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Debit Card with nominal balance

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Is there any way you can have a DC with only a small balance. This would be used for buying coffees etc. when at a swimming pool. The fear of having card stolen from locker prevents my wife from taking hers with her. But is seeking an alternative for small purchases with little liability if lost/stolen.
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  • daveyjp
    daveyjp Posts: 13,519 Forumite
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    Starling or Monzo account topped up when money is required.
  • DullGreyGuy
    DullGreyGuy Posts: 18,566 Forumite
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    Debit cards dont have a discrete limit but just can spend what's in the current account they are attached to. So if you want to cap total spend then get a new current account without an overdraft (eg Starling) and transfer your £20 or whatever a week in there for coffees. 

    With many banks you can also set a per transaction limit on contactless, with Starling you can even turn off the ability to withdraw cash, use it for gambling, a daily limit as well as a transaction limit and a number of other features. 

    Does she take her mobile with her to the pool? The other option is no card and just use Apple/Google Pay instead
  • p00hsticks
    p00hsticks Posts: 14,414 Forumite
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    edited 19 April 2024 at 10:06AM
    caveman38 said:
    Is there any way you can have a DC with only a small balance. This would be used for buying coffees etc. when at a swimming pool. The fear of having card stolen from locker prevents my wife from taking hers with her. But is seeking an alternative for small purchases with little liability if lost/stolen.
    Does the swimming pool not take cash ?
    Cash fits the bill for making small purchases with no worries about any knock on liability if lost or stolen .... 
  • DullGreyGuy
    DullGreyGuy Posts: 18,566 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    caveman38 said:
    Is there any way you can have a DC with only a small balance. This would be used for buying coffees etc. when at a swimming pool. The fear of having card stolen from locker prevents my wife from taking hers with her. But is seeking an alternative for small purchases with little liability if lost/stolen.
    Does the swimming pool not take cash ?
    Cash fits the bill for making small purchases with no worries about any knock on liability if lost or stolen .... 
    Though if it goes it's gone whereas if a card is stolen you're not typically liable for the transactions and so will get the monies back (as we did when Mrs' card went AWOL either on way to gym or at gym)
  • Nasqueron
    Nasqueron Posts: 10,636 Forumite
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    caveman38 said:
    Is there any way you can have a DC with only a small balance. This would be used for buying coffees etc. when at a swimming pool. The fear of having card stolen from locker prevents my wife from taking hers with her. But is seeking an alternative for small purchases with little liability if lost/stolen.
    Does the swimming pool not take cash ?
    Cash fits the bill for making small purchases with no worries about any knock on liability if lost or stolen .... 
    If cards are stolen there is no "knock on liability" whatever that is, provided the bank cannot prove negligence e.g. PIN stored with card, you are not liable for fraudulent transactions and will get any money back. £20 stolen in cash is gone forever

    Sam Vimes' Boots Theory of Socioeconomic Unfairness: 

    People are rich because they spend less money. A poor man buys $10 boots that last a season or two before he's walking in wet shoes and has to buy another pair. A rich man buys $50 boots that are made better and give him 10 years of dry feet. The poor man has spent $100 over those 10 years and still has wet feet.

  • caveman38
    caveman38 Posts: 1,311 Forumite
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    edited 19 April 2024 at 10:44AM
    caveman38 said:
    Is there any way you can have a DC with only a small balance. This would be used for buying coffees etc. when at a swimming pool. The fear of having card stolen from locker prevents my wife from taking hers with her. But is seeking an alternative for small purchases with little liability if lost/stolen.
    Does the swimming pool not take cash ?
    Cash fits the bill for making small purchases with no worries about any knock on liability if lost or stolen .... 
    No cash. Card only
    I appreciate the replies re. not being liable for fraudulent transactions but it's the aggro it causes which she wants to avoid. 
    It was suggested to her that a Pre paid debit card may be what she needs. I wonder if that would ne the answer.
     
  • Martico
    Martico Posts: 1,169 Forumite
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    If she carries her phone with her, then the above suggestion of Apple/ Google Pay would seem to be the easiest solution. Phone has to be unlocked before paying, so as secure as a PIN
  • Zinger549
    Zinger549 Posts: 1,414 Forumite
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    One of the app only banks or a Revolute card
    Come on you Irons
  • Sarahspangles
    Sarahspangles Posts: 3,239 Forumite
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    caveman38 said:
    Is there any way you can have a DC with only a small balance. This would be used for buying coffees etc. when at a swimming pool. The fear of having card stolen from locker prevents my wife from taking hers with her. But is seeking an alternative for small purchases with little liability if lost/stolen.
    I’ve considered getting a pre-paid card for exactly this scenario. The vending machines at local leisure centres are card only. I’ve looked at the Tesco one that also acts as a loyalty card. It’s supposedly fee-free but I need to read the small print and work out if there’s a minimum top up.
    Fashion on the Ration
    2024 - 43/66 coupons used, carry forward 23
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  • DullGreyGuy
    DullGreyGuy Posts: 18,566 Forumite
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    Which is why just a new dedicated current account is a better option than a prepaid card that attracts fees.
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