Electron Card Information & Discussion: (Merged Threads)

cmcgeeney

Hi

Would anyone be so kind as to inform me what bank account gives you the best rate of interest and an electron card.

The reason I want an electron card is that I book a lot of flights and while the budget airlines (Ryanair, Flybe, Jet2) charge debit and credit card fees - they don't charge for using electron.

My main current account is with Nationwide as I like the advantage of the fee free withdrawals when outside the UK ... or when getting petrol across the Irish border!

Thanks in advance


Ciarán

Noozan

We used to have a cash card account with Halifax as they issued Electron cards for those accounts but when they changed it to VISA debit, we opened an account with First Direct so that we could get a Maestro card - not sure if Jet2 etc would charge for using one of these cards?

cmcgeeney

Yeah they charge for Maestro, Switch, Visa Delta

BenL

Abbey do electron cards.

You maybe able to get one issued in addition to a full Visa Debit card.

If you try to score badly on your application you maybe able to get one without the full debit card.

Ben

Noozan

http://www.personal.barclays.co.uk/BRC1/jsp/brccontrol?task=articlegroup&value=2229&target=_self&site=pfs

Just had a look on Barclays site - it says you can opt for a Connect or a Visa Electron card. Have a read through the t&c's though as it doesn't say on that page which account it is for. Hope this helps.

Fedz

Are you sure they don't charge for using VISA Electron.

Reason I say this is VISA Electron is a debit card. AFAIK, difference between Electron and Delta is Electron transactions check to make sure you have the money in account or something similar.

Instead of attempting to find an VISA Electron account with a good rate of interest is you can open an account and also have a savings account with the same bank with on-line access. Meaning the money is in the savings account earning good interest and if required you can transfer funds to and from your bank account. These transfers are (by large) instant between the same bank.

I do this with the Halifax and Co-operative Bank

Kind regards

cmcgeeney

I'm sure they don't charge for electron

Ryanair
http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/faqs.php?sect=pnr&quest=handlingcharge

Flybe
http://www4.flybe.com/faq2/afmviewfaq.asp?faqid=11


Thanks for the advice regarding the savings account

Alfie_E

They don't charge for a very good reason. You have to be given some way to pay that doesn't get hit by a payment surcharge. If you couldn't avoid the charge, it would be deemed to be a fundamental part of the basic price, and those airlines would be breaking the law by misrepresenting their headline prices. Unsurprisingly, the airlines went for the least used card in the UK. I know the tax issue is just as much of a joke, but it's about what will stand up in court.

A number of issues were raised in the thread Airline con? Fatboy_NSS suggested that, at least with RyanAir, you are able to choose "Visa Election" as your card type, even if your card is a "Visa Debit/Delta". Clearly, not something that can be actively condoned on the MSE forum. But, equally, not something that RyanAir, etc. could ever prove was anything more than a genuine mistake on your part.

The problem with trying to get an Electron card for an account type that provides both sorts of Visa card is that the Electron card is normally only offered to people under the age of eighteen. The only sure way to get a Visa Electron card is to go for a so-called Basic Bank Account.

Like cmcgeeney, I have a main Nationwide account. I went for The Co-operative Bank's Cashminder account, to get a Visa Electron. It's a three-working-day delay to move money to the account using Nationwide's online banking. But, I could do the ten-minute roundtrip and pay cash in immediately at my local post office. If that's not convenient for you, Fedz's suggestion of then getting a Co-operative Bank Smart Saver account is excellent idea. Just, the interest rate's not quite as good as Nationwide's e-Savings'.

stressedoutmumof1

Does anyone know whether you can use the Visa Electron card in ATM's overseas?

Thanks

maka_2

I Can Use Mine In Spain

M_Thomson

stressedoutmumof1 wrote:

Does anyone know whether you can use the Visa Electron card in ATM's overseas?

Thanks

Yes you can