# Should I use a 'Debit Card' online? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 21, 2004, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-a-debit-card-online/256142 "2004-07-21T05:03:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PaulFitzroy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/2acd7d/32.png) [@PaulFitzroy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulFitzroy)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-a-debit-card-online/256142/1 "2004-07-21T05:03:51Z")
What are the risks involved here? What I want to do is to sign up for a Geocities Pro account and domain name with my debit card, but is this a good idea? ---
**Author:** ![caphis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19adc/32.png) [@caphis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caphis)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-a-debit-card-online/256142/2 "2004-07-21T05:06:00Z")
…yes, this is a fine idea. ---
**Author:** ![PaulFitzroy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/2acd7d/32.png) [@PaulFitzroy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulFitzroy)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-a-debit-card-online/256142/3 "2004-07-21T05:50:05Z")
I need some more advice about this. Can’t debit card information be screwed with on the internet by frauds and cheats, and given to other people and used to take money out of your account? Is the risk higher than credit cards or the same? ---
**Author:** ![caphis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19adc/32.png) [@caphis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caphis)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-a-debit-card-online/256142/4 "2004-07-21T06:11:30Z")
Look, while one should always be concerned with safety and security, this is a transaction where you will have higher odds of being hit by an airplane falling out of the sky. It’s nice to be on the safe side, but the paranoia is unwarranted. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-a-debit-card-online/256142/5 "2004-07-21T06:14:05Z")
A debit card **is** a much higher risk for this simple reason- You’re generally only held accountable for up to $50 of debt from any false charges on your credit card. And because its only a ‘potential’ debt you have plenty of time to work with your credit card issuer to find out what happened. If someone gets your debit card number and starts charging things on it **its the same as using your ATM card!** In other words that money is immediately withdrawn from your checking account. There may be only a $500 or $300 daily limit, but still that money is **gone!** Its not a ‘potential’ debt, it is the same as if it was stolen from your wallet. Your bank and/or card issuer may help, but they are most definitely **not** going to loan or repay you your loss any time soon. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-a-debit-card-online/256142/6 "2004-07-21T06:25:31Z")
I think my VISA debit card has a very low limit on what I am responsible for – if anything – if my card is lost or stolen. They are much better than credit cards because you can use them to order items over the phone but you don’t pay interest and you are more likely to watch how much you spend. When I was in France I found that even the smallest sidewalk cafe accepted VISA for payment so that I didn’t have to carry much cash except for taxis and tips. It’s nice not to have to worry about having enough money when we are dining out here too. I wouldn’t go anywhere without mine…except that it has temporarily been swallowed by the big chair in the living room. At least I know it’s _here_. The first rule of using a debit card is to _immediately_ write down the amount in your checkbook. Don’t procrasinate. ---
**Author:** ![PaulFitzroy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/2acd7d/32.png) [@PaulFitzroy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulFitzroy)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-a-debit-card-online/256142/7 "2004-07-21T06:31:59Z")
Is there likely to be fraud and other trickery involving my card when I use Geocities? Is this a safe proposition? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-a-debit-card-online/256142/8 "2004-07-21T10:03:16Z")
> [@Hail Ants](#): > > Your bank and/or card issuer may help, but they are most definitely **not** going to loan or repay you your loss any time soon. Not true. My bank offers “Zero Liability protection against unauthorized purchases if your card is lost or stolen, as long as you notify us promptly”. [https://smallbiz.fleet.com/cgi-bin/isbsprd.dll/Ctrl.jsp?BV\_SessionID=@@@@0701361097.1090403834@@@@&BV\_EngineID=ccceadcmdefilgjcflecehkdgoldfgj.0&page\_id=PAS\_ATM\_9&fromMod=Search](https://smallbiz.fleet.com/cgi-bin/isbsprd.dll/Ctrl.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0701361097.1090403834@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccceadcmdefilgjcflecehkdgoldfgj.0&page_id=PAS_ATM_9&fromMod=Search) ---
