10 Places NOT to Use Your Debit Card

[justucia 0]

was this written by a credit card company?

ive never had any issues with using my debit card in the last 15 years

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

was this written by a credit card company?

ive never had any issues with using my debit card in the last 15 years

count your blessings, here's one from vj:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/9274-dont-let-you-debit-card-out-of-your-sight/page__p__126556__hl__debit+card__fromsearch__1#entry126556

and a few more:

http://www.forestgrovenewstimes.com/news/story.php?story_id=116542905564250400

http://consumerist.com/2007/05/the-8648-burger-king-bill.html

^^^that one i heard about, the $8,648 hamburger which was on a debit card, and "It's caused her a lot of problems in paying her rent, paying her car payment, buying food,"

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I almost never purchase anything with my debit card.

My credit card gives me up to a full monthly billing cycle+grace period, which can be as much as 6-7 weeks, in interest-free loan on every purchase I make. I never carry a balance so I never pay any interest. And I get membership points. Why would I use a debit card when I can get 0% interest + freebies?

Who are you with?

I've heard USAA is good (and my husband is a former Marine so we're eligible). Any other recommendations?

[justucia 0]

count your blessings, here's one from vj:

http://www.visajourn...__1#entry126556

and a few more:

http://www.forestgro...542905564250400

http://consumerist.c...-king-bill.html

^^^that one i heard about, the $8,648 hamburger which was on a debit card, and "It's caused her a lot of problems in paying her rent, paying her car payment, buying food,"

well sh*t- that's scary food for thought

on a positive note- nobody is going to get very far with my debit card

Edited March 22, 2010 by justucia

[Danno 1,228]

Who are you with?

I've heard USAA is good (and my husband is a former Marine so we're eligible). Any other recommendations?

Charles mentioned USAA also, what exactly is that?

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

Charles mentioned USAA also, what exactly is that?

if you served in the military and was honorably discharged, or are serving now, you are able to join it.

[alienlovechild 75]

4. Restaurants

"To me, it's dangerous," says Gary Foreman, editor of the frugality minded Web site The Dollar Stretcher. "You have so many people around."

Foreman bases his conclusions on what he hears from readers. "Anecdotally, the cases that I'm hearing of credit or debit information being stolen, as often as not, it's in a restaurant," he says.

The danger: Restaurants are one of the few places where you have to let cards leave your sight when you use them. But others think that avoiding such situations is not workable.

The "conventional advice of 'don't let the card out of your sight' -- that's just not practical," says Tiffany.

The other problem with using a debit card at restaurants: Some establishments will approve the card for more than your purchase amount because, presumably, you intend to leave a tip. So the amount of money frozen for the transaction could be quite a bit more than the amount of your tab. And it could be a few days before you get the cash back in your account.

Haven't any of you had fradulent charges on your credit card? I don't use mine much at restaurants.

I've had to replace my single credit card twice in the last year even though I don't use it too much and never carry a balance beyond a month. I use a debit card at the supermarket to get some extra cash and use the credit card for gas and larger items because I don't want to look a a huge list for cheaper single items.

[mawilson 2,133]

The problem with credit cards even if you don't carry a balance is that you're more inclined to overspend or buy a little something extra if you know you're going to get some points for it.

That's silly. Would you spend $1000 to get $10 back?

It hurts more to use cash. Debit cards less so because you're still using plastic, but you still have the curtail effect since it's coming out of your bank account. Personally I haven't used a credit card in over two years and I only use my debit card to purchase many flight tickets, rent cars in different states, etc etc.

It used to be impossible to rent a car with a debit card - only credit. Not to

mention that most credit cards include collision coverage for rental vehicles;

if you use a debit card, you have to purchase it separately.

[christeen 966]

#11... Strip club!!! The wifey will find out AND the slot you swipe the card in might have a virus...

[Ali G. 37]

Charles mentioned USAA also, what exactly is that?

Navy Federal has great rates too.

If you like a bank, I recommended PNC..

[SMR 368]

Navy Federal has great rates too.

If you like a bank, I recommended PNC..

As far as points, I get points on my debit card. In general though, this article makes some good points about security, but the other points seems a little off to me.

[NickD 202]

Debit card saved me several times when I needed cash for an emergency and can always find an ATM someplace. But that is the extend of it's usage. Dumbest thing I have ever done was sign up for automatic payments on my checking account, that didn't last long, even large corporations you think you can trust can be crooks. You are giving them a license to steal from you.

But no law that says you can only have one bank account, have several, the one I carry my debit card just has some spare cash in it. In case I need it. I wasn't born paranoid, but our system made me that way.

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

Navy Federal has great rates too.

If you like a bank, I recommended PNC..

i've been with nfcu for about 45 years now - but recently they've had a good track record of pissing me off.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

I don't think I ever used a debit card. I use cash whenever, wherever possible (including when filling up at the gas stations) and a credit card when it makes sense, i.e., when renting a car or ordering online.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

if you served in the military and was honorably discharged, or are serving now, you are able to join it.

They've changed it now to include spouses of military or former military (including widows and widowers) and through parent. Once you're "in" you're "in" and so is your family. Now I just need to get my husband to give me his details. My personal fave is the NO charges for ATM's ANYWHERE. That's what I love

It's apparently got the best rates also for car insurance and home insurance etc. Here's the eligibility page: https://www.usaa.com/inet/ent_utils/McStaticPages?key=pub_eligibility_task_entry

But who are these "points" banks that people have mentioned. I don't really care about points but it will affect my decision if there are bonuses where the costs are the same. Also, someone piqued my interest with the discussion about if they take your money from your debit, you're stuck waiting and that could mean bills get missed etc, but at least if it's credit then it's just a charge you can ignore that doesn't affect your bill paying ability... that's why i'm now considering it because in Australia I only use card. Card skimming is VERY rare so it's just what I'm used to but now a credit card seems in order.

Edited March 22, 2010 by Vanessa&Tony