A couple of weeks ago, I misplaced my debit card, which I use for just about everything. After some frantic searching and coming up empty handed, I called the credit union and had them block it before someone else used and cleaned me out. On same call, I ordered a new one and was told it would be 7 to 10 business days to get it and it would cost $5.

Well, about 7 business days later, it arrived. It had the standard cover letter that said if it was a new card, I would need to go in and set the pin number. If it was a replacement card, the pin would remain the same. Since in my eyes, it was a replacement, I assumed it was usable as soon as I called the 800 activation number. It was, but I ran into some problems and had to use it as a credit card. One store even told me it showed up as card fraud. It functioned fine as a credit card, just not debit.

So off the credit union I went to hopefully get things fixed as I am going out of town tomorrow. The lady who worked with me was very helpful. After checking things out, I found out when I blocked the old card and ordered a new one, the credit union considered it a new card and not a replacement. So all I had to do was reset the pin and it worked fine.

If you lose your debit card, this may happen to you. I hope that knowing what I went thru, you can shorten up the process of activating your new card. It is not a replacement, it's a new card. You can use the same pin, but it has to be entered into the system as a new pin before it will work as a debit card.

Swim
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There is another lesson that might be waiting for you down the road.  With a credit card, you have some legal rights to refute charges, get bills corrected promptly, limits on fraudulent use that you must pay, etc...  With a debit card, you have next to no legal safeguards.  But worse of all, with a cc, your money remains in your account until you pay your bill a month later.  With debit, it's gone immediately.

I cannot think of a single benefit from using a debit card but there are a lot of downsides...

the bank sent me a debit card.  I kept cutting them up and telling the bank to send me an ATM card solely.  Only recently did they send me just an ATM card when my old one expired.  Some people like debit cards, but I use my credit cards for just about everything.  I simply don't need a debit card.

everything that's wrong with writing a check with everything wrong with using a credit card. Virtually everyone I know who uses one has problems sooner or later.

I try to use AmEx for almost everything, from a merchant's standpoint I'd hate it, but from a consumer's standpoint they give more protection from fraud and disputes with merchants than any other card.

If you inform the bank that your card is gone, they would freeze the use of that card with that card number.  If they sent you another card with the exact same 16 digit number that you just reported lost/stolen, it would defeat the purpose of reporting it.  When you would go to use the "replacement", it would be flagged as being closed or invalid and you wouldn't be able to use it.

The "replacement" card you received should have a completely different 16 digit number than the one you reported lost.  That would explain why a new PIN is necessary.  Of course, you can change the PIN to the same PIN you had on the other card, since the two cards aren't tied to each other, and the lost one will no longer have connections to your bank account.

I thought that u had a choice and could use it either way credit or debit. at least my card does allow that. so if i buy something for $3.oo i just do a debit if it cost 3,000 then i do credit.

Actually, the MC Visa debit cards changed their contracts years ago. Fraud protection is virtually the same as a credit card. Cleary stated in your agreement.

With the level of credit card debt the average American carries over month to month, most would be well served cutting up their cc and using a debit card.

My original post was just to confess my ignorance and not thinking about the consequences of losing the debit card.  I actually found the old card before I got the new one, but it was too late to reactivate it.

Anyway, I realize using debit cards has some drawbacks, but for me, it beats the hell out of carrying large amounts of cash for day-to-day expenditures.  Also, using it a credit card doesn't change a whole lot, the money still comes out of my checking account.  But when using it as a credit card, I have to sign the little screen instead of just entering my pin number.

I don't really like credit cards because it's too easy to spend the money you have in the checking account, run up the credit card on other stuff, and then not have enough money to pay it off at the end of the month to avoid finance charges.

I guess you fellas that don't like debit cards must like carrying lots of cash or writing checks.  My check writing per month has gone from over 40 a month to under 5, and would be less if I paid a couple fo bills online.  Like I said above, I don't carry a lot of cash, usually under 50 bucks.

Swim

Understanding your original post regarding the debit card. I carry very little cash and rarely use cash. I am a fanatic about using a credit card. The reasons are simple. The credit card company gives me a cash back percentage on every purchase. (This rebate has been a great way to set aside hobby money at times.) Bottom line is I get more for my dollar. I even rotate the credit card I use based on the cash back deals of the moment. Secondly I have a record of all purchases. Another reason to not use the debit card is the credit card allows me to keep my money working longer for me than immediately giving it away as you do with a debit card. Kind of the equivalent of float regarding a checking account.
I stopped writing checks several years ago when I got turned on to my banking institutions feature of  doing it for me, and they pay the postage if necessary. Cost to me is zero. I can control pay date again using my money longer. And again I have a complete printable history as needed.
I know this works for me and may not be for the not as disciplined person. Everyone has to manage their finances as they see fit.

>> Actually, the MC Visa debit cards changed their contracts years ago.
>> Fraud protection is virtually the same as a credit card.

The difference is that your fraud protection with a debit card is at the whim of the card issuer - while your protections with a credit card carry the full weight of federal law.

Furthermore there are additional dangers unique to debit cards - with a debit card your checking account can be drained instantly and any outstanding checks will bounce.  It's nearly impossible to get reimbursed for NSF fees for those and no way at all will you be reimbursed for whatever punitive measures the depositor imposes on you.

>> With the level of credit card debt the average American carries over month to month,
>> most would be well served cutting up their cc and using a debit card.

Debit cards vs credit cards are a trade off.  People who lack the discipline to manage credit can trade off the additional security of credit cards for the system-enforced discipline of debit cards.  Like most things in life -- the smarter you are, the less you have to pay.