Halifax withdrawing Electron facilities?

LeeDJC

I went into the bank yesterday to withdraw some cash from my Cardcash account.

I got the usual, would you like to upgrade your account. I'm happy with having no overdraft etc so politely refuse, as always.

Then the teller told me that due to Lloyds TSB taking over the bank the card system was changing and I would not be able to use my Electron card over the counter (ie all Chip and PIN purchases) as from the 18th or so of January.

Obviously this worried me, thought it a bit strange, but arranged an appointment to upgrade my account.

I haven't heard anything about this at all. I would have thought it would have been in the news? Am I being fed a line to try and get me to upgrade?

paulmcerlean

why not just take a full account with a full visa debit but without an overdraft?

apt

Unless you were withdrawing over £300 you are not supposed to be able to use the counter with easycash or cashcard accounts. 'At a branch counter you won’t be able to withdraw less than £300, pay in money or make routine enquiries.' I don't know about cardcash, but for easycash this is not new.

LeeDJC

apt wrote: »

Unless you were withdrawing over £300 you are not supposed to be able to use the counter with easycash or cashcard accounts. 'At a branch counter you won’t be able to withdraw less than £300, pay in money or make routine enquiries.' I don't know about cardcash, but for easycash this is not new.

I'm aware of this. I was drawing out significantly more than £300....

LeeDJC

paulmcerlean wrote: »

why not just take a full account with a full visa debit but without an overdraft?

I may well do. I was just concerned about "scare tactics" being used by the bank to get customers to upgrade.

We all know that the banks hate these basic accounts as they make little or no money out of them. However, they have to provide them.

chris91_2

The new counter system as already mentioned is being rolled out and is the same as LTSB, BOS and Halifax moving over is a gradual process and leaflets are issued at the branch concerned about a month prior to changing, so Ive found.

This is just the start of the changes at Bank of Scotland and Halifax this year, the accounts move over to LTSB systems later in the year I think, so changing products, cards and the likes are to be expected.

apt

If HBOS does ditch electron it will upset a lot of a lot of account holders who have them to avoid card fees charged by EasyJet, Thomson, Thomas Cook etc. Clearly Lloyds/HBOS has been trying to build up current account numbers as far as possible. Why give up one means which does not require paying £5 per month reward or 4% interest?

coolesticeking

Visa Electron is being phased out and won't exist shortly (End of 2011 I think?)

Will only leave Visa Debit cards requiring authorisation.

zppp

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8384034.stm

[Deleted User]

chris91 wrote: »

The new counter system as already mentioned is being rolled out and is the same as LTSB, BOS and Halifax moving over is a gradual process and leaflets are issued at the branch concerned about a month prior to changing, so Ive found.

This is just the start of the changes at Bank of Scotland and Halifax this year, the accounts move over to LTSB systems later in the year I think, so changing products, cards and the likes are to be expected.

Online Banking is changing to LTSB
Exactly the same but with the Halifax touches

savagej

Halifax and BoS Current A/c's (all of them) get new terms and condition I think starting 20 March. From that date they only refer to one card, it is a, "debit and cashpoint card". Cashpoint being a LTSB trademark.