Newbie Assistance - Visa Debit

laffer

As I have just moved to the UK, I have no credit history to speak of in this country. I have a Maestro card through HSBC but I have found that some websites will not accept this as a form of payment. Ideally I would get a credit card but having just arrived this may not be possible (and I do not want a declined application on my file). So, I thought about a Visa Debit. Can anyone recommend an easy to obtain one? Some of the sites I have looked at have placed ridiculous restrictions on obtaining them which I do not understand considering that it is not a credit card per se. Any information would be a great help.

methusala_2

your credit file will not show whether you were accepted or declined for a credit card, it only records that a search was made but actual acceptance will require you to be on the electoral register at your adress so that may be a bigger stumbling block than anything else .

Opening a credit account at Alliance and Leicester would result in you being issued with a debit card that is widely accepted as will many other banks.

laffer

Thanks for the reply. I have a Maestro. But do they offer a visa?

xgingerx

Hi I was an expat and off the electoral role for over 5 years, when I came back I came back to no credit history apart from one default and one settled account from before I went away.

I applied for a nationwide current account, and got a cash card, after about six months of paying my wages in I reapplyed for a new current account and got a visa debit

mummytofour

You can get a pre- paid credit card. Boomerang does a visa one ( I am not sure if its just for students or if anybody can apply) Also I got a visa electron card from Halifax, their easy cash account they will less almost anybody have. This is not the same as a visa credit card but a lot of visa systems take the card. Otherwise as I say a pre-pay card.

simongregson

HSBC are changing all their debit cards to visa debit during the next year or so, so you could just wait :-)