Using a Spanish issued MAESTRO debit card online

Nov 7, 2008 · heath1974 · 7 replies · 4965 views

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Has anyone encountered the following problem?

I've been trying to pay for online purchases using my MAESTRO debit card issued by a local Spanish bank, on Play.com but it seems to be declined and the card not recognised.

I have used the same card to make purchases on other UK based sites and some in the USA without any problems.

As a test, I tried to make purchases on some other sites and encountered problems with "issue date" or "issue number" faults, which many Spanish Maestro cards don't have. This can apparently be solved by selecting "issue number 0".

Some sites would say that the 15 digit card number was an invalid Maestro number.

Has anyone else had any problems using a Spanish bank issued Maestro debit card online? If so, are there any solutions?

I'm loathe to get a Mastercard or Visa credit card, because I like to manage my finances tightly. If there's no money in the bank, you cant use a debit card right!! ;-)

I've used my Spanish Maestro card in the UK and France in person, but it seems there's problems online occasionally.

Nov 7, 2008 · jurdyr

yes it to do with there vat rate ..... thast why its not working

Nov 26, 2008 · SpainExpat member

Spanish Maestro generally doesn't work online

You can ask your Spanish bank for a mastercard that is configured as a debit card, so it will charge your account rather than allow you to have credit

Then you may be able to disable the credit part of the card, or only have a very low balance

My Unicaja mastercard works as a debit card - but it needed to be mastercard to book flights

Cheers

Chris

Sep 21, 2009 · SpainExpat member

I've encountered the same problem with you. It seems that Spanish Maestro generally doesn?t work online.

Sep 23, 2009 · susanspain

My bank (Cajamar) would only give me a VISA Electron... (they said it works likes switch/meastro)...
I have only used it on-line to book flights with EasyJet.. and it worked fine - and as it is a 'cash purchase' there was no
handling charge! (Likwise Aer Lingus let me book online for no charge with it too - But they don't charge extra for using Visa/Mastercard anyway!).

Sep 23, 2009 · pepsi

I had an account with the BBVA and Cajamar both issue electron,used it everywhere with no stupid charges.

Sep 23, 2009 · jurdyr

Some company have problems with address , masterbeat , only let used usa address for copyright for USA . same with electron cards aswell , Visa Electron dot get charged booking fees with most airlines , susanspain

jurdy