Nat West Step Account/current account

michelefauk

Hi
Just after some advice!
I have a joint Step Account at Nat West with my partner which we have had for acouple of years and use for everything, all bills, salary credits etc. I also have a savings account with Natwest. On a recent visit to the bank to pay a cheque in, I was advised to upgrade my account to a current account. This I agreed, as we have been having problems using the Solo card online especially, cant use it to pay for tickets, internet shopping etc, the chap at Natwest said that an uprgraded current account would come with a Maestro card, great we thought! New account opened successfully recd cheque books etc, just waiting for the debit card to arrive. This morning I recd it in the post, only it is not a debit card, it is another solo card, exactly the same as my exisiting one with my Step account.
I just called the bank to query this, and they said that the new current account has to be running for at least 6 months before they will consider issuing a Maestro card. I told the lady that there was no point in my being advised to open this account as it was mainly opened for the Maestro card, she just said basically if I didnt like it, I could close the account! what a waste of my time!
I am now seriously considering moveing my account (including my savings account which has a fairly hefty balance) to another bank. I dont want an overdraft, or even a chequebook, I just want a debit card I can use in the places I want to use it! Can anyone help?

System

• Clydesdale/Yorkshire Banks issue Maestro on all their basic/standard current accounts.
• A&L, Barclays and LloydsTSB issue Visa Debit on their standard current accounts, as they have phased out Visa Electron, for people with a lower credit score. Only LloydsTSB issues it on their basic account, but apparently you cant use non-LloydsTSB machines!

Hope some of this info helps
:A

taless

Michelefauk, if you run your Current account well, you should be receiving your Maestro card in 6 to 9 months time.

When I opened my Current Plus account I also received a Solo card at first, but 8 months later they wrote to me and told me they're upgrading my card, and a few days later the Maestro card came.

If you main concern is with Internet Shopping, you may like to consider banks that offer Visa Debit - whilst Maestro is widely accepted in the UK, it can be rather hard to use for purchases from abroad. While Visa Debit will be treated as a VISA, Maestro does not get treated as a Mastercard.

Good luck!

kwaku

I just opened up a current account online, but I want to how long it will take me for the Solo card to come through the post or will I have to show some sort of ID?