[blueface2222]

Hiya,

Can i ask i have been given a Maestro card. I used to have a Solo. It says on it Servicecard 100 - i heard it's a better card! is it?

Online, i have been trying to purchase things. Most places i go on don't have Maestro listed in there. It's Natwest card. Will it still work if i enter in the number under MASTERCARD - it says on Wikipedia it's the same thing/Switch?

Thanks,
Blueface2222.

[magnetictiger]

The penguins got married!

Switch and Maestro got married a while ago, and took the name Maestro.

This is the advert from the time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7u0q05qRn1k

See:
http://www.maestrocard.com/uk/about/...o_maestro.html

I'd imagine you'd select Switch if thats an option.

[Sunrayrxtech]

Maestro is switch, I am not 100% sure but I think it is the case.

[Milky Joe]

Its the same as solo, a debit card. Its just more places will accept them and you'll be able to use it as a cheque guarantee card.

Everywhere online will take it, its not unique to natwest. The card type is switch/maestro.

[boogienow]

It's the same as Switch.

[Nicol(in)a]

I love my maestro. I never have to go to a bank machine.

[CANDYANGEL]

I have one of those and I use it in most shops, never not been able to use it and on Online as well, never had any problems.

[martyr]

I have a maestro bank card also but it used to be called switch but this was a few years ago. Maybe solo are their latest aquisition.

[flicker]

Originally Posted by blueface2222

Hiya,

Can i ask i have been given a Maestro card. I used to have a Solo. It says on it Servicecard 100 - i heard it's a better card! is it?

Online, i have been trying to purchase things. Most places i go on don't have Maestro listed in there. It's Natwest card. Will it still work if i enter in the number under MASTERCARD - it says on Wikipedia it's the same thing/Switch?

Thanks,
Blueface2222.

I only have a NatWest Maestro card and have had no bother buying things online, they always have it listed on the sites I've used. And no, it's not the same as Mastercard, which is a credit card. Maestro is a debit card.

[jalbion]

the 100 part on the end of Servicecard means you can guarantee cheques up to 100 quid.

[blueblade]

Maestro is the same as switch. It can be a little confusing for Maestro card holders though, as some outlets, including ones on the internet, still refer to "switch", leading the maestro holder into wondering if it's quite the same thing.

[dslrocks]

Maestro is a debit card.

In general, Maestro (along with 'rival' Visa Debit) is given to those whose banks believe they are reasonably credit worthy, since not all of the transactions have to be electronically authorised 'online' and there is, if you are not careful with your money, for it to take you into your overdraft when the companies come to debit their amounts, since the money is not always 'set aside' from your available balance (since it is quicker and probably saves on telecoms costs).

Historically, Solo and Visa's Electron card have ALWAYS required 'online' electronic authorisation so that the balance is checked to ensure that there is enough money in the account to enable the transaction to take place and that the amount is 'earmarked' from the available balance.

[DRY_SWEEPER]

Originally Posted by martyr

I have a maestro bank card also but it used to be called switch but this was a few years ago. Maybe solo are their latest aquisition.

Solo has been around for years, its simialr to Visa Electron, it doesn't lest you go overdrawn

Its one of them cards that pees you off when you go into a shop and try to buy something for £1.99 but you only have £1.98 in your account it will decline whereas Meastro doesn't

Halifax used to do Switch and Solo but they changed a few years ago to Visa and Visa Electron, Only banks that do Solo/Maestro now are HSBC and Natwest

[DRY_SWEEPER]

Originally Posted by dslrocks

Historically, Solo and Visa's Electron card have ALWAYS required 'online' electronic authorisation so that the balance is checked to ensure that there is enough money in the account to enable the transaction to take place and that the amount is 'earmarked' from the available balance.

You can get away with filling up with petrol at Tescos if you have £1 in you account it will still say fill up to max £60 and it will let you fill up to £60 too, I used to do it all the time coz on those accounts you have a £50 buffer anyway where you wont get charged

[James2001]

Originally Posted by magnetictiger

See:
http://www.maestrocard.com/uk/about/...o_maestro.html

I like this bit from that page:

Switch has largely disappeared from most shop windows and will totally disappear by mid 2007.

I doubt it. There's still loads of places with Access signs in the window, and how long is it since that was discontinued?

[Wii Gamer]

When Your 18 and NatWest transfer you to a Current Plus account from your Card Plus account then you automatically get a Maestro.
I'm only on the Card Plus account with a silly solo

[blueblade]

I don't know why they keep having to change the names of things. All it does is cause confusion. There was nothing wrong with "switch".

[Mark.]

Originally Posted by blueblade

There was nothing wrong with "switch".

Maybe not but when it merged with Maestro, there was little point in having two names for the same thing.

And Maestro was the obvious name to take, since its logo ties in with the equivalent credit card (Mastercard).

[DRY_SWEEPER]

Originally Posted by blueblade

I don't know why they keep having to change the names of things. All it does is cause confusion. There was nothing wrong with "switch".

But Maestro has been around for years as well, It may well be something to do with Europe as Maestro is used abroad alot

[magnetictiger]

Obviously the penguin marriage didn't have an impact on everyone else!

Maestro was a male penguin from Europe who fell in love with female UK penguin Switch. They got married, and took Mr Maestros name as he was the man!

[Mark.]

Originally Posted by magnetictiger

Obviously the penguin marriage didn't have an impact on everyone else!

Maestro was a male penguin from Europe who fell in love with female UK penguin Switch. They got married, and took Mr Maestros name as he was the man!

Well there we are then - feminists won't recognise that Switch has become Maestro

[Sunrayrxtech]

where does solo lie in the penguin love triangle?

[Wii Gamer]

Originally Posted by Sunrayrxtech

where does solo lie in the penguin love triangle?

Switch and Maestro gave birth to Solo before they got married

[DRY_SWEEPER]

Originally Posted by Wii Gamer

Switch and Maestro gave birth to Solo before they got married

Solo is a love child

[sarahcs]

Originally Posted by Sunrayrxtech

where does solo lie in the penguin love triangle?

Solo is a slightly shabby uncle.