Does MSE have an infatuation with Debit Cards.

reclusive46

billbennett wrote: »

But then I wouldn't have the fun of watching the guys in my local chinese restaurant trying to work their clunk-clunk machine when I pay with an Amex

Haha they still use that?

Celeste_Silvermoon

Best thing is to go back to using cash and writing cheques and make the banks work a bit harder.

Anthorn

I think a lot of people appear to be confused over the difference between an online and offline debit card.

The vast majority of debit cards are in fact online debit cards: It is used at a P.O.S. to pay for something or at an ATM and the money is immediately taken out of the related bank account. Online debit cards are not in fact solely reserved for those with bad credit.

An offline debit card is like having short-term credit and the money is taken out of the related bank account in a few days and not immediately.

So which is better? An online card is usually limited only by the funds in the account whereas an offline card may have a daily spending limit. An online card may allow an additional withdrawal in cash at the P.O.S. known as cashback which is unlikely to be available with an offline card.

In a nutshell, an online debit card contacts the bank to get authorisation and the offline debit card doesn't.

Personally, I'd rather have an online debit card. Probably the one and only reason to have an offline debit card is if you want to use it somewhere that doesn't have a connection with the bank, trains and boats and planes. But if you already know you can't use it in such places you would take cash with you.

reclusive46

Anthorn wrote: »

I think a lot of people appear to be confused over the difference between an online and offline debit card.

The vast majority of debit cards are in fact online debit cards: It is used at a P.O.S. to pay for something or at an ATM and the money is immediately taken out of the related bank account. Online debit cards are not in fact solely reserved for those with bad credit.

An offline debit card is like having short-term credit and the money is taken out of the related bank account in a few days and not immediately.

So which is better? An online card is usually limited only by the funds in the account whereas an offline card may have a daily spending limit. An online card may allow an additional withdrawal in cash at the P.O.S. known as cashback which is unlikely to be available with an offline card.

In a nutshell, an online debit card contacts the bank to get authorisation and the offline debit card doesn't.

Personally, I'd rather have an online debit card. Probably the one and only reason to have an offline debit card is if you want to use it somewhere that doesn't have a connection with the bank, trains and boats and planes. But if you already know you can't use it in such places you would take cash with you.

You do realise that 99% of the time offline cards still get authorisation, as most retailers have a 0 floor limit? The only place the offline card works offline normally are planes trains etc. In this case an online card wouldn't work at all.

IwasAlegend

Anthorn wrote: »

I think a lot of people appear to be confused over the difference between an online and offline debit card.

The vast majority of debit cards are in fact online debit cards: It is used at a P.O.S. to pay for something or at an ATM and the money is immediately taken out of the related bank account. Online debit cards are not in fact solely reserved for those with bad credit.

An offline debit card is like having short-term credit and the money is taken out of the related bank account in a few days and not immediately.

So which is better? An online card is usually limited only by the funds in the account whereas an offline card may have a daily spending limit. An online card may allow an additional withdrawal in cash at the P.O.S. known as cashback which is unlikely to be available with an offline card.

In a nutshell, an online debit card contacts the bank to get authorisation and the offline debit card doesn't.

Personally, I'd rather have an online debit card. Probably the one and only reason to have an offline debit card is if you want to use it somewhere that doesn't have a connection with the bank, trains and boats and planes. But if you already know you can't use it in such places you would take cash with you.

Most people who get refused an offline card say they're happy with the online card it's the same when I used to get turned away from the fridge nightclub in Brixton when I was 17 and always said I didn't like that club anyhow but kept trying every week.

Anthorn

IwasAlegend wrote: »

Most people who get refused an offline card say they're happy with the online card it's the same when I used to get turned away from the fridge nightclub in Brixton when I was 17 and always said I didn't like that club anyhow but kept trying every week.

I'd say that most people don't even know that an offline version exists so there is nothing for them to apply for.

Anthorn

reclusive46 wrote: »

You do realise that 99% of the time offline cards still get authorisation, as most retailers have a 0 floor limit? The only place the offline card works offline normally are planes trains etc. In this case an online card wouldn't work at all.

