First Direct Bank are ditching the Visa debit card and switching to the Mastercard debit card system

username

Lightning360 said:

nsJohn said:

jbrassy said:

In the UK I think everywhere that accepts Visa will also accept Mastercard. If you're planning on using the card abroad, it can be an issue. I have been to places where Visa is widely accepted but Mastercard is not, although this is quite rare. As mentioned above, it can also be prudent to have one of each just in case.  

Can anyone advise how to get mini-statements and intermediate statements out of a HSBC machine using a Mastercard debit card? I was sent one of these a few weeks ago and cannot use it at ATMs except to get cash and balances. This is not what I joined FD for many years ago. FD and HSBC staff are no help to me apart from from telling me to go on-line.

That is due to some temporary changes in the Mastercard switch.

"Temporary changes when using an ATM

When you use your Debit Mastercard at an ATM:

• you won’t be able to access mini-statements"

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

"Temporary" but for how long? The execution of this whole changeover has been terrible.

I have received my second replacement after the first went astray in the post, in all of the literature they refer to the old Visa card getting cut off after 30 days from the date of the letter. Mine stopped way sooner than that.

I also notice that the new logo they've spent no doubt a lot of money on is not on the card or in any of the design, so the card itself looks pretty much like it was boshed out in a night.

There is minimalism and good design, and there is just a rushed, half-baked job. Of which this card is the latter. Little effort seems to have been put in.

Even reading through the bumf that came with the card, they've still got the 2.75% exchange rate markup on non-sterling transactions. Other providers of debit Mastercards (e.g. Starling, Monzon etc) provide fee-free foreign transactions.

So, where are these supposed benefits of this Mastercard? I have seen none thus far.

gt94sss2

username said:

So, where are these supposed benefits of this Mastercard? 

The main advantage for customers to date seems to be better card controls then were available on the visa debit cards.