Be careful Check Debit Cards

[BobReeves]

Ate at a the China Star Chinese restaurant in Broken Arrow and gave the waiter my Debit card. 4 days later I receive a notice from the bank that my checking account is overdrawn by $200.00 stating something about a $500.00 POS transaction. I knew I hadn't done it so I called the company that made the sale. Seems as though it's a company that sells phone cards over the internet based in Scotland and all you need is a credit card and an email address. Someone had purchased a $500.00 phone card using my debit card and by the time I found out the full $500.00 had been used.

Whoever did it used a Juno email address (which anybody can get) had the number off the back of the card and my home address. The address would be easy to get right out of the phone book and he(she) had the name from the card. The restaurant transaction is the only time the card has ever been out of my possession.

I am convinced the waiter, copied the information off the card including the number from the back, looked up my address in the phone book and used it to purchase the phone card. My stupid bank paid the charge and is telling me I have to pay the $200.00 my account is overdrawn plus all fees. The phone card company won't even give me the email address the idiot used and so far it looks like I am SOL trying to get any cooperation from anyone and am ultimately going to be responsible for the debt.

If this had been a credit card I would have been protected by the card company but because it was a debit card I am just SOL.. I am going to try to go after the restaurant but don't have much faith in being successful.

Be careful with your debit card and only use credit cards.

 

[EddieWalker]

WOW.

Obviously the police need to be notified and a report filed. It's sure hard to believe you are responsible for this happeneing, but how did they get your PIN number? If it was charged on your debit card as a credit transaction, I'd think you should be able to cancel it and file a claim with the credit card company or your bank.

Sorry for this and thanks for the heads up.

Eddie

 

[BillG_in_TX]

I have never understood why anyone would use a debit card. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Your bank should be more helpful than they have been so far (see this page ), but in the meantime you're out the money and time and hassle. Of course, it looks like they don't have to reimburse you for all the fees, and there may be a portion of the fraudulent charge you'll be responsible for. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Debit cards are bad news. I would change banks out of spite if they weren't more helpful, and make sure you don't get a debit card from your new bank.

 

[HGM]

Good tip, I'm sorry it happened to you though I have heard of it in the past.. I'm in the process of switching to making most of my transactions with a Credit Card paying it off monthly.. The only issue I see is that it will take allot of restraint to only spend what I currently have in the bank, but its got to be done.. Good luck with the refund..

 

[gsganzer]

I used to have a Resource Management Account (RMA) with UBS that had a debit/credit card. It was a great account because the funds were actually debited from a linked checking account (at the end of each month), however, the purchases actually ran through as credit purchases. This offered the full protection of a platinum credit card, including life insurance for airline ticket purchases and rental car insurance.

I dropped that account when i consolidated everything to a different financial institution, but lately I've been second guessing that decision. There're a lot of risks with debit cards that people aren't aware of.

 

[scott_vt]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( WOW.
If it was charged on your debit card as a credit transaction, I'd think you should be able to cancel it and file a claim with the credit card company or your bank.

Sorry for this and thanks for the heads up.

Eddie

)</font>

That aint too good!!! I use my debit card all the time, I always felt like it was like paying with cash since the money was in the account /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Im thinkin like Eddie on this one, while using your debit card in that application it should be viewed as a credit transaction. Your PIN never gets used!!!

Anyways, goodluck with your situation and we be eager to see the final outcome!

scotty

 

[rox]

Thnaks for the tip. I never knew that there was a risk associated with a debit card. I learned something fomr your hard lesson. Good Luck!

 

[Nasty135]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( while using your debit card in that application it should be viewed as a credit transaction. Your PIN never gets used!!!
)</font> <font color="blue"> </font>

Thats just it , The pin is a non issue with this type of transaction.... If you use your debit card as a debit card you get charged a fee. But if you use it as a credit card there is no fee... The card can be used either way, which is why I never ever use my debit card unless I need cash and go to the "magic window" (ATM) ... If and when they ask you credit or debit tell them credit and there will be no fee, It is all legit the bank just doesn't take your money for you using your money...

Always use credit card and pay it off at the end of the month, But also never let it outta my hand, If and when we go out to eat it is cash...

Sorry to hear about your misfortune... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif It is a frustrating thing that has no good legal answer

 

[Freds]

Boy am I confused on debit cards, now. I admit I haven't had one for 4-5 years though.
I accept debit cards, but without a PIN pad. What this means to a merchant is they are charged a slightly higher rate by their credit card processing company. What this means to the consumer is nothing. The money still comes out of their checking account whether they have entered a PIN or not. I have no idea if it falls under credit protection because they haven't entered a PIN, but I wouldn't think so because the money is transferred the same way.... out of their checking account.
I do not think debit cards have anything to do with being a credit card, at least not anymore and not the way my processing co. explained it to me.

