Visa Credit Card

Question: I tired to use my visa debit card today and was told it was a visa credit card?

(Posted by: Matt on 2009-10-07 07:18:00)

Hi, I opened a new bank account last week with ulster bank, they sent me a visa debit card. I tried to use it over the phone today to pay something and i was told they couldnt accept it as it was a credit card, i assured them it was a debit card but they still wouldnt accept it as it was supposedly a credit card. Why is this? Thanks! The bank is ulster bank, in northern ireland, they are owned by natwest / rbs, if any of that helps. Also does that mean that if i try to use it online and they dont give me the option for visa debit, i will pay a credit charge surchage?

Posted by: shawden on 2009-10-07, 07:24:29

We had the same problem with ours with HSBC you have to keep telling the companies all the time that its a Debit not credit card. I think they hear the words VISA and assume its a credit card and don 't actually listen when you say debit not credit card. They shouldn 't charge you a surcharge but if they do I would ring your bank up and ask them why you have been charged when its not a credit card

Posted by: Kimberly on 2009-10-07, 07:23:39

It should work as both a debit and credit card, but even as a credit card it will still come right out of your bank account (you won 't get billed). For online purchases, you would select Visa credit card and it will work fine without a surcharge, at least in the US, I don 't know if it varies there. Try calling the company again, maybe the person you talked to didn 't know what they were doing. Good luck