Solo

The reason I have a solo card bearing in mind I’m 24 own a house and in full time employment is because my bank took my switch card off me when I was 19 due to being overdrawn all the time and then due to my poor credit rating (see other ops) no bank will give me a switch card now but its not all bad! Read on…..

About solo
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Solo was launched on 1st July 1997 by the people of the Switch Card Scheme. Like Switch, Solo is a fully electronic debit card and is just as easy to pay for goods & services. But solo cards will not let you go overdrawn like a switch will, which means no bank charges added to your accountand no more financial messes(note to self!). It is not a cheque guarantee card which is a bit of a bummer and not everywhere accepts it like switch but the majority do here’s just a few I know of:
Alldays, farmfoods, bhs, co-op, Dixon’s, sainsburys, new look, Dorothy Perkins, morrisons, halfords, Texaco (some), H Samuel, Ikea, marks and sparks, next, orange, ticket master (just booked Justin this morning!), tesco and many more.

Most bills can be paid over the phone using solo i.e. powergen and sky. But the two places I use most often don’t take it and they are Boots (gutted!) and WH Smiths! But maybe they will catch up eventually!

Other Benefits
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Apart from keeping your account in check it can be used abroad to withdraw cash (at a charge of course!) It can be used online for lots of places. Solo is also offered to kids over the age of eleven by natwest and RBS to get them used to controlling their own money without getting into a financial mess.

Where do I get a solo card?
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It should be on offer at your local branch of Halifax, Natwest, RBS, Nationwide and HSBC. You have to apply for a bank/savings account of course- just in case you didn’t realise!

I always thought of a solo card as a poor mans switch and was embarrassed to use it but now I use it all the time everywhere and always safe in the knowledge that I won’t be overdrawn and its just a shame that not all retailers accept it!
Thanks for readingxx