 

[Bedlam]

Sounds like you need to push it more. I had someone use my charge card after being stolen
within 3 hours. I looked at my acct online and dsaw where it was used. I went to the gas station, and aksed the manager for the receipt. They didnt really want to dela with me,. So I told them it was an officiel investigation and they still couldnt fint hte charge. The receipt was in the gas pump. They had video aslo , and if the crossed the time with the charge they could get a plate number or more.
The charge company closed the acct and issued another card. They said I was responsable for anything over 50 dollars. I told them that was fine, once I had seen that they closed the investigation.
Aftetr a few weeks I called back, and they said they werent going to investigate it. It was for too small an amount. They still wanted the payment from me. So I told them that I may have to report them and have them investigated.
That cleared it right up.
I had a charge on the phone bill that was some sort of third party charge. I hadnt made it. And the phone company couldnt tell me the company address.Well, I told them they were obligated to, and they moaned and groaned.Told them that I wanted an investigation into it and they said they didnt have to.
So I told them I wished to third party bill it back, they said I didnt have a company, so they couldnt take it.Untimately they finally gave me the address. And it was a suite number in Georgia. I called and got the run around again from this company. called the phone company and told them they could find the phone wire cut and hanging by the road. I dont want the phone anymore. This person, then typed.and said your all set we removed it.
The moral FIGHT FIGHT they look for you not to and give up.
Good Luck
Al

 

[BobReeves]

It looks like the little Visa logo on the card might actually mean something. Received a letter from the bank today letting me know they have temporarily credit my account with all the charges pending the outcome of the investigation. It asks if I have contacted the police so am going over to the Broken Arrow police station tomorrow and file a report. This might not turn out as bad as I thought..

Thanks for the suport gang..

 

[Bird]

That sounds a little better, Bob. I, too, have a Visa debit card, but I've never used it for anything except the ATM, and pretty infrequently for that even. We just use credit cards and pay in full every month.

 

[slowrev]

My debit card is protected like a credit card.

 

[slowrev]

My wife just got a new debit card the other day. From what I read someone's online db had been hacked and lots of debit card info stolen. there had been a couple of reports on the news about it recently. One was from Canada.
Had not seen any fraudulent transactions yet though.
Ben

 

[EddieWalker]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( .... If you use your debit card as a debit card you get charged a fee. But if you use it as a credit card there is no fee... )</font>

Obviously I can't speak for your bank or laws in your state, but my bank here in East Texas does not charge any fees for using my debit card for debit use or credit card purchases.

As far as I know, when I use it as a credit card, it still functions as a debit card and automatically comes out of my savings account. I've never run a monthly balance on it, so I don't know if it's really a credit card or not. Places that don't accept debit cards will accept it as a credit card and it all comes out of me account the same.

I rarely use cash, but use my debit card for just about everything. If I want cash, I can get it from any store when I make my purchase for no additional fees. The only time I'm charged a fee is if I use an ATM from another bank.

Eddie

 

[jwstewar]

Eddie that is exactly how all of my Debit Cards have worked. I've had 4 from 4 different banks/institutions. I currently carry 2 from 2 different institutions. The bank our company owns and the employee's credit union. Both carry the Visa logo.

Back in 2001 our car was broken into and they stole my wife's purse (another story there about how I complained to Lowes not taking care of their employees). Within 15 minutes of her being at work they were trying to use my one debit card to buy cigs. Fortunately it was an account I was about ready to close so it only had a $7 balance and they declined it. They tossed it and moved on to the other debit card and her credit and gas cards. They purchased gas 4 or 5 times several times in several different cities and also made a trip to Kmart to purchase a TV & VCR. Also made a rather large purchase from Sears in Columbus. Total was something like $1500 in 5 hours on the debit card and $35 on the Sunoco gas card. Took a little bit, but we weren't responsible for anything except the $50 deductible to get the car fixed. Huntington bank reimbursed us for all charges and also all bounced check fees. Sunoco also ate the cost of the gas on their credit card..

Worst thing was both our checking and savings accounts were tied to that card. Both were frozen for a couple of weeks or so and all credit cards were cancelled. Litterally add no money and no way to get any. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Felt like a teenager going back to Mom & Dad to borrow money. Since then we leave most credit cards at home in a safe place in case it would happen again. I also had to call the mortgage company and explain to them why our payment would be late. They said they understood and would mark it down. I think all said and done it ended up being 3 weeks late. They didn't charge us a late or report it or anything.

 

[SPIKER]

debit cards ech hate em never use em, I DO use credit cards for just about everything cept fast food and lately you can even do THAT with a 10 buck purchace. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif


lots of different ways to scam out the info for debit cards. seen crook using store security cams to read PIN mumbers, while a small recording device was rigged in between the card reader and the main stores system to copy all the info on every card swipped. was really simple devices some battery opperated could be hid inside a coat pocket and swipe the card copies the info. whalla you just bought a croock a new TV and Phone card /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

my old boss had his doughter take his and it was taken from her there was over 3 grand worth of steaks,food drinks licqure gas and electronics on the card with in 2 hrs !!! he was made to pay 50 bucks woth but CC company ate the rest and had to contact stores & several local police depts top confiscate any and all survalance tapes no one was ever found/charged as far as we know though...

anyhow I had some friend in Tulsa OK, way back, Brian K Watts was in Air force with me and his family lived there we were stationed in Whichita KS and went down there on weekends a couipl etimes fun place. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif hope they come through for ya.

mark M