HSBC Visa Debit with cheque guarantee

fawinds

I have asked HSBC for a cheque guarantee card, not that I plan to use it anyway, and I am aware the scheme is ending in a few months, but anyway I just wanted one to make sure my debit card is a full 3 in 1 card.

This was their reply:

Thank you for your e-message received 7 January 2011.

I notice you do not hold a cheque guarantee Visa debit card on your profile.

Please note that all current account customers will receive a Visa Debit card without cheque guarantee facility. This decision was taken as there has been a decline in the use of cheques as more customers are using other payment methods including debit card, resulting in more and more retailers refusing to accept cheques. Your new Visa Debit card offers the highest level of acceptance worldwide.

Should you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Does it mean they are no issuing CGC anymore as of now? I do have a CGC from Citibank but am aware they stopped issuing them in late 2010 (mine was issued in the summer 2010). I wonder whether HSBC as of now has decided they will not be issuing new CGC.

EarthBoy

That's what the message says.

Several banks have already stopped issuing them.

dazza.mk

Agreed, the actual scheme itself ends this year end of June/July (can't remember which), at this point I think you'd struggle to find a bank that would issue a 'new' cheque guarantee card.

TheEffect

HSBC took away my cheque guarantee when I reordered a card a few months ago. FirstDirect still issue them though, as I received a £100 CGC when I ordered a card in December.

PudseyDB

Mines just an orddinary HSBC Visa card too - luckily I've never been asked for a guarantee card when paying by cheque - which is usually only for paying for the kids school trips etc.

However, I'm now wondering why I'm sometimes asked to write my card number on the reverse of the cheque. Whats the point if its not a cheque guarantee card?

thenudeone

Natwest are still issuing debit cards with cheque guarantee hologram (just last week).

Although cheque use is declining, there are circumstances where a guaranteed cheque is currently the best option, eg: market traders, craft stalls, etc.
We, the consumers, will now have to pay (through higher prices) for the hundreds of pounds it will cost such traders to lease portable wireless card terminals which will be the only alternative to accepting huge amounts of cash.

Does anyone know of any bank that is going to run their own scheme after the APACS one ends?

dazza.mk

From memory it has been mentioned previously that there is a 2nd much smaller scheme that is continuing after the UK Domestic scheme ends, can't remember who issues them though!

It would be a bank/building society other than the members of the UK Domestic scheme though (shown in attached link)

http://www.ukpayments.org.uk/media_centre/press_releases/-/page/719/

noh

dazza.mk wrote: »

From memory it has been mentioned previously that there is a 2nd much smaller scheme that is continuing after the UK Domestic scheme ends, can't remember who issues them though!

It would be a bank/building society other than the members of the UK Domestic scheme though (shown in attached link)

http://www.ukpayments.org.uk/media_centre/press_releases/-/page/719/

The Building Societies mentioned previously in this thread
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2554059

were the Leeds BS and Norwich and Peterborough BS.

Looking at the N+P web site they now say they will no longer offer Cheque guarantee cards. Section 21.6 of this document
http://www.nandp.co.uk/16374/26893/2011-Current-Account-Ts-Cs

Loking at the Leeds BS site I can find no mention at all of a CG card . So not sure if it will still be offered or not.

dazza.mk

By the looks of things they don't do a Debit card period anymore:

http://www.money.co.uk/current-accounts/current-account-details/Leeds-Building-Society/Premier-Current-Account.htm

noh

dazza.mk wrote: »

By the looks of things they don't do a Debit card period anymore:

http://www.money.co.uk/current-accounts/current-account-details/Leeds-Building-Society/Premier-Current-Account.htm

Don't think they ever did. They offered a cheque guarantee only card.

Innocent_Guy

I received my new HSBC card today and my CG facility is on the back of the card as always.