MovieChat Forums > General Discussion > Debit cards are useless.

Debit cards are useless.

posted 4 years ago by [deleted]
33 replies | jump to latest

Several years ago, my debit card was stolen when I accidentally dropped it. I learned my lesson and became extra careful stashing it. My bank also was careful, and sent me a new one every two years, with the bullshit "chip" security feature that supposedly was going to make it extra secure. Well, guess what? Earlier this year, my debit card was hacked in spite of me never having lost it and being careful where and how I used it.

After that happened, I pretty much stopped using this card except on a handful of occasions and at trusted retailers. And guess what? I found out this morning that it got hacked again. That's not the worst part. I got phished the day after it was hacked, with someone using an 877 number and Capital One as the caller ID.

What is the point in using a debit card anymore? Might as well go back to cash.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Most of the time, if it's at all convenient, if I need to buy something, or need to make a transaction of any kind, online, I'll get a loadable credit card and use that instead. I understand they're available in many retail stores, I think Wal-Mart calls them 'Green Cards'.

After proof reading this, I noticed that I use a heluva lot of commas. That first line was confusing and I wrote it! Still, it looks like they were appropriate.
What do you think?

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

In terms of commas, you've run into that same problem everyone else has, which is to put in commas where we usually pause when speaking. I understood your post, though.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Yeah it's so hard to express everything in a text that people normally do with body language and voice.

[–] actionkamen (23176) 4 years ago

You can spice it up with long dash —like this— instead of commas.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Yeah I should check out the options.

[–] kspkap (13018) 4 years ago

Ellipsis or Ellipses would work for the pause effect. Therefore the inflection would come through.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Elli who? 😮😉

[–] kspkap (13018) 4 years ago

Aunt Elli? Or Elli Mae?

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Elli Mae of course ;)

[–] ShogunofYonkers (71444) 4 years ago

Sorry this happened to you
My debit card was hacked last year so I feel your pain...the phone call with the bank (actually a nice enough Indian call center person that I could barely understand) took an hour and getting a new card took about 5 days:/

If these crafty bastard criminals would just behave they'd have no problem earning a decent living

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

That is unfortunate. I have not had these problems yet. I used the debit card everyday and don't even think about it.

[–] slimone (7996) 4 years ago

Hope you got your debit card replaced! I had my backpack stolen several years ago and I had to go to the bank and get my credit, debit card, and driver's license replaced. It was a real headache going to the DMV, having to wait in line even though I made an appointment!

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

I did get it replaced, but I won't be using it because apparently, it can be hacked even when you keep it as safe as possible and only use it at the most trustworthy retailers.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

The line at the DMV bites. And then when you get to the counter the attendant(?) is usually hateful and dismissive if not hostile.
It couldn't be done online? I haven't been to the DMV in probably a decade or so.

[–] LauraGrace (15570) 4 years ago

Just put the chip under our skin already.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Do you suppose the vet could do it while your dog gets it's shots?

[–] LauraGrace (15570) 4 years ago

Pediatricians

[–] chilone (17252) 4 years ago

Yeah, then that gets hacked an voila! Surgery. Not for me.

[–] nyctc7 (41194) 4 years ago

If one has a credit card then I don't understand using a debit card. If your credit card gets compromised, it's not money out of your bank account.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Because people don't like to buy things on credit.

[–] AndyKing1967 (33737) 4 years ago

I have never paid a penny of interest on a credit card in my life. Simply set up a direct debit to pay your credit card in full every month. As long as you use your credit card the same way you would have used your debit card, no worries. The only difference is that you get full protection on your credit card purchases.

Ta-daa!

[–] GlenEllyn (21068) 4 years ago

I pay mine off every month, too. I don't do direct debit though. I prefer to make the payment when I'm ready. I have friends who have had trouble with auto-payments being deducted twice, which really messed up other payments, followed by the ensuing hassle to get it fixed. I'll stick to making payments myself.

[–] nyctc7 (41194) 4 years ago

^This. (I do use auto payment)

If I was in a situation where I needed to use a CC for...credit, I would use a second card, and continue to use the first card as a "debit" card, paying in full every month.

[–] AndyKing1967 (33737) 4 years ago

Honestly, I run a financial consultancy and have done for 20 years, so hopefully I know what I’m talking about. You’re doing exactly the right thing.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

i second this.
credit cards get a bad rap, & perhaps they are a trap for people on limited incomes or for those with impulse control problems, but for most they're a great tool. i put every single purchase i make on my cards & pay them in full every payday. it's a very simple way of managing your finances. i know what my spending should be every two weeks, & it's very simple to look at my cc balance & see where i've come in.

not to mention i've bought tons & tons of books & movie tickets over the years with the points i've earned on my cards.

[–] GlenEllyn (21068) 4 years ago

Exactly - with a credit card no money disappears from your account. Some institutions replace the money quickly. Others drag it out.

My credit card has been compromised twice. I'm not sure how because I've never lost my card. One time I was the first to notice bogus charges on it. The only thing I had to do was file an affidavit stating the charges were not mine. That's it. The other time my bank notified me that they had reason to believe my info had been stolen. Both times they canceled the old card and immediately sent me a new one.

[–] Keelai (31797) 4 years ago

I noticed that some store/restaurant clerks take an extra long time looking at the credit card. One clerk was literally writing numbers down.

I stopped having problems by not having them handle my card. I try to swipe myself or use cash.

[–] kspkap (13018) 4 years ago

Here ya go!

https://primetips.net/2019/listicle/en/more/guardcard/

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

I don't understand how these things are supposed to work. At some point or the other, you have to take out your card to use at a machine, so how do you stop the skimmer from stealing your details then?

Anyway, there's a better way of preventing yourself from losing your life savings to an attack. Have it so that any transactions that are more than what you have in your account is blocked, and never keep more than, say, $50 or more in it. This works because the first thing hackers do is try to withdraw, like, $100 at a clip or something.

[–] kspkap (13018) 4 years ago

Most of the illegal scanning occurs when the card is still in your pocket or handbag. Women have a tendency to hang their handbag on the chair back, or on the floor. Shoulder/crossbody bags are an easy target due to us shifting it out of the way when we need two hands free. Not so much with card in hand and quickly inserting it into the scanner. This is why our billfolds/wallets have the RFID chips in them. I also have several handbags with the RFID chip. I had to store away my beautiful matching wallets to the handbags....no RFID chip. I think I can purchase after market chips so I’m going to search for them.

BTW, never, ever use your card as a debit card at a gas station....choose the credit option. Also, lock your passenger doors when exiting vehicle to pump gas. There has been an increase in handbag snatching due to gaining entrance from the unlocked passenger door. I immediately lock all doors when exiting my truck.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

I have never used a handbag a day in my life, just a military style backpack which I can't see a skimmer seeing as a potential target. I don't drive, either, and only use my cards at trusted retailers (pharmacy chains, supermarkets, warehouse clubs). All of this is why I don't have faith in these cards anymore. I'm the most careful when it comes to these things and don't carry anything that looks like it could have a card in it but got hit twice in one year.

But thanks for the tips, anyway. They're sound now, but at the rate these hackers are going, I think they'll be rendered meaningless in a few years.

[–] BillHicksFan (10092) 4 years ago

Cash