How to get a credit card with no credit for freelancing - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ali_asadzadeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 10:31:33 am
content: Hi,This is it, I have quite a few very good skills (Altium,Cortex M,Node.js), and I'm located in Iran, But I wanted to do some freelancing and make some $, so is there a way to get an online credit card?

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 10:43:27 am
content: You go to a bank, ask them for a credit card, say you have no credit, and then cringe at the rates.I'm not saying that a bank won't give you a card, there's probably a bank somewhere that will, but don't expect it to be amazing on no credit.Credit cards, however, aren't a bad way (or so I've been told), to get credit, so long as you pay your bills on time. I do know some credit cards have a no interest when paid in full by certain time attribute, so perhaps you could look into any deals considering that, and then use it like a debit card, only spending however much money you have.As for online banking, there's a very good reason probably nobody will give a random person from across the world with no credit a license to print money. If you can borrow money on it, they will want something to fall back on and drag your ass with in the event you try to make off with the maximum withdrawal.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 11:06:22 am
content: Nope.Simple reasons :- Major credit card like VISA/MASTER don't operate in Iran, and foreigner also can not use it there, cmiiw.- There is no such thing as "online credit card" acrossinternational border, as you have to understand the meaning of the word "credit" which means .. spend money first, then pay later. How the credit card issuer can ask you to pay what you've spent ? Just because you claimed that you're nice guy and honest ? Again, nope.Also don't be scammed at internet that claimed can give you credit card as long you pay in advance, there is no such thing.Remember, credit card = spend first, pay later, NOT pay 1st, spend later, as simple as that.

author: Whales
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 11:28:33 am
content: If you need a credit card for online purchases: talk to your bank, see if alternative arrangements can be made. They might be able to make something that 'acts' like a credit card (has a credit card number you can use) but requires prepay (ala a debit card).YMMV, I'm not a financial expert.

author: ali_asadzadeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 11:40:32 am
content: Thanks for the feedback, Ok, I think maybe I have used the wrong word in here!I do not need credit card, I need an online card so I could get the money from my customers, there would be no debt in the card, just a place to store my money.

author: beanflying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 11:52:57 am
content: Tough spot for you most companies with any US affiliation won't give you a 'debit card' (same features as a credit card but YOUR money) with Visa or MasterCard type facility unless you have a non local bank account and details I doubt even this will be available to you (Relative in another country?). This will mean Stripe , Square and others will be the same due to the US base.Might be worth having a look athttps://intl.alipay.com/or very carefully look at some of the other Asian alternatives (triple check them).Best of luck in your search.

author: vtwin@cox.net
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 12:02:58 pm
content: I think what you're talking about is a merchant account. That is, a way to take credit card payments from others (the customers you wish to do work for).

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 12:04:35 pm
content: Quote from: ali_asadzadeh on December 29, 2018, 11:40:32 amThe problem is your country is under international sanctions led by US, any cents flow in or out are closely monitored and blocked if necessary, and even there is a way for foreigner to pay you, you will be hit by hefty fee and beaucracies.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 12:16:55 pm
content: Quote from: BravoV on December 29, 2018, 11:06:22 amNot necessarily. In the NL for example you can get credit cards with a very low limit but you can transfer money onto it in order to spend more. And then there are also prepaid credit cards. Either way the credit card company doesn't make money from interest but from their transaction fees.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 12:22:06 pm
content: Quote from: ali_asadzadeh on December 29, 2018, 11:40:32 amI'd ask a bank in your country for advice. You surely aren't the only one with this problem and there has to be a solution.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 12:28:34 pm
content: Have a look if you can get awww.payoneer.comaccount/cardIt's a mastercard in USD that people outside the USA can get.You also get details for a USA bank account number that you can transfer into to 'load' your card with money.I dunno if people in Iran can get them though, you'll have to try the signup form and see.From memory there's a few hoops to go through when signing up. You need scanned copy of passport, other ID etc.Note this is not a true credit card, it cannot go negative. Just allows you to pay for things with a CC number.I think the main problem people in Iran face with these sort of services is providing info when requested.If payoneer ask for some extra form of ID (after you have been using the service for a while) and you are unable to provide it you might lose access to your money.

