My boyfriend and I had a similar problem when I used his card to print out a USPS shipping label. The printer had problems so I didn't manage to get it printed. The website mentions that if you click "No", that it didn't get printed properly, that it will not charge your card and take you back to your online shopping cart. However, in the e-mail it lets you know that your card is charged and will be refunded 2-10 days later. All it took was a five minute talk with the bank (Huntington)- and a quick check on the website to corroborate that the wording was iffy- to make sure no overage charges would be applied in the meantime, and everything's been hunky-dory so far. They even gave the boyfriend a copy of his current statement with a signature and explanation from the manager, in case we had to go back later and explain to another less-understanding CSR about what was going on.

If you do need to use a debit card (which does happen sometimes whether Consumerists want to admit it or not), talk to your bank first, so that you're not getting hammered with late fees on top of your issues with the company at hand.

Freebooter Fox

Mike8813

Debit cards have been trouble since they first came out (take it from consumer advocate clark howard... who warned me off of them years ago). Sure... they HAVE gotten much better, but a credit card just cant be beat when it comes to protection.

And if you are not responsible enough to used a credit card .... well.... go ahead & take your chances using a debit card that is linked to all the money in your checking account.

Thems the breaks! *shrug*

forgottenpassword

Other than an annual fee, there is no direct cost difference between a CC and debit card. The cost difference only comes in to play with late payments or overdraft charges. And it seems to me, that both are the responsibility of the card holder -- UNLESS some inept merchant overcharges your debit card (steals your money) and you're hit with the overdraft charge. This will not happen with a CC. You get to dispute the charge before paying it.

1) With a CC, you're out $50 (maximum) if a fraudulent charge hits your card ([www.ftc.gov]). With a debit card, you could be liable for up to $500.

2) With a CC, a bad merchant can't take your money, just your line of credit. But with a debit card (even the VISA Zero Liability), the money is taken from your checking account! And you don't have the money anymore.

3) With a CC, you don't have to pay the charge until the merchant can prove that you owe the money. But with a debit card, you're money is gone and YOU have to prove it was an error or fraud! You may get ping-pong'ed by the merchant and your bank.

So, bottom line: I would recommend a CC over a debit card to anyone that can get one -- even with an annual fee.

t-r0y

Very well put.

JustThatGuy3

And for everybody smugging about how YOUR credit cards don't cost you ANY money because you are PERFECT consumers... people with less than $75 dollars in their checking account tend not to get the choice offers. When I was making that little money I couldn't even get a card without an annual fee.

The young and the poor deserve to be treated with respect too, by corporations and by this site.

Kajj

Do a GIS for Borat DVD and check out some of the images on the first page of results.

the-wanderer

With a credit card, you are not actually losing your money because you haven't paid the credit card company yet. That makes it much safer since you are not actually out any money, whereas with a debit card, that money is tied up and unable to be used for an emergency that may arise while the bank dithers over whether or not fraud was committed.

EyeHeartPie

psm321

MBZ321

t-r0y

Lucky225

me and the sysop

steveliv

TPS Reporter

Why borrow when you can just pay? Well, when you can borrow at 0% interest, get better rewards (1.5% cash back in my case), and get better protections (if there's a dispute, the money's in MY pocket until it's resolved), I'll go ahead and borrow, thanks.

JustThatGuy3

anarcurt

That troubled me...

Mike8813

hogfan11

@t-r0y:
That's exactly what I was thinking. Using a debit card at one of these machines is basically giving the machine your account info, and authorizing it to withdraw whatever money is required to pay for the movie. You are leaving an open-ended transaction in the machine's memory that isn't closed until you return the movie. On a credit card, this is no problem since all the buyers' protections come into play, but with a debit card, you are giving an automated machine direct, open-ended access to your bank account.

EyeHeartPie

This sounds like a real fly-by-night company. I definitely wouldn't do business with them, but I have heard good things about Redbox. If there was one in my office, I'd use it a lot. I don't go to the grocery store frequently enough to make it work that way.

Always, always, always keep a buffer in checking account. Sometimes that means enduring a little hardship. It's worth the trouble. Unless you've got some sort of magic (and free) overdraft protection that automatically feeds your checking account from savings if you have an overdraft.

Troy F.

Yeah because obviously someone who has less than $75 in their checking account doesn't deserve an evening or three's relaxation of a rented movie for a DOLLAR oh seven.

/sarcasm

Go back to trolling the World of Warcraft forums.

I would also take this to your Bank, and explained the charge of $70+ was an unauthorized charge.

TakingItSeriously

dragonfire81

Fivetop

As for the 'clearing up debt', use a check or cash. If those aren't an option, then maybe the purchase is a luxury (DVD rentals).

I agree that the problem is with the rental company, and to some extent the bank, but the point most of us 'debit card' bashers are trying to make is debit cards offer almost no protection and don't let you keep your money while a charge is being disputed.

The "Don't use a debit card" dictum does get old, but apparently we have more souls to save.

t-r0y

dragonfire81

Sadly this is the exception in today's world. To get most issues solved properly it will take at LEAST two or three calls. Let's hear it for outsourcing.

dragonfire81

just another thought, if the store from which these dvds were rented has their logo on the machine, you may want to call that store's corporate office to complain. maybe they can help you gain some traction against "the new release"

mabus

PlanetExpressdelivery

Are you the same ones who when talking about clearing up debt, saying one should cut up all credit cards till debt is payed off? Could the OP be using this tactic and thus only have a debit card?

Could the OP forgot their credit card and decided to use a debit card this one time?

Point is there a number of reasons why the OP might have not used a CC and everyone piling on isn't addressing the people that are actually in the wrong...The rental company and possibly the bank if they don't work with her on the overdraft.

------------------------------
That all being said the poster needs to realize that not all machines in supermarkets are owned by the same company. Saying you will never use them again is not being fair to the other companies, such as red box who have been excellent whenever I have used them. If the poster had a bad experience at a grocery store they wouldn't swear off all grocery stores they would find a competitor. If a competitor is available I would suggest the OP not shun it just because it is a machine.

Tmoney02

ColoradoShark

kmn842

t-r0y

SpenceMan01

winstonthorne

Sure, credit cards give you better protection, but I hate using credit cards (interest, annual fees, credit impact) when I could just use the money I already have in my bank account. Most banks offer similar protection with your debit cards when they are processed as credit cards (not all, but a lot do, even my crummy bank). Why borrow when you could just pay?

stopNgoBeau

Credit cards, for the win!

blackmage439

Because it wanted that, or my clothes, my boots, and my motorcycle.

Scuba Steve

Of course, USAA doesn't work with us on overdrafts. It practically throws the money back at us before we can fully explain. I *heart* USAA.

chrisjames

azntg

EyeHeartPie

Debit cards have their places and uses. Automated machines are not one of them.

Oh and find a new bank. $65 overdrafts? Did the bank charge you an overdraft fee, another overdraft fee for that overdraft fee and just one more time for good measures before they capped it?

azntg

This is good to know though, I use those machines a lot. I guess I'll make sure to use my Amex and keep my fingers crossed.

RagingBoehner

the bank fee is probably 30 - 35 dollars so the total in the bank account would be ~$30

again, ask your bank to waive the fee. when that doesnt work, threaten to cancel the account, they will waive it.

anonvmoos

HAHA. That's a great joke to read first thing on Monday morning. What bank would ever "work with you" while you're waiting for something?

thesabre

did you try asking your bank? sometimes they waive fees if you are nice.

anonvmoos

steveliv