Which card?

[Agent_sm1th]

I currently have a Visa Electron, but wish to be able 2 buy things online. I am 18, however i am a student with only about �60 coming into my account each month. I want a card that DOES NOT give me credit, one that simply debits my account... What should i get?

[sylvday]

As I understand it, that's precisely what your Visa Electron card does. It is not a credit card, but the amount you spend on it is automatically debited from your bank account each month. Alternatively, if you bank with one of the High Street banks (HSBC, NatWest Barclays etc) it should be able to issue with a debit card, which will automatically debit your account each time you use it.

[Agent_sm1th]

the point was i need 2 b able 2 use it ONLINE, which visa electron is very limited with... Is there any mastercard's or visa's that do the same job, just sorta with a different badge on the front or summit....

[IndieSinger]

Any bank which issues Switch cards (NatWest, for example). The only drawback is you can't usually use this debit cards on american sites, only british ones.

[khana]

What your looking for is a debit card that sprorts the VISA DELTA symbol, I have one issued throught LloydsTSB and it works very well, I have used it on the net, abroad in shops and also in ATM machines with no problem whatsoever.

[BenDToy]

I think Switch is definitely one answer, although I think the brand name is due to disappear soon, to be replaced with Maestro. These can now be used in the US in ATMs, although I am not sure how many web sites accept them. A good guide would be PayPal. Another thought - perhaps PayPal would be an alternative payment method.

[stevie21]

On their debit cards, some banks use Switch and Solo while others use Visa (Delta) and Visa Electron. If your bank won't offer you the Visa Delta card (it's more of a risk for them to do so) on the strength of your impressive income then ask if they specifically offer a student account which may automatically get you this improved card (which will be accepted everywhere online).

If you are on one of the standard student courses such as a BA, BSc etc then at least one bank that I can think of (Abbey) will offer this Delta card as standard (as long as you don't have bad debts etc. etc.)

Best of luck :-)

[Blunderwoman]

Gooness me what a load of guff just to answer a simple question. Quite right, your electron debit card, designed basically for the feckless, and issued generally with the most basic of bank accounts, to anyone who can prove who they are. No credit check required. Same with it's 'sister card' SOLO, with the exception that many solo cards are 'Maestro enabled' ie; they have the maestro logo on the back, thus can be used anywhere you see the Switch/Maestro logo. Switch/maestro & Delta debits cards are issued to the credit worthy only, because unlike your solo&electron, they also carry a cheque guarantee facility and as each transaction is not always authorised, there is the potential to run up a debt, hence they are only issued to those considered resonsible enough to have them