PTSB Laser card upgrades

Just got a flyer, new cards will feature a chip and also maestro function.

So instead of picking up on Halifax and getting us a real debit card, they just do maestro. Ah well..

DublinTexas said:

So instead of picking up on Halifax and getting us a real debit card, they just do maestro.

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Eh? Can you explain please?

Wikipedia has this to say on the Visa debit card

The only competitor to Visa Debit in the UK debit card market is Maestro, which is issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland/NatWest,Yorkshire Bank Clydesdale Bank and HSBC. Maestro is an internationally accepted debit card although acceptance is narrower than Visa Debit, and not all cards work everywhere. The UK domestic debit card system is still run by Switch but branded Maestro. Many banking customers (especially those of Halifax Bank Of Scotland, which used to issue Switch cards) tend to refer to Visa Debit as Switch. However, Visa is more widely accepted in the UK and internationally as both Visa credit and debit cards use the Visa clearing system.

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and this on Maestro

In Ireland, customers of AIB are receiving a new AIB Maestro debit card which is to replace the current Laser card. The new card which uses Chip and PIN technology, can be used for all POS transactions that accept Laser or Maestro. The card can also be used at ATMs that accept Link, in addition to the Maestro supported machines. Most Laser cards issued by other banks also have the Maestro logo and function as Maestro cards. Halifax will issue a Visa debit card instead.

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ClubMan said:

Eh? Can you explain please?

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I should have said a low end debit card versus a high end debit card, sorry.

The Mastercard network has at least 3 different type of debit card, the maestro which is an all electronic card that can only be used at retailers showing the maestro logo because it requires a 100% electronic check (not all mastercard shops accept maestro), the mastercard "electronic use only" which can be used at all mastercard outlets where electronic checking is one and the Mastercard Debit card (for example in scandinavia these cards are linked to the current account and in the US for example they are either that or a stored value card).

The Maestro card can only be used over the internet if the bank is participating in MasterCard® SecureCodeTM (and PTSB is not), a Mastercard Debit can be used on the internet.

In some countries the Mastercard Debit can be used to preauthorize for example hotel stays (i.e. the hotel blocks 200€ and than submits only 100€ when you check out), a maestro card can not do that.

A maestro card is a low ranking card, there are even maestro cards out there that don't even have a name on it (gift cards).

Halifax for example is issues a Visa DEBIT card rather than an Visa electron card (comparable to maestro) and that is good because you can use it at more places.

Well any chip and pin is better than none, took PTSB long enough !!

Pique318 said:

Well any chip and pin is better than none

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Not necessarily:

www.chipandspin.co.uk

Is this any different to the service currently on offer from PTSB ?
Is this a reduction is their facility ?

huskerdu said:

Is this any different to the service currently on offer from PTSB ?

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Yes - they are adding Chip and PIN and Maestro.

Is this a reduction is their facility ?

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Yes - they are adding Chip and PIN and Maestro.

Just got my new card with maestro

Just wondering are there many retail shops abroad that do accept Maestro
and do they charge similar to Atm withdrawels abroad

In London this weekend so wondering or just stick with the old ATM's and charges