Debit card used as a credit card?

Either the restaurant doesn't have chip and pin yet, or your card doesn't have it, or the waitress overrode the chip and pin thing.

With a debit card, the money comes out of your account immediately. With a credit card, you get a bill once a month for all the payments you make.

A credit card also gives you better protection under the consumer credit act if the retailer fails to honour the terms of the contract, or goes bust.

The first 4 numbers of 16 digit card number tells them what type of card it is.

your debit card perhaps has Visa or something on it so it is the same to the retailer as a Visa credit card ?

Phil

My HSBC debit card has "debit card" written on it. Displayed networks are Maestro on the front and Cirrus on the back.

I forgot mentioning that I phoned HSBC customer service too. The guy ensured me that the payment was correctly registered in my account and it was: it resulted as a debit card payment (charged the same day of my restaurant visit). He justified the payment method with the fact that they could have been without "electronic device" but they had it and I also believe they use the same "electronic device" for credit and debit cards. Don't they use it for checking lost/stolen/frozen cards ingeneral?

I also doubt that it is legal using a debit card as credit even if it is technically possible (and why they make it technically possible?).

Don't you consider debit cards more secure than credit c.?

No, less secure if anything.

Not exactly. It may be as far as receiving the money, but the cost to the retailer is less for a Debit Card than for a Credit Card. Debit Cards are usually a fixed fee, whilst a Debit Card usually has a percentage fee.

DF

First 4 digits on card determine what type of card it is. Eric

Why? Everyone can sign with you name, but noone (is supposed to) know your pin number.

They are not exactly the same. With a credit card you receive the cash 'on credit' and settle up at a later date, hence the fee. With a debit card the money is taken from your account on the spot.

You seem to be confusing credit and debit cards with the means of authorisation. Both credit and debit cards can be chip and pin cards. I have an Egg credit card and a clydesdale bank debit card that both use chip and pin.

Implementation of chip and pin is patchy so far and can be over-ruled. I rarely use my credit card and recently forgot the number. The retailer (PC World) said thats no problem I can get you to sign it.

Neb

But my issue is not that they have used it as a credit card instead of debit card (I was also correctly charged on the spot as it's supposed to happen with a debit card) but that the restaurant was able to ignore/skip my pin number (that I consider a nice extra security countermeasure) and charge an amount on my account.

What is the pin number for, then? Is it an optional freaky accessory? It's just for cash dispensers?

Fabian

The retailer may not have a chip reader, in which case they'll swipe it and ask you to sign.

why should it not be legal, one of the benefits of Switch and Delta cards was that they could be used in places that accepted credit cards. I find it very useful, personally.

no, the former flies straight out of a bank account the latter can be scrutinised and queried before the money leaves me.

Phil

its for devices with keypads and the necessary software, a signature is an alternative and until recently was the only way of using plastic cards to buy things here.

Phil

At 15:49:49 on 22/05/2005, Fabian delighted uk.finance by announcing:

They are not set up to accept EMV transactions yet, presumably.

With a credit card, you pay using someone else's money which you then pay them back according to a credit agreement. With a debit card, you pay using your own money straight from your bank account.

The account number indicates the issuer and type of card.

e.g. 4929 is a Barclaycard VISA credit card. 5301 is a Barclaycard Mastercard credit card (IIRC). I think 4544 is a Barclays Connect (VISA Delta) debit card (again, IIRC).

At 16:56:20 on 22/05/2005, Fabian delighted uk.finance by announcing:

No. Credit cards offer more protection to the account holder.

At 18:06:04 on 22/05/2005, Fabian delighted uk.finance by announcing:

That has nothing to do with debit or credit cards per se. If the merchant is not EMV capable then you will sign instead of using PIN whether you use a debit or credit card. If they are capable, and your card has a chip and is PIN enabled, you will use your PIN.

The security is down to the legal protection offered under the Consumer Credit Act which does not apply to debit cards in the same way as credit cards.

At 17:42:06 on 22/05/2005, David Floyd delighted uk.finance by announcing:

Not necessarily so, as you illustrate in your next statement.

In message , Fabian writes

What do you think the signature strip is for then? Chip & Pin is v.new for retailers and is not fully rolled out by any means.

On none chip & pin cards, then yes.

In message , Fabian writes

The retailer may not be using Chip & Pin yet. nothing sinister abut that.

The debit card takes the dosh immediately from your bank account. The card function has no element of 'borrowing' although the transaction might cause borrowing on the bank account.

A 'Credit Card' is a credit transaction, and the Credit Card coimpany 'lends' you the dosh right away. OK, they waive interest charges if you pay on time, but its still subject to the Consumer Credit Act.

Why should there be any need to have a different functionality?

They ARENT the same stuff. The Credit Card Co decides it wants to charge you for lending you money to enable you to draw cahs. Thats it. If you dont like it, you dont have to have the card.

Suggets you try and see what happens. I can use my UK Devit & Credit cards in Holland no probolem, and the retailers make no distinction between the two.

Yes. There are some others who post on this group who know the precise details, Alex for example.