Which banks/building societies issue Visa Electron cards?

frugal_rock

Morning all.

I am looking for a Visa Electron cards, primarily to avoid the rip off charges of Easyjet and Ryanair.

If you know your bank issues a Visa Electron card, could you post below, including any fees they charge or any offers.

I know Santander have recently stopped issuing them.

Many thanks.

2010

Halifax for electron but Ryanair now have their own cash card to avoid charges.

Badger_Lady

Yeah - since 1st November I'm afraid Ryanair now have a rip-off charge for Visa Electron cards too... you can only avoid it by taking out a Ryanair Prepaid Mastercard with a £6 deposit and minimum £150 top-up :eek:

frugal_rock

Thanks.

I will investigate the Halifax option.

2010

Don`t forget that Monarch Airlines don`t charge for debit cards but have a flat fee for credit cards of £10 per BOOKING.
Unlike RA where it`s £6 each way per person.

fozmcfc

Seems a lot of hassle, to open an account with a bank, just to avoid an airline fee.

Chances are that as with Ryanair, others will start to charge for all debit/credit cards, except possibly their own.

apt

It's not a lot of hassle to get the electron card from the Halifax and it saves money on Flybe, Thomson, Thomas Cook, Travelrepublic etc. etc. It's been that way for a few years. It's only the unspeakable Ryanair that changes the 'free' card every few months.

scott_lithgows

Airdrie savings bank

callum9999

fozmcfc wrote: »

Seems a lot of hassle, to open an account with a bank, just to avoid an airline fee.

Chances are that as with Ryanair, others will start to charge for all debit/credit cards, except possibly their own.

Not really. It takes 10 minutes to open a bank account - easy enough for me. Especially if it saves you £50+ (that's what I would have paid in payment fees this year if I didn't get a prepaid mastercard for Ryanair - not the same as opening a bank account I know but if those flights were on an airline that needs Visa Electron the same would apply).

fozmcfc

It just seems like using a sledgehammer to break a walnut.

I guess it depends on how large that walnut is.

For someone like me who maybe gets hit by the charge once a year, I don't really want to be using up a valuable credit account search and open a credit account just to avoid a fee. Plus having another bank card to keep safe and an account to keep an eye on for potential fraud etc...

callum9999

fozmcfc wrote: »

It just seems like using a sledgehammer to break a walnut.

I guess it depends on how large that walnut is.

For someone like me who maybe gets hit by the charge once a year, I don't really want to be using up a valuable credit account search and open a credit account just to avoid a fee. Plus having another bank card to keep safe and an account to keep an eye on for potential fraud etc...

Well this year I've taken about 10 budget flights, and depending on plans it may be even more next year. If you only take 1 flight (you don't come back?!) a year then I can see why you wouldn't feel it was worth it.

And credit searches stop really being an issue after 6 months plus most visa electron cards seem to be on basic bank accounts. Do they even credit check?