Hi all there,
Something unusual occurred me at the restaurant today.
At the moment of the bill, I gave the waitress my debit card specifying that it was a debit card (I needed to type my pin code, IMHO).
She told me that it didn't make any difference and actually...it was true: my debit card was electronically accepted and I have been asked just to sign the acceptance of payment.
I wonder how it is possible/why it is allowed than a debit card work without someone typing the pin code.
What's the difference then, between debit and credit cards If they both can have identical functionalities and use? Why have I to pay an expensive fee for cash withdrawal with my credit card and not with my debit card if they are exactly the same stuff?
I come from Holland and I doubt that I could have used my Dutch debit card in that way, but I can be wrong: never tried....
A more technical question. Does any of you know how the software on network can distinguish between cash, debit and credit card? Do they have 3 different identification marks in the chip/magnetic band?
Just to understand how things work....:-)
Many thanks. Cheers, Fabian