Student Debit Card

John_0771

Open a prem21 account on the alliance and leicester website they give you a debit card straight away, they don't even ask for proof of address / id o_o

= Visa card ;-) [The best type]

mummytofour

Nat west do a step up account with a solo card they are easy to get. Solo can be used in most places these days.

Lokolo

Visa isn't the best type for everyone. Retailers get charged more for Visa than Solo. So we can blame you for Woolworths.....

HSBC give Solo as well. (soon to be Visa though)
Lloyds give Visa debit.

Also A&L will ask for proof of address if they can't find you on electrol roll (I think thats where they check anyway)

John_0771

Lokolo wrote: »

Visa isn't the best type for everyone. Retailers get charged more for Visa than Solo. So we can blame you for Woolworths.....

HSBC give Solo as well. (soon to be Visa though)
Lloyds give Visa debit.

Also A&L will ask for proof of address if they can't find you on electrol roll (I think thats where they check anyway)

Why would we - the customers care about that, as long as they accept it they dont charge more do they?? and no im not on the electrol roll

Crap_with_money.com

When I was at uni I had a student account with abbey, and automatically got a debit card - and never had any probs even although I was between jobs when I opened it. I did open it at freshers week though, so the previous posters advice about approaching a University branch is probably a good one.

Alternatively, if you have a decent income from grants loans etc - can you not drip feed the funds into your account so that you have a min of £100 crediting in your account every month?

Lokolo

John_0771 wrote: »

Why would we - the customers care about that, as long as they accept it they dont charge more do they?? and no im not on the electrol roll

No but you add costs to retailers so I can still blame you for Woolworths

Yes well they do check somewhere, they don't just take your word for it lol :rolleyes: its the same with Egg.

Rosieeex

Is there no way you can just go into a bank and just refuse to leave until you have one? I was given a visa electron when I was about 13 or 14 (although Barclays give them out at 11) and when I upgraded to my student account they sent me a Visa debit.

aristote33

Hello,

When I first arrived in the UK and get my banking sorted, I had the same problem with getting a debit card.

I started with a basic current account, with a cash card just able to withdraw cash from my current account at ATM.

Then, later on, I was able to apply for a credit card, and get it.

More recently, I applied for a new current account which offers a debit card with it.

It's a matter of building good customer record and being consistent over time.

Also, you want to emphasize to the bank you want the debit card from that it would be a shame they lost your custom because you cannot get a debit card.

Good luck.

myaccount08

I've never heard of any problems getting a debit card, had no idea! I just assumed once you are of age they send you out the card. I suppose that requires some sort of relationship with the bank though. What a pain!

Surely you can open any student current account and get a debit card? They used to fight over getting students in and handed out cards willy nilly. I understand them refusing a credit card, but a mesely debit card too? I've always been with HBOS and when i started uni i applied for the student account and that was it. I've had the 2 accounts ever since + numerous savings accounts (inc 10% interest at the mo).

It's only since my debit card was stolen a few days ago that i realise what an inconvenience the electron is. I just tried to order a bed from Tesco and they wouldn't accept it, not even over the phone. I'll be sleeping on the floor till my new card comes through, and missing out on £13 savings. Ugh. I totally empathise and hope you get a card soon!

aristote33

There is no reason to link thinking about debit card and student current account together. They are two different products.

If you have a current account but no debit card, you could get a debit card without needing a student current account.

Student accounts are actually quite difficult to get. As a postgraduate, they wouldn't let me opening one, so I started with a basic account, and after over 3 years, I have just updated to a standard current account which also offers a debit card attached to it.

Will