Getting a Visa bank card? - Advice

CoolboyA · 10-11-2009, 23:33

How is this possible? At the minute I have a Maestro but unforunately for me it never seems to be one of the "chosen few" that are acceptable in the places I shop online. They are pretty useless abroad as well...

I am with Clydesdale and they seem to only issue Maestro cards. Is the only way to get a Visa card to switch banks?

CJ32 · 11-11-2009, 00:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoolboyA

I am with Clydesdale and they seem to only issue Maestro cards. Is the only way to get a Visa card to switch banks?

Or you could get an extra bank account just for the Visa card. Some inconvenience but less than completely changing bank accounts. Once you've set up the account, online transfers to fund it with money is easy.

SadmeHappy · 11-11-2009, 00:03

Or try this...
http://money.o2.co.uk/

JasonWatkins · 11-11-2009, 00:41

I know many people look down their noses at prepay cards, but I really have no regrets getting the Virgin prepay mastercard.

For occasional use the fees are really inconsequential.

http://uk.virginmoney.com/virgin/prepaid-card/

r_mitchell85 · 11-11-2009, 01:32

I don't think there are any charges from using the O2 prepay card? if understood it correctly.

Most places should accept Switch, as far as I'm aware. But I know a few manks are moving towards Visa now. Natwest (who I am with) seem to of done.

lost boy · 11-11-2009, 01:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoolboyA

How is this possible? At the minute I have a Maestro but unforunately for me it never seems to be one of the "chosen few" that are acceptable in the places I shop online. They are pretty useless abroad as well...

I am with Clydesdale and they seem to only issue Maestro cards. Is the only way to get a Visa card to switch banks?

Goodness only knows where you shop online as I've not seen a site that doesn't take Maestro (or Switch as quite a number of sites are still calling it), unless it doesn't take debit cards at all that is, which may be an issue in itself.

Anyway, in answer to your question, unless you want to go for a credit card, you have 2 options:

1) Move bank (AFAIK virtually everywhere other than Clydesdale, RBS, Natwest, HSBC and Yorkshire Bank issue Visa bank cards of one sort or another... and by the looks of things even Natwest are moving over to Visa.)

2) Get a prepay card. If you're on O2 the O2 Money Visa card would be the cheapest option by far; http://www.o2.co.uk/money

Quote:

Originally Posted by r_mitchell85

I don't think there are any charges from using the O2 prepay card? if understood it correctly.

You're right, there aren't any. Nothing obvious anyway, you just need to be an active O2 customer.

Sprogg · 11-11-2009, 02:07

Natwest are definitely moving to Visa: http://www.natwest.com/global/visa/c...questions.ashx

I just wanted a basic account with Natwest so I applied for their Step Account. I did get a solo card but I can call and ask for a Visa one before they send me one (by the end of 2010).

Daveoc64 · 11-11-2009, 08:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sprogg

Natwest are definitely moving to Visa: http://www.natwest.com/global/visa/c...questions.ashx

I just wanted a basic account with Natwest so I applied for their Step Account. I did get a solo card but I can call and ask for a Visa one before they send me one (by the end of 2010).

All of RBS (including NatWest) is switching to VISA Debit (which will replace both Maestro and Solo cards).

This means that there are only small banks (Clydesdale being one of them) offering Maestro debit cards now.

As all of the big banks are now moving away from Maestro/Solo, some online retailers have stopped accepting those cards in an effort to simplify their payment processes.

As the existing Maestro/Solo cards in circulation expire, more retailers will probably follow suit.

Miriams Sister · 11-11-2009, 09:40

HSBC have changed from Maestro to Visa this year.

Keefy-boy · 11-11-2009, 09:49

depending on the value of your purchases using a credit card for online purchases usually offers greater protection than a debit card.

Hopeless_Savage · 11-11-2009, 09:49

Natwest have sent me my VISA to replace my Maestro Debit. They're a great bank, never had any problems with them and they've always been helpful. I recommend.

CoolboyA · 11-11-2009, 13:10

Thanks for all your advice. As I said, some websites just don't accept debit cards and abroad Maetro can be a bit funny.

I didn't realise the O2 card was Visa - it would be perfect for topping up to he amount I need and just using it (I am an O2 customer).

This seems the best way to go as I will only be using it once in a while. Also, the urge to just spend won't be there!

Hopeless_Savage · 11-11-2009, 13:53

Yeah definitely sounds like the way to go for you

mummymaz · 11-11-2009, 15:13

i had one of them crappy solo cards for years and complained all the time about it , i ordered a new card the other month and got a Visa Debit through .. weird! Apparently everyone on crappy solo will be issued with these by the end of the year???

r_mitchell85 · 11-11-2009, 16:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by mummymaz

i had one of them crappy solo cards for years and complained all the time about it , i ordered a new card the other month and got a Visa Debit through .. weird! Apparently everyone on crappy solo will be issued with these by the end of the year???

