Stuck Student, Needs Help...

IGotRippedOff

Hey Guys!

So a few years ago I opened a bank account with Yorkshire Bank and they give under-18s simple accounts with no kind of overdraft or anything. I turned 18 in January.

OK so the main problem is when they gave me the card the card type was maestro card. I want to change this to something like Visa or MasterCard (I know MC owns maestro) You see I do only shopping and many companies (in USA) do not support maestro its only supported really in UK. How can I change my card type to MC or Visa.

Will I be charged for changing it as well?

Thanks

CLAPTON

Just ask them.

SuperHan

I think Yorkshire bank issue MasterCard Debit, which can cause more problems than a maestro on some websites (because they are fairly new, and are not recognised as MasterCard Credit Cards).

But if you call to ask, they should be able to update your account to issue you one of these.

Plxply

SuperHan wrote: »

I think Yorkshire bank issue MasterCard Debit, which can cause more problems than a maestro on some websites (because they are fairly new, and are not recognised as MasterCard Credit Cards).

I believe this only happened because Yorkshire Bank used the same BIN range so merchants had to update their terminals. Debit Mastercard should be accepted anywhere Mastercard is, it's Mastercard's attempt to get in line with Visa Debit which should be accepted everywhere Visa credit cards are.

Maestro.

Go into branch and ask. You may have to get your account upgraded first though, I already have a current account and savings account with telephone banking so I was eligible for the MasterCard upgrade, but with your under 18 simple account it might not be possible until it is upgraded - if - that is possible.

All I had to do was provide my Mother's maiden name for security and Bob's your Uncle, a MasterCard came through in the post a week later.

The real issue here though isn't the card type, it's the retailers. For point of sale, Maestro generally works fine... I used mine in a lot of places from stores, to supermarkets, to restaurants, and even pubs, never any problems. Online though a lot of people have never accepted them, which makes no sense as a 16 digit Maestro card with an expiry date basically is a debit MasterCard, as they run off the same system. :mad:

Plxply wrote: »

Debit Mastercard should be accepted anywhere Mastercard is, it's Mastercard's attempt to get in line with Visa Debit which should be accepted everywhere Visa credit cards are.

The biggest advantage of the debit MasterCard (certainly on my account) is it lets you withdraw £500 in one go from a cash machine, which is something I'd never seen before with any other debit card!

Toe-Jam

If I were you OP I would stick with your Maestro its better accepted in Europe and is fee free on some sites where Mastercard Charges.

Back to your shopping in America problem. I would order a Kalixa prepaid Mastercard, there are absolutely no charges for shopping online in other currencies with it (no fx fees) , and its free to top up with a Maestro card.

So you have the best of both worlds.

Toe-Jam

Maestro. wrote: »

The biggest advantage of the debit MasterCard (certainly on my account) is it lets you withdraw £500 in one go from a cash machine, which is something I'd never seen before with any other debit card!

I've been able to do this for years, on a Maestro card, and now on a Visa debit. the ATM limit is nothing to do with the card brand its to do with what the bank allow.