Useless Northern Rock Debit Cards

notebook67

Hi

We have had our ATM cards replaced with Visa debit cards with the words 'UK only' stamped on the front.

When trying to buy off Amazon, the details etc were accepted but the bank refuses to pay up.

Queried this with Northern Rock who have stated that because Amazon Uk's bank is in Luxembourg, they won't pay. When challenged, they just state that they know about it but even though its a UK address, 'tough'! (Their support even tried to claim that all deliverys also came from Lux.)

Anybody heard of these problems before? Is this type of restriction correct and legal? What happens if you go to a shop and its refused because of these 'bank issues'.

There is nothing on any literature issued by NR to indicate any of these problems or even that it is a UK restricted card.

Cheers

savagej

Worldwide it is not that uncommon, I have seen many South American Visa Debit cards with use in Chilie, or Argentina only.

What you could try is calling them up and saying you dont want the "Visa X2X" you want the unrestriced card. See if they will change it.

notebook67

Thanks for that. However....

NR won't issue non-restricted cards to replace new debit cards.

My main query regards the 'how do you know its UK'. A company that issues goods in the Uk, based in the uk, with a UK domain address AND dealing in sterling is banned by a bank because part of its banking system is outside the UK. How many other companies will this affect.

That is why I believe it is a) totally useless card and b)is illegal to block valid UK transaction due to a banks whim.

rb10

notebook67 wrote: »

My main query regards the 'how do you know its UK'. A company that issues goods in the Uk, based in the uk, with a UK domain address AND dealing in sterling is banned by a bank because part of its banking system is outside the UK. How many other companies will this affect.

It indicates on their website that they are based in Luxembourg (scroll down to '27. Our Details'. Not that I expect you to delve deep into the terms and conditions of every website that you visit!

notebook67 wrote: »

That is why I believe it is a) totally useless card

Not totally useless, but certainly severely lacking!

notebook67 wrote: »

and b)is illegal to block valid UK transaction due to a banks whim.

How is it illegal? Which law are they breaking?

notebook67

Big Help That...

My point as you rightly say, is will I have to check every site or shop before I can use my card even though I'm trading in or from the UK and in sterling?

Whatever your answer was a big help.

System

Probably European Law.

Wholly owned UK Government company bans use of its product simply for being based in another EU member state. Whilst, at the same time, acknowledging that it would allow the same use within its own member state. They haven't even got the currency conversion argument here as everything is in Sterling.

rb10 wrote: »

How is it illegal? Which law are they breaking?

rb10

The only solution is to have another card, and either stop using your NR card and use this one instead, or just keep the other card as a backup.

savagej

It is part of this 3 digit mandatory service code that people are now quoting that allows a card to tell the terminal if it must authorise (go on-line, the on-line, off-line debate) the transaction.

Another one of the 3 digits lets the bank put a country restriction on the card, the first digit. and the last digit lets the bank state if it is Chip and PIN only or if Chip and Signature is allowed.

savagej

This is how the service codes on cards work.

Service code values common in financial cards:
First digit
1: International interchange OK
2: International interchange, use IC (chip) where feasible
5: National interchange only except under bilateral agreement
6: National interchange only except under bilateral agreement, use IC (chip) where feasible
7: No interchange except under bilateral agreement (closed loop)
9: Test

Second digit
0: Normal
2: Contact issuer via online means
4: Contact issuer via online means except under bilateral agreement

Third digit
0: No restrictions, PIN required
1: No restrictions
2: Goods and services only (no cash)
3: ATM only, PIN required4: Cash only
5: Goods and services only (no cash), PIN required
6: No restrictions, use PIN where feasible
7: Goods and services only (no cash), use PIN where feasible

System

As its wholly owned by the UK Government then there would be no need to wait for the payment services directive - you would be effectively taking legal action against the Government

I'm sure the EU will be fine and I hope we would have ditched Sterling by then :beer:

opinions4u wrote: »

I believe the Payment Services Directive doesn't come in to effect until 2012.

Hopefully the Euro and the EU will have crumbled and died by then!

EarthBoy

notebook67 wrote: »

There is nothing on any literature issued by NR to indicate any of these problems or even that it is a UK restricted card.

I thought you said that the card had "UK only" stamped on the front? I would have thought this was a very big hint that you could only use it in the UK.