Important Tips. “Debit or credit?” A merchant may ask you if your purchase is debit or credit. You have two choices. In both instances your purchase will be subtracted from your primary checking account.
i. If you choose debit: Select the Debit or ATM button and enter your PIN. Use this option if you would like cash back with your purchase.
ii. If you choose credit: Press the credit button and sign the receipt. For some small dollar purchases and when you pay at the gas pump, you may not need to provide a signature. Note: Although you may choose debit or credit, the merchant may choose to process your transaction differently. Like writing a check, using your Card can generate overdraft fees. You should have enough money in your account before you make a purchase and record it in your checkbook register right away regardless of when the purchase is actually subtracted from your account. Here is some helpful information about how debit cards work:
Important Tips. “Debit or credit?” A merchant may ask you if your purchase is debit or credit. You have two choices. In both instances your purchase will be subtracted from your primary checking account.
i. If you choose debit: Select the Debit or ATM button and enter your PIN. Use this option if you would like cash back with your purchase.
ii. If you choose credit: Press the credit button and sign the receipt. For some small dollar purchases and when you pay at the gas pump, you may not need to provide a signature. Note: Although you may choose debit or credit, the merchant may choose to process your transaction differently.
Important Tips. “Debit or credit?” A merchant may ask you if your purchase is debit or credit. You have two choices. In both instances your purchase will be subtracted from your primary checking account.
i. If you choose debit: Select the Debit or ATM button and enter your PIN. Use this option if you would like cash back with your purchase.
ii. If you choose credit: Press the credit button and sign the receipt. For some small dollar purchases and when you pay at the gas pump, you may not need to provide a signature. Note: Although you may choose debit or credit, the merchant may choose to process your transaction differently. Like writing a check, using your Card can generate overdraft fees. You should have sufficient available funds in your account to cover the transaction before you make a withdrawal or purchase and record the amount of the transaction in your checkbook register right away regardless of when the transaction is actually subtracted from your account. Here is some helpful information about how debit cards work: Authorizations. Most merchants ask us to authorize your purchase. As with checks, we may authorize the transaction even if you don’t have available funds in your account, however, we are not obligated to do so. Holds. When we give authorization to a merchant, we will reserve or place a hold on funds in your primary account to pay for your purchase. There are times – for example, at restaurants or for gas purchases, car rentals or hotels – that merchants won’t know the exact amount of your purchase when they request the authorization. This means the authorization could be for an amount higher or lower than your actual purchase amount. Keep this in mind because it could temporarily affect your available balance if the hold amount is different than your actual purchase amount.
Important Tips. In Brazil, business meetings are generally held in company offices. It is rare for clients to schedule meetings at a hotel or in their residence, as is customary in other countries. Adopt an objective and direct approach in meetings, be clear and firm with regard to prices, timetables, and payment forms. Do not be concerned if assistants or cell phones interrupt the meeting, even during sales pitches. Pause and continue the presentation as naturally as possible. In general, Brazilian executives negotiate business deals alone or with another company representative engaged in the particular field or project. Company catalogues and Web sites should be made available in a number of languages, including Portuguese, to ensure specific technical information does not have to be translated or explained during meetings. Guarantees, post-sale technical assistance, replacements, maintenance, or any other obligations required following the sale should be clearly laid out, primarily those relating to financial matters. Brazilian executives will not always directly state their lack of interest in purchasing the product. Generally, they will allow the business negotiation to run its course until it becomes clear to the visitor that a deal is not possible. The reputation of Brazilians as not being punctual does not apply to the business sector. Indeed, Brazilian executives are punctual and will frequently call in advance if they are unable to meet at the scheduled time. In regard to dress codes, men and women alike should wear formal business attire. Do not be surprised if prior to the meeting lighthearted comments are made about a report in the media or about the preferred soccer (football) teams of meeting participants. These are common “ice-breakers” in Brazil. At the outset of meetings, coffee is served in small cups. The coffee is strong, quite different from that found in other Latin American countries. Brazilians are interested in the stories foreign visitors have to tell. Generally, visitors are asked to offer some observations or to report on a significant factor development in their country. Never offer comments on the country’s political or economic situation, much less about issues relating to Brazilian foreign trade with which one disagrees, as this could give rise to inconvenient comparisons. Presentations should be objective, succinct, clear, and, in the event technical information is required, avoid excessive detail. One should a...
