Student Debit Card

HarleyK

Hello folks,

I've been having a really annoying issue that I'm hoping I can receive advice on.

I'm 20 years old and a student at University in Northern Ireland. I admittedly don't have a job which may be a problem for what I'm about to explain but here it goes.

I receive a respectable amount in loans and grants and like most of us, enjoy Internet shopping. However, I have tried to get a debit card and no bank seems to want to offer me one.

For anything I buy online I have to pay the cash equivalent to my parent's (as it's paid for on their card) and it's really irritating when it comes to small purchases especially.

I am with the Nationwide currently, who do not offer any Student services, however, I have tried the HSBC for a 'Student' account and been rejected despite a very good credit rating for my area. I also believe I have tried Ulster Bank and received a similar response.

Do I really have any options? Surely there are unemployed students out there, at my age, who have at least a debit card.

Thanks for any help.

Lokolo

Why go for student accounts then?

Just go for a normal current account and you will get a debit card with that.

Slogan

ignore please.

HarleyK

Hello,

Surely there would be less chance of me getting a debit card with a normal account as they would be expecting a work-related income?

auburnette

Are you on the electoral roll, HarleyK? If you're not it would lead you to get rejected automatically for many credit facilities.

Titch89

HarleyK wrote: »

Hello,

Surely there would be less chance of me getting a debit card with a normal account as they would be expecting a work-related income?

I've enver heard of this. Funds don't reduce/increase your chances of getting any form of banka ccount.

Whether you can get a debit card depends on the account you have, I think.

HarleyK

Hello,

Thanks for the replies. I've never even thought about the electoral roll and I think it's safe to say, I'm not on it at the moment.

Titch89, I'm no expert on the matter, I was just going by things I have picked up when applying for accounts. In the Nationwide, when I was applying for a debit card account [upgrade from what I'm on currently], they asked a few times if I had a job. When I said I wasn't in a job, they said 'We'll send the application through anyway and see what happens'.

That was a few years ago, however, and building societies probably work very differently to banks so I guess I shouldn't have read that much into it.

I've just been rebuffed so many times without any explanation, I've been left scratching my head.

melancholly

Titch89 wrote: »

I've enver heard of this. Funds don't reduce/increase your chances of getting any form of banka ccount.

Whether you can get a debit card depends on the account you have, I think.

there are a number of bank accounts which require a minimum amount to be paid into the account each month - these are the ones which pay good interest. this is quite common!

to the OP - try some other places for a student account. as well as an automatic debit card, you'll get an interest free overdraft which is always helpful. i'd avoid halifax to start with though, because they seem quite picky about handing out accounts. maybe visit a branch on campus to talk to a special 'university' branch as they will know more about student accounts than a normal high street branch.

SuziQ

My daughter has had an account with Abbey since she was 16 that has a debit card-she's forever buying book and cd's on amazon! She got it when she started 6 th form-ostensibly to have her EMA paid into it but Abbey didn't know that! I think she plans keeping it open when she gets her student account,if that's possible.

freaky_stuff

im with nationwide also and have a flex account. If you have a different account, open up a second flex account with them. Foe this you need a debit card to insert money, as they do not give you books.

Also my sister had a debit card with Natwest at the age of 16, but that may have been becaus eshe had a casual job.

HarleyK

Hello,

Unfortunately I'm back again and I wish the news was good. I took the advice in the thread and got registered on the electoral roll. I then went back to the Nationwide to see if they could do anything for me but having zero credit score was enough for them to rule out giving me anything.

They explained as they weren't a bank, they were even stricter than usual and off the record, advised me to go to Bank of Ireland or Barclays, who wouldn't have a problem giving me at least a debit card.

So I enquired about the Bank of Ireland and they seemed confident they could fit my needs. I signed up for a student account and applied for a Credit Card as they wanted me to stay 6 months before getting being eligible for a debit card.

Sure enough and possibly understandably, the credit card application was turned down for reasons stated by melancholly previously in the thread, they wanted at least £100 entering the account each month.

I inquired about the First Trust and they off the bat, to their credit, told me that getting a debit card would be unrealistic until I had been with them for 3-6 months and moved over my student loans/grant. The latter would be justifiable, if I was guaranteed a card but utterly pointless if they turn round in x amount of months and say they aren't going to offer me one for such and such reasons.

Anyone got any advice? I understand I may be in for a wait before getting a proper debit card but it just sort of feels like the banks are being nice until I open an account with them and then closing the door on why I actually wanted the account initially.

I haven't given up but it's a tiring process. Thanks for any help.