NatWest and RBS (and Ulster bank) switch to Visa Debit

[BenMcr]

http://www.natwest.com/global/visa.ashx

From last Monday all new debit cards issued by RBS group are now Visa Debit - replacing both Maestro and Solo

You can phone up and get them replaced immediately if you want as well

I would like a Visa Debit card now, how do I apply?
Pop into your local branch or contact telephone banking. Remember, a Visa Debit card will be sent to you automatically before the end of 2010 if you have a Maestro or Solo card at the moment.

[Chris]

Good. Maestro is a pain in the anus because you can't give continuous authority to set up repeating payments on it. I had a very long and protracted dispute with VM's India department over this a couple of years ago.

[Tuftus]

Excellent, looks like i will be moving back to them then, after over 10 years of banking with Nationwide they still will not give me anything other than a cash card.

Adios!

[Ben B]

Does anyone know if Solos will be Visa Debit or Visa Electron, one of my accounts is a Solo but rest are Maestro.

[BenMcr]

It will be a 'full authorisation' Visa Debit, so it can be used anywhere you see Visa except where there is no callback (like on trains with handheld ticket machines) or for open ended transactions (like Petrol Pumps)

[Matt D]

Finally. Much more handy than Maestro.

[Ben B]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

It will be a 'full authorisation' Visa Debit, so it can be used anywhere you see Visa except where there is no callback (like on trains with handheld ticket machines) or for open ended transactions (like Petrol Pumps)

Ah right, I mainly use the account in question for online transactions to keep it away from my main account and add to it when I need to. I am probably going to start using my O2 Money Visa card for that now though because of the protection.

[Tuftus]

Originally Posted by Ben B

Ah right, I mainly use the account in question for online transactions to keep it away from my main account and add to it when I need to. I am probably going to start using my O2 Money Visa card for that now though because of the protection.

Just got off the phone from them, aparently, in my case anyways, as I have a 'Step Account' it will more than likely be a Visa Electron.

Seems it is not as carte blanche as it appears on that webpage. Still, better than the cashcard I have now with Nationwide, will still have to pester the other half if I want to buy stuff online or if I don't have enough cash in the shops though.

I knew it would be too good to be true.

[BenMcr]

Everyone gets a 'full' Visa Debit. Visa Electron is being discontinued as a payment type

There is a big long discussion on Moneysavingexpert.com (which is how I found out about it)

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...&postcount=392

The purple card relaces Maestro and the Blue card replaces Solo, so you will get blue card on Step and Savings accounts also on current accounts if you previously had a solo

Purple is 'standard auth' i.e. just checks it's not lost/stolen same as Maestro

Blue is 'full auth' i.e. every transaction needs be authorised same as Solo

---------- Post added at 22:28 ---------- Previous post was at 22:25 ----------

Although there are apparently a few issues with using them with Merchants that haven't updated their systems to accept the new card ranges

[Turkey Machine]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

It will be a 'full authorisation' Visa Debit, so it can be used anywhere you see Visa except where there is no callback (like on trains with handheld ticket machines) or for open ended transactions (like Petrol Pumps)

Untrue, I've used my Visa Debit card on a train to buy a ticket without any hassle.

[BenMcr]

That's because until recently there was only one type of Visa Debit - which doesn't require every transaction to be authorised. This is the ex Visa Delta. You always have this type if the card is also a Cheque Guarantee card

With the 'standard' Visa Debit cards for offline terminals only basic checks are done to make sure the card isn't cancelled, lost or stolen. The transaction itself is put through 'on faith' that you have the funds. It is only when the transaction is uploaded the retailer gets confirmation you've actually paid. These are the cards that allow you to go overdrawn

However they are now introducing 'full authorisation' Visa Debit which does require every transaction to be authorised. This is replacing Visa Electron.

The advantage of full auth Visa Debit is it's not limited to those retailers that take Visa Electron, it can be used anywhere that takes Visa - as long as the terminal can do a callback.

The disavantage of a full auth Visa Debit is that it's much more difficult to identify compared with Electron (and Solo in the Maestro scheme) so if you try and use it at Petrol pump for instance, the pump may accept the card at first and then decline the transaction.

[Ignitionnet]

In some cases, especially in the UK, rather than issuing Electron to customers who should not be allowed to go overdrawn banks will issue what is ostensibly a full Visa Debit card but which authorises online for every transaction, in exactly the same manner as Electron. This can cause these cards to be declined where an actual Visa Debit card would be accepted, for example at petrol pumps or train stations.

If it can guarantee cheques or has Delta or Connect somewhere on it it's full power, if it has no cheque guarantee it's likely an online auth version.

Very useful however, because unlike Maestro / Switch:

The card can be used just like a Visa credit card both internationally and in the UK. Retailers in some countries can however accept the card as a debit card rather than a normal Visa card. In this case, the store is not charged a percentage, but rather a small fixed charge of around 50p per transaction. All transactions are in any case processed through the Visa clearing system, using the same card number, distinguishing it from other national debit card schemes which can be combined with Visa on a credit card.

Was invaluable to me on my recent trip to North America.