Hey guys, guess what I can teleport…….NOT.

[suesinfl]

At 8:53 p.m. I received a call that my bank wanted to verify some charges. I checked my account and I made a purchase at a local store at 5:20 p.m., (correct).


According to the charges on my debit card then I went to TX at 7:00 p.m. ($45 at Walmart) and then IL at 7:19 p.m. ($4.59).  Ummm, I don’t think so, I live in FL. I called the bank’s fraud center back and they are CLOSED.


So hopefully the bank has put a hold on my debit card, but I have 2 checks that may not clear if a hold is on my account.

I’m also worried about my direct deposit on Thursday and have 2 online payments that will be taken out on Friday.


To the bank I go tomorrow. I hate people sometimes.

[Sharon]

Hopefully since the bank called you they are already all over it.  I got a call one Saturday because apparently my credit card was in Canada buying house paint.   They took care of things pretty painlessly.

Good luck to you.

[justme]

Did you call the number that's on your debit card? I dunno if that's the same, but that's who I call for credit card stuff. They're there 24/7 for the cards I've had to call on.

And sorry! That has to suck on a debit, it's a pain enough on my credit card.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Can someone tell me what advantage there is to using a debit card?  I only use my card as an ATM, other wise I use either cash or credit.  Even though the money does get replaced, the repercussions of this are do much more of a pain in the ass than a credit card.

[zibazinski]

Nov 30, 2016 23:37:57 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Can someone tell me what advantage there is to using a debit card?  I only use my card as an ATM, other wise I use either cash or credit.  Even though the money does get replaced, the repercussions of this are do much more of a pain in the ass than a credit card.

I've never figured it out. One of my kids finally stopped using it like a checking account when it got hacked AGAIN and he had to borrow money from me to live for two weeks. He learned his lesson. The other one never learns. I have my credit card hacked AGAIN but the problem was immediately taken care of and I had a new card two days later. Annoying but I had my money still.

[naughtybear]

I don't have a cc so I don't have a choice unless I carry cash around. Maybe some people are in that situation. Also maybe overspending occurs when using CC,  with a debit card it's what you have in your account. So probably not the benefits you were looking for more probably human nature stuff.

I've never been a cash carrier, even as a teen.

[mroped]

You can use your debit card( the card from your bank account) as a credit card so there is no overspending.

[973beachbum]

Dec 1, 2016 2:05:11 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

Nov 30, 2016 23:37:57 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Can someone tell me what advantage there is to using a debit card?  I only use my card as an ATM, other wise I use either cash or credit.  Even though the money does get replaced, the repercussions of this are do much more of a pain in the ass than a credit card.

I've never figured it out. One of my kids finally stopped using it like a checking account when it got hacked AGAIN and he had to borrow money from me to live for two weeks. He learned his lesson. The other one never learns. I have my credit card hacked AGAIN but the problem was immediately taken care of and I had a new card two days later. Annoying but I had my money still.

It doesn't matter if you use the card or not.  The fraud isn't happening because someone is picking your pocket it is the bank's computer that is hacked most often.  So use your card all the time or not at all like me.  It didn't stop people from stealing $2500 from my account using a "card" that was safe in my home and had never actually been used by me ever.  And I really mean never.  I never even used it at the bank's ATM.

Short of closing the checking account I have no idea how to do something that would protect the account.  And if I didn't have a checking account I doubt the CC would be an option.

[NoNamePerson]

Nov 30, 2016 23:37:57 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Can someone tell me what advantage there is to using a debit card?  I only use my card as an ATM, other wise I use either cash or credit.  Even though the money does get replaced, the repercussions of this are do much more of a pain in the ass than a credit card.

