switch card

[pnosferatu]

i'm with HSBC and about to turn 18, i have a solo card and was wondering whether HSBC will automatically upgrade my card to Switch maestro, or do i need to meet some other criteria as well?

[Oneeyedvic]

It may be automatic. They will probably look at the way you have conducted your account. If you have had any direct debits returned etc, you will probably not get one. If you have been good, you may well automativcally receive one. If you don't - pop into your branch and ask for one.

[misslideaway]

You may not get an upgrade, depends how you use your account. If monies regularly going in and account handled well they may upgrade you. My friend is 24 and has electron account (which is on par with Solo) he quite often uses unathororised overdraft and they refuse to upgrade till he manages this account.

[camille79]

Most banks give you a debit card when you turn 18 and no special criteria are generally required as the money comes straight out of your account so minimum risk to the bank. However, I suspect this wouldn't be the case if you were deemed a bad risk (ie. if you regularly went overdrawn without warning) so I'd check with them directly.

[MrsCheeks]

With the Halifax/Bank of Scotland you have to have �1000 a month coming into your account before they will issue you with a Switch/Maestro card (well, there's is now Visa Debit but same diff).

[secretspirit]

With HSBC you have to approach them and ask them to change the card over. I had to 6 years ago and my brother - now 23 - only just organised it with HSBC last week and had no contact from the bank about it at all either. Some banks might do it automatically but you've probably noticed that compared to many other high street banks HSBC tends to just let you get on with it without junk mail or pushing you to take out loans etc that you don't want.