But with an offline debit card the bank doesn't check the balance on the account before they authorise a transaction. The only check performed is pertaining to the daily spend.

Doesn't change my point though that the one and only reason for having an offline card is to use it in places which don't have a connection with the bank, i.e. trains and boats and planes. It's a song btw.

coochy123

I honestly haven't a clue about all this online / offline malarky.

I have a pretty poor credit rating at the moment and I have a basic account with Natwest and Lloyds. Before my money troubles and before my credit rating droppped, I had an account with Nationwide. All of which I have a debit card for and the only difference between my Nationwide, pre money troubles, debit card and my Natwest and Lloyds debit cards is that the Nationwide one let me withdraw money from any ATM. Lloyds and Natwest restrict me to using their own, which is fair enough I suppose.

I can use my new debit cards in shops, online, at train stations (both on the counter and on the machines), at petrol pumps - literally anywhere. I have used one abroad but I can't recall using one on a plane so can't comment on that one?!

It's my own fault I have to have a basic account, I realise that. People should accept that they get 'duff' credit ratings if they don't watch their finances, I get that too. It's embarrassing enough having to live with a mountain of debt and a cruddy credit rating without people slipping in the odd dig every now and again.

JuicyJesus

coochy123 wrote: »

I honestly haven't a clue about all this online / offline malarky.

It simply doesn't affect most people, is why.

It's my own fault I have to have a basic account, I realise that. People should accept that they get 'duff' credit ratings if they don't watch their finances, I get that too. It's embarrassing enough having to live with a mountain of debt and a cruddy credit rating without people slipping in the odd dig every now and again.

I have nothing against people with bad credit ratings or histories of bad debt who are trying to remedy their situation. Fair play to them. What I take issue with is people who have bad credit ratings or histories of bad debt thinking that banks somehow owe them and should treat them on par with customers who don't have bad credit ratings, and that anything else is discrimination on par with racism. Which is an attitude that comes up a LOT round here.

I know I and some others on here come across as blunt. But some people do need to have their bubble popped and be informed that some things are their own fault, that banks are not irrationally evil or discriminating against them, and that they need to try and work at fixing their issues before they can get better. The DFW types call it a "lightbulb moment", when a person realises that their debt is out of control and they need to work at getting it down. That's the sort of thing I try and get across.

Anthorn wrote: »

Personally, I'd rather have an online debit card. Probably the one and only reason to have an offline debit card is if you want to use it somewhere that doesn't have a connection with the bank, trains and boats and planes. But if you already know you can't use it in such places you would take cash with you.

I would rather have an offline card because I don't like using cash, and would rather just carry my debit card. I can see why an online card would be better, functionality-wise for people who can't track their money easily though, although at best that's a sticking plaster for a more serious issue.

That and you can't get contactless on an online card, and I like contactless.

coochy123

JuicyJesus wrote: »

It simply doesn't affect most people, is why.



I have nothing against people with bad credit ratings or histories of bad debt who are trying to remedy their situation. Fair play to them. What I take issue with is people who have bad credit ratings or histories of bad debt thinking that banks somehow owe them and should treat them on par with customers who don't have bad credit ratings, and that anything else is discrimination on par with racism. Which is an attitude that comes up a LOT round here.

I know I and some others on here come across as blunt. But some people do need to have their bubble popped and be informed that some things are their own fault, that banks are not irrationally evil or discriminating against them, and that they need to try and work at fixing their issues before they can get better. The DFW types call it a "lightbulb moment", when a person realises that their debt is out of control and they need to work at getting it down. That's the sort of thing I try and get across.

I appreciate what you're saying.

It gets to me when people expect everything without having to work for it - in any sense. I suppose you're right and it should include people with poor credit ratings too.

I (just for furture reference ) am not one of those people. Maybe in the past but certainly not now. I've had my lightbulb moment and I know that I'm the reason I'm not trusted by banks (whether banks are trusted by me is a completely serparate issue).

Just made me feel a bit more embarrassed to see some posts on here but I do realise that they weren't directly aimed at me

Sorry if I seemed a little abrupt