Sam wrote:

They're also unique (?) in that they do not have embossed details on
them, ensuring that they can only be used on electronic processing
machines which can read the chip built into them.

Not entirely true...I've had occasions where the machine couldn't read the
chip, so the shop staff have swiped the magnetic strip instead...
But you're right about no embossed text...

What he means is that you can't use the manual machines to take a carbon
copy impression of the card, however I haven't seen one of those for about
12 years now.

In uk.finance Alasdair wrote:
Can someone please tell me how to get an Electron card? Airlines and
railway companies don't charge an extra fee for payment by Electron
card but they do for payment by debit and credit card.

Slightly OT, but if your railway company is charging a card fee or a booking
fee then change to one that doesn't!

http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/

is one example - and you can book tickets for anywhere on the UK mainland,
not just their trains. There are plenty of others.

Theo

On Sat, 16 Jan 2010 19:58:25 +0000, Jonathan Bryce
wrote:

Sam wrote:

They're also unique (?) in that they do not have embossed details on
them, ensuring that they can only be used on electronic processing
machines which can read the chip built into them.

Not entirely true...I've had occasions where the machine couldn't read the
chip, so the shop staff have swiped the magnetic strip instead...
But you're right about no embossed text...

What he means is that you can't use the manual machines to take a carbon
copy impression of the card, however I haven't seen one of those for about
12 years now.

Nothing stopping people from writing the details on the form by hand.

--
Max Demian

Max Demian wrote:

What he means is that you can't use the manual machines to take a carbon
copy impression of the card, however I haven't seen one of those for about
12 years now.

Nothing stopping people from writing the details on the form by hand.

Apart from the "ELECTRONIC USE ONLY" thing under the signature strip on the
back of the card - for an Abbey Electron card. It may be in a different
place on other banks cards, my old Woolwich one had it down the front left
hand side of the card.

Please note that Santander are not issuing any new Electron cards - mine
will be replaced with a Visa Debit on expiry. Woolwich is now Barclays,
and the Barclays account that replaced my Woolwich one didn't have any sort
of debit card facility on it.

"Jonathan Bryce" wrote in message
...
Sam wrote:

They're also unique (?) in that they do not have embossed details on
them, ensuring that they can only be used on electronic processing
machines which can read the chip built into them.

Not entirely true...I've had occasions where the machine couldn't read
the
chip, so the shop staff have swiped the magnetic strip instead...
But you're right about no embossed text...

What he means is that you can't use the manual machines to take a carbon
copy impression of the card, however I haven't seen one of those for about
12 years now.

Christ, does anywhere still use one of those?

Alasdair wrote:
Can someone please tell me how to get an Electron card? Airlines and
railway companies don't charge an extra fee for payment by Electron
card but they do for payment by debit and credit card.

By the way, what is the logic for this discrimination?

Why do you think? Go on, i'll give you ten seconds to consider why there is
no fee from the retailer to use an electron card but there is for other
debit and credit cards.

What he means is that you can't use the manual machines to take a carbon
copy impression of the card, however I haven't seen one of those for
about
12 years now.

Christ, does anywhere still use one of those?


Still used as "fallback" machines for if and when the electronic terminals
go tits up, i once had to use one for about a week in a shop i used to run.
Authorisations are completed via telephone..

That was with Natwest's Steamline system.

"Alasdair" wrote in message
...
Can someone please tell me how to get an Electron card? Airlines and
railway companies don't charge an extra fee for payment by Electron
card but they do for payment by debit and credit card.

Go to Halifax, open an "EasyCash" account. You must fund it over the
internet though after the first credit, as they won't take cash/cheques over
the counter.

"Kipling" wrote in message
...

What he means is that you can't use the manual machines to take a carbon
copy impression of the card, however I haven't seen one of those for
about
12 years now.

Christ, does anywhere still use one of those?


Still used as "fallback" machines for if and when the electronic terminals
go tits up, i once had to use one for about a week in a shop i used to
run. Authorisations are completed via telephone..

That was with Natwest's Steamline system.

Crikey, I haven't seen one for years now...

"John Smith" wrote in message
...

"Alasdair" wrote in message
...
Can someone please tell me how to get an Electron card? Airlines and
railway companies don't charge an extra fee for payment by Electron
card but they do for payment by debit and credit card.

Go to Halifax, open an "EasyCash" account. You must fund it over the
internet though after the first credit, as they won't take cash/cheques
over the counter.
Rubbish, you can pay cheques, cash in at the hole in the wall and inside
most branches they have a brilliant machine that takes cheques and prints
you a copy of the deposited cheque for proof and if you put in cash it
credits instantly to your account.