FORMAT ERROR [error type 30] WHEN PAYING IN ARGENTINA

Hi there!

I’ve been using Revolut for over a week in Argentina and it’s been G-R-A-N-D. Alas, today my card was refused several times in some coffee shops (low amount payments, ARS 60, something like EUR 3) and the tickets show ERROR TYPE 30 FORMAT ERROR. I’ve been able to pay larger amounts later though
What’s the drama here?

Thanks!

Hey @harisap,

Could you please let me know what entry method did you use?

Hi Andreas!

First swiped then chip - neither worked!

Thank you! Are you still experiencing card issues?

Not anymore but truth be told, I’ve only used the card once this weekend

Could you please try again and let us know?

Hi Andreas!

So far no problems in supermarkets, etc… but in smaller shops I can’t swipe and/or use my chip - they have to enter the credit no. manually, plus expiry date and CVV. I don’t try the contactless option because a) I have deactivated it and b) barely no-one uses it in Argentina.

These are my two cents!

Apologies for the delay, I was temporary out of the office.

Are you still experiencing this issue?

Hi Andreas,

It happened to me once again yes, but the merchant finalised the
transaction by introducing the card details in off-line mode.

Hi Andreas!

It seemed to be again a recurrimg problem this weekend, and additionally
the off-line mode seemed unavailable so I had to withdraw money.

Please find attached a copy of the receipt I got.

Best,

Haris

Hi Andreas,

It happened to me once again yes, but the merchant finalised the
transaction by introducing the card details in off-line mode.

Glad to hear that you’re having a

time in Argentina.

Receipt looks interesting.

It either identified the Revolut debit card as a Maestro card (which it isn’t. It’s a Mastercard card. Mastercard owns Maestro but it is an entirely separate network to Mastercard.) or is a payment terminal that only accepts Maestro cards.

It probably has nothing to do with the issue, but are you using one of the old PaySafe cards, or the newer Wirecard-issued cards?


@anon33247966

hahaha - great reply!

It is a Wirecard-issued Revolut card, and as regards the Maestro/Mastercard
issue, we then paid with a Mastercard issued by an Argentine bank and it
was alright. I tend to find this problem whenever the payment system asks
the merchant to choose a specific type of account (i.e. savings or current)

  • Argentina is still a bit of a tricky country for any kind of transaction.
    By choosing current account it has usually worked, except the four or five
    times I have had this Format issue.

That’s my two cents

1 Like

Sounds like a region-specific thing then.

In the UK, I’ve always clicked ‘savings’ instead of ‘current account’ for ATM withdrawals. Never been prompted to pick for payments at payment terminals.

Looks like you’re doing the right thing, so only thing to do is probably check with @anon33247966.

I’ve passed that on - the team will investigate this for you.

Dear @anon33247966,

Thank you - that’s grand! Kudos for your great job guys, Revolut is my fav thing in Argentina after cheap pizza.

Best,

Hi @capital!

Thank you for your reply - now the issue here is that I am speaking of electronic, POS-made, transactions, and not cash withdrawals at ATMs (which I have encountered no problems whatsoever, apart from the 105 ARS compulsory fee).

1 Like

Yes. But still. In the US for example, choose „credit“ at a POS terminal if it asks you credit/debit. despite Revolut being a debit card. „It‘s always credit with international cards“ the guy in that shop in New York told me.

WE are having many issues to pay with Revolut card in Argentina too.

First they swipe, then chip, then ask for PIN, then for signature and document number.

Then many times the card machine recognises the card as MAESTRO and does not allow the payment. … is this an ongoing problem?? Thank you

Hey!
The signature and ID number is a standard procedure in Argentina, so it is done regardless of your type of card. The Maestro circuit-reading, yes, that happens some days… always carry a back up visa/mastercard in addition to your revolut, may that happen.