Advantages: Increased Online Security, Will Eventually Replace The Visa, Excellent And Fast Customer Service, Usually A Good Account Package (From My Experience With Barclays And The Abbey National)
Disadvantages: 7.5 million outlets in the UK accept the card. 11.8 million do not, and most smaller shops havent even heard of it. Online usage is still very difficult as most sites still dont accept it.

...The Falcon writes... Whilst the Visa Electron, the new 'Electronic Use Only' card from Visa, seems like a fantastic idea since it offers increased security for internet transactions, and a long needed update to the Visa system, and a host of other things your 'Personal Banker' will speil off at you, the card has one quite major flaw. Unlike its father the Visa, which has become the global electronic currency, the fledgling Electron is not accepted in very many places at all. In fact, apart from your large chain stores like Woolworths and Tesco, it's hardly accepted anywhere at all. And on the internet, which, as the name suggests, is the main area your card is meant to be used, it is hardly accepted anywhere! I do alot of internet surfing and consequently alot of shopping too, at the major sites like amazon.com,whsmith.co.uk, and tesco... Read review

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Advantages: You won't be in the red
Disadvantages: not widely accepted

...I have used a visa electron for the past 5 years, and I find it easier to manage than a normal visa. The great news is that the Visa Electron looks like a normal Visa with a chip and PIN. But let's get to the point: with a visa electron you are not untitled to any overdraft. The money you spend or withdraw is automatically deducted from your account straight away, so there are no bad surprises at the end of the month. If you want to purchase something make sure you have enough in your account otherwise the transaction will not be accepted. It taught me to manage my account and to not overspend and yes it was hard at the beginning with all the bills to pay, the rent, travel… but I am so glad I do not to live on any loans or credit card. The visa electron is widely accepted in shops (H&M, Tiffany's and Co, Sainsbury's… the list... Read review

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Advantages: good prices
Disadvantages: bit slow on site at times

...www.intersaver.co.uk This site offers consumer electronics from major manufacturers at low prices. they have a number of sections and cover a large range of consumer electronics. I have bought a microwave from them and it was on sale at a high street shop at the same time for £20 more. they deliver in the evenings and the staff are both friendly and helpful. The only slight gripe is that my e-mails were not a first answered but once sorted out they were excellent. They are moving into other areas as well (Home and Garden) I think this is a very good site but the links are sometimes very slow. I recommend it to you all.... Read review

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Advantages: is accepted worldwide, spend what you have, no fee at Ryanair and Easyjet
Disadvantages: some internet and normal stores don't accept it

...Since I have joined this community, I was taken aback from how many of you people don't like Visa Electron. I do agree that they have limitations, but they DO have good traits. I'm Italian and have moved to England a few years ago. It's useless to let you know what difficulties I had when I first arrived, but something that really helped me out was my Italian "postepay" card, a pre-paid credit card issued by the Italian post office. You can charge it with up to €3000 euros and works pretty well on the Internet and in the shops. Visa Electron prepaid credit cards were introduced in Italy in November 2003, by the Post Office. I signed up for mine in December 2003 and it has only recently (December 2007) sadly expired. I won't renew it, but only because now I have better accounts. One of my accounts, though, has a Visa Electron card... Read review

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Advantages: One of the only debit cards available to under 18s
Disadvantages: Not accepted everywhere

...There are only two debit cards that I know of which are available to under 18's, one being Visa Electron and the other being Solo. I decided when I was 17 that I wanted a debit card, as they are so much easier than carrying cash around with me - and much safer too. My bank account at the time was with Lloyds TSB, but they could not offer me any type of debit card because of my age. After finding out that Halifax would be able to give me an account with a Visa Electron card I quickly accepted and opened a new account with them. My card arrived, and I hit the shops! It was so easy to be able to walk around town with my Visa Electron in my wallet and just a small sum of cash for the places which don't take it. I felt safer, knowing that if my purse was stolen I didn't have any cash in there to lose, and that my debit card could... Read review

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Advantages: easy instructions, very easy on the eyes, runs on both batteries and electricity, can store many books, etc...
Disadvantages: price may be too high for some $269.00 U.S (Pro) or $199.00 (regular) plus shipping and handling

