BANGKOK: -- Visa Thailand has revealed that credit card issuers are not willing to share customer information in order to set the same standard of qualification for Visa Privilege cardholders.

Different qualifying standards for Privilege cardholders has caused particular problems regarding Platinum cards which offers many discounts at shops and hotels.

Visa Platinum cards have not been accepted by a number of outlets because credit card issuers had approved the card for too many customers. Some of whom were actually on too low an income to qualify to hold the card.

Without establishing level qualifying standard, the problem of some Platinum cards not being universally welcome would still exist.

Earlier, Credit Cards Club president, Choke na Ranong said that Visa Thailand should set the same qualฌifying standard for Platinum card applicants to resolve this problem.

However, Visa Thailand manager Somboon Krobteeranon revealed that it took time to establish a common standard for Platinum card applications, as they were approved by individual Visa International members.

Besides, he said card issuers were not willing to share customer information.

"Each credit card issuer has its own unique requirements for card approval. Although we want to establish a common standard, we first need to collect the current criteria from each issuer for an application to be approved. And the problem is, they don't want to reveal this kind of information to each other, therefore we need to talk to them one by one," Somboon said.

And it is difficult to say when this will be completed.

However, Visa Thailand still plans to run reward schemes for its customers, especially premium cardฌholders because spending within this group is still rising, despite the weakening economic situation, Somboon said.

Yesterday, Visa Thailand launched a Visa Platinum Privilege Programme, which offers several benefits to Platinum cardholders in cooperation with Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association, Bangkok Hospital Medical Centre and MD Management.

Cardholders who spend on their cards from today until January 31, 2009, will get discounts from 10 per cent to 45 per cent and gift vouchers when shopping at over 1,300 shops in Gaysorn Shopping Centre , CentralWorld, Amarin Plaza and Erawan Bangkok. There is also a buy-one get-one-free offer when they pay for a health checkup package using their Platinum cards at Bangkok Hospital. And if they have to be admitted as an in patient, they will be provided a VIP room at the price of normal room. In the case of an emergency, they can call for an ambulance free of charge if they are not beyond a 50kilometre radius of Bangkok and a 50 percent discount if the distance is further than 50 kilometres.

For travel benefits, cardholders will be given a gift voucher worth Bt5,000 when spending Bt50,000 on any tour package marketed by V Love Travel company and they will also be eligible for special trips which will be run every two months from now.

-- The Nation 2008-08-19