Eric_C said:I've posted this before that you should never use a Debit Card for any transaction that you do not personally accept.
Debit cards are linked directly to your bank account. If they accidently overcharge, someone steals your record from their system, or any number of other scenario's you are screwed.
Yes, you do have rights as a Debit card holder, but once they money is gone, its gone and you can't get it back until the dispute or problem is settled. They can clear out your account and your out until its fixed. With a credit card at least its not your money and you have alot more rights and say so in whats going on.
I would never use a Debit card period, but if you do have one at least only use where you are personally making the charges.
Its just a bad practice and anyone who tells you "Its ok", well its not there money, its yours and I would do whatever I could to protect it.
EFT or Electronics Funds Transfer is different, because you can set the amount they are allowed to take, plus its traceable back to a specific company or person, where debit cannot be traced to an individual.
Trouthead said:Check cards do not have the protection of credit card. Yes the banks are good for the most part when there is a disputed withdrawal, but they don't have to be.
Much of the rights you have with a credit card and diputed charges comes from federal law. You do not have this protection with a debit card.
If somehow my credit card # gets out, and gets used, I am out nothing. In such a dispute sooner or later the credit card company will have to sue me to pay, they can't just take it out of my account.
With a debit/check card the shoe is on the other foot. The money is gone and with any big problem where your bank doesn't support or believe you, the next step is court.
If you have automatic overdraft protection it is even worse.
I don't and won't use a debit card, but I never worry about using a credit card any time any place, any country.
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