Bank of Maldives (BML) has clarified that customers facing difficulties paying examination fees and other essential service charges online can report declined transactions to the bank for review.
BML said it maintains daily transaction limits for certain categories of online commerce to ensure the continued availability of foreign currency for essential payments. However, the bank stressed that the limits are structured to avoid disrupting spending on key needs, including education, healthcare and essential subscriptions.
According to BML, some education-related transactions may still be declined because of how merchants are classified within international payment networks.
The bank highlighted IELTS examination payments as an example, noting that merchant category codes received through payment networks may sometimes not identify a transaction as education-related. In some cases, transactions may instead be transmitted under uncategorised merchant codes.
As a result, payments that would otherwise qualify as essential education expenses can be declined under existing online transaction controls.
BML urged customers who experience such problems to submit the relevant transaction details to the bank. It said it will review the transaction, identify the website involved and take steps to address the issue so future payments can be processed successfully.
The bank reaffirmed that facilitating payments for education, healthcare and essential subscriptions remains a priority, adding that it will continue assisting customers who encounter difficulties making such transactions online.
