somebody might steal and then use your card (contactless) before you can't block it, done with the updating...and maintenance...

It's been about 3 hours since I have seen first the alert have no idea how long this has been going...

I had an impulse to try and pay with the card while the app was like that but during the break, there was a 7-8 person queue at the store and I didn't really want to start switching cards with everyone there anxious to get to the cashier.

Has anyone used it while there was no access to the app?

[gentlemand]

Has anyone used it while there was no access to the app?

The only thing you need the app for is exchanging. Once money's confirmed on the card then the payment processor and Visa side of things takes over. I wouldn't have any qualms about using it loaded if Wirex was dead as long as the balance had been confirmed properly.

[Splatters]

The direct conversion while we pay interests me too, it's easier than now that even need 2 step before having money usable on the card. What's the difficulty in enabling the direct conversion?

[gentlemand]

The direct conversion while we pay interests me too, it's easier than now that even need 2 step before having money usable on the card. What's the difficulty in enabling the direct conversion?

They should offer both really. Personally I'd prefer to use it as is. You can carry money forward rather than never being quite sure how much you have available.

Xapo cards direct converted. Bitpay cards worked the same as wirex. I used the bitpay one more

[sapta]

[They should offer both really. Personally I'd prefer to use it as is. You can carry money forward rather than never being quite sure how much you have available.

Xapo cards direct converted. Bitpay cards worked the same as wirex. I used the bitpay one more

With Shift is now.. dead, do you think Bitpay will continue opening their card service?

http://cryptographicasset.com/an-obituary-for-coinbases-shift-payments-card/

[stompix]

So, in this small trip I've made during the holiday I decided to make a short experiment and try to use only the wirex card.

The Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary, two with their own currency, everything went almost perfect, I probably saw ten different kinds of POS and I lost count of the bank names written on them I haven;t met any trouble at all, small shops , chain store, gas station , but this can be "blamed" mostly on VISA
Seems like the card has some kind of limit for contactless payments in a row when it asks for a PIN but I can't figure out if it's a number between 5-10 or a value or it simply depends on the POS operator

And now to the part that prevents it from being perfect and makes it almost perfect.
As I was suspecting, DON'T use it to withdraw cash!

My first try was in Prague and because I wanted just to test a small amount the ATM didn't show any details and I rounded up the numbers in probably opposite directions it didn't seem bad.

But in Budapest, I said wtf, and went to an ATM, (operated by OTP) and choose to withdraw around 30 000 HUF ~ (95 euros).
When the ATM showed me the fees I pressed cancel faster than Luke Skywalker could react.
For 30000 HUF I was supposed to pay 112 Euros!!! and the ATM commission was 7.5 (or 7.7).

So, spend coins in shops it's ok, cash withdraw a big huge NO!

[LeGaulois]

Seems like the card has some kind of limit for contactless payments in a row when it asks for a PIN but I can't figure out if it's a number between 5-10 or a value or it simply depends on the POS operator

Nah, it comes from the banks/payments service side. I have a Visa card set up for 30€, which is like every day lol and another Visa with 100€, both come from different banks,(I don't use as I find the limits stupid so I disabled this)

ATM commission was 7.5

Some bank ATMs suck when it's about their FX fees and it can vary a lot from for example HSBC and bank for the poor.

[gentlemand]

Seems like the card has some kind of limit for contactless payments in a row when it asks for a PIN but I can't figure out if it's a number between 5-10 or a value or it simply depends on the POS operator

Where I'm at I think the limit is 3 transactions and then you have to enter the pin again. It's probably going to be different for every issuer. If it wasn't there you could slowly empty some mental grandpa's account over time and never have a security check.

I definitely would not do any transaction in a currency that the card wasn't native in, let alone attempt to withdraw foreign cash. FX fees will be huge no matter what.

[Lucius]

I could not find some relevant information about does Wirex offer the possibility of using their card without KYC and which are limits in this case? I also wonder if the card can be used without the use of mobile app, just by using their site?

[gentlemand]

I could not find some relevant information about does Wirex offer the possibility of using their card without KYC and which are limits in this case? I also wonder if the card can be used without the use of mobile app, just by using their site?

https://wirexapp.com/help/article/why-are-there-limits-0076

Says there they do unverified. The limits will be very, very low and I'm sure they'll try to spring KYC on you. If I remember rightly the EU have a 250 Euro lifetime limit on anon prepaid cards now.

I've never attempted to use the website only. The app's pretty bad for sending you to the website through it and then getting confused and giving up.

[stompix]

Where I'm at I think the limit is 3 transactions and then you have to enter the pin again. It's probably going to be different for every issuer. If it wasn't there you could slowly empty some mental grandpa's account over time and never have a security check.

