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| Debit cards | |
|---|---|
| Pros | Convenient and widely accepted No annual fees Can help with budgeting Interest-free |
| Cons | Limited fraud protection Spending limit depends on checking account balance Possible overdraft fees Don’t build your credit |
Credit cards give you access to a line of credit issued by a bank, while debit cards deduct money directly from your bank account. Credit cards offer better consumer protections against fraud compared with debit cards linked to a bank account.
- No grace period. Unlike a credit card, a debit card uses funds directly from your checking account. …
- Check book balancing. Balancing your account may be difficult unless you record every debit card transaction.
- Potential fraud. Most financial institutions will try and protect their customer from debit card fraud. …
- Fees.
Not only is a debit card unhelpful in building your credit, it can actually bring your credit score down—if you overdraft and carry a negative balance at your bank, it will show up as another debt on your credit report.
A debit card doesn’t have the same legal protections that a credit card does. … credit card fraud, courtesy of the Federal Trade Commission. Debit Card Fraud: You’re responsible for a maximum of $50 of unauthorized transactions if you report the card as lost or stolen within two business days.
Corley’s research also found that rich people are far more likely to use rewards credit cards. 81% of the rich people he studied used a rewards card, compared to 9% of low-income people.
Many of us use credit cards irresponsibly and end up in debt. However, contrary to popular belief, if you can use the plastic responsibly, you’re actually much better off paying with a credit card than with a debit card and keeping cash transactions to a minimum.
- Avoid fees and service charges. …
- Stay accountable for your spending. …
- Faster payments mean better budgeting. …
- No interest charges. …
- Security. …
- Debit cards are linked to interest-earning accounts. …
- Bank and Merchant Rewards. …
- Lower fees for tax payments with credit cards.
- 10 occasions NOT to use a debit card. Online shopping. …
- Shopping online. …
- Big-ticket items. …
- Deposit required. …
- Restaurants. …
- You’re a new customer. …
- Buy now, take delivery later. …
- Recurring payments.
To get a debit card, you’ll generally need to open a deposit account. Debit cards are most commonly associated with checking accounts, but they may also come with a cash management, savings or money market account.
However, one of the cons of debit cards is that they make spending slightly less convenient for the consumer. Unlike with a credit card, you can’t simply swipe a debit card; you also have to enter a personal identification number (PIN) to prevent others from stealing your card and misusing it.
The unauthorized use of your debit card can deplete your bank account and expose you to identity theft. If your card is lost or stolen, you can limit or eliminate your losses and prevent others from damaging your credit, but you have to act promptly by reporting the misuse of your card.
- Check your bank statements often. …
- Protect your PIN number. …
- Consider avoiding debit card use online. …
- Only use ATMs at a bank. …
- Don’t use public wireless access for financial transactions. …
- Report problems immediately. …
- Consider filing a police report. …
- Create your own security profile.
In general, providing a card security code when you’re shopping online is safe, as long as you’re making purchases from trusted websites. Typically, it’s also OK to give a CVV number over the phone. Just make sure no one is eavesdropping and can hear the numbers.
Debit card payment protection and chargeback Debit card payments and purchases are not covered by section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. But you might be able to make a claim for a refund under a voluntary scheme called ‘chargeback’. This might cover purchases of any value made on debit, credit or prepaid cards.