# Do you use your debit card w/ a CC logo as a CC or DC? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 30, 2004, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-debit-card-w-a-cc-logo-as-a-cc-or-dc/277391 "2004-11-30T21:43:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-debit-card-w-a-cc-logo-as-a-cc-or-dc/277391/1 "2004-11-30T21:43:26Z")
Just curious, when faced w/ the option, do you choose to process a transaction as a CC (and sign) or debit (and enter your PIN\*)? This is for people who use a debit card and has a choice, not for those who choose between using a DC or a different CC. I can’t answer as I don’t use my DC. - Ok, for those who like redundancy, please replace the word “PIN” with “PIN number”. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-debit-card-w-a-cc-logo-as-a-cc-or-dc/277391/2 "2004-11-30T21:57:19Z")
Debit, because I hate signing the little slips and having to sort thorugh them later. ---
**Author:** ![badbadrubberpiggy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/57b2e6/32.png) [@badbadrubberpiggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badbadrubberpiggy)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-debit-card-w-a-cc-logo-as-a-cc-or-dc/277391/3 "2004-11-30T21:57:58Z")
I always use the Debit Card option, unless for some reason it’s not working and I HAVE to use credit. Or for online purchases - you always have to use credit, not debit, at least that’s been my experience. ---
**Author:** ![Roland\_Orzabal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@Roland\_Orzabal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roland_Orzabal)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-debit-card-w-a-cc-logo-as-a-cc-or-dc/277391/4 "2004-11-30T21:58:25Z")
I always use credit, for two reasons. One, it saves me having to enter my PIN every time I use the card. Two, once in a rare while, the bank will charge you some piddling fee if you use debit, in which case “debit or credit?” becomes “would you like to give the bank a dollar for no reason?”, and no. No, I would not. ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-debit-card-w-a-cc-logo-as-a-cc-or-dc/277391/5 "2004-11-30T22:01:19Z")
Debit. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-debit-card-w-a-cc-logo-as-a-cc-or-dc/277391/6 "2004-11-30T22:05:07Z")
> [@Roland Orzabal](#): > > I always use credit, for two reasons. One, it saves me having to enter my PIN every time I use the card. Two, once in a rare while, the bank will charge you some piddling fee if you use debit, in which case “debit or credit?” becomes “would you like to give the bank a dollar for no reason?”, and no. No, I would not. Ditto. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-debit-card-w-a-cc-logo-as-a-cc-or-dc/277391/7 "2004-11-30T22:16:45Z")
Credit. My bank charges the outrageous amount of seventy-five cents per debit transaction. _Seventy-five cents!!!_ ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-debit-card-w-a-cc-logo-as-a-cc-or-dc/277391/8 "2004-11-30T23:01:32Z")
Debit, usually. I don’t get charged for debit transactions and I prefer to enter my PIN rather than sign a slip of paper as it’s much faster. ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-debit-card-w-a-cc-logo-as-a-cc-or-dc/277391/9 "2004-11-30T23:05:49Z")
I usually use the “credit” option because, for some reason, it’s easier to see what the payments are on my bank statement. Debit payments are harder to spot. But, if it’s a smaller, local store, I try to make sure to use “debit”. Stores have to pay a fee to Visa or Mastercard if the card is used as a credit card… ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-debit-card-w-a-cc-logo-as-a-cc-or-dc/277391/10 "2004-11-30T23:11:24Z")
> [@tremorviolet](#): > > But, if it’s a smaller, local store, I try to make sure to use “debit”. Stores have to pay a fee to Visa or Mastercard if the card is used as a credit card… This is what I was going to say. Actually, debit cards cost them a fee as well, but it’s significantly smaller. Although, if I’m at a gas station, I use it as a credit card because then I don’t have to do anything, whereas if I say debit I have to type in my pin. ---
**Author:** ![caphis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19adc/32.png) [@caphis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caphis)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-debit-card-w-a-cc-logo-as-a-cc-or-dc/277391/11 "2004-11-30T23:34:13Z")
Credit. Often I don’t have to sign anything (gas, fast food, online obviously), and to be perfectly honest, I’m not sure if I even know my PIN number anymore… and wouldn’t I look foolish then? Besides, signing the electronic pad is easier than trying to tap out individual numbers on it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-debit-card-w-a-cc-logo-as-a-cc-or-dc/277391/12 "2004-11-30T23:40:23Z")
