no credit card = no cds :-(

[SatStorm]

I only use visa electron for any payment I do, the last 4 years. I never had a single problem to buy anything online from all around the world.
And with the visa electron card, I have 20 days to confirm or cancel my payments. If you don't follow your account, then if you loose money, you are the one to blame!
So, if someone on ebay charge you 2000 Euros and this is not your action, you can block it, just like that. You must be stupid to loose money that way. But after all, those non credit cards are for mature people and the ones who don't turn to credit for anything on their lives!

I didn't know about those limitations you have in USA with the debit cards. In Europe have for actions the same rights. And, online thiefs don't focus on debit cards, 'cause most of them are used for specific actions and they have low accounts. So what to steal? Personally, I feed that bill only with the money I have to pay to someone. So, even if someone tries to steele from me (never happen yet), he won't find money to get!

Anyway, Visa Electron cards are what the banks don't like most. You have all the rights and you can do all the actions of a common credit card, but you don't have to pay something to the bank for this. Of course, you don't have credit, but why to have credit? Just buy what you have to afford.
Oh, I forgot: We teached by early age to be consumers, right?.
Well, this is a whole different subject. And I strongly believe that from an age and beyond, you stop beying a simply consumer, you have opinion. For those people, debit cards are more suitable.
Anyway, the way I see it, credit (as a whole) is the modern slavery of humanity. And the credit cards are the colar of this slavery!

From the other hand, I'm not American. So, I can't speak for our US friends, nor advice them on anythng. But I can sudgest to the European members: Don't use Credit cards! Use debit ones! It is the same, safer and nobody get richer because of your money.

And, have you ever see a commercial for the "electron" cards? No! You only see commercials for credit cards! Only few people know about them.

[disturbed1]

In the United States, credit cards have certain rights that allow you to dispute charges. Debit cards do not!

First time you get screwed on E-Bay or a shady internet site you will be happy you didn't use a debt card.

Some cards with Visa and MasterCard symbols are not credit cards and will have payments deducted directly from your checking account. These are debit cards. Under federal law, you do not have the right to "charge back" problem purchases to a debit card as you do with a conventional credit card. Also, if a debit card is lost or stolen, you can have unlimited liability for losses if you do not report the problem within 60 days, which is different from the $50 maximum liability on credit cards. (Exception: the $50 limit applies to debit cards as well as to credit cards in Massachusetts.)

http://www.state.ma.us/consumer/Pubs/credsecr.htm

JSB

Not in Ohio (which is where you're from). It mainly depends on the bank and the state you live in. Each state has it's own laws, read the fine print it'll list what is and isn't allowed in certain states.

I've charged back a few purchases with my debit card, and disputed one, which my bank (5th 3rd) took great care of.

The quote you have is from the State of Massachusetts.

Shopping without a Credit Card--

Just call the shop tell them what you want and they'll hold the order until you payment arrives VIA post.

As SatStorm stated a debit card is better for your health. Here in the US anyone can get a prepaid credit card. Even the local shops sell 'em (CVS etc..)

[andydd]

VISA ELECTRON *spits*..arnt they for poor spotty student types ?
Why do a lot of places say they dont accept them ?. How do they differ from normal debit cards ?

[elmotheteapot]

VISA ELECTRON *spits*..arnt they for poor spotty student types ?
Why do a lot of places say they dont accept them ?. How do they differ from normal debit cards ?

Security measures are not as great on Electron cards as they are for stndard Visa, Americna Epxress, Mastercard etc.

[SatStorm]

@andydd: I never was a student, and I never had a good education. Those are previlages of americans and west europeans. We have to work early here to feed ourselfs (also join the army for about 2 years wanted or not, with no payment during this time), so no time for education for us. Only if your parents are rich (or have a job to pass you through at a later age).
What I know I learn it myself, including english (I learn english by watching MTV Europe 15 years ago (and classic cartoons). That's explains why my english sucks also...)
And, I don't know a single place in Europe that don't accept Visa Electron Cards (except Yahoo Italy). Probably, this is a difference between USA and Europe... I can pay anything and everywhere with Electron, don't have to use credit cards for this. Also, I'm able to have my money from any place in Europe. I was in Germany, England and Spain and I was able to have access to my money using any bank ATM and those cards.

The way I see it, Visa Electron Cards don't have "status" and that's the only problem they have.
When the marketing is "teaching us" the last 20 years that specific credit cards have "Status" in our sociaty, it is natural for beliefs like "Security measures are not as great on Electron cards as they are for stndard Visa, Americna Epxress, Mastercard etc".
When you search the truth for those matters, those beliefs fail.

I repait: When you can CANCEL any billing action in 20 DAYS, then how the security is less with the electron cards than the credit cards?
There is always a 20 day delay of any payment, just to prevent this!

I'm talking of course for online use, not when you lost your card, someone found it, you had your pin written on it and took your money from your account. This is a totally stupid thing. Also, if you loose a card and you need more than a day to "discover" the loss, or you are rich, or you have so many credit cards, you gonna work for the bank for your rest of your life to pay back....


And about the security of those cards: Plastic money always is risky whatever card you use. How you use it is what makes the differents.

IMHO always. You may have your thoughts and opinions on this...

[Almak]

...Under federal law, you do not have the right to "charge back" problem purchases to a debit card as you do with a conventional credit card. Also, if a debit card is lost or stolen, you can have unlimited liability for losses if you do not report the problem within 60 days, which is different from the $50 maximum liability on credit cards...

You are talking to someone who had to take almost a year in order to get the charges reversed as well as refunded. Tt isn't as simple anymore, takes years to clear up stolen identity ... even though there is a law against. I can assure you that I don't wish what I had to go through to my worst enemy.

My advice is to get an online account with a bank or with an online cardless payment system which is cheaper and pay from them. Besides, this is much faster than post facilities.