On Tuesday 06 December 2016 at HILTON hotel Yaounde, ORANGE Cameroon (in collaboration with BISEC Bank) launched a new VISA card linked to the ORANGE Mobile money accounts.
News about the release of Orange Money Visa Cards was welcomed with great joy by internet entrepreneurs in Cameroon as many were under the impression that the newly launched Orange Money Visa Cards (which cost just 5000frs to acquire) will make withdrawal of Paypal Cameroon funds very easy as there are tons of Orange Mobile Money agents in the streets of Cameroon and ATM machines in Cameroon.
Prior to its release, many internet entrepreneurs and tech bloggers in Cameroon had speculated that (just like other prepaid visa cards) the Orange Money visa card will make it possible for Cameroonians to transfer funds from a Paypal Cameroon account to a Mobile Money account if linked to a Paypal account.
However most internet entrepreneurs (including me) thought wrong!.
Unlike the UBA Africard Visa card, BICEC VISA, Afriland VISA, ECOBANK VISA etc, Orange Money Visa Cards can only be used for cash withdrawals at ATMs in Cameroon and for payments on all VISA Electronic Payment Terminals situated within the Cameroonian territory.
Simply put, Orange Money Visa Cards can only be used by Orange mobile money account holders in Cameroon to withdraw money from their Orange Mobile Money accounts and to make payments for items in large super markets/shopping malls, which accepts credit card payments at the counter.
In other words, you can’t use Orange Money Visa Cards to buy online or link your orange money visa card to a Paypal account to verify, make online payments or transfer funds from your Paypal Cameroon account to your Orange Money Visa Card.
As of November, 21st, 2020, Orange Money Visa Cards has very limited use; which makes the visa card good for college students or teenagers (and not for the internet entrepreneurs).
With the Orange Money Visa Cards, the college students/teenagers can easily and securely withdraw money (their weekly or monthly allowance) from their orange money accounts from the ATM machines; which is far more secure than withdrawing money from their accounts via the Orange Mobile Money agents in streets; which makes them a potential target of the pickpockets, robbers and the 419ners.
Orange Money visa card is also known as an electronic wallet because it serves as a secure way to carry cash around. This also makes the Orange Money Visa card useful to the business men in Cameroon (who run an offline business).
As a business man, you don,t need to travel or move around carrying huge sums of money in a wallet or suit case. Your wallet or suitcase can be stolen by thieves or you can misplace your wallet.
Simply keep your money in your Orange Visa card and withdraw your money (anytime you need physical cash) from any ATM machine in Cameroon.
If your Orange money visa card gets stolen, the thief won’t be able withdraw money from your Orange Visa card if he doesn’t know the ATM PIN (secret code) of your Orange Money Visa card.
In addition to that, if you misplaced your Orange Cameroon Visa card or suspect that it might be stolen, you can quickly change your PIN from your mobile by entering #150# option “Account management” to make it unusable to anybody who is in possession of the card. This will make the card unusable at the moment (but not deactivated). When you find it, you simply go to the nearest point of sale to re-set your PIN code so that it remains the same as your Orange Money secret code.
If funds have already been stolen from the card, you can contact 951 and provide all the details for investigation and guidance.
Another selling point of the orange money visa card, is the fact that withdrawal of cash at every BICEC ATM is free with the Orange Money Visa Card.
For those of you who don’t know, Orange Money Visa card is a product of the collaboration between BICEC Cameroon and ORANGE Cameroon SA hence withdrawal of cash at the BICEC ATM is free.
You won’t also be charged a fee whenever you purchase a product from a supermarket/shopping mall in Cameroon which accepts payments for items via Electronic Payment Terminal.
Even though Orange Money Visa card is not good for online transaction, many internet entrepreneurs in Cameroon are optimistic that in the nearest future, Orange Money visa card holders will be given the privilege to carry out online transaction with the Orange Money cards.
The tech bloggers are of the opinion that Orange Cameroon decided to limit the use of their visa card within the Cameroon territory because they trying to get their feet wet or to test the new business model. Once it has proven to be lucrative, they can then make it a fully functional visa card…capable of handling online transactions.
If this happens, Orange Money visa card will serve as a channel through which the internet entrepreneurs in Cameroon (with Paypal accounts) can easily transfer money from their Paypal accounts to their Orange Mobile Money accounts and quickly recharge their Paypal accounts by transfering funds from their Orange Mobile Money accounts to their Paypal Cameroon accounts.
Let keep our fingers crossed while waiting for the BIG ANNOUNCEMENT from Orange Cameroon SA.
I,m also optimistic that once Orange Money Visa card becomes fully functional, MTN Cameroon may likely emulate their example.
How to Obtain The Orange Money Visa Card
• The credit card is obtained by subscription (form/contract) in card distribution points for 5,000 F, valid for 2 years.
• Go to any of our Orange branches or any Orange Money VISA authorized sale point or call 951 for more information.
• Renewal cost after 2 years is 2000Frs
Charges Associated with the Orange Money Visa Card
The pricing for the use of the Visa card is as follows:
• 3% of the amount capped at 5,000 CFA francs for withdrawals;
• 0 Fcfa (free) for merchant payments.
* Note that you cannot perform Online payments
The Orange Money Visa Card: A Cheap Cashless Alternative
The Orange Money Visa Card is a far cheaper alternative to the UBA Visa Card. This card is present in most countries where the Orange Network operates, such as Cameroon, Botswana, etc.
It is the cheapest prepaid VISA credit card available in the country at only 5000 FCFA in Cameroon (less than $10).
Frequently asked questions about Orange Mobile Money Visa card
Can I use my Orange Money visa card to make online payments?
No! the Visa Orange Money card can only be used to obtain cash at any time in any VISA Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) in Cameroon and pay for your purchases in all stores and other partner brands equipped with an Electronic Payment Terminal (EPT) in Cameroon.
To pay for goods and services in a shopping mall in Cameroon that accepts credit cards via EPT, just present your Orange Money visa card to the sales attendant who will swipe it through a Cashless Payment (POS) terminal. Remember to check that the sales receipt is correct and sign and retain a copy of the receipt.
Can i link Orange money visa card to a Paypal Cameroon account???
No! you can’t link Orange money visa card to a Paypal account OR verify a Paypal account with Orange money visa card.
How much will it cost me, to get Orange money visa card???
It will cost you just 5000 frs to get an Orange Money visa card.
My Orange Money account was debited for an operation which I have not had (I have neither recieived the money nor taken the article). What to do?
Contact 951 and provide all the details for investigation and guidance.
What if I can’t find my card?
Change your PIN from your mobile by entering #150# option “Account management”. The card is unusable, but not off. When you find it, you simply go to the nearest point of sale to re-set your PIN code so that it remains the same as your Orange Money secret code.
To delete the link, simply deactivate the card on your mobile by entering #150# option “Bank and VISA”. Then follow the instructions.
If I deactivate my card, can I reactivate it?
No, for security reasons, a deactivated card can’t be reactivated. You will have to buy a new card.
Ok we have come to the end of this article, if you wish to ask me any question about the orange money visa card, leave a comment below or contact me via Whatsapp.
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