Maestro not good enough for Google Checkout

Girdfossil — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:55:20 +0000

Google Checkout is a similar proposition to PayPal. You can use it to act as a middle man between your bank and the site you’re shopping at. Whereas many people use this as a handy way to pay without having to fish for their credit or debit cards there is also the handy security benefit of trusting a company like eBay or Google with your details rather than a small online retailer.

: Image by Duet G. via Flickr

As of the 27th Google Checkout will stop accepting Maestro cards. Maestro is run by Mastercard. Mastercard credit cards are unaffected and can still be used. There are more than 500 million Maestro debit card holders around the world and so this is a significant move from the Googleborg.

It’s odd that Google would want to ditch the card. It’s also odd the Google are doing this at such sort speed. In the last week they’ve been sending out this email.

Thank you for using Google Checkout, the fast, secure way to shop at stores across the web.

As of 27th July, Maestro cards will no longer be accepted as a payment method by Google Checkout. You are receiving this notification because your default card is a Maestro card that will no longer be supported.

To ensure that your Checkout account is ready for purchases the next time you shop, you will need to select a new default credit/debit card. Accepted payment methods are listed at http://checkout.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en-uk&answer=105916

You may update your payment information now by clicking ‘Edit payment methods’ after signing in to your Google Checkout account at http://checkout.google.co.uk

If you prefer, you also have the option of updating your payment information when you make your next purchase.

While you will be unable to place new orders with Maestro cards, refunds and chargebacks for previous orders will be unaffected.

We apologize for any inconvenience. If you have any further questions, please visit our Help Centre at https://checkout.google.com/support/?hl=en-GB

Kind regards, The Google Checkout Team

As savvy Cashzilla readers will know there are certain risks in storing too much money in sites like PayPal. If someone tricks you out of your password or the company decides to freeze your account then you’re in trouble.

Purchases made this way don’t have the same sort of protection as direct credit card purchases either. Most of all; if you store money in PayPal then it’s not in the bank earning interest.

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Maestro not good enough for Google Checkout