...Rocket e-book is an electronic book reader used to read electronic books. Electronic books are books but are not written on paper. You have to read the books on your computer screen or on an electronic reader such as the Rocket e-book reader. You can get loads of information on the electronic reader at http://www.Rocket-eBook.com. I bought one online using a secure line with my credit card (Rocket eBook Pro) at Powells.com about two months ago. Now I am in reading heaven. I can download the electronic books from various online publishers right into my little reader. I found the e-reader extremely easy on the eyes, easy to use and it is even shaped like a paperback novel. The instructions are quite simple to follow and most of the electronic books I've downloaded and read on the rocket book have been excellent. Currently the Rocket e... Read review

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Advantages: Use abroad and in UK, accepted in most retail outlets
Disadvantages: Not many online retailers accept

...Yep, now at the age of 11 you can claim your own debit card from both Natwest (Solo) and Barclays (Visa Electron). As usual with most banks you get a cash point card, but it is not to useful if you want to use it abroad. So, eventually I got myself an Electron one, and found it extremely handy. Virtually every shop in Europe will accept Electron and most high street shops too. This is because of major card merchant services like Barclaycard and Streamline enable this. But here is where the disappointment comes in. Electron is fine for those who prefer high-street shopping instead of using the Internet, but for the internet, electron is lousy. I could say this about solo - online shops such as Tesco and Sainsbury does will not accept this card, but they will do so in stores. This is no doubt taken as a precaution against under... Read review

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Advantages: Well laid out, quite popular in the city centre
Disadvantages: Run of the mill store, nothing significant

...Electronics Boutique is another run of the mill store which stocks DVD`s, CD`s, games and videos. There is absolutely nothing grand or spectacular about the stores. However they do supply there goods slightly cheaper than Virgin and HMV. THE LAYOUT Unfortunately this is the main thing which lets the store down. I find that Electronics Boutique`s stores usually do not contain very much flash exhibits or interesting lighting techniques, the stores sometime don`t even play the music on sale loud enough to be able to hear it. THE PRICES This is the best thing about Electronic Boutique. The prices aren`t much cheaper but if you care about a 50p or a pound difference then shop here. It is especially good if your buying quite a lot of items. It really adds up. THE STAFF Electronics Boutique is usually staffed by 20 somethings. Nothing... Read review

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Advantages: Excepted at most places
Disadvantages: Not too many..

...Solo and Electron are the two debit style cards offered to banks in the UK. Both are "sister" cards of other debit cards - Switch and VISA. I have both of these cards (Solo from Natwest and Electron from Lloyds TSB) so hopefully this will be a fair review. Having got both cards, Solo is by far accepted in many more places than electron - especially when it comes to online shopping. A lot of online shops will not accept Visa Electron as of yet, although Play.com and Amazon.co.uk have now started accepting it. I use my Solo card pretty much daily, I've used it in places from Tesco Petrol stations to the O2 Top up line. I personally haven't had one problem with it. All retail shops now seem to accept it - I don't even bother asking anymore, I simply hand over the card. CD shops such as Virgin, Fopp and HMV now accept this card, both... Read review

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Advantages: Widely accepted, safer than carrying around cash
Disadvantages: None so far!

...I've held a Visa Electron card since I experienced financial problems a few years back. I hold a Cooperative Bank and a Halifax Easycash Visa Electron card and they are a godsend to me. Electrons are accepted in most UK supermarkers (Asda, Sainsburys, Tescos), Ebid, HMV, Woolworths, Evans, Burtons, TK Maxx, Burger King, McDonalds, Boots, GAME, Rosebys, B & Q, Post Office, Lloyds Pharmacy, Jessops, the list is endless!!! More and more retailers are accepting Electron payments. As for online shopping, well I've not experienced any problems yet. I can pay with my Electron on websites such as Simply Be, GAME, Asda, Moonpig and many others. I've not once had a problem using the card. I find then even if a an online website accepts only a classic Visa you card details will still go through as a Visa card! Online banking with an Electron... Read review

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