Today I had two firsts. One, I made a post by Registered Delivery (costs me £5!!) to send my application for Call Night. Second, because I didn't have enough cash with me, I had to pay by card.
I've always avoided paying by card because it just doesn't feel the same as seeing the solid paper money leaving my hands into the hands of another. It doesn't even show how much I have left in my bank account. No figures except for a receipt, which shows the amount charged.
That's why, I never knew how to pay by card. I made some silly mistakes at the post office and therefore I'm writing my experience here for the benefit of anyone to avoid making the same. Back in Malaysia, we pass the card to the cashier, who will then print out some sheets of paper to be signed and returned. Done. Here, it's different. No signature needed.
Firstly, the cashier will pass you a little machine with number and buttons on it. What you need to do is slot in your card (the slot area is on top of the machine) with the black line (at the back of the card) facing upwards on the left (total opposite from slotting the card into the cash machine, why they make these things so complicated???? And there's no instructions to show you which way is the right way!!!!!). Slot it hard until you feel a slight click.
Then, press the green "ENT" button on the bottom right corner. Wait. Insert your 4 coded password. Press the green "ENT" button again. Wait. It should then display "Successful". Collect the receipt from the cashier.
The mistake I made was pressing the red "CAN" button on the top right corner after inserting my password. I didn't read the instructions properly and I thought "CAN" means "can" lah! But to my embarrassment, the transaction failed because "CAN" actually means "cancel" so I had to do it all over again :/
