Can you apply for a debit card upgrade on Nationwide Online?

ftorres

Kavanne wrote: »

ftorres, nationwide seem very random in it's allocation of debit cards. I would give applying online a go and see what it offers you, cash card or debit card. If it just offers you cash card then you don't have to complete the application, you can reject their offer and your account won't be opened.

Can you open it online if you already have a nationwide smart(junior) account?

Kavanne

ftorres wrote: »

Can you open it online if you already have a nationwide smart(junior) account?

http://www.nationwide.co.uk/current_account/apply.htm

Do you have £100 in the smart account atm? If so, I would tick the option for 'I will pay £100 into my account when I receive my card' or the e-Savings option

Click and follow the instructions! Et voila, you will have your answer. I wasn't given an instant decision online but I got a letter through to sign telling me what I was going to get with the account. If that says 'cash card' and you aren't happy, simply don't return it and the account won't be opened. But you will know either straight away or max 5 days time what they can offer you.

If it's just a cash card try another bank as you will be able to get at least a Solo or Visa electron from another bank.

ftorres

Kavanne wrote: »

http://www.nationwide.co.uk/current_account/apply.htm

Do you have £100 in the smart account atm? If so, I would tick the option for 'I will pay £100 into my account when I receive my card' or the e-Savings option

Click and follow the instructions! Et voila, you will have your answer. I wasn't given an instant decision online but I got a letter through to sign telling me what I was going to get with the account. If that says 'cash card' and you aren't happy, simply don't return it and the account won't be opened. But you will know either straight away or max 5 days time what they can offer you.

If it's just a cash card try another bank as you will be able to get at least a Solo or Visa electron from another bank.

Cheers I'll try it now.

Kavanne

ftorres wrote: »

Cheers I'll try it now.

Let us know what they offer

rb10

ftorres wrote: »

Slightly complex question:
I am 18 and haven't had a proper current account yet, but I do have a smart account with Nationwide(though it will get automatically closed soon as I'm over 18). I want to get a current account but a requirement is that It must give me a debit card and also be able to check it online etc.

I Don't have a job-only income is £60 EMA paid into account per fortnight.

I'm guessing by this thread I have Zero chance of getting a debit card from Nationwide. If not what should I do? Is it possible to switch to another bank directly from a SMART account, or will I have to close it then move? I'd also have to re-arrange EMA payment method aswell...because if I remember right you need to have a regular income into a current account.

Thanks

I had had a Smart account since I was young, then opened a Flexaccount when I was 16/17, and got a cash card. I was then able to upgrade to a debit card as soon as I turned 18, with no problem at all. But, as you'll see from the thread, others have had massive problems, so give it a go and see what happens. Otherwise, open a current account elsewhere and get your EMA to go in there.

Six months after your 18th birthday, your Smart account will change to a different account paying ~0.1% interest - not good! (If you get the same letter I got, it'll incorrectly say that it happens on your 18th birthday.)

If you're not going to uni, you might want to get a current account elsewhere anyway, as Nationwide's one pays no interest at all, whereas if you are in a job paying £1k+/month after leaving college, you can easily get interest on your current account elsewhere.

Kavanne

And if you ARE going to uni, get an account elsewhere too as you can have a student account which generally give you extra free stuff for no charge and interest free overdrafts that you can put into savings! hehe

rb10

Kavanne wrote: »

And if you ARE going to uni, get an account elsewhere too as you can have a student account which generally give you extra free stuff for no charge and interest free overdrafts that you can put into savings! hehe

Yeah, but you can't get that until you've actually got a place, so might as well just get whatever you can now (very little between them) and then definitely ditch Nationwide for a student account!

ftorres

didn't work, said my account number was wrong. I'm guessing it's because it's a smart account. Think I'll have to go down and speak to them, getting refused at the end.

Any recommendations on who the best bank to set up with for getting a debit card easily are? Cheers for the help by the way.

Kavanne

Oh dear, not the branch, my experience of the branch is that they are utterly useless. Perhaps give them a call on the freephone number on my above link, maybe their telephone team are slightly more competent but I wouldn't hold my breath.

Pretty much any other bank will give you at least either a Solo or Visa electron card which you can use nearly everywhere.

ftorres

Kavanne wrote: »

Oh dear, not the branch, my experience of the branch is that they are utterly useless. Perhaps give them a call on the freephone number on my above link, maybe their telephone team are slightly more competent but I wouldn't hold my breath.

Pretty much any other bank will give you at least either a Solo or Visa electron card which you can use nearly everywhere.

Cheers for all the advice. Be good to get this over, stupid hassle.