(Please be aware this is primarily based on UK cards - but I guess the
principle applies worldwide - but I will need access to at least the
UK data)

I am aware of products which identify the credit, debit or store card
issuer based on the card number (as well as validating the number on
the fly). Where can I gain access to this information obviously, if
neccesary, by paying?

Ideally I need the following information:

1. Number ranges for each card issuer with full details of card brand
names, issuer details, schemes, types and industry
2. Any BIN and/or modulus checking routines that apply to each card type
3. Identification of card issuers requiring balance transfers by
cheque, including their remittance details

Just to clarify - I do NOT want to buy an off the shelf solution - but
want/need access to the raw data to put my own solution together.

They all use the Luhn check digit system
( I have only run into one issuer that does not - and they are not UK )

http://www.beachnet.com/~hstiles/cardtype.html

Public Function LuhnCheckSumErr(RawNumber$) As Boolean
    Dim Mul%, L9%, Q%, Number$, N%, CheckSum%
    
    Number$ = StrExtStr(RawNumber$, "=", 1)
    LuhnCheckSumErr = True
    
    Mul = 1
    For L9 = Len(Number$) To 1 Step -1
        N = Val(Mid$(Number$, L9, 1))
        Q = N * Mul
        If Q > 9 Then
           Q = Q - 9
        End If
        CheckSum = CheckSum + Q
        If Mul = 1 Then
           Mul = 2
        Else
           Mul = 1
        End If
    Next
    If CheckSum / 10 = CheckSum \ 10 Then
       LuhnCheckSumErr = False
    End If

End Function

The way I sorted this back in 1990 was to wander round the office and
confiscate all plastic for analysis

A less empirical method is to talk to NatWest Streamline or Barclays
Merchant Services.

However this should give you a start on the issuer 

DINERSLOCAL:3###-###006-####=####:XXX
DINERS:3##-####-####-###=####:USD XXX
VISA:4580-####-####-####=####:USD XXX
VISA:4###-###-###-###=####:USD XXX
VISA:4###-####-####-####=####:USD XXX
VISA:3###-####-####-####=####:USD XXX
EURO/MASTER:51##-####-####-####=####:USD XXX
EURO/MASTER:52##-####-####-####=####:USD XXX
EURO/MASTER:5326-1###-####-####=####:USD XXX
EURO/MASTER:53##-####-####-####=####:USD XXX
EURO/MASTER:54##-####-####-####=####:USD XXX
EURO/MASTER:55##-####-####-####=####:USD XXX
AMEX:37#-####-####-####=####:USD XXX
AMEX:34#-####-####-####=####:USD XXX

Easy!

Get a job as a checkout clerk at Tesco or wherever and make a note of
all the cards you see.

Thanks, I'm already aware of how to validate cards in principle - it's
really the validation for each issuer and their number ranges I need!

Hmm.. you got me interested

I have not found what you want, but this link is interesting:

http://quimby.gnus.org/internet-drafts/draft-eastlake-card-map-04.txt

It describe a proposal for ISO 7812 which is a way of turning the
first 6 digits of the card into an internet address.

Checking  www.iso.org  it looks as if 7812 is 'established' but to get
any info on it they want cash. Annoying.

I doubt if it would be that useful, as if that protocol is established
it probably checks the requesting IP against a table of subscribers.

You will certainly not get a full number range for each issuer, if by
'number range' you mean 'issued numbers', as to my understanding after
very few digits the protocol is in the hands of
VISA/Mastercard/JCB/AMEX/Diners

However I may be misunderstanding what you mean by a 'full number range'

It sounds as if you want to do off-line card validation, which is a
bit unusual nowadays.

Thanks for that - I've downloaded both parts of the ISO 7812 standard
and now understand that a bit more. However - it doesn't clarify where
I can get the actual data from!