Comments on: Co-operative bank

By: Lane DeNicola

Lane DeNicola — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:12:55 +0000

My experience seems to corroborate Patrick C’s comments. Having never heard of a “Visa Electron” card previously, I opened a new account with Co-Op in early September 2009 and received a debit card from them with a visa logo on it, but it was only the blue “VISA” with the “yellow fleck,” no word “electron” printed anywhere.

However, multiple attempts (in mid-November 2009) to use it to purchase an Air Canada flight to the US (from within the UK) failed with an “insufficient funds in account” message (patently erroneous), and I was finally told by one of the card reps that this was likely because it was a “Visa Electron” card, which I then had to go and look up. So it may not have the word “electron” printed on it, but it clearly has some of the constraints alluded to here.

By: martin

martin — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:41:20 +0000

I have just closed my smile account as they no longer issue electron cards. The card saved me a small fotune in air fair charges

By: Janet

Janet — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 12:49:40 +0000

Same here i had a new one come through a about a week ago electron sign has gone and they confirm over the phone that its been removed. they changed the processing to get around the ryan air non-charges. so people will have to go elsewhere, i know halifax does have one.

the raised number i dont beleive is to to do with electron just the old manual payment in store option as its on my NatWest solo i have had the account for 10 years so its always been raised.

By: Dinis Quelhas

Dinis Quelhas — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:18:06 +0000

Hi Roger,

thanks for dropping us a line. You just confirmed what Patrick was saying before. I will remove Co-op from the Visa Electron issuing banks.

Thanks

By: Roger East

Roger East — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:53:24 +0000

I had an Electron card with Co-op Cashminder account but I lost it – and the replacement is NOT Electron! The Co-op Bank tell me they are withdrawing from Electron and will not issue any more Electron cards. I explained why I wanted one, but they could not help. I closed my Cashminder account (I have a better Co-op account too) and am now looking for an alternative way to get a new Electron…..
Roger

By: Dinis Quelhas

Dinis Quelhas — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 11:57:12 +0000

Hi Patrick, thank you for the explanation. I have recently got a Visa Electron card from the Post Office and got a couple of trips in Ryanair. It worked just fine. It is a very easy alternative in comparison to open a new bank account and the fees are not high at all. I have charged the card with GBP 50 and they have charged me 3 pounds. Compared to what I have saved, it was well worth it.

Cheers

By: Patrick Cockell

Patrick Cockell — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 21:28:27 +0000

I opened a Co-op Cashminder Account today to get the Electron. After applying I asked, for confirmation, how long it would take for the Electron Card to arrive. They then told me the bit about it not being an Electron Card as they are phasing them out. We then discussed the Ryanair problem and they said that they might still work as they would continue to have Electron numbers so Ryanair etc might not be able to tell the difference. Personally, I would rather have a real Electron. Might try Abbey tommorrow. I also checked the Co-op Ts & Cs – they say Visa Electron OR Visa Debit so they are covered both ways.

I also suspect that, as they have “Electron numbers” they may be rejected where Electrons are rejected even though they look like full Visa Debit cards.

By: Dinis Quelhas

Dinis Quelhas — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 19:11:03 +0000

Hi Patrick,

thank you for your comment. Where did you get that information from? Have you called them? Perhaps it’s something new. Yesterday Steve made a comment regarding their bank accounts and it seems to check with the information available in their website.

Thanks

By: Patrick Cockell

Patrick Cockell — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:24:41 +0000

Co-op Bank are phasing out Electron Cards and not issuing any new ones. Instead they are issuing Visa Debit cards with “Electron numbers” which probably means that they will combine the disadvantages of Electron cards while incurring Ryanair etc charges. I wonder if this is a trend?