MSE News: New Curve card claims to be 'the only card you need to carry'

Former_MSE_Megan_F · 22 January 2018 at 5:41PM

A new debit card which lets you connect your existing debit and credit cards to it has now launched - but you need to weigh up the pros and cons before applying...

Read the full story:
'New Curve card claims to be 'the only card you need to carry' - but here's what to watch out for'

Click reply below to discuss. If you haven’t already, join the forum to reply.

Stuart_W · 22 January 2018 at 9:05PM

Am I being really dim here? What's the business model that makes curve profitable?

ic · 22 January 2018 at 9:33PM

Can't seem to access the article at the moment, however having found Curve I'm not sure what it really is. Looking in the FAQ however I see the following warning, which I presume is what the article title is hinting at:

In the same way as PayPal or Amazon, 3rd party purchases using Curve are not a direct purchase from the user’s original card, so the purchases are not covered by Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.

However, Curve users are protected by Mastercard chargeback rights, where refunds can be provided if goods are damaged, not as described, or the merchant has ceased trading.

surreysaver · 22 January 2018 at 9:42PM

Would I be able to use a Curve Card to make a 'purchase' using a 0% purchase credit card, then put the money into a savings account?

KTF · 22 January 2018 at 9:58PM

ic wrote: »

Can't seem to access the article at the moment, however having found Curve I'm not sure what it really is. Looking in the FAQ however I see the following warning, which I presume is what the article title is hinting at:

Instead of having a wallet full of cards, you only carry the curve card.

On the curve app you select what card you want the transaction to be processed by as it’s just a wrapper.

So you could make multiple transactions in a day using the curve card, transaction 1 could be assigned to your bank debit card, transaction 2 to your interest free credit card, transaction 3 to your cash back card and so on.

Because you are using the curve card to make the transaction, you don’t get section 75 as you are not using a credit card for the initial transaction.

EssexExile · 22 January 2018 at 10:08PM

So it saves you having to carry all those heavy cards around with you, the only downside is that you have to sit down for an hour in the evening assigning all the expenditure to the appropriate card. Wow.

gt94sss2 · 22 January 2018 at 10:23PM

I have signed up for the card. In many ways, it seems very similar to the old Travelex SuperCard (though not identical), and is for instance a way to charge things to your credit card with merchants who don't accept them.

Being able to change the selected card after a transaction and not just before actually seems to be a very useful (if niche feature)

18cc · 22 January 2018 at 10:38PM

one more link in the "god knows who i complain to" when something goes wrong...

18cc · 22 January 2018 at 10:40PM

pity travelex super card has closed as there would be a market for a card that lets you choose between travelex and curve to save you carrying both around...

eDicky · 22 January 2018 at 11:05PM

Who is to say that it's a debit card and should be accepted as such by a merchant? Will a card terminal not recognise it as a credit card or prepaid card?

nv200 · 22 January 2018 at 11:20PM

Yes you can, I had a card for over a year and this what I do off setting all my spending against my mortgage. Just remember to make the minimum card payment every month.

MSE News: New Curve card claims to be 'the only card you need to carry'

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