Yorkshire Bank Debit Mastercard and credit check

scott1358

Hi,

I asked Yorkshire Bank to change my current Maestro card on my Signature account to a Debit Mastercard as it is more widely accepted when I go abroad, which I often do for work.

They said this was okay but that I would be credit checked for it. I agreed to this but I am perplexed why this is needed? All it is is a different logo on the card, there isn't even a cheque guarantee facility anymore (I used to have £100).

Does anyone know why this is? My account is not changing, I have an overdraft, savings and a Mastercard credit card with the bank. It seems weird when they have been sending other people (my sister for instance) these new debit cards without credit checking when their old Maestro cards expire, but for me they want to credit score me? Still haven't heard back from the bank so don't know what the outcome was.

stclair

My understanding was the Debit Mastercard on the Yorkshire Bank Signature account came as standard when your old meastro card expired.

If I was you I would report your old card as damaged and see if you get sent a debit mastercard in its place.

savagej

Everyone can have a Maestro card and it is the only card they give out on their basic bank account.

I wondered the same thing as even thinkbanking is issuing Mastercard debit on its non-status account, so the card must be programmable just like a Visa Debit card is which has almost replaced Electron in this country.

I am actually waiting for a reply back from them about who can and can't have this card and if they intend to roll it out to everyone due to acceptance issues with Maestro. I also asked why they are the only major high street bank that does not allow account opening on-line or by post but you can apply for one if you are moving to the UK on-line and have it open on your arrival.

So will get back to you when they get back to me.

James

notts_phil

I would certainly loose your card and see !what happens

vintagegirl

my guess, having worked for the bank, is that you have a readycash account at the moment and the sig account is a full account which needs to be credit scored. the readycash acc doesnt have a debit m/c at the moment

JacksterD

Does anyone know if the YB/CB Debit MasterCard is online only or offline? It's possible that currently they only have an offline configuration on their Debit MasterCards, and they'll get an online only one set up when Maestro is phased out.

That would mean that if you currently have an online only Maestro then you'd be going to a more risky product and so they'd want to credit check you.

Or I could be completely wrong.

Jib111

JacksterD wrote: »

Does anyone know if the YB/CB Debit MasterCard is online only or offline? It's possible that currently they only have an offline configuration on their Debit MasterCards, and they'll get an online only one set up when Maestro is phased out.

That would mean that if you currently have an online only Maestro then you'd be going to a more risky product and so they'd want to credit check you.

Or I could be completely wrong.

From what I've found out you're correct.

It would seem debit m/c is only for offline accounts.

savagej

The thing is Newcastle Building Society issue one on the Thinkbanking account, which does not require a credit check and is for anyone daft enough to pay their monthly fee of £12.50. The account cannot be overdrawn (or should not be) and I can't see them giving out a card that can be used to take credit.

Also, all prepaid Mastercards in the USA are Mastercard Debit, some of which you throw away once you have spent the money on them. So there must be option to set the card up in the same way Visa Debit cards are set, indeed the system for doing it is called EMV and stands for Europay (bought over now by Mastercard but some older people like me will remember the sign, it used to be next to the Access one), Mastercard, Visa.

Toe-Jam

Jib111 wrote: »

From what I've found out you're correct.

It would seem debit m/c is only for offline accounts.

Metro Bank do and online Mastercard debit.

scott1358

vintagegirl wrote: »

my guess, having worked for the bank, is that you have a readycash account at the moment and the sig account is a full account which needs to be credit scored. the readycash acc doesnt have a debit m/c at the moment

The account is a full Signature account, was Current account plus until I changed it in February, and I have had it since August 2007. I was credit checked at the time. But later when I added an overdraft (£1500) they didn't bother doing another check - this adds to the mystery.

scott1358

JacksterD wrote: »

Does anyone know if the YB/CB Debit MasterCard is online only or offline? It's possible that currently they only have an offline configuration on their Debit MasterCards, and they'll get an online only one set up when Maestro is phased out.

That would mean that if you currently have an online only Maestro then you'd be going to a more risky product and so they'd want to credit check you.

Or I could be completely wrong.

I don't know the difference between online/offline?? However, if it helps, my Maestro card always goes through without the delay of getting authorisation, as does my Gold Mastercard.