I had a ATM card hacked once long ago. I refused an ATM card when opening a new account. Girl looked at me like I had grown a second head. This was before the wide use of Debit cards. I don't trust anything that can get into my checking account because of this experience. I got all money back but was a friggin pain in the ass - actually someone was using it while I was on with Fraud dept at bank!!! Also it was an account that I was waiting till a check cleared so I could close the account so no real damage done as money was already in new account (the one where clerk thought I had grown a second head)

Yep and everything can be hacked today but mucking up checking account can be a royal PITA. CC user here

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

I only use my ATM card about once/mo of so to get money.  I figure that the less exposure, the better.  

This year, TD has had his credit card hacked no less than 4 times.  He uses it exclusively for everything, but I have this mental block about using it for a $2 coffee purchase, so I use cash.

Finally, for those that are afraid to use credit because they might overspend, my way of controlling this is to use my AmEx card.  I pretty much use it exclusively, because it MUST be paid each month.  At least around here, most places I go accept it and I use it online as well.   Of all my cards, it is the one I use the most and it has never been hacked in the 20 years I've had it.  

[NoNamePerson]

I find that I think twice before pulling out CC to purchase. It always goes thru my mind - can I pay in full when statement comes due - so I think about it twice. I am more likely to overspend with cash in my pocket - go figure. CC balance due in full makes me rethink purchase if I really need it or is it just a want.

I put most stuff on card but it is things I would be purchasing anyway during the month, groceries, etc. But everyone has their way of keeping spending under control. It's a mental thing

[suesinfl]

I never use the ATM, I either go to the bank to withdraw money, or I get cash back when I make a purchase. I've been on the phone for over an hour with the bank and my checking account number was not compromised, just my debit card. 

The thing is, is that whom ever used my debit card only left me with .62 cents in my account and I have automatic payments due today. I am in the process of calling them, but the payments are in process. Is it too early to have a drink??

The other thing I'm worried about is that my paycheck is directed deposited, and should hit my account tomorrow. I was assured  by my bank that unless someone has my routing and account number that my direct deposit should be OK, it's just my debit card has been hacked. I'm holding my breath on this until the morning.

FML right now.

[shanendoah]

Having them call you is no guarantee they will have done anything, or that it will be easy.
I once had my credit card fraud alert group contact me about suspicious activity. My card was used to withdraw $249 in cash, on a point of sale transaction, at 5:01pm every day for a week, at a convenience store in TX*. I live in WA. This was a credit card I didn't use on a regular basis, so I didn't check it on a regular basis, and this was caught by the fraud unit before my bill came.
However, when I talked to them, they asked if anyone else had access to the card, and I said yes, my husband. At which point the person from the fraud unit was like - well, did he use the card for this? I said no. And then they were all "are you sure? could your husband have done this without you knowing?" I remained calm and said "No. We live in WA. He could not have flown to TX every day this week and been there at that time of day, and then be home again on time for me not to notice. And you called me."

But that's the thing - the second they had a way of possibly getting out of it, they tried to. Oh, you didn't use it, but your husband must be sneaking around in a state halfway across the country....


*this happened in 2008. The exact details aren't quite right. But it was the same amount of money - obviously an amount just under a cash back limit - taken out within the same 15 minute time period - every day for a week.

[buystoys]

I have also had a debit card I never, ever used get hacked.    We called the bank as soon as we saw it and everything was fixed within 24 hours.

We never use our cards for purchases, only for ATM withdrawals.  Even then, we'll only use them at the bank. 

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Your bank can give you a letter to share with the companies whose payments might get bounced because of the hack.

Ask me how I know..

I now have 2 debit cards. One is for an account I only use for shopping and I only keep an amount equal to whatever I spent in there. It has been hacked several times (sometimes the bank caught it, sometimes I did) but with no loss of needed funds.

[tskeeter]

Nov 30, 2016 23:37:57 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Can someone tell me what advantage there is to using a debit card?  I only use my card as an ATM, other wise I use either cash or credit.  Even though the money does get replaced, the repercussions of this are do much more of a pain in the ass than a credit card.

