Never, ever use a debit card,' warns fraud expert and ex-con artist — here's what to do instead

[Medic981]

---

@blindambition wrote:

My debit cards are in a safe, locked in the account. Never used.

---

I have closed all of my bank accounts from my pre-myFICO days and only have bank accounts since starting my rebuild. I too have never used my debit cards, even to take money out from the ATM. That is what Disco's cash over purchase is for!!!

[blindambition]

There's very few things that require cash now. Of course I have some for those random moments.

So many horror stories with debit cards. My anxiety can't deal!! 😃 

Chase is main bank. There's a new thing where you can use phone with ATM. I won't even try that.

[icednightpaper]

I switched over to CC only around a year ago and it’s been a fantastic choice. However, I will be one of those: it’s a shame that debit cards are so risky because I have one that I really want to use due to its design. Alas, it remains locked and essentially sealed away.

[Anonymous]

This is why I use CC's! Thanks for sharing!

[Anonymous]

I use my Amex like a debit card.  If I'm going to swipe, I might as well get points.  Full transparency, I got my debit card compromised using it online a few years ago.  I haven't used it since (got a new one btw).

[Anonymous]

How do you get money from ATM without debit card?

- should i change my target debit to a credit card?

[CreditInspired]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

How do you get money from ATM without debit card?

- should i change my target debit to a credit card?

---

Money?

What's that?

Honestly, I don't know the last time I had cash on me or even used cash to pay for anything.

I would say yes if it doesn't create a HP

[Anonymous]

---

@CreditInspired wrote:

---

@Anonymous wrote:

How do you get money from ATM without debit card?

- should i change my target debit to a credit card?

---

Money?

What's that?

Honestly, I don't know the last time I had cash on me or even used cash to pay for anything.

I would say yes if it doesn't create a HP

---

It is a HP to get the CC version.

Also, it is great if you *can* use CCs in place of debit, but not everyone has the credit to get said CCs or CCs with high enough limits to cover all spend (even beyond paying every single transaction available credit, like for making larger purchases).

I was die-hard cash only and then forced into getting a bank account. I used debit for over a decade without a hitch. You can get rewards/discounts etc with debit as well.

I am not saying the protections are equivalent, just that CCs are potentially not accessible, available, practical or obtainable for all. There are those considerations, too...

[CreditInspired]

Of course, one has to do what one has to do. One size never fits all. 

[Anonymous]

Wait. You cannot use debit card without PIN.

Does not it make it 9999 times safer than credit card?

In europe you cannot pay with debit cards without PIN or online verification with the bank.