First Direct to switch to MasterCard Debit Cards

Doshwaster

I may be misremembering but didn't HSBC issue both Visa and MC cards on the same credit card account about 20 years ago?

Highland76

WillPS said:

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).

Well First Direct don't on their Visa card so I have a feeling their Mastercard might offer more app controls. Personally not a big deal for me but to others such features might be very useful.

WillPS

Doshwaster said:

I may be misremembering but didn't HSBC issue both Visa and MC cards on the same credit card account about 20 years ago?

You might be thinking of Switch/Maestro - which acted as both a Switch (later Maestro UK) and Maestro International.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=switch+maestro+penguins

Solo cards (which was Switch's equivalent of a Visa Electron card) did something similar. At some merchants you'd have to select which network you'd like to use before putting your PIN in, which was normally a pretty meaningless choice.

Highland76 said:

WillPS said:

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).

Well First Direct don't on their Visa card so I have a feeling their Mastercard might offer more app controls. Personally not a big deal for me but to others such features might be very useful.

Whether or not Santander are choosing to implement this feature for their Mastercard but not Visa customers, it certainly is possible with both networks.

gt94sss2

Doshwaster said:

I may be misremembering but didn't HSBC issue both Visa and MC cards on the same credit card account about 20 years ago?

Yes, they did. I remember having this.
From memory, this was quite popular, as it allowed customers to easily seperate spending -for instance using  one credit card for personal use and the other for work expenses etc.

[Deleted User]

MDMD said:

SnowTiger said:

Herbalus said:

What a disaster. It will add colour to the black and white affair I currently have. Totally ruins the styling.

(satire alert).

Maybe not.  Mastercard provides monochrome versions of its logo: 


Curve appears to use it on its top end card.

Fingers crosses, eh? 

HSBC already use the monochrome version on one of their credit cards

The MasterCard logo doesn’t look too bad - it’s the rest of the catd that’s a bit messy.

They have an odd mix of MasterCard and Visa cards, I think it’s something to do with running the rewards points via a MC programme.

https://www.hsbc.co.uk/credit-cards/products/

HSBC are quite unusual that they issue both visa and mastercard branded credit cards. 

Their Debit Cards are all Visa Debit though.

[Deleted User]

Highland76 said:

WillPS said:

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).

Well First Direct don't on their Visa card so I have a feeling their Mastercard might offer more app controls. Personally not a big deal for me but to others such features might be very useful.

It's nothing to do with the network, it's likely that Santander chose not to develop their Visa functionality as it was due to be dropped.

First Direct have a poor track record with their digital offerings so might be the same or not.

gfplux

NatWest, this is my recent experience. I am resident in Luxembourg and have a UK NatWest current account and Visa credit card.

On Tuesday 15th SEPTEMBER I received an email from NatWest telling me “GREAT NEWS YOUR NEW MASTERCARD IS ON ITS WAY” the email goes on to say that I can use it immediately in place of my Visa card.

There is no explanation. I have not been advised of any change taking place.  I checked my present NatWest Visa card and see it is due for replacement in a few months.

The new card had not arrived after a week However I did receive a letter by post from NatWest saying they have updated my payment direct debit details to pay of any monthly balance which is the way I manage my credit cards.

HOWEVER at first I had begun to wonder if this was a scam. That was my original thought but then the cancelation of Barclaycard for Brits overseas story broke which temporarily settled my concerns. 

The email says contact "us" if the card does not turn up in ten days! I gave it the full ten days but would Call the phone number on my existing card and not use a link in the email.

Finally the new card arrived on Wednesday 30th September. It is a Mastercard credit card. 

So not a scam but Natwest have made it look that way. They have given me a few uncomfortable days,

An explanation before the change would have been helpful. 

jackjones01

Has anyone with a card expiring in 01/21 received a new debit MasterCard yet?

dr_adidas01

jackjones01 said:

Has anyone with a card expiring in 01/21 received a new debit MasterCard yet?

This is direct from First Direct. 

New to bank customers will begin receiving Mastercard debit cards in Q1 2021, and existing customers will be migrated gradually during the course of 2021.

Perhaps you might be lucky and receive one next month. 

fira

jackjones01 said:

Has anyone with a card expiring in 01/21 received a new debit MasterCard yet?

My new FD debit card arrived this morning replacing the one expiring end Jan 21. As before, it is Visa.