I don't really understand what is the point of the Maestro card? You can't pay online with it.
You can do everything just with the Mastercard, so why are they giving additional Maestro?
Hello, the bank has given me the Maestro card, in addition to the normal Mastercard with the long number.
Not all stores accept MasterCard (or other credit cards), as it has higher fees.
Maestro is a debit card, not a credit card.
And yes, you can pay online on it, at least at most Swiss sites.
Tom
It used to be the case and may still be that some German supermarkets wouldn't accept credit cards for payment but would accept Maestro cards.
The Maestro card can also be used for cash withdrawal from ATMs; Mastercard will charge interest on cash advances from the date of withdrawal.
Maestro Card (A debit card). You make a payment with it and the money comes straight out of your bank account
Mastercard (Credit Card). Payment does not come straight out of your bank and you pay off the credit card either in full or minimum amount and get charged interest
I've not seen the possibility to pay with Maestro in webshops. Would be interested in that.
Same difference as:
- Visa = credit card (equiv. MasterCard)
- Vpay = debit card (equiv. Maestro)
Depends what your bank chooses to issue.
<
Maestro ist ein internationaler Debitkarten-Dienst von MasterCard International.
Diese Zahlungsmethode ist nur in unseren Filialen verfügbar. >>
Not on the website. Never seen that possibility ever on a website.
Oops, my bad.
Never understood the V-pay or Maestro cards. Much prefer the UK system of Visa or MasterCard debit cards. Hate how I have to get in to debt to pay for something online. UBS did send an email recently announcing that Visa and MasterCard debit cards where coming in the near future. Not sure when that is though.
The maestro is best used to withdraw money at ATMs as it's usually free or low fee, see it as a bank account card. It's not credit and cannot be used to make deposits for rentals or hotels. It's the standard in CH and Italy and probably other european countries as far as I can see and it's free, credit cards are the extra. Plenty of people still live without credit cards. By the way between postfinance, debit mastercards, twint and paypal there are plenty of options to pay online without credit cards.
You don't have to go into debt if you pay off the card balance in full each month and you also get credit card purchase protection if an item you have purchased on the card is faulty and you cannot get a refund, your good don't arrive and you've been charged, etc etc. Not sure the amount on Swiss credit cards but for any goods or services over £100 in UK
I mostly use the Maestro in the shops. And to get money from the bancomat. Shops prefer it as it's like cash and afaIk free of charges for them. I used to get discounts even, if I agreed to pay with Maestro instead of Mastercard (not bargained lately which is why I mention the past).
Resiliency.
Sometimes the credit card works, sometimes the maestro works, sometimes twint works, or good old cash.
So far, the most practical application of the maestro card is having the IBAN printed on it
They are debit cards.
Tom
Of course and that’s what I do, or I use my Amex to get extra points, but I still despise having money in my account but if I want to buy something online I have to use credit and not directly from my main debit account. I appreciate there are extras included in a credit card payment, but those you mention that are CC perks, I have never used any that have been redeemed against a CC.
Anyway, it’s the system and it is an EU wide norm so have to live with it, but I hadn’t had a credit card before moving to Switzerland hence my frustrations.
Ha! Good hint. Just checked, that is so. No more rummaging through papers looking for that darn thing.
Thanks.
No you don't have to go into debt.
Either your bank offers a prepaid credit card (UBS does and I have one),
or you can use Revolut which is also basically a prepaid credit card (Visa or MC or whatever variant you get).
Yep. I have an N26 account that offers the same. I know there are ways of doing things including a pre paid UBS CC but it’s a faf. Nothing is as seamless as
paying with the money I have from the account I want! A normal
visa or MasterCard debit system can be set up easily, but I suspect banks love this system as it entices people to get in to debt which in turn makes makes money for them.