topic Re: Using debit cards as credit cards in Community Chat

Using debit cards as credit cards

chrystaltree — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 18:05:14 GMT

So, a week or so ago, we had a discussion regarding using debit cards as credit cards. My debit card can be used as either and I do sometimes use it as a credit card. For no particular reason. Yesterday, I made a $299.00 bill online with that card and I clicked "credit card" and that took me to the creditor's bank to fill out some information. No problem or so I thought. Early this morning, I tried to pay dues for a professional organization with the card and the transaction wouldn't go through, the card was denied. I checked the balances of my savings and checking accounts and there's was no problem so I thought the problem might be related to that $299 credit payment and I was right. My bank saw that payment and put a hold on my account because it was an "unusual" transaction for me. Once I called and verified that I had made that payment and the amount, they took the hold off my account. It took about 20 minutes. I asked the cs rep why and all she would say is that they are being very careful when debit cards are used as credit cards for online payments and purchase.

Re: Using debit cards as credit cards

Nightowlz — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 18:10:13 GMT

I have a debit card but don't use it as a credit card.

We would be safer it we got rid of the debit card & only used a credit card.

I would never use a debit card for purchases online.

Re: Using debit cards as credit cards

CrazyDaisy — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 18:18:53 GMT

Happens all the time with our corporate credit cards. If the fraud department picks it up as an unusual charge it gets flagged and the account put on hold. When ever some of our people travel we need to alert the bank of the locations so the charges will go through without a problem.

Re: Using debit cards as credit cards

Love to Run — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 18:17:43 GMT

I never use my debit card as a credit card. Credit cards offer fraud protection (without tying up your cash while they investigate), they offer purchase protection on most items, and you can earn points depending on the card. I earn $20-40 every month just on my usual purchases. Also, I'm one of those neurotic people who balance my checkbook after every purchase, so it's a big time saver for me to just pay one bill online each month. I pay as I go and I never pay a finance charge.

Re: Using debit cards as credit cards

Luvitorleaveit1 — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 18:17:59 GMT

That's interesting I've never encountered that problem; I use my debit card as a credit card 99% of the time; just a personal preference for me to only use my pin at my bank's atm machine. When I go out of town depending on where I let my bank know because hubby and I had an issue when we were making purchases out of town and the bank didn't let it go through we had to call the bank and go through this series of security steps meanwhile there was a line of people behind us that had to be moved to another register.

Re: Using debit cards as credit cards

PickyCindy — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 18:22:05 GMT

But if your account gets put on hold, shouldn't you be told? Finding out after the fact isn't good as far as I'm concerned. I only use my bank debit card when making purchases online at the grocery store and I want cash back. Could use it as a regular credit card but I don't. I have another credit card which I use strictly for online credit purchases.

Re: Using debit cards as credit cards

Nightowlz — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 18:24:45 GMT

@Luvitorleaveit1 wrote:
That's interesting I've never encountered that problem; I use my debit card as a credit card 99% of the time; just a personal preference for me to only use my pin at my bank's atm machine. When I go out of town depending on where I let my bank know because hubby and I had an issue when we were making purchases out of town and the bank didn't let it go through we had to call the bank and go through this series of security steps meanwhile there was a line of people behind us that had to be moved to another register.

@Luvitorleaveit1

Same thing happened to us. Good thing we had plenty of cash on us.

Now we call the credit union before we leave town. I don't really like anyone knowing we are not home but this way they know someone else is not using our cards.

They also know the credit card transactions will only be for gas & hotels.

If we use it for a larger purchase while gone I always call & let them know ahead of time.

Re: Using debit cards as credit cards

corita — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 18:43:09 GMT

@Love to Run wrote:
I never use my debit card as a credit card. Credit cards offer fraud protection (without tying up your cash while they investigate), they offer purchase protection on most items, and you can earn points depending on the card. I earn $20-40 every month just on my usual purchases. Also, I'm one of those neurotic people who balance my checkbook after every purchase, so it's a big time saver for me to just pay one bill online each month. I pay as I go and I never pay a finance charge.
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I was told by a banker friend...never use debit card as charge card! It is much easier for theft by using debit card. Some people have been wiped out by this type of theft! Credit card has better protection in stopping unwanted purchses.

