Is anyone else having problems redeeming TCN Restaurant cards?
I’ve used a couple in the past with no problems but I have a $50 card that has been refused at the last 5 restaurants I’ve eaten at. They don’t provide a list of restaurants where it’s accepted. I’m thinking to start that many places took the card and then discovered TCN took a healthy cut, so now they say no.
Three in Orange area, one Blue Mountains, one Sydney. All independent ‘fine dining’, all with eftpos.
I’m thinking to start that many places took the card and then discovered TCN took a healthy cut, so now they say no.
I thought they made their money from cards that expire with a balance on them.
No Its actually a promotional thing to bring new customers in
Do you mean that the restaurant refused to accept the payment / didn't let you use it? Or it declined at the machine and didn't go through?
I've had no trouble using these cards at food places, and also used them at lots of pubs (which also serve food). It's just an eftpos card to them and the only "different" thing about it is that you have to swipe. Some employees don't even know where the swipe strip is on their terminals because no one uses that any more.
You can add it to Apple Pay if you add it to the app or something.
The TCN Restaurant card refused to work or the restaurants refused to accept the card? If the restaurants are refusing to accept the card maybe next time you should ask before sitting down.
If its supposed to be like a regular eftpos card, couldn't you just not say anything and swipe the card yourself like it's your regular debit/credit card?
Aren't they just credit cards?
Like there's zero restrictions on them?
They have lots of restrictions and also have an expiry date. DO NOT buy gift cards from TCN. I have learnt the hard way
Sorry the restaurants refused to accept the card, it wasn’t declined. Adding to Apple Pay sounds like an idea although not all have tap and pay.
Perhaps staff are just instructed not to take gift cards at all?
Yesterday restaurant told me they take Good Food cards but not TCN.
When did they refuse the card? Did they see the colour yellow and rip the terminal out of your reach as you were stretching towards it? It's just an eftpos card which you have to swipe. It either works or doesn't for them
Sorry the restaurants refused to accept the card
How? Did you ask them or something? If you tap and the machine accepts it, then it accepts it. Noone even looks at what kind of card anyone taps with anymore.
Are the TCN cards Contactless enabled?
Physical TCN gift cards are not contactless enabled.
You can exchange category-restricted physical TCN gift cards for a digital Mastercard version through the TCN website for category-restricted gift cards. However, this will render the physical gift card useless, plus you will need to pay for any surcharges applicable for Mastercards at the merchant if you use the digital version.
You can add digital TCN gift cards to Apple Pay, Google Wallet or Samsung Pay and pay using contactless that way.
@WookieMonster: Do this. I actually got a TCN card as a cash back when I bought a television. I put it on my phone (Google Wallet). I used it for everything I would normally use my credit card for - mostly grocery shopping in the end.
The only thing you have to do is monitor you balance, which you can do through the TCN app.
When I got down to the final few dollars, I just used the split payment facility at the Woolworths self service checkout - i.e. I used two cards, the TCN for something like $3, and then my normal card for the remainder. It meant I was able to spend it down to exactly $0
@WookieMonster: so if you have the digital version of tcn restaurant, you cant use the phsycall card at all? Oh that is why my card was declined at guzmany gomez
I should've worded it better - If it works on the machine, tap or swipe, then that should be it. They always seem to just look at the machine and if the machine accepts it, they don't care what you've swiped/tapped.
@bobbified: no. it is swipe only; it has no chip embedded in the card and therefore tap has no possibility of working.
OK I showed them the card, asked, and they said no we don’t accept. I should just swipe then? Can you tap them?
From: https://thecardnetwork.com.au/pages/faqs
How do I use my physical card?
Just use it like an eftpos Card!
Simply present your card in store at any of the participating retailers and use it against any purchase.
Swipe the card through the eftpos terminal. You select “SAVINGS,” enter the PIN on the back of your card and you’re done – just enjoy your purchase!
You can check your balance and card expiry date anytime by clicking on the ‘Check Balance’ section on our website.
If the transaction amount exceeds the card’s balance, you will need to pay for the remaining amount on a different card or cash.
This is where you're going wrong. You don't need to ask, they're likely just saying no because they don't recognise it. Just use it.
Just don't ask them and use them as a normal eftpos card. You don't need their permission on how you choose to pay.
But there are many other restaurant gift cards that you can only use in specific restaurants eg Gourmet Traveller, Good Food etc. Perhaps that’s where the confusion lies?
Exactly, they are confused because there is so much out there. These cards, specifically, don't need any approval and just work like an eftpos card
@Jayharley95: Hey mate, check your pm's :)
I tried using them at monkey mania cafe restaurants and it didn’t work and declined , came up as entertainment , so yeah some places won’t accept it
I obviously don't eat out enough I've never heard of a TCN restaurant card.
I love these cards and have been using them regularly for a couple of years. I buy physical cards at supermarkets when they are on special either as a discount off of face value or paying full price but get a large number of FlyBuys or Everyday Rewards points. I also purchase bigger denomination $250 ones via my Ambassador Card membership at a discount of 7.0% below face value, and I load these onto my iPhone Apple Wallet, which is very convenient. The only downfall with any gift cards is that you end up with a whole bunch of cards that only have small balances left over, which becomes very inconvenient to try to spend.
If you can use these cards at Woolworths or Coles, you can use the self checkout and split the payment across several cards.
No, you cannot use a restaurant card that is restricted to merchants in that industry, to pay for things at Woolies or Coles. The payment will be declined.
It's simple. As WookieMonster said. Just convert the physical cards to digital cards as explained on the TCN website. Add them to your digital wallet, activate NFC (near field communication) on your phone when paying and place your phone down on the merchant device as a contactless tap. The restaurant don't even know what you're using to pay. They only care that the transaction shows as approved on their terminal device.
How can I use up the small amount of money on my TCN Restaurant Card? I still have 1aud, 2aud left on a few of my cards.
Many restaurants do not accept split payments. tcn Restaurant Card can be used to buy doordash gc, but it starts at 25aud.
Buy a soft serve / sauce at McDonald
Ice cream cone at gelato store etc
Not valid for a merchant with fast food or quick service restaurant category
I have already used multiple times
Yes, it also works at KFC and Hungry Jacks, and most all of my local take-away providers. My local burger bar is accustomed to my using up 2-3 small balance TCN Restaurant Cards, and I appreciate that indulgence.
so you can use it for KFC and Maccas? but when I search it based on my postcode, KFC and Maccas arent showinh up
you can select custom gift card amount in doordash but im not sure if $25 is the min
My son tried to use it at school canteen and it didn’t work. Came up as education category.
Has anyone used this card at KFC or McDonald recently?
Try it out for us and let us know.
Which restaurants have declined your card?