Visa Electron card with Halifax

JCR1987

Bit of a random question:

Does anyone know whether Halifax intend to retain Visa Electron cards?

I've saved a fortune recently booking flights for myself and some mates via BMIBaby using this card and avoiding the £10 per flight fee. I know we've got some more trips planned for later on in the year, but my Visa Electron card is due to expire at the end of April.

They don't generally inform you if they're changing the type of card you get when they renew them, and they even promote giving you a proper Visa card as a bonus, however it wouldn't be in this case as I only use this account for booking flights to avoid card fees.

Any info would be useful.

Cheers,
JR

ps. I could ask Halifax but i know i'll get a more sensible answer here.:T

eira

Just rang Santander for a replacement Electron-was told they no longer exist as Visa have decided not to produce them. I was offered something called an 'online debit card'. The Electron was linked to an account I have only kept open for the Electron card. I would be grateful for any info re the availability of Electron cards

teffers

Visa Electron is being discontinued and is replaced by Visa Debit. Visa Electron was not popular as it singled the user out as someone with a poorer credit rating etc.

There are now two types of Visa Debit cards now in circulation. One that allows purchases to be made both offline and online, and those that will only allow online (so it checks your balance) purchases.

The only way to tell the difference is by the cards first 6 digits (known as the BIN number).

benjus

Halifax are still advertising Visa Electron cards to new Easycash customers, so I'd be surprised if they are to discontinue them any time soon.

Bear in mind that "excessive" debit/credit card charges may be outlawed fairly soon, so the benefit of the Electron card for airline bookings may disappear (like it already has for Easyjet).

Chrisblue1962

The Co-op's Cashminder basic bank account still has an Electron card despite the Co-op sending out debit cards "badged" as`Visa Debit - they NOT - they are Visa Electron cards!!

Stations on Merseyside and pay-at-pump facilities at petrol stations will not accept my card as it still comes up as "Electron". The Co-op blame the retailers and the retailers blame the Co-op...

If you really want or need an Electron card, get a Co-op Bank Cashminder basic bank account.

Plxply

I would have preferred if they kept the separate Visa Debit and Visa Electron, it makes it much easier to determine if the card needs online authentication. Still, at least my mag stripe reader has good use to determine what each card is

tutti_fruity

New Cardcash card arrived this week with Halifax and it is a Visa not Electron!

Chrisblue1962

tutti_fruity wrote: »

New Cardcash card arrived this week with Halifax and it is a Visa not Electron!

Thanks Tutti Frutti, I will have a look at this account as`it may well serve me better, no disrespects to the Co-op

Update: Just checked on Halifax website, the Easycash account comes with an Electron card not a Visa debit card. Their website also states their Casrdcash account (for 16 - 17 years olds) has a Visa debit card..

Seems strange that they'll give a Visa Debit card to you if you're 16-17 but not if you're older!%

savagej

Plxly, what track on the card shows the 3 digit code that determines if it forces a terminal on-line? As you will know it is the middle number of the 3 digits being set to a 2 that makes it positive.

tutti_fruity

Sorry I have a Cardcash account I have had it for 20 plus years, on looking at the card it says Cardcash on it. The old card was a Visa Electron the new card that came in the week is a Visa Debit. Sorry for the confusion.

Plxply

savagej wrote: »

Plxly, what track on the card shows the 3 digit code that determines if it forces a terminal on-line? As you will know it is the middle number of the 3 digits being set to a 2 that makes it positive.

I assume this is a question, but yes 2 indicates the terminal must go online 0 indicates that it can be authorised off line. The number is present on both tracks, Wikipedia makes finding it rather easy:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_stripe_card#Financial_cards