Do you use a debit card?

[disneysteve]

There was a thread about jumping through hoops to meet the requirements for an account to earn a bonus interest rate and several replies said they wouldn't do it because it requires making 10 or 15 debit card transactions per month and they don't use a debit card.

I'm curious how many of you do or don't use a debit card

I do not. I really don't see any purpose or advantage to using a debit card. I can use my rewards credit cards to do everything a debit card can do and more and credit cards offer some significant advantages and safety features.

[Petunia 100]

I intentionally do not use mine other than as an ATM card at my bank. Never for purchases.

[Jluke]

I don’t like the concept of the debit card (allowing a merchant to pull real money directly from my checking account). It’s too risky for me - they could type in the wrong amount and execute the transaction before I even know it.

rewards credit card, cash or check as needed.

[Thrif-t]

Nope, not even to get money out of the atm.

[Jazzmint98]

Never for purchases, just to get money from the ATM. I agree with Disney Steve in that credit cards offer more security for purchases.

[MonkeyMama]

Nope, not a fan of debit cards. Credit cards are just so much more secure and convenient.

[Smallsteps]

I would agree on security depending on where you are shopping. I think for SOME the idea of i will use this credit card get rewards and pay each month works for others a credit card is play with matches. If most of your shopping etc is online of course you would use credit. My local grocery etc i use my debit. never have had any issues.

Honestly lately more places, in my area anyway, are charging a fee or % to use credit cards, again. it use to be more common then seemed to disappear, i am seeing it more lately.
There is even a difference price for credit for gas like .10 cents a gallon.
i find it odd that some i know, who say credit is safer also have auto payments from places with access to your bank account that seems as risky or more then debit cards.

[moneybags]

I've never used mine. My son, 22, strictly uses his debit card. My daughter, 25, mostly uses her reward credit card, but used her debit card prior to that.

[Fishindude77]

I don't have a debit card.
Use two credit cards and write checks. When i need cash, I cash a check or make a bank withdrawal.

[disneysteve]

I would agree on security depending on where you are shopping. I think for SOME the idea of i will use this credit card get rewards and pay each month works for others a credit card is play with matches. If most of your shopping etc is online of course you would use credit. My local grocery etc i use my debit. never have had any issues.

Honestly lately more places, in my area anyway, are charging a fee or % to use credit cards, again. it use to be more common then seemed to disappear, i am seeing it more lately.
There is even a difference price for credit for gas like .10 cents a gallon.
i find it odd that some i know, who say credit is safer also have auto payments from places with access to your bank account that seems as risky or more then debit cards.

The laws governing credit usage and fees have changed over the years which is why you've seen some changes to pricing. For example, merchants are now allowed to set a minimum purchase amount for CC payments which didn't used to be allowed. Places can also charge a "service fee" for CC payment to pass along the processing fee. Because of that, there are various bills we pay by check because I refuse to pay an extra 3% to use my CC.

I don't think having auto-payments set up is nearly as risky as using your debit card out and about. It's much easier for someone to get a hold of your card number when you hand it to some restaurant server or gas station attendant.

[Petunia 100]

I would agree on security depending on where you are shopping. I think for SOME the idea of i will use this credit card get rewards and pay each month works for others a credit card is play with matches. If most of your shopping etc is online of course you would use credit. My local grocery etc i use my debit. never have had any issues.

Honestly lately more places, in my area anyway, are charging a fee or % to use credit cards, again. it use to be more common then seemed to disappear, i am seeing it more lately.
There is even a difference price for credit for gas like .10 cents a gallon.
i find it odd that some i know, who say credit is safer also have auto payments from places with access to your bank account that seems as risky or more then debit cards.

It absolutely is. That's why I don't do that, either. You can set these things up with your own bank. The company receiving the money does not need your bank account info.

[disneysteve]

I don't think having auto-payments set up is nearly as risky as using your debit card out and about. It's much easier for someone to get a hold of your card number when you hand it to some restaurant server or gas station attendant.

I have all but a couple of our auto-payments set up to charge the credit card. Stupid not to get the reward points or cash back. I do have a couple that charge the checking account because that's the only option (or there's a fee for CC use).

[Smallsteps]

The laws governing credit usage and fees have changed over the years which is why you've seen some changes to pricing. For example, merchants are now allowed to set a minimum purchase amount for CC payments which didn't used to be allowed. Places can also charge a "service fee" for CC payment to pass along the processing fee. Because of that, there are various bills we pay by check because I refuse to pay an extra 3% to use my CC.

I don't think having auto-payments set up is nearly as risky as using your debit card out and about. It's much easier for someone to get a hold of your card number when you hand it to some restaurant server or gas station attendant.

it may be by area when credit was first being accepted in my area ( grocery/ fast food examples) they had a minimum purchase required then that disappeared for YEARS and now it is back same with a bigger fee for paying with credit and i just had a gas station put a hold on a CREDIT not debit card of $100 until the purchase was processed for $24.

i have room on card no big deal but was on the road and perhaps that hold could have been a problem. i have no problem with these practices coming back just put a sign up or notify someone. i witnessed a person at a restaurant told his purchase did not meet the min so he would need to buy more or pay in cash or debit.

i just have seen/ heard of so many bad items happen with auto payments like double dipping etc yes it can be straightened out but if you have only a small margin of cushion it can cause issues.

[disneysteve]

it may be by area when credit was first being accepted in my area ( grocery/ fast food examples) they had a minimum purchase required then that disappeared for YEARS and now it is back

Many places used to say there was a minimum for CC but they were actually in violation of their merchant agreements when they did that. I think the CC companies started cracking down which is why it went away. But then the law changed and they are now allowed to set a minimum.

The law is also kind of wishy washy. You aren't allowed to charge extra for using a credit card but you are allowed to give a discount for paying cash, which amounts to the same thing so it's just semantics. And you are allowed to charge a service fee for using a credit card to cover processing costs.

We agonized over this at my synagogue trying to figure out how to accept credit cards without losing money in the process.

[Smallsteps]

Many places used to say there was a minimum for CC but they were actually in violation of their merchant agreements when they did that. I think the CC companies started cracking down which is why it went away. But then the law changed and they are now allowed to set a minimum.

The law is also kind of wishy washy. You aren't allowed to charge extra for using a credit card but you are allowed to give a discount for paying cash, which amounts to the same thing so it's just semantics. And you are allowed to charge a service fee for using a credit card to cover processing costs.

We agonized over this at my synagogue trying to figure out how to accept credit cards without losing money in the process.

i guess that makes sense as to why these are popping up in more places i have seen lately. I can understand that for some places like your synagogue need to cover those process fees. i just hope now that many of these practices are coming back they put up signs like they use to so people are aware of it.