author: rbm
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 01:14:18 pm
content: The OP is looking for a financial instrument that allows clients to pay him for services rendered, i.e. a merchant account and some form of online point of sale mechanism. He is not looking for a financial instrument that allows him to transact with online merchants, i.e. a cardholder account and online debit/credit card.The problem for the OP is the international sanctions against Iran by the US. This impacts relationships he can form with financial institutions in other allied countries, because of the threat of retaliation by the USA against those allied institutions for dealing with him. The only way I can see this working is to setup a foreign merchant account at a bank in a non-sanctioned Iran-friendly country (UAE maybe) which is willing to look away from his nationality. He'll be able to collect the commissions from clients for work performed but unable to liquidate the money. The money will have to stay outside Iran for the moment, until sanctions are lifted or relaxed enough to allow foreign money exchange with Iranian banks.This is only my opinion and not a recommendation for action, as I'm not an expert in these issues.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 01:28:18 pm
content: I work closely with financial institutions, the bottom line is, Iranian can not easily get money from outside Iran, period.Understand the OP just want to get paid, and his Iranian bank account gets credited, so he can use or withdraw the money, this simply not feasible, and its not worth the trouble vs the amount involved.After Feb 2016, there was a leeway opened, that they (Iran) could do money flow in or out, but still not the comfortable level like us say on VISA/MASTER like transactions "internationally", and with recent ban hammer struck by Mr. Trump just few months ago, this narrow access is now closed again.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 01:56:41 pm
content: It is not like the US has the monopoly on international money transfers! Besides that any internal customer that is allowed to purchase from Ali is likely be able to pay as well.

author: ali_asadzadeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 02:57:42 pm
content: Thanks, guys, really appreciate your help, in hereQuoteExactlyAlso by emerging the new crypto's, I think it would be very easier to transfer money in coming years, regarding the crypto's do we have 0$ accounts? Can they be used to make debit or credit cards, since most users would not have the option to pay by crypto or they simply do not trust them enough! Any ideas would help a lot, because I can do lot's of Stuff like, software programming that doesn't need any borders to pass!

author: OwO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 03:34:36 pm
content: Accept payments via bitcoin. If your customers are in an unsanctioned country they can easily exchange money into bitcoin via online services.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 05:05:42 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on December 29, 2018, 01:56:41 pmAs your country is US ally, think again before you send something like Bitcoin to ali_asadzadeh, better read this 1st ->Iranian Bitcoin Users Are Already Being Affected By New US Sanctions, who knows if one day your country's counter terrorism squad like Unit Interventie Mariniers will burst into your house, cause someone decided and picked you up randomly from the list, as an example and also send a message publicly to all who do cryptocurrency with Iran to stop doing that.Not so much for OwO though, as he is in China.

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 05:33:03 pm
content: Seems like PayCo may be an option for you.https://www.pay.co(at least Iran is listed as a possible country when you register, now you'll have to figure out if the service is really available in Iran or not)

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 06:23:15 pm
content: Quote from: BravoV on December 29, 2018, 05:05:42 pmI'm pretty sure that won't happen. Anything coming from the US is taken with a large grain of salt over here. Either way the sanctions of the US are those of the US and don't affect me because I'm outside the US.

author: soldar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 07:37:55 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on December 29, 2018, 06:23:15 pmThey can affect you if you ever travel to the USA but even if you don't it can cause you problems.For a long time the US government has been illegally spying on European car transactions, phone calls, etc.QuoteWestern governments talk a nice talk but in reality they will do anything they find expedient, not only the USA but European and others. American corporations are everywhere and they will do anything the US Government asks. Anything. Without question. In secret. You will never get an explanation as to why your money was "lost" or why you were not allowed to board a flight, or why you were detained somewhere along the way. America's long hand reaches places where they supposedly have no jurisdiction. A bank anywhere in the world that wants to do business with American banks has to cooperate fully. And a bank that wants to survive needs to do business with American banks.Be careful.

author: German_EE
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 07:49:19 pm
content: As some have pointed out there are US sanctions on Iraq and there could be major problems if I were to assist you. As we have seen recently the USA are not shy about extending their powers outside their own borders with the arrest and detention of a Chinese business executive in Canada (even though she had probably not broken any Canadian laws).Should I or any EEVBlog member assist you in breaking USA sanctions on Iraq we could find ourselves arrested in our own country and then detained pending transportation to the USA for trial. Whilst I am sure that your intentions are honorable I am not willing to take the risk, other board members should make their own decision on this matter whilst considering recent events.