I don't think there is any advantage to using a debit card.  With a debit card, the money comes out of your account immediately, instead of once a month when you make your credit card payment.  Your credit card limits your fraud losses to $50, while, as I understand it, there is no limit to your losses due to fraudulent use of your debit card.  (I believe that banks usually forgive fraudulent charges on debit cards, but they are not legally obligated to do so.). Now, why would I use a debit card instead of a credit card?

[Tiny]

Nov 30, 2016 23:37:57 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Can someone tell me what advantage there is to using a debit card?  I only use my card as an ATM, other wise I use either cash or credit.  Even though the money does get replaced, the repercussions of this are do much more of a pain in the ass than a credit card.

I personally don't see the advantage to using a debit card - in place of a credit card for all your shopping needs... but, then I have several credit cards AND I have a budget (of sorts) that I follow/use/plan around  fairly religiously.   I also have some $$ as a 'cushion' or an emergency fund.

That said,  from what I gather from relatives and friends  here's some benefits that might be worth the pain that often comes with using the debit card as a credit card:

1.) if you don't have overdraft protection - the card cuts you off when there's no money in your account.  Apparently this how some people 'budget' - if they spend money until there isn't any left.   (this isn't necessarily a bad thing... depending on how you pay your bills).

2.) It might be 'familiar' and so you just keep doing what you did in college (when mom/dad set you up with a debit card versus a credit card).   Doing the same old same old can be comforting. 

I've had friends/relatives who only use a debit card (they may or may not have a credit card <-- because they've been brainwashed to think credit cards are EVIL and just looking at one will imperial their immortal soul  -- they don't have any financial reasons to fear CCs - they just took all the "CCs are EVIL" seriously and never figured out how it all actually works   Not everyone who doesn't have a CC feels this way.  I understand that.  There's lots of valid reasons why someone wouldn't have a CC   I'm just relating how the people in my life feel about credit cards.). 

I'm pretty sure each of them has gone thru the pain/inconvenience/expense of having their checking account raided - possibly several times.    But, they won't give up the daily use of their debit card. 

I've gone thru the hassle of having my Credit Card used without my authorization (ie stolen or hacked or whatever) and it was a minor inconvenience that wasted about an hour of my time and I suffered no financial loss.   I'm pro Credit Card.

[Tiny]

Dec 1, 2016 11:48:32 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

Your bank can give you a letter to share with the companies whose payments might get bounced because of the hack.

Ask me how I know..

I now have 2 debit cards. One is for an account I only use for shopping and I only keep an amount equal to whatever I spent in there. It has been hacked several times (sometimes the bank caught it, sometimes I did) but with no loss of needed funds.

I think this is the solution my credit card/debt fearing nephew eventually settled on.  Having 2 checking accounts - one he uses for his everyday money (and when the card gets rejected he's done spending) and then another checking account where his check gets deposited and that he pays bills off of. 

When his daily debt card gets hacked - he just muddles thru until it's fixed - while the rest of his financial life stays on course.

I know of 4 times his daily card got hacked (because he or his parents) would complain loudly and long about what a hassle it is)  - I haven't ever heard that his other account having problems - even though yes it could get hacked. \

Meant to add:  I have no idea if he pays a monthly fee on either of the checking accounts - since most free checking accounts require a minimum daily balance - maybe the number of transactions makes it free - even if the account has a daily minimum balance of less than $10... or maybe even 0$ 

 

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

I know of 4 times his daily card got hacked (because he or his parents) would complain loudly and long about what a hassle it is) - I haven't ever heard that his other account having problems - even though yes it could get hacked. \


Then wouldn't it make more sense to go on a mostly cash basis?  It sounds like the daily expenses is where the card is being put into jeopardy, and if you run your card several times/day, your exposure increases considerably.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

I'm old enough to remember when merchants wouldn't take credit cards for less than a certain dollar amount because of the transaction fees charged by their banks. I think I got in the debit card habit then. I certainly have, and use, credit cards, but mostly just for traveling.

[rob base]

This is how you teleport