VISA Electron works instead of VISA??

Question

I have been buying things using my Visa Electron Debit card when a website asks for Visa. It works everytime and the money goes out of my bank account fine.

Just wondering why these sites don't just have electron on their card lists aswell? and is anyone else has foudn this?

Answer 1

It IS a Visa. You should also find a Switch is okay if it asks for a Maestro etc.

Answer 2

No...you cannot always do it...those sites you are talking about accept electron...just because they take VISA they dont automatically take electron too...TESCO DIRECT don't for one!

Answer 3

Because VISA Electron is owned by VISA and processed through their systems. When you enter the card details, the system doesn't differentiate between whether it is a VISA Electron or VISA card, just whether it is a debit or credit card. VISA Electron is unique to the UK and is not quite as common as the other major brands i.e. Meastro, MasterCard and VISA, and officially, is not supported for online orders, which is the main reason why websites don't advertise the logo.