Santander "UPGRADED" my Debit Card

Mishomeister

Today I have received a surprise letter from Santander with a Visa Debit card saying that because they have changed their name from Abbey to Santandrer and bla bla bla they are issuing me with the upgraded VISA DEBIT card that replaces my Abbey Electron card which will stop working as soon as I use this VISA DEBIT card for the first time

The only reason I have openned this account was to get an ELECTRON card to be able to use it to buy a card fee-free tickets with the an Easy Jet and Ryanair(which is no more the case). I have telephoned the customer services to let them know that I do not requere this "upgraded" card as I have already got three of those with different banks. The guy has reassured me that a new card is just an addition to my existing card(Strange why would ELECTRON stop working after using a new card than). My Electron will expire in March next year and I am just wandering wether they will issue me with a new card. I do work for another bank and it is not usual for our customers have 2 cards at the same time at the same name so therefore I tend not to believe that guy.
Maybe any of you knows what is likely to happen now and wether my ELECTRON card will nort just get cancelled in a month time?

Would anyone also be able to tell me if I could get a Halifax Basic account with an Electron card if I have already got a better accoun with them?

Toe-Jam

Your card has not been "upgraded" as such , that's just santander trying to make themselves look good. They have stopped issuing visa electrons now, your new visa debit is unembossed and electronic use only, same as electron was. Your electron will stop working, and you will not get another one when it expires.

You will have no problem opening a halifax easycash acc, which comes with an electron, its quite well hidden on their website, but it is there.

http://www.halifax.co.uk/bankaccounts/other-bank-accounts/easycash/

Mishomeister

So that basically means as it is not a Visa electron card but a Visa Debit - I do not qualify for Easy Jet discount for Visa Electron account holders which was the one and only purpose of openning the account ?

thatsean

Yes, that's right. Halifax time!

Loughton_Monkey

Mishomeister wrote: »

Today I have received a surprise letter from Santander with a Visa Debit card saying that because they have changed their name from Abbey to Santandrer and bla bla bla they are issuing me with the upgraded VISA DEBIT card that replaces my Abbey Electron card which will stop working as soon as I use this VISA DEBIT card for the first time

This is bad for you and I sympathise.

Rather coincidentally, I phoned Santander today because having opened a new current account, I have the e-banking number, telephone PIN, and Card PIN, but... er... no card.

I was told to give it more time, since they are currently awash sending out replacement cards to existing customers.

This is clearly a deliberate policy decision. Let's use 100% of resources to p*** off all our existing customers as quickly as we can. By doing this, we can achieve 'the double' by p***ing off new customers as well.

Bonuses all round.....

AnonymousForObviousReason

I got a cash card from Santander with letter saying once I use it my old card would be deactivated. Stated pin is the same as my old card if I had one else my new pin would be sent out (never got one).

No debit logos on it so pointless, no idea what it's for (ISA?), don't want to stick in cash point as it may cancel my old one. Santander doesn't seem to know what it is...

Once account moved I'll try it and see what happens.

savagej

Toe-Jam wrote: »

Your card has not been "upgraded" as such , that's just santander trying to make themselves look good. They have stopped issuing visa electrons now, your new visa debit is unembossed and electronic use only, same as electron was. Your electron will stop working, and you will not get another one when it expires.

You will have no problem opening a halifax easycash acc, which comes with an electron, its quite well hidden on their website, but it is there.

http://www.halifax.co.uk/bankaccounts/other-bank-accounts/easycash/

how do you know it is the unembossed card, without asking?

Santander do still issue and will continue to issue embossed cards that are no longer cheque cards?

Twinkley

AnonymousForObviousReason wrote: »

I got a cash card from Santander with letter saying once I use it my old card would be deactivated. Stated pin is the same as my old card if I had one else my new pin would be sent out (never got one).

No debit logos on it so pointless, no idea what it's for (ISA?), don't want to stick in cash point as it may cancel my old one. Santander doesn't seem to know what it is...

Once account moved I'll try it and see what happens.

I got sent 3 of those cash cards in one month!!
Rang Santander after the first one turned up and they said it was to replace my old savings card. After the second, I rang again and they said the same thing so I explained that I had already received a replacement and they said maybe I have more then one savings account - I do now, but I didn't at the time.
Then with the third they said I must have requested it, checked their screens and said it doesn't look like you have requested it but you must have.

Toe-Jam

savagej wrote: »

how do you know it is the unembossed card, without asking?

Santander do still issue and will continue to issue embossed cards that are no longer cheque cards?

Because like I said the card is a replacement, not an upgrade. and the unembossed visa debit is the replacement for electron. A proper upgrade to the embossed crd requires a credit search.

Yes they do issue embossed cards still.

SaveTheEuro

Mishomeister wrote: »

issuing me with the upgraded VISA DEBIT card that replaces my Abbey Electron card which will stop working as soon as I use this VISA DEBIT card for the first time

I have had the same. I decided to destroy the new card. I'm assuming the electron card will still work next time I book an easyjet flight.

Toe-Jam

SaveTheEuro wrote: »

I have had the same. I decided to destroy the new card. I'm assuming the electron card will still work next time I book an easyjet flight.

You will leave yourself without a card then if thats what you did. The electron will automatically get cancelled in the next month or so.

Keeping electron is not an option, they are winding that product down and customers with cards beginning 4917 31 are being migrated to 4757 14 (Which is the new visa debit number invented specifically for these customers)

If you want an electron Halifax is your best bet.