Does MSE have an infatuation with Debit Cards.

stclair

As the title suggests...

Why is so important to people how they function / look now adays?

Midzone

Of course it's important how they function. Joe Bloggs applies to Natwest for a Select Account and is approved. He gets sent a Blue Debit Card although the account is NOT a Basic account. Attempts to pay for fuel at pump - declined. Attempts to pay for train tickets on the morning train commute - declined. Wants to buy duty free on the plane trip back from France - declined.

Freda Bloggs, his wife applies to Natwest - is only offered a Basic Account. Blue Debit Card arrives. She attempts to draw cash out whilst in town - cash machine refuses the transaction due to not being a Natwest cash point. Husband tries with his Natwest blue debit card and it works.

Now I'm not saying that the look of the card is important - adding personal photographs etc is not anything I'm interested in - but knowing the functionality I would say is vital.

Not sure if it's Natwest that have the word BASIC printed across their debit cards - but whichever bank it is I think this is poor - why not get these customers to wear a badge that says 'I'm poor' or 'My credit record is naff' or 'I can't be trusted to pay my bills' - it would probably have the same affect.

BugsyBrowne

It makes me laugh how all these natwest blue debit card holders have now recently become frequent flyers who smoke and gets the train to the airport and decides to buy their tickets the same morning.

JuicyJesus

Not sure if it's Natwest that have the word BASIC printed across their debit cards - but whichever bank it is I think this is poor - why not get these customers to wear a badge that says 'I'm poor' or 'My credit record is naff' or 'I can't be trusted to pay my bills' - it would probably have the same affect.

The correct course of action is not to get a duff credit history in the first place, not to blame everyone else for the foreseeable results of this.

stclair

Imagine the up roar if banks decided to make all their cards online.

Is there actually anything that say banks should allow cards to be used offline?

Midzone

JuicyJesus wrote: »

The correct course of action is not to get a duff credit history in the first place, not to blame everyone else for the foreseeable results of this.

Indeed it is and congratulations for winning the 'holier-than-thou' award this week.

Of course personal situations change and financial mistakes can happen in anyones life - I just feel it inappropriate for banks to brand cards in such a way that could be deemed to 'categorise' or indeed label customers in such a way.

JuicyJesus

Midzone wrote: »

Indeed it is and congratulations for winning the 'holier-than-thou' award this week.

Cool, do I get a trophy?

Of course personal situations change and financial mistakes can happen in anyones life - I just feel it inappropriate for banks to brand cards in such a way that could be deemed to 'categorise' or indeed label customers in such a way.

It's perfectly appropriate. If you have a duff credit history, you get a duff credit history card.

Amuses me no end when people balls their finances up (or have their finances ballsed up) and are upset when it turns out it has negative consequences.

Midzone

JuicyJesus wrote: »

Cool, do I get a trophy?



It's perfectly appropriate. If you have a duff credit history, you get a duff credit history card.

Amuses me no end when people balls their finances up (or have their finances ballsed up) and are upset when it turns out it has negative consequences.

Maybe we should brand those with a duff credit history for all to see?

opinions4u

Midzone wrote: »

Of course personal situations change and financial mistakes can happen in anyones life - I just feel it inappropriate for banks to brand cards in such a way that could be deemed to 'categorise' or indeed label customers in such a way.

Perhaps they should simply stop offering free facilities to this unprofitable sub-group and have done with it.

jalexa

opinions4u wrote: »

Perhaps they should simply stop offering free abilities to this unprofitable sub-group and have done with it.

*Exactly* which sub-group? Or was "free" the relevant word?

In general this falls under "financial inclusion". I don't think banks are able to "simply stop" all measures of "financial inclusion".

Actually I'd quite like one to jump ship on that. Then we will see what happens.

opinions4u

jalexa wrote: »

*Exactly* which sub-group? Or was "free" the relevant word?

Oh very much "sub-group".

In general this falls under "financial inclusion". I don't think banks are able to "simply stop" all measures of "financial inclusion".

They'd naff off politicians and regulators big time. But the provision of banking services to people with poor credit history is very much a matter of goodwill. Not legislation and not written regulation.

My point, when it boils downs to it, is simple.

There are much more important things in life than the colour of your debit card. Really.