Getting a Visa debit card vs. Switch card?

My husband has always done all his banking with RBS, as they're the only ones with a local branch.  Since I arrived 2 months ago, we've been trying to sort out a joint account and a personal current account for me, and have been running into nothing but headaches with regards to proof of address, etc.

We finally jumped through all those hoops and got the council to amend and reissue the council tax bill to add our names (since we live with his mum, we don't have any utilities, etc. in either of our names).  We met today with a banking adviser who was supposed to help us set up these new accounts.

The latest catch is that they won't give me a Visa debit card, even for a joint account.  They'll only issue a Switch card.  They did say they might be willing to upgrade it 'after 6 months or so.'  Unfortunately, since we live in the middle of nowhere, 90% of our non-grocery shopping has to be done online, and many websites don't accept Switch/Maestro, so it's of no use to me.  Not to mention that it's not accepted by U.S. retailers, so if I were on a visit home, I wouldn't have ready access to my money.  So, I told RBS that it just wasn't good enough, and we'd be going elsewhere.

So, my question is....where else should we look?  Have other people been able to get Visa/Mastercard debit cards with their new accounts, or have any other suggestions?  The only other locally accessible branch is Bank of Scotland; anyone have any experience with them?

That's odd, because RBS has been switching over all of their debit cards from Switch/Maestro to Visa Debit, so I would have thought that's what you get. That said, when I did have a Maestro, I can't recall any UK websites that didn't take it, so I don't think that would actually be as much of a problem as you might think. A Solo card is far more useless, but Switch is fairly ubiquitous as far as I have found. Also, I am pretty sure that US retailers don't take UK debit cards of any kind, but you can use any UK debit card in US cash machines that have the Cirrus logo (I've never found one that didn't take mine), so that's not a problem either.

Surely if the UK card has a magnetic strip, it can be used in the US?

Woadgirl, try Lloyds.  They should let you have a current account with just a passport, if they keep the promises they make in their promotional flyers. 

Same had a maestro/solo card for donkeys before they gave me a visa debit card (after having the account for 4½ yrs got a Visa card last March)

Went to the States with my Maestro card and no problems with getting cash out and paying that way. The only problems I had, was with buying from US online retailers, but my Mom gave me a card from her Visa account in my name. So thats never a real problem for me.

The only card of mine thats a real problem to use is my Laser card, but thats from my Irish bank acct and its only accepted in ROI.

That is a shame that they're being so difficult about it, because I know for certain that if you had the opportunity to go to a different branch you would not have this problem.  I can't believe how inconsistent banks are with the way they handle this stuff. 

Do you know what kind of personal account they were trying to set you up with?  I have pretty much the most bare bones RBS account, called the Key Account, and they sent me a Visa Debit for it.  I have no options for an overdraft or chequebook, so I guess that is what makes me less of a risk to issue a Visa Debit to. 

Anyway, I really hope you have better luck at your next attempt, wherever that may be.  My BF had a Maestro from RBS for ages before they did the change over that Dr SuperL mentioned, and he never really had any trouble using it anywhere for anything.

It cant hurt to complain. http://www.rbs.co.uk/global/h/contact-us/personal-banking/complain.ashx

Heck I would. If he has been a loyal customer adding you should not be a problem as you have a visa and the right to live here.

Even call and ask for what proof do you need to get a visa debit card and get it in writing to take to your branch.

We are with lloyds and never ever had an issue adding me or opening my own week 2 I was here.

good luck

Do you know what kind of personal account they were trying to set you up with?  I have pretty much the most bare bones RBS account, called the Key Account, and they sent me a Visa Debit for it.  I have no options for an overdraft or chequebook, so I guess that is what makes me less of a risk to issue a Visa Debit to. 

She wanted to set me up with that Key account also, and that's what she wanted to do for our joint account as well.  I told her right from the start that I didn't want or need any overdrafts, chequebooks, credit cards, etc., so it's not as though I was asking them to extend credit.  I just want to be able to use my money.  But she said that since I'd only been here a couple of months, and don't have any UK credit history, they couldn't give me a Visa debit.  They couldn't even give me one for a joint account, despite my husband having two other large accounts with them, and being a customer for 20 years. : /

Even call and ask for what proof do you need to get a visa debit card and get it in writing to take to your branch.

