A&L Premier Current Account - Visa Debit Card

Mulligan1

Hi, I have received my welcome pack for the A&L Premier Current Account, it states I will receive a VISA Debit Card, I have never used one of these cards before (I have always used Switch or Maestro), My current Natwest card also acts as a £100 Cheque Guarantee Card but I have noticed there is no mention of this facility in the A&L Welcome Pack, does anyone know if it is available (I know I could call and ask but I don't fancy being in a queue!)

Many Thanks

noh

Mulligan1 wrote: »

Hi, I have received my welcome pack for the A&L Premier Current Account, it states I will receive a VISA Debit Card, I have never used one of these cards before (I have always used Switch or Maestro), My current Natwest card also acts as a £100 Cheque Guarantee Card but I have noticed there is no mention of this facility in the A&L Welcome Pack, does anyone know if it is available (I know I could call and ask but I don't fancy being in a queue!)

Many Thanks

Yes it is also a £100 cheque guarantee card.

Nigel

YorkshireBoy

Mulligan1 wrote: »

I have never used one of these cards before (I have always used Switch or Maestro).

They both do the same thing. The major difference (that I'm aware of) is that you don't pay a (percentage) fee for purchasing foreign currency with Switch/Maestro, but with the Alliance & Leicester Visa Debit card you will pay 1.5% (min £1.50).

My current Natwest card also acts as a £100 Cheque Guarantee Card but I have noticed there is no mention of this facility in the A&L Welcome Pack...

Do they still send out the "Your User Guide" booklet? If so, your card is described on page 7.

Mulligan1

Thanks noh & Yorkshire Boy.

I did not receive a user guide, just a welcome pack. On page 20 (using your card) it says how to make purchases etc with the card, but no mention at all about the cheque guarantee facility although I have now found in the Jargon Buster section that Cheque Guarantee is referred to, it say 'some debit cards can be used to guarantee cheques and that limits vary'.

Nytehawk

Mulligan1 wrote: »

Hi, I have received my welcome pack for the A&L Premier Current Account, it states I will receive a VISA Debit Card, I have never used one of these cards before (I have always used Switch or Maestro), My current Natwest card also acts as a £100 Cheque Guarantee Card but I have noticed there is no mention of this facility in the A&L Welcome Pack, does anyone know if it is available (I know I could call and ask but I don't fancy being in a queue!)

Many Thanks

Yes it will come, and in the interest of your security your debit card would be sent in different correspondence

kkpolobear

last i known they were taking the chque bit off the cards

Mulligan1

Thanks KKPOLOBEAR, you are indeed correct. I spoke to A&L last night and was informed that they no longer issue cheque guarantee cards to new account holders, it is just a 2 in 1 Visa Debit Card. Subsequent replacement cards for existing customers will also no longer have the facility. I thought it was odd that it was not referred to in the account opening welcome pack.

Similarly My friend has banked with Lloyds TSB for ages and his new card is the 2 in 1 variety. LTSB say unless you make a specific request for a guarantee card, proving that you really require one it will no longer be supplied.

The days of the cheque are truly numbered!!.

noh

The 2 in 1 Visa debit card is a cheque guarantee card as well as a debit card hence the name 2 in 1. Customer services were informing you that they no longer issue a seperate cheque guarantee card. Cheques still have some time left although I haven't written any this year.

Nigel

Mulligan1

Hi again noh, I don't think I am being very clear!.

By 2 in 1 I mean a combined Visa Debit Card & ATM card as opposed to 3 in 1 (Visa Debit Card/ATM/Cheque Guarantee. The operator was very clear that since August 2007 A&L are no longer providing cheque guarantee facilities for new premier account holders and that existing customers will find that when their cards expire their replacement cards will no longer guarantee cheques.

noh

Mulligan1 wrote: »

Hi again noh, I don't think I am being very clear!.

By 2 in 1 I mean a combined Visa Debit Card & ATM card as opposed to 3 in 1 (Visa Debit Card/ATM/Cheque Guarantee. The operator was very clear that since August 2007 A&L are no longer providing cheque guarantee facilities for new premier account holders and that existing customers will find that when their cards expire their replacement cards will no longer guarantee cheques.

Ok understand what you are saying now. This must be very recent. I have just opened an account looking at the paperwork it was opened on 10th August and the card I have received has the £100 cheque guarantee facility.

Nigel

noh

ajwt22 wrote: »

talking of A&L, has anyone who is already a current member tried to cancel their premier current account and then reopen a new one? I want to take advantage of the 12% regular saver account, but it is open to "new customers only". Maybe I should stick with Nationwide...

I believe you can only be regarded as a new customer if you haven't held a current account in the last three months so if you cancel you need to wait three months before reapplying to be eligible for the 12% RS.

Nigel