**Author:** ![Martiju](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@Martiju](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martiju)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-a-debit-card-online/256142/9 "2004-07-21T10:40:52Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > Not true. My bank offers “Zero Liability protection against unauthorized purchases if your card is lost or stolen, as long as you notify us promptly”. Yep, mine too. In fact with mine you have up to 24 hours to notify them and potentially wipe any charges made in the meantime. The letter with the card also says that if you discover the loss later, being able to supply a crime number (ie. you’ve reported the loss to the police) is sufficient to protect you. I only have a debit card, and therefore use this for all my online transactions - so far without any problems. It’s worth noting that every time you use the card, any unscrupulous person can take down the details and use them online or by phone for ordering so the internet is actually no more unsafe than any other transaction. J ---
**Author:** ![scm1001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-a-debit-card-online/256142/10 "2004-07-21T11:07:25Z")
here in the UK credit cards give you much greater protection against faulty goods and bad contracts, but both are similar in fraud protection. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-a-debit-card-online/256142/11 "2004-07-21T11:07:39Z")
I use my debit card for 90% of my personal spending and roughly half my bill payments. I compulsively use online banking on an almost daily basis to track my desposits, outgoing checks, recent withdrawals and overall spending. I haven’t used a checkbook in years because I find it easier to print off the balances in my accounts. Debit losses have not been a real problem — not even that time I used my debit in an ATM and it swallowed my $400 withdrawal without actually giving me my money a few months back! ALWAYS call the appropriate financial instituations ASAP. ---
**Author:** ![miamouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ad7895/32.png) [@miamouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miamouse)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-a-debit-card-online/256142/12 "2004-07-21T13:13:57Z")
I am in the middle of dealing with some fraudulent charges on my debit card. Because I am way paranoid about money I check balances about every other day online. Someone had charged about $300 to my debit card for jewelry and some movie tickets. What happened afterwards is this: I called the bank told them about the fraudulent charges, and they gave me a provisional credit until they finish their investigation. So if something does happen, (depending on your bank) you’ll have access to the money again within 48 hours of your reporting it. But then you have to go to the police and make a police report too. The only online purchases I made were through Disney, Oriental Trading, and NYC parking fines. (All established, secure sites). One bank rep said that it probably happened through a non bank ATM or when I went to buy gas. When I did think about it, 2 days before the charges started showing up, I had used one of those tiny ATMs in a Deli to make a withdrawal. I would say in retrospect, if someone got your credit card number, you’re only out ‘credit’ money, but there is a greater potential for damage, possibly in the thousands of dollars. However, with a debit card, your liability is only limited to the amount you keep in your checking account. Even after I said all of that, if you’re using a reputable, secure site, there should be no more risk than you take when you hand your card over to the kid at Home Depot to swipe. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-a-debit-card-online/256142/13 "2004-07-21T15:25:22Z")
I have regularly used my debit card online for over five years. I have never had a problem. I have never held a credit card so every purchase I’ve ever made over the net was with my debit card. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-a-debit-card-online/256142/14 "2004-07-21T15:34:01Z")
I’ll take Checking With The FTC for $200, Alex. > [@](#): > > ATM or Debit Card Loss or Fraudulent Transfers (EFTA). **Your liability under federal law for unauthorized use of your ATM or debit card depends on how quickly you report the loss.** If you report an ATM or debit card missing before it’s used without your permission, the EFTA says the card issuer cannot hold you responsible for any unauthorized transfers. If unauthorized use occurs before you report it, your liability under federal law depends on how quickly you report the loss. > > For example, if you report the loss within two business days after you realize your card is missing, you will not be responsible for more than $50 for unauthorized use. However, if you don’t report the loss within two business days after you discover the loss, you could lose up to $500 because of an unauthorized transfer. You also risk unlimited loss if you fail to report an unauthorized transfer within 60 days after your bank statement containing unauthorized use is mailed to