I would've thought that Visa Electron would be the repacement for Solo (given to under 18s?) which I've always thought to be worse than Solo, because they aren't necessarily accepted everywhere you see visa, and can onlu be used electronically (hence the name)

Daveoc64 · 12-11-2009, 02:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by r_mitchell85

I would've thought that Visa Electron would be the repacement for Solo (given to under 18s?) which I've always thought to be worse than Solo, because they aren't necessarily accepted everywhere you see visa, and can onlu be used electronically (hence the name)

Most financial institutions are avoiding Visa Electron now given the terrible acceptance it has.

Instead, they are offering VISA Debit cards that require every transaction to be authorised (to the customers who would have previously got a Solo or Visa Electron card).

This means that those cards can be used in many more places (because of the VISA logo), but there will still be a few retailers that are unable to authorise every transaction.

The pre-paid cards work in the same way as these VISA Debit cards - every transaction has to be authorised.

10-11-2009, 23:33	#1
CoolboyA Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Alba bhoidheach=] Services: Inspiron 15, 2.1GHz Core2Duo, 3GB RAM, 250GB HDD, 15.6" HD WLED + Windows 7 Posts: 7,886 Blog Entries: 7	Getting a Visa bank card? How is this possible? At the minute I have a Maestro but unforunately for me it never seems to be one of the "chosen few" that are acceptable in the places I shop online. They are pretty useless abroad as well... I am with Clydesdale and they seem to only issue Maestro cards. Is the only way to get a Visa card to switch banks?

11-11-2009, 00:03	#3
SadmeHappy Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Feltham Services: Sky HD(Sky World Package) O2 Broadband 8MB Posts: 99	Or try this... http://money.o2.co.uk/

11-11-2009, 00:41	#4
JasonWatkins Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Services: Sky HD, Sky Talk & Sky Broadband Posts: 10,609	I know many people look down their noses at prepay cards, but I really have no regrets getting the Virgin prepay mastercard. For occasional use the fees are really inconsequential. http://uk.virginmoney.com/virgin/prepaid-card/

11-11-2009, 01:32	#5
r_mitchell85 Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,783	I don't think there are any charges from using the O2 prepay card? if understood it correctly. Most places should accept Switch, as far as I'm aware. But I know a few manks are moving towards Visa now. Natwest (who I am with) seem to of done.

11-11-2009, 02:07	#7
Sprogg Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: West Yorkshire ♂ Posts: 12,324 Blog Entries: 3	Natwest are definitely moving to Visa: http://www.natwest.com/global/visa/c...questions.ashx I just wanted a basic account with Natwest so I applied for their Step Account. I did get a solo card but I can call and ask for a Visa one before they send me one (by the end of 2010).

11-11-2009, 09:40	#9
Miriams Sister Forum Member Join Date: May 2008 Gender: Female Location: Portsmouth to Southampton Posts: 3,481	HSBC have changed from Maestro to Visa this year.

11-11-2009, 09:49	#10
Keefy-boy Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brighton, UK Services: SKY HD Posts: 3,154	depending on the value of your purchases using a credit card for online purchases usually offers greater protection than a debit card.

11-11-2009, 09:49	#11
Hopeless_Savage Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Derby, England. ♀ Services: Virgin Media VIP Posts: 2,369	Natwest have sent me my VISA to replace my Maestro Debit. They're a great bank, never had any problems with them and they've always been helpful. I recommend.

11-11-2009, 13:10	#12
CoolboyA Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Alba bhoidheach=] Services: Inspiron 15, 2.1GHz Core2Duo, 3GB RAM, 250GB HDD, 15.6" HD WLED + Windows 7 Posts: 7,886 Blog Entries: 7	Thanks for all your advice. As I said, some websites just don't accept debit cards and abroad Maetro can be a bit funny. I didn't realise the O2 card was Visa - it would be perfect for topping up to he amount I need and just using it (I am an O2 customer). This seems the best way to go as I will only be using it once in a while. Also, the urge to just spend won't be there!

11-11-2009, 13:53	#13
Hopeless_Savage Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Derby, England. ♀ Services: Virgin Media VIP Posts: 2,369	Yeah definitely sounds like the way to go for you

11-11-2009, 15:13	#14
mummymaz Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 162	i had one of them crappy solo cards for years and complained all the time about it , i ordered a new card the other month and got a Visa Debit through .. weird! Apparently everyone on crappy solo will be issued with these by the end of the year???