author: JoeN
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 07:56:01 pm
content: If you were not in Iran, I would mention Paypal. If your clients can pay via PayPal, they are a good option. They will send you a debit card that you can do withdrawals with. But I am pretty sure they don't do business in Iran because of the current international situation between Iran and the U.S./western hegemonic alliance.

author: JoeN
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 07:59:41 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on December 29, 2018, 01:56:41 pmFeel free to believe in anything you wish.

author: soldar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 08:07:18 pm
content: We are being watched.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_EyesQuoteIf they are listening to Angela Merkel's phone calls they certainly know if you send money to Iran.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 08:47:37 pm
content: Quote from: ali_asadzadeh on December 29, 2018, 02:57:42 pmI'm still not sure you fully understand how payments work. Even if you had access to a debit or credit card, this would not enable you to receive money. Debit and credit cards enable you to make payments to others. They do not enable you to receive payments. So even if you had a credit card in your hands, it would not help you.

author: beanflying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 11:14:43 pm
content: Quote from: IanB on December 29, 2018, 08:47:37 pmThat's not strictly correct either. If you have a bank account linked to your debit card you can certainly receive money just the person giving you that money can't do it on their 'credit or debit' card using the numbers on the front and back. It would need to be done via a transfer of some sort other than a merchant type you are thinking of, either electronically or at a bank.Until the sanctions are wound back Iran has no access to Visa or Mastercard either debit or credit so discussing their use is a bit moot.

author: beanflying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 11:49:35 pm
content: Quote from: blueskull on December 29, 2018, 11:42:41 pmIs that via a third party app like Wechat or via electronic banking?

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2018, 11:50:57 pm
content: @ali_asadzadeh: You may have realized by now that this forum is probably not the best place to get an answer to your question.Some posters aren't even aware of the sanctions against Iran, or which countries (and hence potential markets for you) are imposing sanctions. Some talk about banking policies and conventions in their own countries, and seem to ignore the fact that things may work very differently for you. None of us are experts in these matters (certainly including myself...)I would recommend that you start by asking a local bank, and maybe a tax consultant, and take things from there.

author: soldar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2018, 12:33:51 am
content: Quote from: beanflying on December 29, 2018, 11:14:43 pmThere are other credit cards and other payment sytems. In China UnionPay is the major credit card and there are other payment systems like Alipay and Wechat which, by the way, are so widespread and convenient that China is ahead of most western nations in that regard. You can pay with your mobile phone pretty much anywhere, including street vendors. Just scan their code and pay with your phone.Another interesting thing I found out many years ago is that, unlike western bank accounts, you can have a bank account in China with several currenciesin the same account. I couldn't believe it until I saw it. Balance XXX RMB + YYY USD. Interesting.

author: ali_asadzadeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2018, 06:32:43 am
content: QuoteThanks, that's interesting.Guys thanks all for your concerns, But I did not tell that I wanted to transfer the money to Iran, I just said that I wanted to get the money to my account, which would probably be in a foreign bank account, why! because I plan to immigrate to some countries to live out there, so this would be some preparation to have enough money to be able to live at least 1 year without a job out there.

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2018, 08:05:06 am
content: Quote from: ali_asadzadeh on December 30, 2018, 06:32:43 amAs long as you are an Iranian citizen living in Iran, any "offshore" bank acounts you own (or want to set up) are also affected by sanctions against Iran. Otherwise such accounts could easily be used by any business in Iran to work around the sanctions.I believe that UN and EU sanctions have been lifted or loosened enough to re-enable Iranians to open offshore bank accounts in (some?) European countries. But again, this forum is probably not the best place to find an expert on these matters.

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2018, 06:32:00 pm
content: Quote from: German_EE on December 29, 2018, 07:49:19 pmDoes Europol and the European Arrest Warrant ring a bell?It isn't just the US doing international arrests.

