Nationwide "Upgrade" to Debit card

Moniker

We have most of our accounts with the Nationwide, including our current account which has a cheque book and cheque guarrantee facility via a card which also operates as a cash card.

Recently they have written to us to say that they are 'upgrading' us to a debit card from June. We have told them on many occasions in the past that we don't want a debit card, however, it appears that we will no longer have the choice as after June we won't be able to have a cheque book unless we opt for a debit card (though this will not act as a cheque guarantee card so not a lot of point of it really).

Does any one know of an account which will give us a cheque book without requiring us to have a debit card? We know that the cheque guarantee scheme is being scrapped so don't expect to get a cheque guarantee card - we just want a cheque book with an ordinary cash card. Does such a thing exist?

many thanks for your suggestions.

Moniker

onlypaddy

cheque guarrantee facility via a card which also operates as a cash card

Cash cards dont operate as CGC's....are you sure you dont have a debit card already?

Anyway, you may have got the CashCard+ letter? Its basically the same card, except you can now purchase things (I think similar level of authorisation to Visa Electron perhaps) and you can no longer use it to withdraw cash abroad.

simax

Nationwide used to offer just "Cheque Guarantee Cash Cards". No debit card facility. Just a £50 CG facility and a Cirrus Cashcard.

I think NW were the last UK institution to issue these (and subsequently phase them out).

OP, why are you so against a debit card? Why not go even further backwards and just use a passbook? :think:

neas

we got this letter.. luckily we are goin on holiday 4th may to 20th may so hopefully will be able to use it to withdraw cash for free before they change it over.

Moniker

simax wrote: »

Nationwide used to offer just "Cheque Guarantee Cash Cards". No debit card facility. Just a £50 CG facility and a Cirrus Cashcard.

I think NW were the last UK institution to issue these (and subsequently phase them out).

OP, why are you so against a debit card? Why not go even further backwards and just use a passbook? :think:

The reason I am against a debit card is that the money goes out of your account instantly so less easy to detect and catch fraud should it fall into the wrong hands. We have a credit card with NW which we use for most purchases and would continue to do so. This gives me a five week 'credit' period before I have to pay and the money is in my account earning interest until the statement date when I pay it off in full each month having checked the statement in detail against my own spreadsheets. (Recently, my husband's card was blocked because NW detected a suspicious transaction in the States - which we have never visited- and they were able to stop the payment going out. I am not confident the same would be true with a debit card).

Although we don't travel abroad that much (certainly not outside europe) we did make use of the ability to withdraw cash using our NW cashcard recently. Do I understand that this facility is also not available using a debit card? If so this is even less of an 'upgrade' that I thought!

Moniker

Moniker

onlypaddy wrote: »

Cash cards dont operate as CGC's....are you sure you dont have a debit card already?

Anyway, you may have got the CashCard+ letter? Its basically the same card, except you can now purchase things (I think similar level of authorisation to Visa Electron perhaps) and you can no longer use it to withdraw cash abroad.

Definitely sure I don't have one already - our cash card/cheque guarantee card only works for cheques up to £50 which is fine. I don't htink NW would have written to us if we had one already!

Moniker

KarenBB

Moniker wrote: »

Although we don't travel abroad that much (certainly not outside europe) we did make use of the ability to withdraw cash using our NW cashcard recently. Do I understand that this facility is also not available using a debit card? If so this is even less of an 'upgrade' that I thought!

Moniker

The debit bard can be used to make cash withdrawals abroad, there are no changes to the debit card.

Moniker

Thanks for the comments so far - but going back to my original question: does any one know of a current account which offers a cheque book without having to have a debit card?

Thanks

Moniker

simax

Moniker wrote: »

This gives me a five week 'credit' period before I have to pay and the money is in my account earning interest until the statement date when I pay it off in full each month having checked the statement in detail against my own spreadsheets.

You do realise the NW Flex Account pays no interest at all, don't you?

You could use the LTSB Classic Vantage account, that has a chequebook, pays up to 4% AER depending on balance, and I do believe you can ask for a cashcard if you don't want a debit card.

Regards

Moniker

simax wrote: »

You do realise the NW Flex Account pays no interest at all, don't you?

You could use the LTSB Classic Vantage account, that has a chequebook, pays up to 4% AER depending on balance, and I do believe you can ask for a cashcard if you don't want a debit card.

Regards

Thanks. Yes I do know that NW doesn't pay interest on my Flexaccount but that wasn't always the case! I never pay interest on the CC and they still offer cashback which is why I am still with them. I will look into the LTSB account though.

Thanks again

Moniker

jd87

OP your fraud paranoia is disturbing. It's 2010, get with the program!