I think you may find they are already available. Like Visa debit cards it's a matter of checking which financial institutions ofer them.

My visa debit card for instance is with St George Bank and I know community banks eg bendigo bank and some credit unions have them too.

Excellent! cos I wouldn't be without one!

Except in cases where Merchants take Credit cards, and not Debit cards

I have to say I have not come across many, and believe me I spend a lot! Its my favourite hobby! lol.

You use the credit function. If you use it as a debit/eftpos type card you will pay for the transaction.

Merchants have no idea its a debit card unless you choose to use savings or cheque.

It's not a problem as long as you ensure the 'credit' key/function is selected.

Neither did I in UK....but here there are some who take Credit cards but not Debit cards

I'm informed it's because the Debit card can cause a headache for Merchants and the banks.

I've also heard that some Merchants can [and do] charge a fee for processing Debit cards, although not all do it. How regularly this occurs I don't know

To hijack this thread slightly, can anyone tall me the difference between a Credit Union and a bank please.
Julie. x

Lets get this sorted once and for all:

It is a VISA CARD it works same as ANY visa card. Only reason it wouldn't is because YOU chose to use it in a function other than CREDIT

This is an international financial thing. Visa and Matercard are trademarks.

Your visa/mastercard debit card also comes with a NUMBER which you quote for online/phone transactions.

DO WE UNDERSTAND NOW?

And this is where the Debit card causes headaches for the customers and the bank.

The Merchant does not always follow the correct procedure and so may debit the customers account twice. This then takes at least a week to sort out and in the meantime the customer has no money in their account.

It's not the banks fault, nor the customers, and the Merchant is unaffected so takes their time sorting it

Hence my previous comment on Banks not liking the Debit card.

Don't get complicated on me: it's near 9pm here and I'm a little pissed lol.

The merchant should ask which account: cheque, savings or credit. ALWAYS reply CREDIT.

If they don't ask: say CREDIT

Other options require a pin number.

I am finding it really really hard to know why your visa debit card is being. treated as a debit card and not a credit one. Something is wrong with this picture!

WHY THE CAPITALS?

Stop shouting

I understand perfectly.

Do you

It is not necessarily a Visa debit card. It can be Mastercard Debit card too

You have missed a cruicial point.

A Debit card and Credit card are two different cards provided as a service for two different purposes.

A Credit card requires a Credit limit i.e how much the bank is prepared to lend you. A Debit card is based on how much you have in your account. If the account is empty, then no money is available to be debited.

Easy as.

D'ya know what Julie.....I don't know

Is the Credit Union a non profit organisation whereas a Bank is a profit organisation?

With a Credit Union, you become a shareholder by opening an account. You will have a minimum amount of shares, usually only about $10 for example.

Any further differences, I am not sure on.