Switch (debit card)

Switch was a national debit card scheme in the UK.

The system introduced by some British banks 1988 system was, next to its sister product solo, before the introduction of such a debit card functioning versions of popular credit cards the only available in the UK debit card and thus was very popular and almost area-wide distribution.

Migration to Maestro

In 2002 it was decided to integrate the system into the international Maestro network to allow the use abroad. Since then, British switch cardholders can pay cash worldwide at all Maestro acceptance. Conversely, this is true only conditionally, as payments in the UK are still partly handled by the old switch - background system. Foreign Maestro cards are not accepted in such funds.

This always causes confusion, as a customer now only looks at the British acceptance points the uniform Maestro logo, but it can not tell whether it refers to an "real" Maestro Checkout ( all domestic and foreign Maestro cards accepted) or technically nor a switch box office ( can process the exclusively British charts ) is.

Ultimately, a full migration to Maestro, as it has been successfully carried out for example in Austria and Switzerland, not yet taken place to date. Rather, the switch cards were only extended a co-branding to the Maestro functionality in the frame, brand name and logo disappeared from the switch.

• Cashless payments