Starling Users - Some advice

[r2001uk]

You may already know that magstripe transactions are disabled on starling by default but can be activated temporarily in-app. This functionality will automatically disable again after a week or so.

Saturday was our last day and I went to the Walmart near Sherberth to top the car back up to full before heading to the airport. The machine accepted my starling card (unlike Wawa) and allowed me to fuel the car. I noticed the money wasn't immediately deducted and figured it'd come out on the next working day.

Fast forward to today and I wake up to a 'transaction declined' notification because the magstripe was disabled!

Obviously I can't go back to Walmart to pay and I don't want to get busted for fuel theft, so I checked with starling and they assured me that Walmart will attempt payment again but they don't know when.

So yeah, top tip. Make sure your magstripe is still enabled for a few days after your holiday - and keep receipts just in case!

My starling balance has also dropped a little and this is because some transactions that I made on Friday (that were 'deducted' at Friday's exchange rate), weren't actually taken until today and the rate must be a little worse today because around 40p is unaccounted for. This wasn't clear ony payments page as that suggests no transactions have happened today. I had to download a Statement CSV to see that 3 merchants only took their money today rather than Friday. I told Starling they should make situations like this more clear to the account holder as, from my perspective, it just looked like a few pence vanished into thin air.

Other than these issues though, Starling was incredible for my trip. Great exchange rates and no problems using it anywhere (once the magstripe was enabled).

[disneyfangirl01]

Originally Posted by r2001uk

You may already know that magstripe transactions are disabled on starling by default but can be activated temporarily in-app. This functionality will automatically disable again after a week or so.

Saturday was our last day and I went to the Walmart near Sherberth to top the car back up to full before heading to the airport. The machine accepted my starling card (unlike Wawa) and allowed me to fuel the car. I noticed the money wasn't immediately deducted and figured it'd come out on the next working day.

Fast forward to today and I wake up to a 'transaction declined' notification because the magstripe was disabled!

Obviously I can't go back to Walmart to pay and I don't want to get busted for fuel theft, so I checked with starling and they assured me that Walmart will attempt payment again but they don't know when.

So yeah, top tip. Make sure your magstripe is still enabled for a few days after your holiday - and keep receipts just in case!

My starling balance has also dropped a little and this is because some transactions that I made on Friday (that were 'deducted' at Friday's exchange rate), weren't actually taken until today and the rate must be a little worse today because around 40p is unaccounted for. This wasn't clear ony payments page as that suggests no transactions have happened today. I had to download a Statement CSV to see that 3 merchants only took their money today rather than Friday. I told Starling they should make situations like this more clear to the account holder as, from my perspective, it just looked like a few pence vanished into thin air.

Other than these issues though, Starling was incredible for my trip. Great exchange rates and no problems using it anywhere (once the magstripe was enabled).

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Thanks for the tip! I have ben anxious about using mine as its the only 'abroad' card we have! How exactly do you active the magstripe?

[oeamon]

in the app

[BarryL]

go to app menu
-->Card
-->Control this card
-->Magstripe payments (the bottom option)

[Guest]

Useful tip. Thank you.

I have noticed in the UK a few times this week and last that payments are not coming out immediately. Today I have3 pending. Awkward as I cannot fully remember what I have spent.

[CookieMonster54]

It’s just how some retailers are it’s not to do with the mag stripe when I made transactions in target and Disney springs with Apple Pay and my phone say it was declined but the money was taken out a couple days later.