Changes at Woolies

Changes affecting your Visa Debit card at Woolworths checkouts

You may notice a change in how you can use your Visa Debit card when paying for purchases at Woolworths and its affiliated company stores.

From 15 April, Woolworths will be turning off the credit (CR) button on its PINpad terminals for Visa Debit. This means that you have to press Savings (SAV) or Cheque (CHQ) rather than Credit (CR) when paying for items at the checkout.

The deactivation of the ‘CR’ button for Visa Debit will occur within all stores in the Woolworths company group including:

- BIG W
- Woolworths Supermarkets
- Safeway Supermarkets
- Woolworths Liquor
- Safeway Liquor
- BWS
- Dan Murphy’s
- Dick Smith
- Tandy
- Woolworths Petrol
- Safeway Petrol
- Caltex Woolworths petrol outlets
- Thomas Dux
- ALH (bottle shops)

Please note: There are no issues with your card; it is still fully functional. Your Visa Debit card works normally when you press ‘CR’ at all other merchants.

We encourage you to keep using the ‘CR’ button when paying for purchases at any other merchant where you see the VISA sign. By pressing the ‘CR’ button, this will ensure you continue to receive benefits of Visa Debit such as the Zero Liability Policy and fee-free transactions.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused by Woolworths withdrawing this service, and wish to reassure you that this issue affects all Visa Debit cards used at Woolworths stores, not only those issued by AMP Credit Union.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. If I press ‘CHQ’ or ‘SAV’ will my transaction be accepted?
A. Yes, your card will be accepted when ‘CHQ’ or ‘SAV’ is selected.

Q. Is it only Woolworths’ stores that will not accept ‘CR’ transactions on my Visa Debit card?
A. At this stage we are only aware that Woolworths and its group stores have taken this action.

Q. Is my Visa Debit card broken/damaged?
A. No, your Visa Debit card is not broken. You can use it as normal at any other store domestically and internationally. You will only have the option to press the ‘CHQ’ or ‘SAV’ button at Woolworth group stores.

Q. How can Woolworths implement this change?
A. Woolworths have the ability to switch off the functionality of the ‘CR’ button for debit cards at their point of sale terminals. Your card will work as normal using the ‘CHQ’ or ‘SAV’ button.

Q. Are all debit cardholders affected by this change or is it only AMP Credit Union affected by this change?
A. This change affects all cardholders of Visa Debit or MasterCard Debit cards regardless of which financial institution issues the card.

Q. Why has Woolworths switched off the ‘CR’ button functionality on my debit card?
A. Woolworths have switched off the press ‘CR’ functionality on debit cards to minimise their transaction costs.