Visa Debit

Cavallino

Cavallino

Cavallino

Soldato
Joined
8 Dec 2004
Posts
15,116
Location
Hampshire
Received a letter from HSBC stating that they will migrate from Maestro/Switch to Visa Debit very soon.

I was under the impression that Maestro/Switch was the more popular form of "debit" transaction, but according to the HSBC customer services person I spoke to, she mentioned that the Visa debit is just as accepted, if not, even more widely accepted than Maestro/Switch.

I have heard of Visa debit but never considered it to be as popular. Is it true that all shops that do card transactions support Visa debit?

TIA :)
 
Well I would say that too, but I always assumed the term VISA is synonimised with the credt card transaction (as opposed to debit transaction).

So when some says they accept Visa would that be both debit and credit Visa?
 
Visa debit is just Visa, which is delta (I think . . . .). And yes, they are accepted in the same places. Ive never had a switch card, and I dont know anyone that does.
 
Ive got an account with the co-op that only has a visa electron debit card. Due to our financial situation we had to close our normal bank accounts with switch and so on and got a basic account.

Ive never had it refused in shops or out and about, except one place... a cineworld cinema! apparently their systems are so out of date they cant process electron transactions :P

For online stuff if you simply put the card though as a visa if there is no option for visa electron it usually works.

We tend to draw out cash now for everything we spend, not only does it make you think more about your money but it also helps you keep track of where you are upto.
 
visa electron is not the same as a visa debit. visa electron is ****, as it's almost impossible to use it online
 
mjt said:
visa electron is not the same as a visa debit. visa electron is ****, as it's almost impossible to use it online
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I beg to differ, had mine for 4 years now and had zero problems, just put it through as a visa and it works.
 
AtreuS said:
I beg to differ, had mine for 4 years now and had zero problems, just put it through as a visa and it works.
Click to expand...

I beg to differ, I have one as a "back up card" on an old but account, Could use it to buy tickets at Bristol stations about 2 months back, and there's quite a few places that specifically say they won't accept electroncs, for example Virgin trains wont accept them on their onboard shops.
 
AtreuS said:
Ive never had it refused in shops or out and about, except one place... a cineworld cinema! apparently their systems are so out of date they cant process electron transactions :P
Click to expand...

It was fixed around the start of 2008. They've all been updated with Chip and PINs now. Visa Electrons always looked like bits of cardboard when people gave them over and asked if we accepted them :p
 
I would imagine they cant do it on a train as with an electron the till has to make contact with the bank to authorise it. You cannot go overdrawn on an elecrton unlike a usual debit card, as debits card dont neccecarily have to contact the bank for authorisation ( something like that anyway ).

For all online and normal shopping conditions electron is just fine. But anyway seems the op is talking about a visa debit card thats not electron.

I do however remember having a conversation a while back at the bank when i ordered a new card ( mine split ) and the guy said that over the next 5 years they were phasing all cards over to the electron style, meaning they had to electronically authorise, but it would probably be renamed to avoid confusion. Ive not heard anything about this since though.
 
I haven't seen Switch for years now, it all seems to have been rebranded to Maestro. When I worked in retail about 4 years ago everyone seemed to take Visa debit as well as credit, it was only Solo that wasn't accepted in a lot of places. Diners and Amex weren't taken everywhere either but they are kind of exclusive clubs.
 
A normal Visa debit card should be accepted anywhere a Visa Credit card is.

Visa Election was (at least it used to be) different, and meant only for "in person" transactions, and often given to young people before they got a proper Visa debit card (IIRC it was a lower risk to the bank etc).

I know at one point you simply couldn't use the Electron in various stores, including Tescos when it first came out.
 
Energize said:
Visa debit also has visa chargeback so if a retailer defaults you can claim the money back just like a credit card.
Click to expand...

I didn't realise that, good to know.:)

And yes VISA debit is accepted anywhere VISA is accepted, and is totally different to electron, which a lot of places still don't accept. It's probably more accepted than switch/maestro too.
 
I think solo sort of became electron, meaning the type that HAD to be electronically authorised. Where as the others didnt HAVE to fully authorise, or something along that line.

Really they should just have one type that fits all to avoid the confusion.

I can use electron to pay for beer and food online ( tesco ), order from OcUK and pay for WoW so it does me :P
 
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