Visa Debit card???

robb2002

Hello, I have one big problem that I need to sort out for next year. Whilst I was on holiday this year in America I only had a maestro card (which was accepted at most stores, but not online). However my friend opened an account with The Bank of America and got a Visa Debit card. I know over here that they have 'Visa Electron' and that most websites do not accept them either. Do you think that having a Visa, not visa electron debit card would work on the internet (would it be classed as a credit card)? Afterall it does have to be 16 digits long and my maestro card was 18 digits. Are there any banks that issue these in the UK?

Thanks
Robert

reserved

Alliance & Leicester current accounts have a Visa Debit Card.
I'm pretty sure Nationwide do as well.

Cypher

I've just opened a Lloyds TSB account for my son and that came with a Visa Debit card also.

Kilty_2

Visa Debit are accepted in the majority of places that accept Visa in this country.

Abroad, it will be accepted almost anywhere.

richardvc

I have a visa debit card and it seems to be fine !!

M_Thomson

robb2002 wrote:

Hello, I have one big problem that I need to sort out for next year. Whilst I was on holiday this year in America I only had a maestro card (which was accepted at most stores, but not online). However my friend opened an account with The Bank of America and got a Visa Debit card. I know over here that they have 'Visa Electron' and that most websites do not accept them either. Do you think that having a Visa, not visa electron debit card would work on the internet (would it be classed as a credit card)? Afterall it does have to be 16 digits long and my maestro card was 18 digits. Are there any banks that issue these in the UK?

Thanks
Robert

They have Visa Debit here too, as the posts above mention. Anywhere which accepts Visa will take these. Visa Electron tends to be issued on basic bank accounts without an overdraft. Visa Debit will be issued on full facility bank accounts with an overdraft.

Cypher

Visa Debit will be issued on full facility bank accounts with an overdraft.

Thats not actually always the case. The account my son has at Lloyds TSB (he's 16) has a Visa Debit card, but as I have found out from this forum its a control card (a 2 in 1 card) It can buy goods following a balance check, and use a cash machine but there is no credit facilities on the card, it can't guarentee a cheque or act like a visa card. A 3 in 1 card can also do the credit stuff including when buying goods skipping the balance check.

moonrakerz

Could I make a point here about the use of Credit/debit cards whilst abroad ?

It is a good move to only use a Credit card for purchases and only use your debit card for getting cash from an ATM.
The reason being: if your credit card is "cloned" or misused, the loss lies with the card issuer. If your debit card is cloned the loss is with you - you may get the money back eventually but you will have all the trouble and disruption in the meantime.
If you are travelling, the Nationwide Credit & Debit cards are the only ones that do not "load" foreign transactions. On a family holiday the savings can be substantial.

Queenie

moonrakerz wrote:

Could I make a point here about the use of Credit/debit cards whilst abroad ?

It is a good move to only use a Credit card for purchases and only use your debit card for getting cash from an ATM.
The reason being: if your credit card is "cloned" or misused, the loss lies with the card issuer. If your debit card is cloned the loss is with you - you may get the money back eventually but you will have all the trouble and disruption in the meantime.
If you are travelling, the Nationwide Credit & Debit cards are the only ones that do not "load" foreign transactions. On a family holiday the savings can be substantial.

There's another good reason to use CC for purchases and DC for ATM's ... if you use your CC to withdraw cash, you will be charged interest from the moment you withdraw that cash - unlike with purchases.

moonrakerz

Queenie wrote:

There's another good reason to use CC for purchases and DC for ATM's ... if you use your CC to withdraw cash, you will be charged interest from the moment you withdraw that cash - unlike with purchases.

Totally agree - I NEVER get cash on a credit card ! My main point was don't use your DC in shops.

straws

I have a Visa debit card (Visa Delta) from Lloyds TSB - it's just a normal debit card and is accepted everywhere online. Sometimes when you enter your card details, you have to select Visa as the option because there's no Visa Delta option, but it works fine.