Cheques move a step closer to extinction

Inactive

username wrote: »

Why are they all moving over to Visa anyway? Won 't they have a virtual monopoly on cards in the UK?

It's always useful to have more than 1 card on a different scheme, just in case Visa's network has issues. In theory it shouldn't happen, but it happens.

I share your concerns and agree fully with you.

never-in-doubt

username wrote: »

Why are they all moving over to Visa anyway? Won 't they have a virtual monopoly on cards in the UK?

It's always useful to have more than 1 card on a different scheme, just in case Visa's network has issues. In theory it shouldn't happen, but it happens.

Its got a lot to do with the systems - for instance Maestro in the UK is the old Switch Card system, i.e. JCCC in Southend. This is fine and dandy for UK issued cards but when you get foreigners or even the Irish cards, they can decline. The system is unstable and 20 odd years old that is too expensive to change.

Visa also offers better protection (allegedly) and is more worldwidely accepted.

Maestro isn't overly secure and think they have issues with Chip Pin as well.....

Not sticking up for it, i'm a Maestro man myself - but I do understand 'why' they are changing and if it makes my life easier and secure then fine.....

stclair

BarclaysManager wrote: »

Well, until they do, you can get one and just hope you don't lose it until it expires.

I dont bank with yorkshire bank it was just a comment about the so called rumour about them switching to debit mastercard.

Extant

username wrote: »

Won 't they have a virtual monopoly on cards in the UK?

No.

1. There is sufficient alternative and competition in the UK card market - Mastercard, namely.
2. There are sufficient alternatives to Visa (Mastercard, American Express, etc.)
3. Visa does not control the market to the extent that they can prevent others from accessing it, or change the terms on which they do access it.

Visa doesn't have a monopoly, they have a controlling market share - nothing wrong with that, and perfectly legal. If Mastercard offered a viable alternative, Visa's product would not be as appealing as it is.

never-in-doubt

BarclaysManager wrote: »

No.

1. There is sufficient alternative and competition in the UK card market - Mastercard, namely.
2. There are sufficient alternatives to Visa (Mastercard, American Express, etc.)
3. Visa does not control the market to the extent that they can prevent others from accessing it, or change the terms on which they do access it.

Visa doesn't have a monopoly, they have a controlling market share - nothing wrong with that, and perfectly legal. If Mastercard offered a viable alternative, Visa's product would not be as appealing as it is.

cmmon mate, we all know Barclays (i.e. Barclaycard) was the 'originator' of Visa in the UK and both, understandably and deservedly, became very very rich! Then came Access (JCCC) which really opened the market..... ahhh, the good old days when your application depended on what malt you bought the manager! Midland was my bank of choice and he preferred plain old Grants for a £100 o/d extention!

:rotfl::rotfl:

Inactive

never-in-doubt wrote: »

.... ahhh, the good old days when your application depended on what malt you bought the manager! Midland was my bank of choice and he preferred plain old Grants for a £100 o/d extention!

:rotfl::rotfl:

Agreed, same here, that was when a Bank Manager actually ran the branch, and the staff didn't try to emulate a Time Share Sales Team.. :rolleyes:

I prefer Maestro to Visa, just because I don't like the market control that Visa has.

I used to like the old Access Cards.

My cheque books from HSBC ( formerly Midland ) still have my name listed as " Joe Bloggs Esquire " ( not real name lol ).. How quaint is that:?

456789

Inactive wrote: »

My cheque books from HSBC ( formerly Midland ) still have my name listed as " Joe Bloggs Esquire " ( not real name lol ).. How quaint is that:?

No esquire for me though I did get a letter the other day which said esq. on it lol

Extant

never-in-doubt wrote: »

cmmon mate, we all know Barclays (i.e. Barclaycard) was the 'originator' of Visa in the UK and both, understandably and deservedly, became very very rich! Then came Access (JCCC) which really opened the market..... ahhh, the good old days when your application depended on what malt you bought the manager! Midland was my bank of choice and he preferred plain old Grants for a £100 o/d extention!

:rotfl::rotfl:

The origins of Visa mean nothing about whether or not it is, by the legal definition, a monopoly or not.

Barclaycard also issue Mastercards.

Extant

Inactive wrote: »

Agreed, same here, that was when a Bank Manager actually ran the branch, and the staff didn't try to emulate a Time Share Sales Team.. :rolleyes:

So you'd rather have a corrupt official lending out money based on bribes from customers than an impartial risk team?

Maybe all of Halifax's over-lending is due to a pile up of liquor bottles?

My cheque books from HSBC ( formerly Midland ) still have my name listed as " Joe Bloggs Esquire " ( not real name lol ).. How quaint is that:?

You can still ask to be listed as esquire, it's just rather old fashioned and over done - most banks used to give it all "common" male customers, i.e. those who did not hold a grander title.

(And I'd far from call it quaint; it is yet another sign of the British obsession with a class system that serves no purpose other than to render vast swathes of the population invisibly subservient through no basis other than self importance and with no consideration of merit.)

never-in-doubt

BarclaysManager wrote: »

So you'd rather have a corrupt official lending out money based on bribes from customers than an impartial risk team?

I would - definitely haha! Get him drunk properly and watch the credit offers go through the roof! I even remember saying to my old Midland [STRIKE]alcoholic[/STRIKE] bank manager that I didn't have anough credit on my Mastercard to buy him a bottle of Malt - he said 'don't worry i'm happy with Grants and a £300 increase should solve that problem for you Mr XXXXXXXXXXXX'

That's what I call excellent customer service! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

BarclaysManager wrote: »

(And I'd far from call it quaint; it is yet another sign of the British obsession with a class system that serves no purpose other than to render vast swathes of the population invisibly subservient through no basis other than self importance and with no consideration of merit.)

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: