NatWest Step Account

Fedz

I have to commend NatWest.

A while ago I signed-up for the Step Current Account.

Upon sign-up I added the Advantage Blue for £6 per month.

I got a whole host of goodies in the welcome pack that are actually usefull.

One was loads of free entry tickets for the cinema (which are being used) plus also a 2 for 1 cinema card access throughout the year (also being used).

The Euro insurance 2 weeks cover (being used later this year).

I opted for the mobile phone insurance cover (set-up/using).

Everything considered opening the Step basic current bank account was well worth it in my opinion

I've even nearly completely ditched my full current account from Halifax for this account :rotfl:

So well done NatWest for providing a a full and useful basic bank account

Edit: plus on top of all that upon logging out of NatWest online banking I was astounded that they offer customers 1-years FREE subscription to McAfee VirusScan Plus (Anti-Virus, Firewall and anti-spyware) ...

amandathepanda

It is nice to hear someone complimenting a bank for a change.

Fedz

Earlier today I went to a dept.store and upon paying by using the NatWest debit card the card machine asked if I wanted to pay using (1) Solo or (2) Maestro > then enter PIN.

The card is a Solo on front but, can use Maestro or Cirrus (logo on reverse).

If I'd chosen Maestro would I be charged a fee.

Also today I used the card to pay my o2 bill online. o2 don't show the Solo logo but, do show Switch.

I enter my card details and for issue number I entered number 1 and it went through as usual and debited my account.

Can this be done where ever you see Switch logo.

I understand Mastercard have said they are ditching the Switch system for the Maestro and retailers are to remove the Switch logo by end of June or something. Is this correct.

If so as the NatWest debit card is a Maestro then it'll be very widely accepted (which I've found anyway).

On the other side of the coin Visa is more unpredictable as I've tried using an Electron many times where it shows Visa Delta and it gets refused.

Thanks

jsmith9156

Fedz wrote: »

On the other side of the coin Visa is more unpredictable as I've tried using an Electron many times where it shows Visa Delta and it gets refused.

Thanks

Sorry for jumping on this thread about this, But I got a new Visa Debit card from Citibank. This has the new visa logo, But all reference to it being a Visa "Delta" card has been removed (Even though that's what it still is). There is now just the word DEBIT written under the logo.

Am I right In thinking that perhaps Electron is going to be phased out? A number of banks seem to be ditching it in favour of Visa Delta Control cards.

The other James

taless

Fedz wrote: »

Earlier today I went to a dept.store and upon paying by using the NatWest debit card the card machine asked if I wanted to pay using (1) Solo or (2) Maestro > then enter PIN.

The card is a Solo on front but, can use Maestro or Cirrus (logo on reverse).

If I'd chosen Maestro would I be charged a fee.

Also today I used the card to pay my o2 bill online. o2 don't show the Solo logo but, do show Switch.

I enter my card details and for issue number I entered number 1 and it went through as usual and debited my account.

Can this be done where ever you see Switch logo.

I understand Mastercard have said they are ditching the Switch system for the Maestro and retailers are to remove the Switch logo by end of June or something. Is this correct.

If so as the NatWest debit card is a Maestro then it'll be very widely accepted (which I've found anyway).

On the other side of the coin Visa is more unpredictable as I've tried using an Electron many times where it shows Visa Delta and it gets refused.

Thanks

No you won't be charged a fee if you chosen Maestro.

Basically your Solo card is suppoed to be Solo in the UK, but Maestro when abroad.

Mastercard is phasing out the logo Switch. Basically Switch and Maestro are virtually anonymous now.

You couldn't use Solo as Maestro everywhere though. Some places really require you to have a pure Maestro. Some examples of the sites are like Expedia, National Rail.

Hope this helps.

taless

jsmith9156 wrote: »

Sorry for jumping on this thread about this, But I got a new Visa Debit card from Citibank. This has the new visa logo, But all reference to it being a Visa "Delta" card has been removed (Even though that's what it still is). There is now just the word DEBIT written under the logo.

Am I right In thinking that perhaps Electron is going to be phased out? A number of banks seem to be ditching it in favour of Visa Delta Control cards.

The other James

Hi James,

Yes Visa Delta has been phased out and it's now replaced with Visa Debit. Basically a Visa Debit is a Delta and vice versa.

I think the people are phasing out the Delta because they want to create a single Visa, where Visa credit cards and Visa debit cards can be used so long as the Visa logo is displayed.

I don't think Electron will be phased out. Electron is rather similar to Solo, as in every transaction needs to be electronically authorised there and then, unlike Visa Debit/Delta or Switch/Maestro where below a certain limit, it could just pass through without any authorisation.

This is my understanding, hope it helps!

Fedz

taless wrote: »

You couldn't use Solo as Maestro everywhere though. Some places really require you to have a pure Maestro. Some examples of the sites are like Expedia, National Rail.

Sorry to sound dumb

So a Solo card can only be used as a Maestro as long as Solo is accepted also.

eg: If it said 'Maestro, Visa debit/credit, mastercard ...etc' (but, no Solo is displayed) then it would refuse the Solo card transaction (despite having Maestro logo on the card) as that's considered 'pure' Maestro?

taless

That's right.

However, just because a website doesn't show Solo, it doesn't mean it can't be accepted. I have tried by choosing Maestro/Switch before, sometimes it went through fine, sometimes you will get a message saying "Solo cards are not accepted" or something similar to that effect!

Fedz

Similar to Visa Electron - that's what happened when I paid my o2 bill online today (see post #3).

I do have a Halifax Visa Debit (Delta) but, actually prefer NatWest online banking as it shows each debit card transaction and highlights the same days transactions in dark blue and the ones still pending in lighter blue then when they've fully gone through they move off the page and onto the statements page plus transactions minus from your available balance straight away.

Halifax online banking just minuses it from your available balance in one full amount (doesn't initial each debit card transaction like NatWest Step basic bank account) until it's fully gone through your account +/- 3 days.

Not important to some but, is to me

jamiesun

Ask Natwest to give you the Maestro debit card or you can switch to Lloyds Tsb who can issue the visa debit card to you directly.
Solo is the same level as Visa Electron
Mastro is the same as Visa Debit.

Fedz

jamiesun wrote: »

Ask Natwest to give you the Maestro debit card or you can switch to Lloyds Tsb who can issue the visa debit card to you directly.
Solo is the same level as Visa Electron
Mastro is the same as Visa Debit.

We're discussing different aspects of basic and full current account debit systems ...

As mentioned in my earlier post I already have a full current account with Visa debit card (cheque guarantee £150), cheque book and a good overdraft facility.

I'm not looking for another full current account (I don't apply for them).

However, I have a blemishless credit record but, Lloyds TSB always refuse me.

My mate who (now 27) also a blmishless credit record has banked with LTSB since been 16 years-old and they even refuse him :rotfl:

Besides I'm more than happy with NatWest :beer: