EC card issued in the UK..?!

oranabana

Hi everone, just got back from a trip to Germany, where it seems that really no-one takes any Visa, Master or other credit/debit card to pay over the counter, let alone online.

Most retailers were asking me if I didn't have a EC card. I now what they are, but have never heard of them being issued in the UK. I am currently with the Coop and also have an Egg credit card.

Does anyone have any idea if any banks actually issue the EC (EuroCheque) card as part of a bank account in the UK...?!

many thanks

Galstonian

I never had that problem when I lived in Germany.

http://www.germany-tourism.co.uk/pages/practical_information_credit_cards.html

Beano

I was in Germany recently and had no problems using Nationwide Visa

jonesMUFCforever

oranabana wrote:

Hi everone, just got back from a trip to Germany, where it seems that really no-one takes any Visa, Master or other credit/debit card to pay over the counter, let alone online.

Most retailers were asking me if I didn't have a EC card. I now what they are, but have never heard of them being issued in the UK. I am currently with the Coop and also have an Egg credit card.

Does anyone have any idea if any banks actually issue the EC (EuroCheque) card as part of a bank account in the UK...?!

many thanks

That's definite now then - no holidays in Germany for me. Can't remember the last time I carried cash or travellers cheques in large amounts.If they don't accept cards they 've lost my custom!
LOL
Eric

realaledrinker

Eurocheques & their guarantee cards were scrapped several years ago - became redundant due to ATMs & growth in use of credit cards!

Tuizner

Not true.

Go anywhere that is not a large town / city / tourist area and the system still relies on EC cards in Germany
:beer:

Not sure how you get one in the UK though. Having said that most ATM's accept visa/mastercard etc to get cash from.

And if you dont like carrying cash you probably shouldnt travel.

inmypocketnottheirs

The eurocheque system is the European cheque guarantee method. It did used to be very popular in the UK. You used to get a multi currency cheque book (pre euro) where you would put the currency abbreviation of the currency you were in, i.e. NLG for Dutch Guilders, GRD for Greek Drachma, ESP for Spanish pesetas, etc. You then had a seperate cheque card that would guarantee your cheques. These could be used in shops, hotels, garages and banks (to withdraw cash). With the advent of debit cards the banks in the UK withdrew Eurocheques probably about 8-10 years ago. I always suspected the main reason was it could take several weeks for a Eurocheque to debit the account, where as a debit card is almost immediate.

bengal-stripe

inmypocketnottheirs wrote: »

The eurocheque system is the European cheque guarantee method.

EC Card used to stand for "Eurocheque" and was the guaranty card. The Eurocheque system seized to exist on 31st Dec. 2001.

The German banks kept the letters EC, but today it stands for “Electronic Cash”, it is a Maestro debit card, which can be used with PIN or with signature to initiate a Direct Debit (Bankeinzug). I believe the card is guaranteed by the bank, up to EUR 400 per transaction. The merchant does not necessarily need an authorisation code. There is also the facility to have the card pre-loaded with cash. Small purchases like newspapers or snacks get just booked off the card (same principle as the ‘Oyster Card’ on the London Transport system).

I don’t understand why you had difficulties with another (international)Visa or Mastercard. Maybe it was just for little purchases and the merchant did not want the cost of a credit card (as opposed to a debit card). There are no problems with international Credit or Debit Cards in Germany. (Unless, as I said, it's for small purchases under, let's say EUR 10.)