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NatWest Visa Debit Cards

Michael.Taylor27
Michael.Taylor27 Posts: 1 Newbie
edited 30 January 2013 at 4:51PM in Budgeting & bank accounts
Hello Everybody,

Today I received a letter from NatWest communicating the fact that from August all expiring Visa Debit Cards will be replaced by ATM only cards. These cards cannot be used for re-occurring payments or everyday transactions. This now effectively disenfranchises customers from using debit cards to escape credit card attached charges. The only advice offered is to switch regular payments to an alternative current account attached Debit card!

This appears that this is another attempt by NatWest to reduce costs at the expense of customer service. To say that I’m shocked is an understatement. I recently switched from RBS where I had enjoyed many years of excellent service; unless matters improve I will be jumping ship again!

Disgruntled NatWest Customer

Comments

  • alanq
    alanq Posts: 4,216 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    What kind of account do you have? Is it a basic current account?

    I cannot imagine the bank completely withdrawing debit cards. It would have almost no current account customers left.
  • Sparx
    Sparx Posts: 909 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Can you clarify, do you have a basic cash account? I seriously doubt they would do this to all full current account customers.
  • meer53
    meer53 Posts: 10,217 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Think the OP must have misread the letter. Must be a basic account, no bank would completely withdraw debit cards, they'd have no customers left !
  • madgagoo
    madgagoo Posts: 354 Forumite
    I'll look into it. I expect it applies to savings accounts like first reserve, which have traditionally had debit cards on them.
  • stclair
    stclair Posts: 6,856 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    madgagoo wrote: »
    I'll look into it. I expect it applies to savings accounts like first reserve, which have traditionally had debit cards on them.

    I think this relates to first reserve customers with a debit card. As you can imagine that accounts was being used as a basic account loophole to access all ATMs.
    Im an ex employee RBS Group
    However Any Opinion Given On MSE Is Strictly My Own
  • pmduk
    pmduk Posts: 10,715 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    It is the first reserve account, I've had the same letter. I'm not surprised, it's a savings account, not available to new customers and the existence of a debit card always seemed to be an anachronism
  • System
    System Posts: 178,450 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Will the replacement ATM card only work in RBS group cashpoints then?

    I had noticed that the replacement Instant Saver account makes no mention of a debit card and is vague about cashpoint access.
    stclair wrote: »
    I think this relates to first reserve customers with a debit card. As you can imagine that accounts was being used as a basic account loophole to access all ATMs.
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • pmduk
    pmduk Posts: 10,715 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    edited 31 January 2013 at 11:45AM
    As they've not said otherwise, I assume it's a standard debit card for use everywhere.

    The letter is headed "Important information about the card on your First Reserve account.", obviously assuming the OP received the same letter I did.
  • Heng_Leng wrote: »
    Will the replacement ATM card only work in RBS group cashpoints then?

    I had noticed that the replacement Instant Saver account makes no mention of a debit card and is vague about cashpoint access.

    is there any further news on this i have not yet received any letter?

    i have had a first reserve account for a few years which has a full online visa debit (blue) card for purchases online and in shops and can be used in ANY atm - obviously if the replacement card is to lose the 'debit card' status for purchasing stuff AND you can only use it in rbs group atm's to withdraw cash then it would become a useless account for me (i have an e-savings with bonus for actually saving)

    does is the replacement 'instant saver' account card already have these restrictions?
  • Hi, we've had the same letter. It basically says that they are replacing all debit cards linked to a savings account with ATM only cards. It says that the changes are being made "as your savings account is designed to help you build up savings rather than making recurring payments or everyday transactions".

    We do use the debit card on this account, so we're going to open another current account before August, when they are going to start replacing the cards.
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