Advantages: No need to carry cash
Disadvantages: Not all shops accept it yet

...**UPDATE 26/09/02** It is worth saying that quite a few shops, although they don't advertise it, will actually accept Solo; Argos being an example - My three local stores do not have the symbols up, but will tell you if you ask. Another is currys.co.uk, they have the symbols up instore, but on the website have every symbol BUT Solo. So always ask instore before going to the cash machine! I do now.** I have my Solo Card with HSBC Bank (formerly known as Midland). You can only get this card(as far as I know) with the account for 16-17 year old's. *What is a Solo Card?* A Solo Card is just a Debit card. It is similar to a Switch Card, except that Switch also acts as a cheque guarentee card whereas Solo does not. All you have to do to get one is open the relevant bank account (in this case: Bank... Read review

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Advantages: Free, accepted most places online, available to get when your 11
Disadvantages: Some shops don't accept it

...::::What is a Solo Card?:::: A Solo Card is a debit card available for teenagers (and adults? I think they get a Switch Card!) and is available from NatWest from the age of 11 and HSBC from the age of 13. Barclays and Halifax also offer a Visa Electron debit card, instead of solo (if your interested...). ::::How much does it cost?:::: The Solo Card is completely free. When you open a CardPlus account with NatWest when your 11 and over (or a "MySavings" account with HSBC when your aged 13). ::::What can i use it for?:::: You can use the Solo Card at LINK cash machines to check your bank account balance and top up your mobile from the cash machine. You can also use it for shopping Online and Instore! Play.com, Amazon.co.uk, MyPix.com just to name a few let you use your solo card to buy from them. And many instore shops like... Read review

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Advantages: Easy to use, Works online
Disadvantages: Not accepted everywhere

...Solo launched in 1997 to be the sister card of Switch, offers anyone not eligible for other debit or credit cards the opportunity to get one. Anyone over 11 can apply for one and your credit history shouldn't matter because you can't spend more than you have in your account. Whether you choose to use solo in shops, online or just to get cash at an ATM it offers many benefits: * Shop without cash at many stores without any extra charge including, Sainsbury's, Argos, John Lewis, Marks and Spencer and more! * Shop online at the biggest retailers including, Amazon, play.com and many more. * Get money out at any of the UK's 40,000+ ATMs (most are free, but some charge and they must tell you if they do) or get local currency abroad in many countries using mastercard's "Cirrus" network (small fees apply). * Shop abroad with Maestro... Read review

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Advantages: Able to get the card from the age of 11, never go overdrawn
Disadvantages: Small charge for using it abroad

...I have had my Solo card for nearly a year with NatWest's CardPlus account and I have been very impressed in how easy it is to use the card! Solo is just like Switch but you can't go overdrawn. Solo is accepted in a Varity of places including supermarkets, restaurants and even Amazon. Some shops only display the Switch logo. I have had a number of occasions when the Switch logo is only displayed but is also accepted at that shop. Just ask the merchant and they will be happy to help. To pay for goods simply hand you card to the merchant who will enter the card in the machine, sign the receipt or enter you PIN (card and shop dependant) and your done. Just remember that you can't buy anything that you can't afford. You solo card can also be used abroad, just look for the Maestro Logo when paying for goods at a shop and the Cirrus logo... Read review

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Advantages: Safe and easy
Disadvantages: not for the young

...What is this solo card then? Well solo has 5.2 million card holders, its not a credit card its a cash card which means you pay in money to your bank/building society and you then can retrieve it from most cashpoints and your bank branch. Anyone from 11+ can get this card. What are the advantages then? Well you sign up through your bank/building society and you get some free gifts! ie with Barclays you get free ciniema vouchers, unfortunately i signed up through Natwest and i only got free a ringbinder which was disappointing! You then can access your cash anywhere you want, this is a good idea if you want to keep your cash safe, but still want to access it. You can also pay for goods with it in a shop displaying the solo sign. You also get a measly amount of intrest, i only got 0.2%! There must be some disadvantages, it can... Read review

