Basic Account with Maestro that I can open online?

Thenotsowyzewun

Hello,

As far as I'm aware, the Yorkshire Building Society account can't be opened online, but perhaps it can over the telephone and then I can fax/e-mail scans of documents over? - their nearest branch is too far away (I'm speaking on behalf of one of my friends parents, who doesn't have the mobility to go up into London to their nearest branch).

So I'm looking for something else. Our local banks are HSBC, Lloyds TSB, Natwest, Barclays, Woolwich, Abbey and Halifax (so all the big players except Alliance & Leicester in other words!). She'd be happy to apply in branch, over the Internet or on the telephone for any of those accounts, but needs a Maestro/Switch card, and doesn't want to pay her salary in (as this will be a secondary account).
However, she doesn't want an overdraft facility, is it always possible to cancel this upon request? - I would presume so..
Note that as this account will be used for the Gambling Loopholes stuff and some of the sites (inc Moneybookers) charge for depositing/withdrawing via Visa/Delta/Electron (and many of the sites don't take Solo, or suspend accounts until they have received proof of ID if they do accept Solo), it would be impractical to have anything but a Maestro/Switch card.
So I'm all ears if anyone has a suggestion, I'm going to call round a few banks tomorrow and ask them tomorrow if no-one knows - there's so many products one of them must be the right fit!

Of course, she could apply for a Extremecred Pre-Paid Maestro; £8.95 inc P&P for the card then £1 for ATM withdrawals and 70 pence for adding upto £500 at the Post Office, but it seems a bit strange paying so much - the 1.9% at Moneybookers, or £1+ fees at a few bookmakers perhaps would be worth paying in comparison to all the inconvenience of this alternative.

So perhaps someone can find me an alternative; a Maestro Card with no overdraft that she can open locally, that'd be grand! TY

christhesparky_2

i don't think there is an account you can open online, the only bank that does a maestro with there basic account is yorkshire i think!

Fedz

Yorkshire bank and (obviously) Clydesdale bank offer basic bank accounts (called ReadyCash) with Maestro debit card facility.

I've never noticed on-line application for these accounts

YBS = Yorkshire Building Society not Yorkshire Bank

Thenotsowyzewun

Thanks for the information, in that case I might go for a pre-paid Maestro card - alot of the gambling sites - I found one earlier for less than £10 with no fees except 70 pence for depositing upto £500 which will be available a day later in the Post Office, and £1.00 for withdrawing upto £250 (well, whatever the daily limit on the card is - site doesn't say) from any ATM.
Alternatively, I was hoping it might be possible to open an account without paying in a salary that provides an overdraft, and then cancel the overdraft facility?

knithappens

my brother just opened one through Halifax

danielharris91

Halifax do not offer Maestro?

Tiggy23

halifax is visa electron....i can use mine almost anywhere.... if shopping online even if it doesnt have the visa electron sign, i just put it as a visa always goes thru...

Thenotsowyzewun

Problem is alot of gambling sites (see gambling loopholes forum - she's not intending on gambling!!) charge 1.9% (or more) on Visa deposits, so she'd rather get a Maestro. she's decided to open a Nationwide Flexaccount (if they'll let her without paying a salary in) and then cancel the overdraft facility.

Kilty_2

Nationwide don't issue Maestro either, it's a Visa Debit card you'd recieve if successful enough in credit scoring.

Doubt anywhere surcharges deposits from a Visa DEBIT card though, it'll only be credit cards that carry surcharges.

olly300

I have a visa debit card and have never been surcharged for using it online.

I also have visa credit cards and they have been surcharged. (I use them for buying items over £100 because of protection.)

There is a difference in the numbers which indicates which is which.

Markb06

Natwest do Maestro I think.