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2018, 06:34:29 pm
content: Quote from: rstofer on December 30, 2018, 06:32:00 pmAre those politically motivated arrests, though?

author: soldar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2018, 07:30:41 pm
content: Quote from: rstofer on December 30, 2018, 06:32:00 pmThat is a bad example though because Europol and the European Arrest Warrant are only effective inside Europe and, even then, they are much more bureaucratic and formal than extraditions between American states, not to mention the Feds which have no equivalent in Europe. So, bad example.Having said that, all nations preach very nice but they will do whatever is expedient at any given moment. The UK, obviously, will assist Big Brother in any and all endeavors but all other western nations will do the same to a greater or lesser extent. Governments will cooperate in wars, rendition flights and all sorts of unsavory stuff. They try to keep it under wraps to the extent possible but that will not stop them from doing it. Let us not pretend western governments are much better than Asian or African governments in their morals. Governments have no morals and the guys in those governments owe themselves to their superiors and their comrades, not to the common people of the street.The concept of Human Rights is a polite fiction to be ignored if expedient to do so. The people of country A could not care less if the people of country B are starving or dying and, in fact, A will cause that to happen if they have anything to gain.America may be the one doing bad things now because they are in the position to do it but any other country would do the same in their position. Just look back at all the colonial empires.Let us not pretend we are better. We are humans. Predators of our own species.

author: gildasd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2018, 08:40:57 pm
content: I overheard Iranian business men in the UAE talking to Indian clients about using accounts in Quatar, but I think it involved actually having to go there multiple times a year to take cash from the bank that goes to the world and having to drive the cash by taxi to the bank that goes to Iran... it seemed to be an open secret but a costly one in fees, having to convert to the local currency then back, Etc.I lost interest at that point as my steak had arrived.

author: miceuz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2018, 08:51:21 pm
content: @ali_asadzadeh If cryptocurrencies are an option for you, consider using Monero or z-cash - they have non-traceable transactions by design while all bitcoin or ethereum transactions are open for all to see.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2018, 10:07:26 pm
content: Quote from: rstofer on December 30, 2018, 06:32:00 pmThis is wildly off-topic. If you are adhering to laws and regulations and just try to make an honest living nobody is going to come after you. Europol has much better ways to spend their time. I really don't get all the scaremongering. Perhaps some are watching too many movies.

author: mrpackethead
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2018, 11:44:57 pm
content: I have been enjoying dates from Iran recently. The best dates that you can ever imagine. How come they are everywhere in teh UK? are there no sanctions on dates?

author: soldar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2018, 08:52:02 am
content: Quote from: nctnico on December 30, 2018, 10:07:26 pmI used to think like that when I was a teenager. I thought the state is there to help you and if you ever have a problem, you call them and they help you. Then I saw things that made me think. And I read a book that said something likeQuoteVery often the state is the wolf, not the mother.Of course, in a general way, "do as you are told and you will be left alone by the government" is just as true in Europe as in America as in China as in Russia as in Africa as in ... everywhere. But, even then, there is abuse everywhere and there's unfair laws everywhere.Are all laws just and worthy of being respected? Are they always applied fairly? Are the authorities always respecting the law? Is there no abuse?If the state takes your property without any process of lawhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asset_forfeiturehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_forfeiture_in_the_United_StatesIs that fair? Is it fair that a government can confiscate your life savings without any legal process?Is it fair that if your nationality is other than the country where you are being detained your rights are legally diminished and often they are just ignored altogether. Should you just not travel to other countries? A European national who "has done nothing wrong" and travels is much more likely to be detained and abused by the USA than by China.Is it fair that people go to jail for minor infractions while corrupt people who stole millions game the system and do not pay a penalty?Is it fair that someone in a country that has been put on a black list by Big Brother is prohibited from earning a living? What has this individual done wrong to anybody?In my long life I can tell you how many time I have been harmed by terrorists: exactly zero. And I can tell you I cannot even begin to count the number of times I have been harmed by governments of, supposedly, "civilized" nations.The cockroach divides animals into two classes, those who are aggressive and cruel, like the chicken, and those who are kind and peaceful like the lion. There is no absolute good and bad, there is only points of view and personal experience.Governments are a necessary evil but don't make the mistake of thinking they are good for you.

author: ali_asadzadeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2018, 12:08:03 pm
content: QuoteQuote

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2018, 01:16:41 pm
content: Quote from: soldar on December 31, 2018, 08:52:02 amYou missed the 'adhering to the law' part in what I wrote. People who have no clue about their rights, duties or what is 'the smart thing to do' in general sometimes find themselves in odd situations. And then they have no idea how to untangle the mess they are in so they get lost in the system. That part often gets lost in news stories.

