Does anyone know of  a gauranteed way to get a Delta debit card in the
uk, bearing in mind I am unemployed, live in rented, have no great
assets and have a poor credit rating. I have a Current bank account
with cheque book, but don`t want a credit facility - just to debit
what I leave in my account for internet transactions?

Don't know about VISA Delta, but as far as I know HSBC and others will
give a Solo card to just about anyone. That's because Switch
guarantees transactions up to £100, but Solo checks your bank balance
before authorising sale. Not nearly so many sites will take solo, but
there are few out there.

First, you should check your credit rating and find out what bad
things have been reported about you and see if they can be fixed.

Here's a specimen letter:

Equifax Ltd
Department 1E
PO Box 3001
Glasgow G81 2DT

Dear Sirs

Section 158(1) of the Consumer Credit Act 1974

I should be obliged if you would kindly send me a copy of my file
within seven working days, as required by the above Act. My cheque for
£2 is enclosed.

I have lived at the above address since xxxx and, previously at yyyy.

Thanks anyway. If I get stuck it`s good to know how Solo works and yes
I should check detail of my credit rating because debts are years out
of date.
-John

Debit cards don't work on the basis of credit ratings, credit cards
do, hence a credit rating for a credit card. As debit cards only let
you have money that you actually have in the bank and no more
'credit', they don't care who they give their cards to.

Yes, but some banks (at least in the United States) do check credit
before providing a debit card.  That is because it is possible under
some circumstances to have a debit transaction approved even though
there are insufficient funds in the account.  For instance, a gas
station in my neighborhood accepts debit cards at the pump as long as
there's $1 in the account, and it is possible to buy more gas than
there is money for.  (I know, because I inadvertently did it once.)

Tried getting account and debit card with first direct (hsbc group) 
but they say no even though I`ve already got Switch card with Abbey
National, but Switch needs signature with 99% transactions, so very
limited use on internet - though Amazon ok with it.