[General Questions and Answers] fbh59:
solution part 2

For banks like HDFC, it shows the error "INVALID CREDIT CARD". Even though it says CREDIT card and not DEBIT card, but it will work. International transaction are disabled by default. You have to unlock it by internet banking.

I had Axis Bank Debit Card with International labelled in it. So i thought may be it should work. I enabled internet banking and contacted customer care, but they keep on reciting the same old stories. Moreover its internet banking doesn't have any unlocking facility for international transactions except for Forex transfer. But here you have to unlock it by providing all your personal details in internet banking, then call its toll free number, add a telebanking bin(different from ATM PIN, and then there is an option for unlocking international transaction in your debit card(dont think that if your card got labelled as international means it has international transactions unlocked). chose the option to activate it.

NOTE: don't try to activate it by talking to the customer care executive, it has to be done withing the automated computerized call itself. You ll immediately get an sms to your registered number with a reference number that it will be activated after 24 hours , and you ll get an sms after 24 hours regarding activation. Even after activation, have patience and wait for 1 more day and try to add now,,, it will be added not just in google, but also in itunes, paypal, steam and everywhere.

Other banks like the popular SBI don't even have such automated call facility, To unlock international transaction on it is purely on luck. Here you have to visit your home branch and request them to enable international transactions with your debit card and say them that your internet banking has such facility but your debit card has no facility even though it has international labelled on it. If no label is there, just say them that it is not working with ATMs(even though it may be actually working) overseas and you faced a lot of problems. If the SBI officer with whom you are dealing with is some aged guy, probability is that he ll keep reciting you the same stories again and again, no matter how much you explain. If he is a young man who too uses his cards just like us, he MAY understand your issue and place the required request in their system, and your international transaction facility ll get activated, confirming you by sms. BUT PLEASE NOTE that you have to update all your details like KYC form, aadhaar card, email id, phone number, signature(this is the thing which you think may be updated, but majority of SBI accounts are not updated with their customers' signatures due to SBI's officers' negligency), and PAN number is a must. Once you given all these details, visit your bank after 2 days(lazy bank, they don't update soon) and verify in their system that all such details are updated, AND THEN PLACE THIS INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTION request.

Currently I have the classic version of SBI MasterCard DEBIT card, and I guess I am among the rarest of SBI DEBIT Card holders' whose lowest version of card is working with all international merchants. I ve done my latest transaction just yesterday from itunes.

HSBC bank cards may too work well, as its not an Indian Bank. If lazy, then have ICICI debit card with 20000 INR at opening, all facilities will be unlocked by default in their cards.

---------- Post added at 09:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:13 PM ----------

Go for a credit card, only if you have enough knowledge and know how to use it, else u will land up in debt and hence put yourself into trouble. Personally I would not recommend anyone to have a credit card just for purchasing apps from google and itunes. Debit Cards have a woraround, else in the worst case, go for an ICICI Platinum?world Debit or Signature Visa debit card, but keep credit card at the extreme last step.

For entropay users, even though the card is top-up(ed) in either dollars, euro or pounds, it works with atleast google play.(any Indian address with gmail registered for India will work, else change your country in your gmail settings). For itunes and other merchants like steam and paypal, entropay works only for premuim users and for residents of only Europe(except Russia), and USA. If you are from a different region, then you have to remember your fake address and use it everywhere(but you ll find difficulty in creating a premium entropay account using this fake address), and enter the exact same address and card holder's name as in your premium entropay account.

I too managed my entropay account to work with maximum of the all international merchants, but stopped using it(as it charged around 4.something % extra), as soon I got my debit card to work with such merchants(no extra charges now).