> [@UrbanChic](#): > > Credit. My bank charges the outrageous amount of seventy-five cents per debit transaction. _Seventy-five cents!!!_ Credit, for the same reason, except the fee is fifty cents. I do use a small local credit union for my banking, though - my previous bank (had to change. I moved and there are no branches within about 500 miles of here) never charged me a fee for using it as a debit. ---
**Author:** ![Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilvert_s_Pagan)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-debit-card-w-a-cc-logo-as-a-cc-or-dc/277391/13 "2004-12-01T00:41:26Z")
I only use mine as an ATM card, unless I’m buying gas in Oregon. :rolleyes: I have a separate MC card for credit purchases, but only in places that don’t take Amex. ---
**Author:** ![easy\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/eb8c5e/32.png) [@easy\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/easy_e)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-debit-card-w-a-cc-logo-as-a-cc-or-dc/277391/14 "2004-12-01T00:50:01Z")
I mostly use the credit option, but I will use “debit” if I’m at Target or Walgreens and want to get cash back. My credit union is 250 miles from here, and if I don’t remember to take out money at the surcharge-free ATM at work, it’s my only other no-fee way to get cash. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-debit-card-w-a-cc-logo-as-a-cc-or-dc/277391/15 "2004-12-01T00:55:59Z")
My credit union doesn’t charge me a fee either way, but I usually use the debit option for my own convenience. In fact, about the only time I use it as a credit card is when we eat out. ---
**Author:** ![Amazingrace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8edcca/32.png) [@Amazingrace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazingrace)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-debit-card-w-a-cc-logo-as-a-cc-or-dc/277391/16 "2004-12-01T01:43:43Z")
Credit, unless I want to get cash back. I have **easy e** ’s problem avoiding surcharges. ---
**Author:** ![grettle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@grettle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grettle)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-debit-card-w-a-cc-logo-as-a-cc-or-dc/277391/17 "2004-12-01T02:15:43Z")
I use mine as a credit card, always. My bank is either too small or just doesn’t care, but our debit cards cannot be run as debit cards, it will be an “invalid transaction” and they have to rerun it as a CC. It’s too bad, because getting extra money back from a purchase is free, while ATM surcharges are ridiculous. (not to mention the extra fee my bank charges if i use an ATM that isn’t theirs. . . ) ---
**Author:** ![shamrock227](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@shamrock227](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shamrock227)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-debit-card-w-a-cc-logo-as-a-cc-or-dc/277391/18 "2004-12-01T02:22:02Z")
> [@Roland Orzabal](#): > > I always use credit, for two reasons. One, it saves me having to enter my PIN every time I use the card. Two, once in a rare while, the bank will charge you some piddling fee if you use debit, in which case “debit or credit?” becomes “would you like to give the bank a dollar for no reason?”, and no. No, I would not. Ditto. ---
**Author:** ![ShadiRoxan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@ShadiRoxan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadiRoxan)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-debit-card-w-a-cc-logo-as-a-cc-or-dc/277391/19 "2004-12-01T02:46:20Z")
We go through a military credit union. For some reason their cards are rarely accepted as debit anywhere. I just run it through as credit now out of habit. It’s really annoying though when I want to get cash back. What confuses me even more is that I can’t use it as a debit even in military stores like the commissary. You’d figure they’d have it set up so that it at least worked there. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-debit-card-w-a-cc-logo-as-a-cc-or-dc/277391/20 "2004-12-01T02:55:07Z")
> [@shamrock227](#): > > Ditto. Heyyyy… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-debit-card-w-a-cc-logo-as-a-cc-or-dc/277391.md?page=2)