author: Kilrah
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 31, 2018, 01:59:03 pm
content: Quote from: BravoV on December 29, 2018, 11:06:22 amThat's incorrect, many providers do supply prepaid "credit cards". I've had a prepaid visa for more than 10 years...Works just like a credit card for anything you would use one with, just it doesn't go negative, you have to load the account in advance.

author: soldar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2018, 02:01:41 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on December 31, 2018, 01:16:41 pmNo, I did not miss that. I am saying you are quite mistaken. Every day people who have done nothing wrong and have broken no laws have their property confiscated in western countries. The fact that it has not happened to you does not mean it could not happen to you. Every day several Europeans who have done nothing wrong are denied entry into the USA and some are abused by the authorities before being returned to their countries. The fact that these things can be entirely "legal" does not make them less immoral and wrong. The authorities have wide discretion and can and do enforce the laws capriciously. You are entirely at the mercy of officers who often are cruel. They don't care if your grandmother is dying and you want to see her before she goes. They are having a bad day and they will take it out on you and you have no recourse.Every day people are abused by the police and other authorities and very often they have no recourse because the system is stacked against them. In America walking outdoors while being black can get you shot to death and it will be ruled justified. In Europe minorities may not get killed but can get beaten up or otherwise abused and the system looks the other way.They can take all your property and cover up saying you can start a legal process to recover it if you want knowing full well that it is too long, complicated and expensive. People who have done nothing wrong lose their property.People who have "done nothing wrong" are abused every day by their governments. And, even if it were true, many of the things the governments want to control are highly questionable. Sometimes it is our moral duty to not abide by the laws as they are written.And sometimes respecting the law of one jurisdiction means breaking the law of another. If country A legislates your company must do X and country B legislates your company cannot do X then what do you do? I mean besides hiding from both those countries? Life is never so simple.

author: soldar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2018, 02:04:54 pm
content: Quote from: Kilrah on December 31, 2018, 01:59:03 pmWell, it is a debit (not credit) card. You can use it to pay somethings but, to give an example, mostly you cannot use a debit card to rent a car; it has to be credit.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2018, 02:18:07 pm
content: Quote from: Kilrah on December 31, 2018, 01:59:03 pmWell, I highlighted the difference, actually yours is not credit card, it debit card, so we're talking different animals here.Debit card = the issuer does NOT trust you, so you "have to" pay (deposit/prepaid) 1st, then you spend according the money you've deposited.e.g.: So you've deposited 1000, then you're allowed to spend 1000, not more.Credit card = the issuer do trust you (up certain limit) , so you spend 1st, even the issuer doesn't hold any of your money, yep, literally not even single cent, and then later you pay them the amount money you've spent + fee and/or interest if applicable.e.g.: You've been trusted with limit of 1000, then you're allowed to spend up 1000, and later pay 1000 + fee (and/or interest).

author: Kilrah
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 31, 2018, 02:33:07 pm
content: The cash flow operates like a debit card, but it is still a "credit card" as it is presented, used and accepted exactly like one. It is a "Visa credit card" as far as any merchant is concerned and that's what matters. The way I fund it is irrelevant, they have no idea about it.I can only use my bank's debit card if a merchant specifically accepts it, but my "credit card" works anywhere a credit card is accepted.

author: soldar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2018, 03:26:37 pm
content: Quote from: Kilrah on December 31, 2018, 02:33:07 pmUm, no. Besides a bank debit card you can have a Visa, Mastercard, etc. debit card and it is identified as debit and not credit and most places will not allow you to rent a car with it.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2018, 05:47:33 pm
content: The fundamental problem of the OP is he is Iranian.Any legit finance or banking system will need some sort of personal credential, and most of the case is his passport if its across border.Unless he is going to use shady or non legit paths, thats another different universe.

author: Kilrah
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 31, 2018, 07:37:27 pm
content: Quote from: soldar on December 31, 2018, 03:26:37 pmYup, had one of those before, but the one I'm talking about is precisely NOT identified as debit. As I said it's really a credit card for all intents and purposes.