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Advantages: Absolute need for teenagers,
Disadvantages: Not sure,

...Hello everyone! You may know me as anytime03! But thats going soon! And me is officially back as 'fromthedarkside' Thanks Ciao! I’m not really that good on the topic of finance, but I am good at finance, which is to do with business. There are many credit cards out there today, but which one to get is a difficult thing, APR, blah blah!! But what about us who are under 18? We don’t need to worry about credit cards until we are 18, but we feel left out, knowing we can’t buy things on credit, or take out lump sums of money from major bank companies. BUT DON’T WORRY, why? Cos SOLO’s the name! The names card, SOLO CARD! (*Puts on Bond music*) Don’t attack me or otherwise I’ll pull out my SOLO card! ## Wait a min! I don’t understand you... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Almost universally accepted, makes you more financially aware
Disadvantages: Can't write cheques, not a lot really!

...Ah, the sweet smell of financial independence! When I’m older, I’m going to be an internet millionaire; I’ve decided that. Joining Ciao was to be part of the grand plan, but alas .. ah well, I still have my Solo card. ‘What’ You’re fifteen and you have your own credit card? Now I know you’re entrepreneurial Matt, but this..? Well, almost. You see, Solo shares many of the features of other debit cards such as Switch. The differences are that it’s been adapted for people who may not be eligible for a 'proper' credit card. Typically these groups are the under-18s, those not in employment, and those whose credit history doesn't merit a credit card in the opinion of the banks. So what is Solo? Well, Solo is an offshoot of Switch, the worldwide standard for debit card transactions. Essentially, a Solo card is just like a Switch debit... Read review

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Advantages: Accepted almost everywhere, Easy access to money, Beats cash
Disadvantages: Small charge for use abroad, Some places still won't accept it

...I am a student in secondary education, and before setting up my NatWest card-plus account I only had a National Savings Account. However, as time went by I became more and more annoyed at the pathetic service, inaccessible saving and hundreds of other things, so I decided to open a new account, and at the time it seemed as if the (new) solo card would be the thing to go for, as a lot of my mates had one, and they all struggled to think of anything bad about it. So, I strolled along to NatWest, and I now have on of these cards. Solo is a branch of the well known debit card “Switch,” and it works in a similar way, except that it is meant for under 18s. There are several areas in which I have been particularly pleased with the Solo card, and I shall tell you about these below. One of the main bonuses of the Solo card to me... Read review

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Advantages: No overdraft. Pay with plastic. INDEPENDANCE. spend, spend, spend.
Disadvantages: Not accepted everywhere. Spend, spend, spend.

...Firstly i feel i must apologise for that title, a truly terrible bit of word play! Now, let me introduce the solo card, which is quite simply a debit card for young people, which has been designed to target us young and gently lull us into postition of financial responsibility. The Solo card is Switch's little sister. Solo were very cunning in exploiting teenagers' will to be independant, and self reliant. Because of the large gap in the "young personal finance" market the Solo card was born. It seems that the risk of creating the card is paying off. Now there are 6.93 million people who own the Solo card (i'm one of them), which is not at all bad. The Solo card's best feature, in my opinion, is that you can not spend more than you have in your account... You see as the card is swiped through the terminal it has to recieve... Read review

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Advantages: Freedom for teenagers, Internet buying
Disadvantages: not excepted everywhere.

...The SOLO card is one of the best idea's since sliced bread, corny cliche, i know. The Solo card was launched on the 1st July 1997 under the Switch Card scheme, Switch being Solo's sister Card. At present there is about 498,406 outlets that accept the Card in the U.K., so quite a few shops. Solo is different from Switch, due to various different rules and entitlements and as result Solo cannot be used everywhere you see the Switch logo. The SOLO card is a DEBIT card, not a CREDIT card. You cannot go over the amount you have got in your account as this is i presume it is against banking regulations for someone under 18 to have an overdraft facility. The SOLO card allows teenagers who are not earning to have a Debit Card, this wonderful contraption does not allow you to get overdrawn because you do not have an overdraft which... Read review

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