I definitely would not do any transaction in a currency that the card wasn't native in, let alone attempt to withdraw foreign cash. FX fees will be huge no matter what.

I'm pretty bad at keeping track of things I do when I'm on holiday so this is why I have no idea how they were triggered.

But at this point, back home, I've done today a 21, 8, 15, and 6 (yeah like playing loto) transactions with contactless.
Maybe I should have gone over the 30euro mark on one sale LeGaulois mentioned but..I simply run out of stuff to buy.

Now, about the currency exchange at the PoS, I've compared the logs in the app with some receipts I've kept, the conversion rates are the same google is showing for the day so no problem there, if you just use it for shopping you won't lose more than a cent or two on purchase.

[unamis76]

A heads up to all users, it seems Wirex's SEPA transfers aren't working at all. I've made a withdrawal almost 2 weeks ago and the funds haven't arrived. The receiving bank has no record of any incoming transfer, and Wirex's support simply says they've sent it and that I have to check with my local bank. After going back and forth with support they've said they'd check with their banking partner about the transfers' status and haven't got back to me ever since. The phone numbers for them I could find online weren't in service when I tried calling... Their banking partner (Onpex) didn't reply to my contact. Not a good sign. I'm not sure what's happening here.

I'd heavily advise anyone to avoid making any bank transfers to/from Wirex for the time being as it seems their fiat onramp is broken. I'll update everyone here as things progress, hopefully this is sorted sooner than later.

[stompix]

Their banking partner (Onpex) didn't reply to my contact. Not a good sign. I'm not sure what's happening here.

I'd heavily advise anyone to avoid making any bank transfers to/from Wirex for the time being as it seems their fiat onramp is broken. I'll update everyone here as things progress, hopefully this is sorted sooner than later.

I'm surprised somebody is using wirex for doing withdrawals to a normal bank account, hope it's not a big sum
I've drawn a virtual limit of 150 euros and I don't plan on having more than that even on it except something very unusual and unexpected happens.

And, you've mentioned Onpex. Since I've never heard of it I searched around and the first result pointed to this..
https://onpex.com/news/onpex-boosts-wirexs-global-growth-with-cross-border-payments-and-multi-currency-ibans/#utm_source=19PR2&utm_content=SocialMedia
Luxembourg, 21st May 2019

Nice timing...
Why are they just announcing their partnership now if they have been doing business with them for months??

Anyhow, indeed not a good sign, just when I've begun to like it

[gentlemand]

I'm surprised somebody is using wirex for doing withdrawals to a normal bank account, nope it's not a big sum
I've drawn a virtual limit of 150 euros and I don't plan on having more than that even on it except something very unusual and unexpected happens.

I would not use Wirex for any type of bank transfer ever.

Every single complaint I've read about them regards moving fiat in and out and nothing else. Their banking is clearly of a lower tier.

[unamis76]

I'm surprised somebody is using wirex for doing withdrawals to a normal bank account, hope it's not a big sum
I've drawn a virtual limit of 150 euros and I don't plan on having more than that even on it except something very unusual and unexpected happens.

And, you've mentioned Onpex. Since I've never heard of it I searched around and the first result pointed to this..
https://onpex.com/news/onpex-boosts-wirexs-global-growth-with-cross-border-payments-and-multi-currency-ibans/#utm_source=19PR2&utm_content=SocialMedia
Luxembourg, 21st May 2019

Nice timing...
Why are they just announcing their partnership now if they have been doing business with them for months??

Anyhow, indeed not a good sign, just when I've begun to like it

Well, they have the functionality available, so it should work, at least in theory... If they have the service, they should perform it, issues happen everywhere, but they should perform it, and it isn't normal from my experience a SEPA transfer taking so long. Support is unresponsive but I understand that at this point they may be waiting for a response from Onpex.

Funny story is all their other services seem to work without any issues. Except from the app from time to time, but nothing too bad.

And that PR article, absolutely ironic... Hopefully that means my issue will be solved ASAP.

I would not use Wirex for any type of bank transfer ever.

Every single complaint I've read about them regards moving fiat in and out and nothing else. Their banking is clearly of a lower tier.

True, but I've never seen any complain similar to mine, issues were mostly with deposits, as far as I've seen and most of the complains are somewhat old. Regardless, lesson learned, I just hope they get this mess sorted quickly. Unfortunately Wirex was the only fiat onramp I had available when I've made the transfer. Just wanted to give the heads up to everyone here.

[stompix]

@unamis76 , no updates?

I've got a problem of my own for almost two days.
I have 1** something euros in the euro account but when I go to transfer to the card the option for "add to funds to card" is most of the time not visible. Restarting the app does nothing, and when it finally appeared although I transferred the money and immediately after the message funds sent from the account to card account I get an instant message saying the opposite.
Getting annoying, I would understand an error for a few hours but days???