Something else I've just learned! Wiki says:

Yep, money is expensive stuff. If they can empty the tills it saves them a fortune in security and deposit fees.

There are a few places that won't take cash at all. Some American airlines and some British ticket agencies in my experience.

Thought it might have been something like that, there had to be some reason they weren't leaving themselves with bank notes

Certainly a few years ago there were quite a number who wouldn't accept Electron. Now they all do. Very very occasionally I'll find a store that won't but not often, and it's usually online. Somebody once told me that the fee for handling an Electron card is less than others, so perhaps that's why they are becoming more popular with companies. My bank offered me a normal card, but I didn't see the point. It would mean I get a new card number so regular payments that I have coming off of it would have to be cancelled and setup again with my new card. I couldn't be bothered with all that!

As for the overdraft, that's certainly not correct. I'm over a grand down and counting. My card still works perfectly.

The only difference is that my card won't allow me to go over my overdraft. If I had a standard Visa, it would allow me over my overdraft (or, if I didn't have one, it would allow me into one). Of course, the bank would charge mega-bucks if you accidentally went a penny over. With an Electron card, it just declines the transaction and you don't get a fine.

The debit cards don't have a number, for a start. They are chip and pin, so unless you have a chip reader connected to the PC, you can't use it online, therefore a majority of online stores don't take debit cards - there are a few. Most just allow you to enter your bank account details and they will book from your bank account directly (you have up to 60 days to order the bank to get the money back, if it was removed in error). But the international stores don't seem to like this method.

Click&Buy is useful, Apple use them for the iTunes Store, but not for their main website though...

The German system seems to be more like a cash card type thing combined with chip & pin.
My HSBC business Mastercard used to need to be cleared every month as well. Although when I was in Heidelberg (sp?) everyone took my credit card no worries although I couldn't get money out with my Switch Card only my old Electron.

The debit cards are run through Maestro, I haven't seen any bank offering a Visa equivalent.

They are just a plain debit card, but as every establishment that can accept Maestro has to do so electronically (either mag stripe or chip), there is, from Maestro's point of view, no longer any need to emboss the card with the card number...

As most German e-tailers tend to accept Vorkasse (payment before delivery), Invoice or direct debit as payment methods, the debit card isn't really required on-line - it is just the international organisations which seem to have problems accepting money without a credit card.

The airlines now have to use Visa, MasterCard, Amex etc. because of US Government restrictions ISTR.

I think if I ever moved to Germany I'd just keep my UK current account and accompanying Debit Card.

When I was in New Zealand I kept my elrctron and used it there.

In NZ the customer and business get charged a fee for using cards!!! I was only getting a 1.5% charge from my bank for using me electron, so it was cheaper.

It's the same in the US as well. We're one of the few that get free banking. Anyone else remember annual charges for credit cards?

If there was an annual charge I don't think I'd bother having one.

Yeah, you have to pay a monthly fee to the bank too.

I chose the only account which you didn't have to pay a monthly fee for, out of principle. I didn't get any interest on the account, I would have had to pay roughly 20pence everytime I used my card/presented a cheque/paid in some cash. I couldn't believe it!!

I like the bank paying me far more!!

Monthly fees, transaction fees and €65 for the credit card (Gold Card, which includes travel insurance)...

F*ck that.

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