Debit cards and that "electron" tag!!!

stickman

Hi All,
Having read various posts on the site and contacting the various banks I have come to the conclusion that if you have a basic bank a/c all of the debit cards issued require "electronic" verification of sorts and that if the retailers/online purchasing do not have/use that facility then you cannot purchase.
I currently have co-op cashminder with visa debit but when I go to use some sites/retailers don't accept. Contacted co-op who said that though card shows visa debit it still is in fact an "electron" type card and that due to my circumstances I can't go to "full" visa debit by opening a "current" a/c.
Fact is I don't want all the facilities of a current a/c just the visa debit side of it. My friend has co-op current a/c but has declined overdraft and cheques and cheque guarantee facilities of that a/c.So in essence he has exactly the same facilities as me ie can only spend what is in the a/c but his card is accepted everywhere unlike mine. It is obvious that the "electronic" side of basic a/c cards is the stumbling block.
Why can't basic a/c holders be afforded the same debit card facilities as current a/c holders with the above qouted stipulations.

robpw2

i have never had diffculty with my visa debit card and its with barclays

System

Co-op have their own specific problems - it stems from their decision to keep the same card number rage (i.e 4508) but ask Visa to reclassify it as Visa Debit rather than Visa Electron.

The whole thing was poor judgement by Co-op and has caused some places to still classify the card as Electron and some as Visa Debit. Reading between the lines, Co-op don't seem too concerned as it manly affects their less affluent customers.

Better to get a Visa Debit or Maestro card elsewhere. People seem happiest with Barclays, Nationwide's and Yorkshire bank's basic accounts...

stickman wrote: »

Hi All,
Having read various posts on the site and contacting the various banks I have come to the conclusion that if you have a basic bank a/c all of the debit cards issued require "electronic" verification of sorts and that if the retailers/online purchasing do not have/use that facility then you cannot purchase.
I currently have co-op cashminder with visa debit but when I go to use some sites/retailers don't accept. Contacted co-op who said that though card shows visa debit it still is in fact an "electron" type card and that due to my circumstances I can't go to "full" visa debit by opening a "current" a/c.
Fact is I don't want all the facilities of a current a/c just the visa debit side of it. My friend has co-op current a/c but has declined overdraft and cheques and cheque guarantee facilities of that a/c.So in essence he has exactly the same facilities as me ie can only spend what is in the a/c but his card is accepted everywhere unlike mine. It is obvious that the "electronic" side of basic a/c cards is the stumbling block.
Why can't basic a/c holders be afforded the same debit card facilities as current a/c holders with the above qouted stipulations.