No agreement for systems to co-exist

THE Banks' Laser card programme is now underway and on foot of our recent article, Mr Victor Patterson who owns an electronics company in Belfast wants to know if Laser cards issued here in the Republic will be able to be used in the North and "if sterling debit cards, e.g. `Switch' will be acceptable to settle Irish Pound transactions? Suppliers/retailers would also be interested to know if both the Irish and British debit cards can be used for telephone purchases in both countries?

According to Maurice Crowley, the manager of AIB's Laser card project, two direct debit cards already operate in the North Switch, used by Bank of Ireland, Ulster Bank and Northern Bank in the North Visa Delta, operated by AIB's bank, First Direct. There is no agreement, yet, to allow the three systems to coexist, but it is likely to happen eventually, he says. Meanwhile, shoppers to the North should continue to bring their credit cards with them.

As for Mr Patterson's other query, Laser cards cannot be used for over the phone purchases. "The opportunity for fraud is too great," explains Mr Crowley. You can make a telephone purchase using a credit card, but it isn't a practice the banks are keen to promote says Mr Crowley, since you may be providing the merchant a perfect stranger in many cases with all your credit card details.

Bank customers interested in the Laser debit/cheque card should contact their individual bank branch for more details or application forms.