Finnish banking

[mCowboy]

Visa debit card is a new product in Finland, so that's why it's not common yet...

[jwoods]

I always noticed in Finland that some places have crude hand-made signs sellotaped to the tills saying they don't accept Electron, EI KÄY ELECTRON or something like that. Anywhere with antiquated technology (bars, dry cleaners etc), or places that don't have live-links to the banks' severs to validate cards (e.g. on trains).

I mistakenly thought Visa Debit would be more widely accepted as I've been using my UK Visa Debit in Finland so extensively. The lady that served me in Nordea also told me it was a VERY good new card, and the only place it wasn't accepted was in Valintatalo and Nordea's own bill-paying machines.

I'll probably hang onto it though, certainly more widely accepted when I travel.

[jwoods]

Visa debit card is a new product in Finland, so that's why it's not common yet...

Yes, that's what Nordea told me a few days ago... It's just ridiculous that my UK Visa Debit worked so well in Finland, yet my Finnish one doesn't!

[Tiwaz]

Visa debit card is a new product in Finland, so that's why it's not common yet...

Yes, that's what Nordea told me a few days ago... It's just ridiculous that my UK Visa Debit worked so well in Finland, yet my Finnish one doesn't!

You know, you would have been better off just getting "regular" card.

I have had one for ages and once a year and I do not recall anywhere, well except perhaps barbershop somewhere, where it would not swipe correctly.

Of course now I have Visa credit version but I rarely if ever use it outside internet.

[blaugrau]

Is it possible that your UK Visa Debit card is rather new too? At least when I lived there (1,5 years ago), I had the impression that the Maestro (formerly Switch) debit card was the "standard". And that didn't work anywhere else than the UK (and only on UK based internet sites, whereas I noticed I can use Visa Electron more widely on the net).

[jwoods]

Switch/Maestro has been popular in the UK for the last 10 years I'd say. As well as Solo being the Electron equivalent.

Visa Debit used to be known as Delta and was also quite popular and been around for at least 10 years too I'd say.

I think most the big High Street banks prefer the Maestro system, but internet banks, smaller banks and building societies (that I generally used) seem to prefer Visa Debit.

The sooner this Single European Payments thing is fully implemented the better, I can't believe that in this day and age it can be so complicated!

I've also not been keen on Electron as it's issued to kids and has the associated negative connotations - the onus is on you to prove you have verified funds to cover every single purchase, whereas with Visa Debit/Maestro etc they only issue it to adults with regular income.

[jwoods]

You know, you would have been better off just getting "regular" card.

I have had one for ages and once a year and I do not recall anywhere, well except perhaps barbershop somewhere, where it would not swipe correctly.

Of course now I have Visa credit version but I rarely if ever use it outside internet.

But what is a "regular card" ?

[Tiwaz]

You know, you would have been better off just getting "regular" card.

I have had one for ages and once a year and I do not recall anywhere, well except perhaps barbershop somewhere, where it would not swipe correctly.

Of course now I have Visa credit version but I rarely if ever use it outside internet.

But what is a "regular card" ?

For me in the past it was just flat out card... Worked in ATM and when given to nice shop salesperson it would deduct the money from my account.

No, I did not get any debit thingy into it, it was standard practice to have it.
I think, again due to this being personal experience instead it may be bit incorrect, but if you wanted card that did NOT work in shops you had to ask it. Not the other way around.

[jwoods]

I think you may be talking about the normal finnish pankki-kortti...

But they are phasing those out as you can't use them in Europe. I don't think Nordea even offers them any more....

[Tiwaz]

I think you may be talking about the normal finnish pankki-kortti...

But they are phasing those out as you can't use them in Europe. I don't think Nordea even offers them any more....

True. But then again, basic debit card should have basic functionality. At least my card still retains same functionality as mentioned. I rarely if ever use Visa ability in it, instead opting from cashier question "Pankki vai luotto/visa" option Pankki.

Result is same as normal finnish card as far as I can tell.

[jwoods]

Yes, I was considering getting a Mastercard or something with the combined pankki-kortti, however I don't trust myself with credit cards, nor would I qualify for one yet (I've got no credit-history here yet). Plus, when you use the card abroad it would only work as a credit card, it's not seen as s combined card abroad as that functionality is uniquely Finnish.

Oh well, in 6-12 months I'm sure everywhere will accept Visa Debit/Electron and the pankki-kortti will be redundant - then I wont have any embarrassing moments in coffee shops with my card failing and me having to run to the nearest cash machine!

[Hank W.]

Actually not - the new machines with chip readers cost an arm and a leg, and require an always-on-connection, and the banks charge all the money they wish, so many small store owners have quit accepting cards. Its cash or an old-fashioned bank-card you can mangle a slip out of.

[Tiwaz]

Yes, I was considering getting a Mastercard or something with the combined pankki-kortti, however I don't trust myself with credit cards, nor would I qualify for one yet (I've got no credit-history here yet). Plus, when you use the card abroad it would only work as a credit card, it's not seen as s combined card abroad as that functionality is uniquely Finnish.

Oh well, in 6-12 months I'm sure everywhere will accept Visa Debit/Electron and the pankki-kortti will be redundant - then I wont have any embarrassing moments in coffee shops with my card failing and me having to run to the nearest cash machine!

I wouldn't get my hopes too high. There is cost in most card activities for company, so some small companies (like my local barbershop) try to avoid them to their best ability.

Are you sure you can't use the electron/debit in "regular" way?

[sinikala]

Switch/Maestro has been popular in the UK for the last 10 years I'd say. As well as Solo being the Electron equivalent.

It depended which bank you were with as to whether you cot Switch or Delta. I had a Switch card on my Midland account when I went to uni in '89. So closer to 20 years. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switch_%28debit_card%29 I changed to Lloyds shortly after and got a Delta card http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_Debit ... Kingdom%29

Actually not - the new machines with chip readers cost an arm and a leg, and require an always-on-connection, and the banks charge all the money they wish, so many small store owners have quit accepting cards. Its cash or an old-fashioned bank-card you can mangle a slip out of.

A bit hasty in phasing out the cheque methinks.

[mCowboy]

A bit hasty in phasing out the cheque methinks.

You mean in the UK?

Here in Finland, cheques haven't been used for 20-30 years... I never had a chequebook in Finland, but I had one in the UK in the mid-90's... now that was fun...