Re: Using debit cards as credit cards

PINKdogWOOD — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 18:52:50 GMT

All of these discussions makes me really think about how I use my cards. For me it's strictly cc for all online shopping, but I my debit for in person purchases no matter what they are. Gas however is always cash. Ever since chips entered the cards (and both cards have chips now) I'm 99% needing to enter pin. It's very rare to not need to plug it in.

Only once did we have a delay in cc processing on vaca in the Caribbean, that was SO long ago and there was plenty of time to contact the bank for the charge to be approved, we weren't worried nor was the hotel.

DH uses only his debit for in person purchases. Anything he needs or wants online I purchase on my card. He pays me back is they're big bucks and I'm not feeling dropping $200 on a pr of work boots for him LOL!!! He has a cc but rarely uses it, rarely.

Re: Using debit cards as credit cards

chrystaltree — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 19:11:23 GMT

@PickyCindy wrote:
But if your account gets put on hold, shouldn't you be told? Finding out after the fact isn't good as far as I'm concerned. I only use my bank debit card when making purchases online at the grocery store and I want cash back. Could use it as a regular credit card but I don't. I have another credit card which I use strictly for online credit purchases.

The only way the bank would have to tell me is by mail and I just might receive a notice in the mail informing me of the hold but that will take days. Everything was all squared away in less than 12 hours for me. Most people who have debit cards use them on a daily basis, no one carries cash anymore so the customer who has a situation like mine will know long before a bank letter arrives. That's assuming they even send out a letter, I don't think they do.

Re: Using debit cards as credit cards

Travone — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 19:16:12 GMT

NEVER, EVER EVER use a debit card. Debit cards have no limit. If someone gets their hands on yours, they can wipe you out. If you use a credit card you are only responsible for a certain dollar amount. If you have a debit card to get money from your bank, ask your bank for an ATM only card.....not a debit card.

Re: Using debit cards as credit cards

2blonde — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 19:39:18 GMT

@Love to Run wrote:
I never use my debit card as a credit card. Credit cards offer fraud protection (without tying up your cash while they investigate), they offer purchase protection on most items, and you can earn points depending on the card. I earn $20-40 every month just on my usual purchases. Also, I'm one of those neurotic people who balance my checkbook after every purchase, so it's a big time saver for me to just pay one bill online each month. I pay as I go and I never pay a finance charge.

@Love to Run I must be neurotic too, because I balance my checkbook after every payment also. My account is with a Savings & Loan, so I don't even have a debit card, and I agree I'd rather use a credit card anyway. Sometimes being a little old fashioned works better!

Re: Using debit cards as credit cards

SeaMaiden — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 19:59:59 GMT

My debit card was compromised in May twice by the same person....

Since that happened I am now ONLY using just credit cards for all purchases....getting paid points that are like cash back👍👍👍🤑🤑🤑....

No more worry about someone robbing me of all my money. I PAY THE CARDS OFF FULLY EACH MONTH. works out the same...less worry!

Re: Using debit cards as credit cards

esmeraldagooch — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 20:01:18 GMT

I always shread debit cards. I refuse to use them. in January we bought some insurance for our motorcycle after our factory insurance ended. We bought it though the dealer we bought the bike from. We go no proof the insurance was purchased except the charge on our bill. They told us it would show up on our vin an any dealer if we needed repair. Last month the dealer closed up fast. We went to the local dealer here in town to see if it showed up on our vin number, NO insurance. We came home and called the CC company and luckily we were within the time limit for refunds by 11 days. They reversed the charge and we were refunded $1,600.00. If we would have used a debit, what would our outcome be?????