author: soldar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2018, 08:26:56 pm
content: Well, I may be wrong but I have never heard of prepaid credit cards. I have heard of secured credit cards but not of prepaid. They may feel kind of similar to the user but they are totally different animals. They work differently.In any case, it is a sidetrack which makes no difference for the question asked in the OP. To collect money outside of his country he could try opening some kind of account in another country, maybe even Paypal or similar, but be ready to show a residence there. I do not think it would be possible to do it from his home country. And be careful because even services like Paypal will spring on you new conditions and will block your funds if you do not meet them. I had a serious mixup with Paypal a couple years ago and I closed my account after I managed to get my money. They screwed up big time. Be careful.If we are talking amounts which are not huge it may make sense to just have somebody hold the money for you or just hold cash in your pocket.

author: beanflying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2018, 08:34:20 pm
content: Why are we back to discussing alternatives that the OP clearly can not access in any legal manner? VISA, Mastercard and Paypal all have a USA base and as such are of ZERO use to the OP due to sanctions.

author: rbm
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2018, 11:27:49 pm
content: Quote from: Kilrah on December 31, 2018, 02:33:07 pm+1 for this explanation. When the card is presented to the terminal, it registers in the transaction message a mode that causes the transaction to ride the credit rails, not the debit rails. You and the merchant have the same dispute and chargeback rights on the transaction as would be offered to any credit card.

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2019, 12:33:11 am
content: Quote from: beanflying on December 31, 2018, 08:34:20 pm+1. These discussions have a tendency to develop a life of their own. Who cares about the OP and his question?Seems that this happens preferably for topics which are outside this forum's area of expertise...

author: vtwin@cox.net
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2019, 01:05:26 pm
content: Quote from: soldar on December 31, 2018, 03:26:37 pmHere is the US, there is a delineation between "credit card" and "debit card", the latter being tied to a demand-deposit account which debits the amount of the "charge" from your account balance.I suppose technically pre-paid credit cards are "debit cards", in terms of how they function. I do not believe, though, they are tied to a DDA the same way a debit card is.However, you most definitely can rent a car with one, a friend of mine with horrible credit due to divorce/bankruptcy occasionally has need to rent a car (he normally uses public transportation, but perhaps once every few months needs to go where public transit does not) and he uses his prepaid VISA for this. He normally uses "rent a wreck", but a quick google of several other rental firms like Hertz indicates they allow the use of debit cards, each company with their own nuances/restrictions/etc.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 01, 2019, 01:32:39 pm
content: Without going abroad physically, I think the only way to get mastercard/visa, would be faking identity. Those don't work with Iran due to US sanctions.

author: MT
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2019, 04:38:40 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on December 29, 2018, 01:56:41 pmUnfortunately US do through the SWIFT system and petro dollar world currency standard. Thats why more and more countries tries to abandon the toilet paper dollar and create their own SWIFT system while repatriate their gold as Germany, Venezuela, Netherlands,Belgium,Austria,India Mexico etc have done.Countries like Russia India, China Saudia etc just ignore US sanctions and deal directly with each other using each others currency bypassing SWIFT and Fiat currency as petrodollars. Why? Because US debt is now c.a 21.9 trillion dollars! What does that tell people outside US? That US is bankrupt and FED just print money without any thing of real value backing it up.

author: ali_asadzadeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2019, 06:37:31 pm
content: QuoteExactly, Also the crypto would replace all money in the 10-20 years from now, that's for sure

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2019, 06:47:34 pm
content: Quote from: MT on January 01, 2019, 04:38:40 pmHow is SWIFT owned/monopolized by the US? The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) is based in Belgium, and is subject to EU law. Yes, SWIFT transactions with Iran were put on hold between 2012 and 2016, but that was to implement EU sanctions against Iran, I believe.

author: Kilrah
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 01, 2019, 07:55:50 pm
content: Quote from: ebastler on January 01, 2019, 12:33:11 amThing is, this thread has basically run its course.- OP doesn't really seem to know/be able to describe what they need/want in the first place- Given their location, the only people able to point them to a solution would need to know exactly what is available to someone in their country, unlikely here- It would probably involve circumventing restrictions, so someone who knew likely wouldn't want to leave traces by talking about it on a public forum.It's just not the right place to ask. OP needs to find people used to dealing with these matters in his own country, and talk to them in person.

author: soldar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2019, 04:16:58 pm
content: Quote from: vtwin@cox.net on January 01, 2019, 01:05:26 pmAgain, there are secured cards and there are prepaid cards and they are totally different and yet most people have no idea. The only place to get reliable information is from a bank and from the business you want to do business with.Regarding Hertz and straight from the horse's mouth:Quote