can cause problems when used (RBS Highline Switch Card)

Member Name: simonjp

Product:	RBS Highline Switch Card
Date:	11/07/01 (1774 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Can be used in any of the UK's cash machines for free, Has Laser-etched photograph for security, Maestro and Cirrus, so can be used abroad

Disadvantages: No Issue Number!, Laser-etched photograph means shopkeepers laugh at you :-)

Although it is not a credit card, and as such I don't know why it's listed here, the RBoS Switch Card can cause real problems, and so I thought I should warn everyone.

Firstly, the good news. I've been a RBoS customer for 3 1/2 years, and I've had few complaints within that time which haven't been at least partly my fault.

I've got a student account, which is the same as the adult account 'Royalties', which costs about £4 a month (I think). This gives you access to discounted books, CDs, gigs, etc.

The RBoS Switch card is a relitively sombre affair, but that's a good thing in many cases. It also has your signiture and photograph laser-etched onto the back for security.

My only grumble is that of incompatability. RBoS Switch cards don't have an issue number, as most switch cards do. Instead, they list a start and finish date. This is not much of a problem with the little terminals at most shops, but causes real problems shopping online, or at places that use their own credit card reading systems. In particular, Odeon Cinema's computers crash (loosing the last 1/2 hour's takings) if they try to swipe the card. I wasn't popular that day...

All in all, the account is good if your branch trusts you, but beware using it online!

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