Re: Using debit cards as credit cards

Kachina624 — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 21:57:33 GMT

@corita wrote:
@Love to Run wrote:
I never use my debit card as a credit card. Credit cards offer fraud protection (without tying up your cash while they investigate), they offer purchase protection on most items, and you can earn points depending on the card. I earn $20-40 every month just on my usual purchases. Also, I'm one of those neurotic people who balance my checkbook after every purchase, so it's a big time saver for me to just pay one bill online each month. I pay as I go and I never pay a finance charge.
----------------
I was told by a banker friend...never use debit card as charge card! It is much easier for theft by using debit card. Some people have been wiped out by this type of theft! Credit card has better protection in stopping unwanted purchses.

@corita. My bank, BofA, offers the same protection for debit cards as it does for credit card.

Re: Using debit cards as credit cards

viva923 — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 23:10:56 GMT

I use a special debit card I have for shopping on line as credit. it is attached to a special checking account dh and i have. we carry low balance in that account. if we need anything on line i use that card as a credit card. if the bad guys try to get anymore money for getting ahold of this account, they will get very little money.

Re: Using debit cards as credit cards

NYC Susan — Fri, 29 Jun 2018 03:30:04 GMT

@corita wrote:
@Love to Run wrote:
I never use my debit card as a credit card. Credit cards offer fraud protection (without tying up your cash while they investigate), they offer purchase protection on most items, and you can earn points depending on the card. I earn $20-40 every month just on my usual purchases. Also, I'm one of those neurotic people who balance my checkbook after every purchase, so it's a big time saver for me to just pay one bill online each month. I pay as I go and I never pay a finance charge.
----------------
I was told by a banker friend...never use debit card as charge card! It is much easier for theft by using debit card. Some people have been wiped out by this type of theft! Credit card has better protection in stopping unwanted purchses.

All banks are not the same. As several of us said on the other thread, some banks protect debit cards in the same way as credit cards. Everyone needs to check with their own banks. I wouldn't use my debit card if I could be wiped out, and I know for sure that I can't.

Re: Using debit cards as credit cards

NYC Susan — Fri, 29 Jun 2018 03:27:50 GMT

@Travone wrote:
NEVER, EVER EVER use a debit card. Debit cards have no limit. If someone gets their hands on yours, they can wipe you out. If you use a credit card you are only responsible for a certain dollar amount. If you have a debit card to get money from your bank, ask your bank for an ATM only card.....not a debit card.

That's not necessarily true. It depends on the bank.

Re: Using debit cards as credit cards

Drythe — Fri, 29 Jun 2018 05:44:01 GMT

@viva923 wrote:
I use a special debit card I have for shopping on line as credit. it is attached to a special checking account dh and i have. we carry low balance in that account. if we need anything on line i use that card as a credit card. if the bad guys try to get anymore money for getting ahold of this account, they will get very little money.

@viva923 ^^^^^ Yes! This!

This is what I do when I travel out of the country. I put a limited amount on my "travel" debit card, so even if it is compromised only the amount I have allotted to it can be taken. Always notify the card company when I'm away. My home is protected by means other than lil' ole' me standing guard.!

It has exactly the identical protections as my credit cards.

WHY DO PEOPLE THINK THERE IS NO LIMIT ON THE AMOUNT THAT CAN BE TAKEN FROM A DEBIT CARD? Of course there is a limit - it's the amount of the value of the card and what it can access. Of course if it is attached to your savings or similar it can be a big hit, but a wise person would put a small amount on it and make sure it is not in any connected with checking, savings, stocks, money market, etc. My Debit card is not even attached to my regular bank.

Re: Using debit cards as credit cards

sunshine45 — Fri, 29 Jun 2018 14:47:34 GMT

i dont know about others, but i only keep a relatively small amount in my checking account in general. i dont have it attached to my savings account. i wont be "wiped out" because a checking account is not the safest place to keep a lot of money.

once i have had an $800 theater ticket in london charged onto my card. i always call my credit card companies and bank and set a travel notice on my account with the dates. that $800 was put back into my account in less than 24 hours and my debit card was replaced.