Motoring Reporter
The Bankers Association of Namibia (BAN) would like to alert the public about the garage/petrol card phase out and to prepare themselves to make alternative arrangements when purchasing fuel at petrol stations in the country.
According to a Bank of Namibia regulation, filling stations will no longer be allowed to accept petrol cards as legal tender for fuel purchases, spare parts, or repairs as from Friday, 28 February 2014. For consumers this regulation ultimately means that no petrol or garage cards will be accepted for fuel purchases after this date.
In view of this, BAN is informing customers that they have the option to pay cash or use their bank’s credit/debit cards, or even their fleet card when filling up or having your car serviced.
“The method of payment as from the 1st of March is all about paying either cash, or using your debit or credit cards when filling up your tank at filling stations. From our side BAN will consistently engage with fuel stations to persuade them to accept debit/credit cards for convenience sake,” says BAN Chairman MpumziPupuma.
He advises, however, that the onus is also upon the consumer to approach the various filling stations to find out their method of payment, in order to find an alternative and convenient way of purchasing fuel.
STANDARD BANK
“We wish to remind our customers that they no longer will be able to use their Standard Bank Petrol Cards as from the end of this month,” informed Deborah Henckert Standard Bank Namibia’s Manager for Unsecured Lending, Credit Card Issuing & Market Development.
“In view of this, Standard Bank Namibia is informing customers that they have the option to pay cash or use their Standard Bank credit/debit cards or fleet card when fuelling up or having a car serviced.
The phasing out of petrol/garage cards usage in Namibia does not currently have any effect on the Fleet Management Cards of Standard Bank Namibia. “We are aware of the concerns raised by the service station owners and stakeholders from the oil industry about the phasing out of petrol cards. However, we are pleased to inform the oil industry that the phasing out will have no direct impact on their businesses, because they will be able to continue using their Standard Bank Fleet Management Cards as in the past,” emphasises Deborah.
“Customers can apply for a credit or debit card from Standard Bank Namibia and use that to purchase fuel as from the end of the month. A credit card is quite versatile in the sense that it is a universal card recognised and used internationally. It can be used anywhere in the world,” says Deborah.
For more information on this issue, customers are also encouraged to call their bank’s 24-Hour Customer Contact Centre. Below are 24-Hour Customer Contact Centre contact details of all the banks in Namibia:
- Standard Bank Namibia – Toll free number: 081 9286 or Tel: (+26461) 294 2136
- Bank Windhoek – Tel: (+26461) 299 1200
- First National Bank Namibia -Tel: (+26461) 299 2999
- Nedbank– Tel: (+26461) 295 2222
- Payment Association of Namibia – Tel: (+26461) 415 420
- SME Bank – Tel: (+26461) 430 1000 or 430 1106