Help -Anyone have a Maestro or SOLO card with both an issue number AND a start date?

sutton111

Lokolo wrote: »

I'm now thinking:

Solo = Issue Number
Maestro = Start Date

Does anyone have anything different from the above? (i.e. a solo card with a start date?)

No my Solo with Natwest doesn't have a issue number either, just a start date.

Lokolo

Bah there seems to be no damn consistancy with these damn cards :cool: :T

sutton111

I know my Yorkshire bank current plus account which is maestro has an issue number but no start date.

Probably similar to your Solo at HSBC. (If you have Solo now, that is)

Inactive

Lokolo wrote: »

I'm now thinking:

Solo = Issue Number
Maestro = Start Date

Does anyone have anything different from the above? (i.e. a solo card with a start date?)

I have an HSBC Maestro Card with no start date, just an issue number.

greyster

I know of all the formats but none of them tell me whether an issue number AND start date can exist, which makes my validation difficult.

Maestro and Solo have same formats available.

Most common is 16 digit format called "SCS". This is your bank identification number (BIN) followed by a random number. You never see an issue number on a 16 digit card.

Then you get into these crappy "homog" formats where about 4 exist. They are all 18 and 19 digits and generally include the customer's BIN, sort code and account number within the actual card number.

The 18 and 19 digit card is the offender I am trying to learn more about. You always get a issue number with them but its NOT clear whether you *can* get a start date with them too.

Alllllll formats have an expiry/end date so I don't need to worry about that. Just the start date on the 18/19 digit cards.

Perhaps I should rephrase my question. Anyone got a 18 or 19 digit Maestro or Solo card with a start/issue date? (I know it will have an issue number).

savagej

http://www.barclaycardbusiness.co.uk/docs/bin_rules_nov_2008.pdf

I hope looking through this you find the answer, it gives full details of the BINS, IIN's, and many other things a card type can and cannot be used for such as recurring transactions.

greyster

Hi Savagej

This document was very useful, and combined with another barclays document I found out that all maestro and solo cards will either display an issue number OR a start date (never both). This is not written in either of them, but you can derive it from the BIN ranges/track formats.

FYI the vast majority (prolly around 90%) are SCS track2 format which means 16 digit card number with a start date. It is really only HSBC and a couple of banks north still using the 18-19 digit card number, issue number format.

I last heard that HSBC are handing out Visa debit cards to new customers with a migration plan for existing ones, so issue numbers should disappear completely in the months/years to come.

Lokolo

My 18 digit, issue number, HSBC, Solo Card doesn't expire until 09/10. I think mines one of the last ones.

greyster

Yup maybe

"Please note that the new Visa/Master debit cards will only be available towards the end of 2008. The re-issue of cards to existing customers will take place gradually over a period of approximately 18 months......."