Visa debit cards:AN ULSTER Bank customer contacted us just before Christmas after growing concerned about his new debit card which incorporates a Visa debit logo. He said the card was "causing chaos in the shops" because "shopkeepers haven't been informed of it and consequently don't understand or recognise that it's just a regular debit card with a Visa logo on it".
His main concern, however, was that the card did not include a cashback aspect.
“I am told it won’t be sorted until the new year at the earliest and, as a result, the list of complaints is growing ever longer. Personally, I never use ATMs (only cashback or across-the-counter in the bank) which leaves me in a bit of pickle over Christmas. The person I spoke to in Ulster Bank was very apologetic but insisted there was nothing they could do.”
We contacted the bank and a spokeswoman assured us our reader had got the wrong end of the stick. She said over 150,000 Visa debit cards had been issued and its customers had completed over half a million successful transactions, including both purchases and cashback.
“Retailers were advised of the change in advance through their merchant services provider,” she said, and assured our reader that the new card “works as a debit card in the exact same way that Laser works as a debit card, but it is branded Visa. Visa debit provides customers with a much better proposition, including protection in the event that goods/services are not received and worldwide acceptance in three times as many locations as our existing Laser/Maestro card.” She says that, despite what our reader appears to have been told, cashback is available.
She said if anyone experienced difficulties they should advise their branch.
Booking fees
URSULA HOUGH-GORMLEY is in shock after being asked to pay a booking fee of €5.95 per seat for the four seats she booked online for the ballet at the recently opened Grand Canal Theatre. “I was of the opinion that booking online cut down on all sorts of overheads. Regrettably, this will be my first and last visit to the Grand Canal Theatre if these booking fees remain,” she writes.
