V-PAY is a SEPA targeted product, UK of course is part of SEPA (for Euro payments) but since it is not Euro using (other than tiny minority) domestically for transaction currency, the big appeal of V-PAY product as an offering does not exist.

Of course, if you accept there will be a currency fee and it will not be regarded the same as a domestic payment, but then look beyond that, then the functionality offered by other Visa Debit cards will generally be exactly the same conceptual capabilities as those that offer 'V-PAY' ones.

Because of the advantages (and branding campaign around) V-PAY there will be a big push to promote terminals as such.

However I would not rule out other Visa debit cards being accepted, so that business that want to accept debit cards from foreigners can do so, etc. I would expect many merchant agreements to include them automatically. (Or indeed, historically.).


Did they only accept local debit cards before this? Or is it more a case that they have withdrawn a cash option but the V-PAY bit is unchanged?

I would not discount it - although I don't know how good your TSB card will be for foreign fees.