First Direct to switch to MasterCard Debit Cards

MDMD

gt94sss2 said:

The banks used to own Visa Europe but sold it to Visa in 2016.

As such, they have less reason to stick with Visa now and can now decide which company they want to use on more commercial terms.

.... and before that they also used to own Switch which was sold to MasterCard in 2002 and were rebranded as Maestro.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/2165929.stm

Most of them (except HBOS group) moved to Maestro but gradually have changed to Visa (presumably Visa had better commercial terms), with HSBC doing it in 2009.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switch_(debit_card)

born_again

MDMD said:

gt94sss2 said:

The banks used to own Visa Europe but sold it to Visa in 2016.

As such, they have less reason to stick with Visa now and can now decide which company they want to use on more commercial terms.

.... and before that they also used to own Switch which was sold to MasterCard in 2002 and were rebranded as Maestro.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/2165929.stm

Most of them (except HBOS group) moved to Maestro but gradually have changed to Visa (presumably Visa had better commercial terms), with HSBC doing it in 2009.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switch_(debit_card)

No. Visa chucked a lot of money at them. As well as having far better consumer protection than Maestro, who only had 3 chargeback rights, one of which was a fraud based....
No non receipt, unless it was a oversea's co (not as frequent as now) & on CPA, but you had to have proof from the company it was cancelled. Try to get that when they were not responding.

stclair

First Direct have added some FAQs to the website;

https://www1.firstdirect.com/help/bank-accounts/debit-card/debit-card-renewal/

SebH

Interesting to see the FAQ, thanks for posting stclair.
I wonder whether First Direct might wait to reopen for new applicants until they have their Mastercard issuing up and running? That way, they avoid the mess that Santander is in currently where they are still issuing new Visa cards for applicants, probably because they haven't updated that part of their processes yet, but Mastercard for replacements and renewals.

The FAQ also contradicts itself a bit, as it states that only the expiry date and CVC change on new cards, but clearly the PAN will also have to change if the customer is being switched from Visa to Mastercard. It looks like they just forgot to mention this. They really ought to add something about it in the Mastercard segment at the bottom.

ischris85

SebH said:

Interesting to see the FAQ, thanks for posting stclair.
I wonder whether First Direct might wait to reopen for new applicants until they have their Mastercard issuing up and running? That way, they avoid the mess that Santander is in currently where they are still issuing new Visa cards for applicants, probably because they haven't updated that part of their processes yet, but Mastercard for replacements and renewals.

The FAQ also contradicts itself a bit, as it states that only the expiry date and CVC change on new cards, but clearly the PAN will also have to change if the customer is being switched from Visa to Mastercard. It looks like they just forgot to mention this. They really ought to add something about it in the Mastercard segment at the bottom.

Yea, under why are you changing from Visa to Mastercard...

"We will be introducing the changes in 2021 and will be in touch nearer the time, to share the details of what this means for you."

SebH

Yes, I saw that. I suppose they recently tacked-on the new segment about the changes and haven't yet reviewed the copy in the rest of the FAQ.

Obviously, "what it will mean" for customers will be a new long card number (PAN), and possibly an early replacement of their card before expiry!

whitesmith

Anyone speculate on what they mean by "Moving to Mastercard means we will be able to improve the digital payment options available to you in our App.  "

Highland76

whitesmith said:

Anyone speculate on what they mean by "Moving to Mastercard means we will be able to improve the digital payment options available to you in our App.  "

I suspect 1 thing it might mean is more options to block certain types of transactions through the app: such as contactless payments, overseas payments, online payments etc instead of just a blanket freeze as is the case currently. My Santander Debit Mastercard has all these various blocking/unblocking options whereas their Visa debit card didn't.

WillPS

Highland76 said:

whitesmith said:

Anyone speculate on what they mean by "Moving to Mastercard means we will be able to improve the digital payment options available to you in our App.  "

I suspect 1 thing it might mean is more options to block certain types of transactions through the app: such as contactless payments, overseas payments, online payments etc instead of just a blanket freeze as is the case currently. My Santander Debit Mastercard has all these various blocking/unblocking options whereas their Visa debit card didn't.

Halifax (probably other LBG banks too?) offer the same on their current accounts (Visa).

northwalesd

WillPS said:Halifax (probably other LBG banks too?) offer the same on their current accounts (Visa).

Yew, can confirm my Lloyds Visa card allows freeze abroad, freeze online and remote, and freeze at tills and terminals.