We are with lloyds and never ever had an issue adding me or opening my own week 2 I was here.

good luck

They wouldn't open any account for me, nor add me to his account, without the proper proof if ID & Address.  It took three contacts with different people at the branch before one of them finally told us how we could go about getting the council tax bill reissued with my name on it to use as proof of address.  After all that carry-on, I simply wasn't impressed with their attitude over the debit cards.  I've just gotten fed up with being treated like something between a child and a criminal.

The biggest reason I do not want the Switch/Solo or whatever card is that, while many online retailers do take it, several sites that I frequent do not.  And because I'm living in the U.K., they won't let me use my other Visa cards with my U.S. address.  So, I really do need the Visa debit card.

 And because I'm living in the U.K., they won't let me use my other Visa cards with my U.S. address.  So, I really do need the Visa debit card.

I have two uk debit cards and two uk credit cards from two differant banks and I can't use any of them for online purchases from the US.  Every time I try to order from a US site, it wants a US address and even though I also have a US address, the banks won't authorize a purchase if the address doesn't match my billing address, which is a Uk address.  I get around this by using a debit card on my US bank account for US purchases and my UK cards for UK purchases.  It seems to work ok.

I get around this by using a debit card on my US bank account for US purchases and my UK cards for UK purchases.  It seems to work ok.

That's what I'm trying to do.  But I haven't been able to get a UK Visa debit card.

They couldn't even give me one for a joint account, despite my husband having two other large accounts with them, and being a customer for 20 years. : /

My understanding is that "joint" accounts in the UK aren't like ones in the US; it's not that the two of you share an account for which you are equally responsible. In the UK one person is the account holder and the other person has permission to use the account - the second person can get a card and chequebook, but couldn't close the account or change the address or anything like that. And if the account is overdrawn they can't legally go after the second card-holder and the account won't affect your credit history either positively or negatively. Adding your husband as a second to your account doesn't make it more palatable for them 

But if you can get yourself added to one of his accounts -or open a "joint" one in his name with you as the second -  you should get the same visa/debit card that he has (with your own name and number) to use on the internet and can keep the switch card account they opened for you to establish credit history.

That's so odd - (and annoying for you!!!  ) I've had a personal banking advisor with RBS since the beginning of time, i.e. 3.5 years ago,  and I have never had problems with bank account(s), debit cards, a personal loan and a credit card. The banking advisor has set everything up for me. And its just me, no joint accounts or spouse or anything.
I can't get a mortgage, however, that's the only thing.  

You can always call RBS to see if you they can offer you anything over the phone to sort out.

Not sure how many other options you'd have in your (general) area to try in person.  Otherwise, you may need to try online etc.

Good luck!!

But if you can get yourself added to one of his accounts -or open a "joint" one in his name with you as the second -  you should get the same visa/debit card that he has (with your own name and number) to use on the internet and can keep the switch card account they opened for you to establish credit history.

That's what we were trying to do; either add me to his existing current account, or start a new account together that would be 'joint.'  Either way, he could have a Visa debit, but I couldn't.

I may try phoning or emailing RBS, if for no other reason than to lodge a complaint.  Not only were some of their staff completely unhelpful, but they've driven away business.  Either RBS's own policies have changed, in which case they should know that it's costing them customers, or this particular branch manager is incorrectly applying policies.  In either case, someone ought to hear about it.  And if it turns out they have something better to offer me, we'll consider keeping our business there.

I'm going to phone Bank of Scotland next week, once we have the reissued council tax bill in hand, and ask what they can offer me.  If they're not any better, I'll have to start checking online.  I'd just prefer to have an actual, physical branch nearby.

May I suggest HSBC?

I had ZERO trouble getting my OWN account with HSBC.  The only thing I needed for proof of address was a letter from my in-laws stating that I lived with them.  They also bank with HSBC so im not sure weather or not that helped.  Me and my partner ALSO have a JOINT account with HSBC no problem.

Go onto www.hsbc.co.uk and look at an account called a PASSPORT ACCOUNT.  Thats the one I got and its dead easy to use.  It costs 8GBP a month for the first 12 months but you get a visa debit chip and pin card as well.  Im very happy with HSBC and highly reccomend them.

The OP lives in the Western Isles, there is no HSBC branch there.

I may end up applying to HSBC online anyway, but it's kind of a last resort.  Not only is there not a local branch, but I'm not keen on the 8GBP/month charge;  I resent having to pay someone else for the privilege of using my own money.