you. That means you could lose all the money in your bank account and the unused portion of your line of credit established for overdrafts. However, for unauthorized transfers involving only your debit card number (not the loss of the card), you are liable only for transfers that occur after 60 days following the mailing of your bank statement containing the unauthorized use and before you report the loss. > > If unauthorized transfers show up on your bank statement, report them to the card issuer as quickly as possible. Once you’ve reported the loss of your ATM or debit card, you cannot be held liable for additional unauthorized transfers that occur after that time. [Facts For Consumers - Credit, ATM and Debit Cards: What to do if They’re Lost or Stolen](http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/atmcard.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Leonard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a6a055/32.png) [@Leonard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leonard)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-a-debit-card-online/256142/15 "2004-07-21T16:11:44Z")
> [@PaulFitzroy](#): > > Is there likely to be fraud and other trickery involving my card when I use Geocities? Is this a safe proposition? Should be fine. (As long as you get to the site yourself and not through a link in an email, heh.) Be sure to check that the form you are filling out is secure (URL starts with https: and not just http:) so that the info can’t be intercepted on the way there and you should have no troubles. ---
**Author:** ![Jpeg\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4bbf92/32.png) [@Jpeg\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jpeg_Jones)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-a-debit-card-online/256142/16 "2004-07-21T16:46:07Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > Not true. My bank offers “Zero Liability protection against unauthorized purchases if your card is lost or stolen, as long as you notify us promptly”. But what if they mean “Zero (Liability protection)” instead of “(Zero Liability) protection”? ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-a-debit-card-online/256142/17 "2004-07-21T20:32:14Z")
> [@cazzle](#): > > I have regularly used my debit card online for over five years. I have never had a problem. I have never held a credit card so every purchase I’ve ever made over the net was with my debit card. Ditto, FWIW. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-a-debit-card-online/256142/18 "2004-07-21T22:12:31Z")
The worst case scenario is probably as follows, give or take: 1. The vendor you do business with gets hacked, compromising your card. 2. The vendor informs your bank. Your debit card is shut down late Friday afternoon. 3. Your debit card is also your only ATM card and your only debit card. You were about to hit the ATM for gas money to go visit your mom, but now you’re stuck at home until you can get to the bank on Monday. A similar situation befell me in college. My solution after that incident was to always keep two separate cash acquisition solutions available. If one goes out, the other remains available. In my situation though, the problem was that through ineptitude, the nice people at a company that sold pagers on the web charged me three times for a single purchase. At $300 per instance against an account with $700 in it, I was effectively out of cash (and overdrawn) until the refund to my account processed Monday at midnight. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-a-debit-card-online/256142/19 "2004-07-22T02:04:45Z")
Using a debit card doesn’t make it **more likely** that it will be comprised than using a credit card. Its just that the consequences can be worse **if** it is. I guess banks have recognized their popularity and are providing more coverage for fraud. And I have told people all along that using any credit card online is far safer than using one over the phone. Using it online you’ve essentially got the security that vendors do when they swipe it at their terminals. Compare this to having to say your number, out loud, over the phone to a minimum wage cube slave who then repeats it, out loud, right next to six other cube slaves. 😃 The only advantage to using a debit is you don’t pay any interest. Well, frankly, big deal. As long as you pay off your credit card charges quickly you’re not going to pay much (or any) interest either. And, for me, it simply comes down to this. False credit card charges are ultimately nothing more than numbers on a piece of paper. False debit card charges are real funds immediately stolen from you. Worst case senario: You don’t report debit card abuse quickly enough and you are out $1000 and you’ve got bills to pay. Basically, you’re f\*\*\*ed. Compare this to worst case with a credit card where you just have to straighten out things with one biller and you both have a paper trail to follow and plenty of time to do it. Bottom line, no matter how safe its supposed to be, a debit card can be the keys to your bank account. A credit card cannot.