Maestro/Visa Debit

[Nick C]

I lost my Maestro debit card on Friday, rang up HSBC to cancel it this morning (after a weekend of fruitless searching) and have been told that they will be issuing a Visa Debit as a replacement.

Are banks starting to drop Maestro?

[guccij]

HSBC announced about 6 months ago that they were replacing all Maestro cards with Visa Debit. I think it's linked with 3D secure issues at HSBC.

[Mike Hughes]

I think this is primarily an economic issue (i.e. make more money, see http://www.talkingretail.com/news/in...s-to-visa.html) but I've always been a bit concerned about the maestro card number including the bank account details. i.e. with HSBC I think the maestro card number was 6759 + Sort Code + bank account number (I'm not 100% sure as I had to change mine for a visa debit a few months ago when it stopped working).

I always found this a bit worrying given the fraudsters focus on taking money directly from people's bank accounts.

Mike

[Chunkford]

Silly Maestro, they should really address this 3D secure process.
One of my clients have had nothing but trouble with 3D secure. And the annoying thing is you need to have 3D switched on to accept it. All the others you can get away with having it switched off.

[Nick C]

I can't tell you how pleased I am that the card is switching to Visa. I for one think the 3D secure system is heavily flawed, anything that means I have to use it less is a bonus.

I've actually just returned from the bank, I popped in to convert some change to paper. It seems my card was handed in over the weekend by a kindly soul, which makes me feel even better.

Not to self: Must get trousers with deeper pockets...or "Yorkshire pants" as I sometimes think they are called.

[leehack]

I have never personally worried about anyone knowing my account number or sort code. You can intercept any bank statement and find this information out and a cheque has them written down as clear as anyone could ever want anyway. Your account number and sort code are as accessible as your address, I don't think there is cause for concern in that area.

I always remember a discussion with a client who was not happy to provide me with her sort code and account number, but was more than happy to write me a cheque - clearly never looked on a cheque in any detail. I think there is a tendency to protect these areas as it does sound strange providing them, but having previously worked for a bank for 4 years myself, i've never seen or known of concern in that area.

It's true that this info can be required to steal an identity, but this is basic stuff right up there on the very first few easy things to obtain.