UBL wiz card review
May 30th, 2011
One of the biggest problems facing webmasters from Pakistan is the lack of an easy payment method for purchasing services online. Specifically, an easy payment method for buying webhosting and domain names. Credit cards are difficult to come by. Debit cards are easier to get, but most of them don’t work online. Not even a VISA logo guarantees that a debit card will work online in Pakistan! So I was very happy when I heard that a Pakistani bank was issuing an Internet capable prepaid debit card. That was over 2 years ago, and in this post I share my experience with using the UBL wiz Visa card online
Getting the UBL wiz card
Getting the Wiz card is a bit of a hassle. UBL claims it’s a case of buying the card in exchange for cash, but actually its a lot more complicated than that. There are two main types of Wiz cards:
- Regular Wiz card
- Internet Wiz card
The regular wiz cards were introduced first, and are the ones I am using. There are different types of Wiz cards with different usage limits but only the traveller’s card is worth getting.
With these regular wiz cards you have to file an Internet usage application with UBL before you can use them online. You also have to call up their call center and book an internet session each time you want to use the card online. You pay Rs. 100 for the privilege, and can conduct as many transactions as you like during the session.
With the Internet wiz card you don’t have to apply for online usage or book any sessions. The card is active for online use 24/7. If you intend to buy a wiz card today make sure its an Internet traveller’s wiz card.
To obtain the card you need to go to a UBL branch, fill out a form, and submit a copy of your CNIC. You also need to provide proof of income documentation. This is a new requirement, and makes the whole “cash do aur card lo” marketing slogan look like total rubbish. Once you buy the card, you have to wait for UBL to verify your identity with NADRA. This should be instantaneous because NADRA offers online verification for large organizations, but UBL being UBL, it can take from a few days to weeks.
Once you get your card you have to call up their call center to activate it. This is good practice, because you’ll be calling their call center a lot in the future 
Depositing and withdrawing funds
To add funds to the card you have to deposit cash or online UBL checks. But, you may also need to provide a copy of your CNIC! I write may because, as always, UBL doesn’t consistently enforce this policy. Some branches ask for the CNIC copy and some don’t. That you have to provide a copy of your CNIC to deposit money into your own wiz card is ludicrous to say the least!
Even more ludicrous is the policy that you can only deposit or withdraw in multiples of Rs. 500. So, for example, you can deposit Rs. 1,000 but not Rs. 800. If your balance is not a multiple of Rs. 500 you can’t withdraw the entire amount! You have to spend it. So, for example, if you have a balance of Rs. 800 you can only withdraw Rs. 500 using their ATM machine and you have to spend the balance Rs. 300.
Online Use
Having used my wiz card online for over 2 years, during which time I bought webhosting and domains from many different merchants, I can safely say that UBL wiz card is the most unreliable payment method ever.
- The card doesn’t work at all merchant’s sites. It definitely won’t work at sites that don’t ask for the CVV code. This is a number printed on the back of the card and is used for additional verification. Even if a site asks for a CVV code there is no guarantee the card will work. Basically there is no telling which site it will work at.
- If it works at a site today there is no guarantee its going to work at the same site tomorrow! So if you buy webhosting from a provider the first month’s payment may go through but not the renewal! Or it maybe that you’ll successfully pay the provider every month for 3 months but it’ll fail to work on the 4th month! I have actually been in just such a situation and I can tell you it was a hassle switching dedicated servers at the 11th hour.
- Sometimes your card will be charged but the merchant will not receive the funds! This keeps happening time and time again with UBL wiz cards. The only solution is to file a dispute with them. In 2 years I’ve had to file a dispute 3 times! So if your going to use the UBL wiz card online at all be sure you keep their dispute form handy. You’re going to need it! Also fax or courier the form. Emails don’t register with them anymore.
- Customer support is useless. Don’t expect much help from their call center personnel. Sure, ask them about how to file a dispute but don’t bother complaining to them or asking for advice on how to make the card work. These people have no idea. They’ll just feed you a load of bull.
Final words
Only use the UBL wiz card online if you have no other choice. Be smart about using it. Always make your first transaction at a site during an Internet session a small transaction. That way if something goes wrong you will only loose a small amount. If you can get an Internet capable visa or mastercard debit card from another bank then that would be the best course of action.
strangely the above comment deceives people into going to that site and it is a fake site as well!
Thanks for drawing my attention to it Safwan. I have removed the offending comment.
Salam Bro,
Can I Use This UBL Wiz Card For Receiving Money From Other Countries?
As My Big Bro Works in Dubai & He Sends Money for Monthly Dues by westren Union,
If I Buy This Card
Can I Get Money Direct in it when My Bro Sends..
waiting of ur reply..
Thanks
No that is not possible. Wiz card is only for sending money.
Please tell me the way how can I transfer money to USA. Thanks and regards,
Haroon
Please see the article on wire transfer payments.
so true. their service is pathetic.. it does not work at all at various sites… and they are charging money while providing zero service …. even on a failed transaction they can charge $1 or so … tried using it for purchasing reginout but it declined
This card is useless for me.
