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