I gave this one star because I am from the United States. I have NEVER had such a hassle with a debit card in my life. The worst part for me is that I commute into central London and THE NATIONAL RAIL DOES NOT ACCEPT SOLO...it's the only card they don't recognize actually. I still have an account in the states and my debit card from there works fine to buy train tickets, but it adds a $10 fee for the transaction. I have been in very awkward moments where some other places don't take the card either. I hate monopolies (i.e. Visa or Mastercard) in general, but when it is a matter of costing me $100's a year...pffft, I'll put the idealist away and pragmatically enjoy the fact that "Life Takes Visa".
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chavista 18.02.2008 05:44
Well, I have no idea what you are talking about when you say "Solo isn't supposed to be a regular debit card" because I never knew Solo was trying to be a maverick force in the banking universe and redefine the industry with a neo-debit card. It is the only bank ON my university campus...hence NO other option (and the campus is a bit isolated from humanity). I guess you must have lots of free time, as a filmmaker I am on the move and battling the magical way the British buses are always 1 min. late for the train...and a 15 min. roundtrip stroll to the ATM when I am short on paper money is less than ideal. It is enough of an inconvenience for me to waste my time and write on here actually! If this is for teens, as people say (although basically nobody on this campus is under 18...and ALL are offered only one convenient option) then why can't solo get it together to be approved for THE RAIL SERVICE or the DOMINANT CONCERT TICKET AGENCY...two seemingly important things for their target demographic. This is just one of MANY things in England I find to be asinine. Why can't this country GET the concept of customer service??? It is this bizarre hubris that business flaunts here. For some reason nobody complains, or even if everyone does...these companies JUST DON'T CARE. You vote with your capital in a capitalist country...so I say to you VOTE NO TO SOLO. They don't put any effort into making life easier, even their website screams "screw you". Your comment "as it's a cash card, just go and use it to get cash out of the nearest machine at the train station to buy your tickets!!!" just shows the British attitude towards systemic subservience. BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO!!! I am partaking in the CASHLESS ECONOMY FOR A REASON! I want it to be easier...simpler...and designed for MY convenience! If these companies are going to make BILLIONS of us, we she get something back...right?!?
Lizamabug 18.02.2008 03:45
Solo isn't supposed to be a regular debit card. It's for those with bad credit histories and young people really - I had one 16 - 18 though I don't know what the age limit is these days without checking. If you're working in this country, can you not obtain a switch maestro card instead? Also, as it's a cash card, just go and use it to get cash out of the nearest machine at the train station to buy your tickets!!!
Advantages: Fairly widely accepted and you can pay for things with it Disadvantages: Marketed as idiot-proof but will allow you to go over your limit and be charged penalties
JL008 03.09.2004 (03.09.2004)
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