Any retailers still not accepting Visa Debit?

jamesbrownontheroad

Afternoon. Got a letter from NatWest today informing me my Maestro debit card is about to be replaced by Visa Debit. I've had a browse around some of the threads here, and appreciate the feedback therein.

Can anyone confirm which, if any, retailers are still not accepting Visa Debit as of now, end of March 2010?

I ask mainly because my girlfriend has had problems using hers with (amongst others) ScotRail, on and off train (and our station's ticket machine has had the cash payment facility removed following vandalism). I also got some rather odd info from a NatWest call centre agent today, who implied that the entire Maestro format was being withdrawn and replaced by Visa Debit not by the bank, but by Maestro itself. I understood that of the two major credit/debit card systems, Maestro was aligned with Mastercard rather than Visa :think:

Hard and fast info on who doesn't accept Visa Debit much appreciated. Apologies if this is thread duplication, but you can only get so far plugging variations on the same terms into the forum search !

ankspon

It's the same problem with Mastercard debit

jamesbrownontheroad

Edit: This post brings some re-assurance re: Scotrail http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=24715559&postcount=188

Toe-Jam

jamesbrownontheroad wrote: »

Afternoon. Got a letter from NatWest today informing me my Maestro debit card is about to be replaced by Visa Debit. I've had a browse around some of the threads here, and appreciate the feedback therein.

Can anyone confirm which, if any, retailers are still not accepting Visa Debit as of now, end of March 2010?

I ask mainly because my girlfriend has had problems using hers with (amongst others) ScotRail, on and off train (and our station's ticket machine has had the cash payment facility removed following vandalism). I also got some rather odd info from a NatWest call centre agent today, who implied that the entire Maestro format was being withdrawn and replaced by Visa Debit not by the bank, but by Maestro itself. I understood that of the two major credit/debit card systems, Maestro was aligned with Mastercard rather than Visa :think:

Hard and fast info on who doesn't accept Visa Debit much appreciated. Apologies if this is thread duplication, but you can only get so far plugging variations on the same terms into the forum search !

If your card is purple it should work fine, if it is blue then it doesn't work on trains due to technical reasons. The maestro format is being withdrawl by RBS group as their contract with mastercard is expiring in December, not by Maestro aka Mastercard who still issue the cards.

Toe-Jam

jamesbrownontheroad wrote: »

Edit: This post brings some re-assurance re: Scotrail http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=24715559&postcount=188

I don't know if this is still the case James, they were only working initially because the card number was brand new 4751 and was slipping thought the card machines undetected.

They may well be updated now.

Can anyone actully confirm if a Blue Natwest card works on Trains ? as of 2010

Olipro

My bet with these blue natwest cards is that they're actually Visa Electron and not Visa Debit at all

Toe-Jam

Olipro wrote: »

My bet with these blue natwest cards is that they're actually Visa Electron and not Visa Debit at all

It is true that they are authorised in the same way as visa electron, however they are not the same brand. (unless your visa debit is from the co - op bank, then then it IS just a visa electron:o

Olipro

I realise they're not the same brand, my bet was that as far as it goes for merchants, it's like they're processing a Visa electron.

jfke

I'm pretty sure Olipro is correct here.

Electron is being phased out in favour of being "rebranded" as Visa Debit. Banks continue to operate a two tier system of offline only and full authorised debit cards but now , rather confusingly, under one name....Visa Debit.

It would be helpful for some publicity of this change but it appears they're not bothering leaving people using Electron cards they believe to be Debits and having them refused in certain places. I would be interested to read what information/bumf accompanies these pseudo-Visa Debits upon issue.

stclair

Toe-Jam wrote: »

I don't know if this is still the case James, they were only working initially because the card number was brand new 4751 and was slipping thought the card machines undetected.

They may well be updated now.

Can anyone actully confirm if a Blue Natwest card works on Trains ? as of 2010

In a nut shell no not until the machines on trains can seek authorisation at the point of sale !!

stclair

Olipro wrote: »

I realise they're not the same brand, my bet was that as far as it goes for merchants, it's like they're processing a Visa electron.

No thats not correct !!!