Visa Electron
Review
Visa Electron is a card-based payment method, similar to but not the same as a credit card. Visa Electron cards first began to appear as far back as 1985. The card is classed as a debit card and uses the Visa payment system, backed up and protected when used by the verified by Visa online security protocol.
The cards are usually available, offered, issued and used worldwide with a few exceptions which would include countries such as, Ireland, Australia, The United States of America and also Argentina.
Visa Electron cards must not be mistaken with the very similarly named Visa Debit cards. With Visa Electron when any transactions are made, the funds need to be available at that very moment in time for the transaction to successfully be completed or authorized. These cards and the facilities associated with them are usually issued to the younger generation or those adults who may at that time have a poor credit rating or are maybe attempting to try and improve said credit rating.
This difference when relating to the aforementioned Visa Debit card is that with the Visa Debit card the funds to cover the cost of the transaction do not necessarily need to be available in the attached bank account at that time. Transactions will go through at the time, usually up to a predetermined or previously arranged or agreed amount. The user would need to ensure that enough funds are in the account within a certain time frame.
The card itself is simple in design, the Visa Electron logo is usually displayed top right of the card with the user’s name and account details embossed towards the bottom of the card, the issuing banks would also have their own particular bespoke designs as the main focus, design and colouring of the card. The cards 16 digit number is normally found right across the centre. On the back of the card, you will find the users signature strip, electronic magnetic strip and CVC (card verification code)
When it comes to uses of a Visa Electron card, these cards can be pretty much used in most everyday ‘real life’ circumstances, examples would include payment at a store for groceries or goods, payment for fuel at a petrol station or simply physically withdrawing cash from an ATM (Automated Teller Machine) Online goods and services also make use of the Visa Electron card, booking tickets for events, ordering merchandise from online retailers and also transfers and depositing money into e-wallets such as PayPal.
When completing these transactions there are several options that cover security, verification and are needed to complete the transaction. The time served and more commonly seen would be Chip and Pin where the user is required to enter their personal identification number (PIN), this is most used at an ATM or in shops for example. Another method would be the Card not present method with uses the long 16 digit number shown on the front of the card, together with the CVC number on the back.
A much more modern and growing method these days is the contactless method, an extra chip is found on the card if your particular card offers this service. This cannot be used online and only for physical transactions and simply requires the user to ‘tap’ their card across the payment terminal to complete their purchase. Contactless payments are normally limited in value to prevent misuse and every 5th transaction automatically generates a PIN request for additional security. We have started to see more and more contactless cards since the Coronavirus pandemic grew.
When it comes to online gaming and casino transactions, Visa Electron is quite a common card that is used. Players would link the card to their casino accounts and using the long card number and CVC code deposit funds into their account that way. Be ready and prepared when using this method, the casinos will ask for photos of the front and back of your card as part of their KYC (Know your customer) checks. With it being a debit card as such and not a credit card it can be used in the UK to either deposit funds directly to your gaming accounts or to upload funds to an e-wallet such as Skrill and Neteller.
Credit: Written by Jon M.