Dear Sir,
According to the resolution we received from Concern Department against your complaint, only credit card accept on many hosting website. Since UBL Wiz card is not the proper replacement of credit card So, it has limitations and not liability to be used online on every site.
For further details or any other query, feel free to contact us via any of the following channels:
Fax : 92-21-99201632
Email (Scanned Copy) : customer.services@ubl.com.pk
Phone : (9221) 111 825 888 (UAN)
Postal Address : Customer Services
Thanks,
Idiots! Lots of people around the world order hosting and other goods and services using debit cards. The problem is not about debit or credit cards. Its about UBL being incompetent and unable to process payments properly.
Idiots! Motay bhai wiz card sub jaga chalta hai
I have received my wiz teen normal and internet card both but still when I call help center to activate they say you are not registered yet what the hell is this if you know about this kindly tell me. thanks
i m havying the same problum with my UBL Wiz travelers card i spoke to the Customer services representatives but i dont think those idiots can help me
i’m having the same problem..i ws paying my exam fee via wiz card for acca…my money possibly has stucked in wire smwhere..
i called acca uk.they said no funds received..
i called ubl ..they said funds r deducted..aaaaahhh..i wanted to pull my hairs out..bcuz now fee date has been passed n i’d hav to pay 7 pounds/exam penalty..
i’m gonna enter into a dispute now..hard mission it wud be…be ready tom cruise..
well i am also facing the same problem . i think ubl visa cards are useless for internet use .
ubl wiz card and other products are useless at all.i spend 2 weeks,500 ruppes for activating my wiz card but still it is unable to pay on any site.their costumer service is totaly fake and just a tool for grabbing and losting your money.they even dont know about their products.different representatives will give you different advice which results in further misconception.i am in a situation “na ugal sakta hon aur na nigal sakta hon”.
my request to all banks in pakistan to please come in to this field and finish the monopoly of ubl.
salam . mara ubl wiz card active nahe horaha ha so plz ya kasy hoga tell me
Sadqa ka bakra deh do aur dua karo.
Bloody thing doesn’t work anywhere! I’ve filed disputes many times and got my money back. I’ve heard SCB Debit Card is very good for online purchasing.
Tried tonight with Google didn’t work and took a dollar off my account, well another dispute to be filed.
Only useful for Making Exam payments online. Also I file disputes only through e-mail, used to work last time I did it.
how about Skype ??
Does Any one tried to get a calling credit on Skype ??? Does it work ???
I am stuck got my card today but here comments are very bad i just want to buy Skype credit :s
You can buy skype credit using moneybookers. You can use your UBL wiz card to upload funds to moneybookers.
I have found dealing with UBL worse than dealing with a sarkari office. Just as you mention you have come for a Wiz card, they treat you as if you have come to ask for donations.
Unfortunately I decided to get UBL Wiz card some time ago. The card expired last year with RS.5000/- balance still in it.Now they say there is no way to get my money lost in the expired card except by having another Wiz card. And to issue a new card, they demand documentary proof of monthly income which I am unable to provide. So it seems to me that this time I have to pay in cash for my lethargy and forgetfulness due to which I could not draw the money before the card expired.
Also, after reading this post and the comments here, I have lost the desire to get another Wiz card for online use.
Is there a way to buy some virtual credit card kind of thing in Lahore to be used on the sites that require a credit card for online payment?
This is the best banking,but his one line charger is highi 5000 kepament par 350 rupy lagy hoty ha
AOA abdussamad,
Can you please tell me which visa card of pakistani bank will work on site that don’t ask for CVV code (3 digit code ).
Thank
No idea. Your guess is as good as mine.
lol well said Abdussamad. I was just searching on google for UBL Wiz Card (Internet Card) reviews and stumbled upon your blogs. As suleman stated, I am also looking for a way to pay a merchant that does not ask for a CVV code. Basically, to say the truth, I am trying to find a payment method through which I can pay GoDaddy.com while being in Pakistan (can’t go outside this country for a) loving it too much and b) can’t leave my family). To mention clearly, GoDaddy.com uses a merchant that sometimes asks for a CVV code and sometimes it does not ask for a CVV code.
I know e-commerce and basic things about these merchants, UBL Wiz cards seem to be having the partially absence of AVS system in them, BUT, they will surely inherit their traditional and additional security system “CVV” lol, isn’t that kinda funny?
So to say the least, I am also finding a working VISA or MasterCard that could pay even without providing the CVV code to merchant. If you happen to find one sooner or later, kindly update this post as I have bookmarked it and will keep checking, reading and posting comments here.
Regards, Mubashir.
I suggest you use namecheap as your domain registrar. You can pay them using your UBL wiz card. I know because I have tried it and been successful.
Pathetic, Horrible, Terrific & Worst Customer Services I’ve ever came through.
It was a terrific & horrible experience visiting UBL for a WIZ Card. They people dont even respect & care the customer.
Read the complete story :
http://kamranzahid.com/ubl-wiz-card-a-horrible-terrific-experience.html
Look up the meaning of the word terrific. It means great. Was UBL’s service great
?