The Very Many Questions-Not-Worth-Their-Own-Thread Thread ΛΓ

[Arakhor]

A debit card takes money straight out of your account, which is of course generally safer for your finances. A credit card spends money on account, but for various banking reasons comes with the aforementioned transaction protections.

If you're unsure, check with your bank prior to flying out.

 

[Mouthwash]

So Synsensa was wrong?

 

[Arakhor]

No, I think he's likely to be right, but always check with your bank if you're unsure.

 

[civvver]

debit cards usually have the same protections as credit cards, it's just that your account will be down the $600 or whatever while you wait for it to be refunded. A credit card you just get it removed from your statement right away.

 

[Samson]

debit cards usually have the same protections as credit cards, it's just that your account will be down the $600 or whatever while you wait for it to be refunded. A credit card you just get it removed from your statement right away.

I am fairly sure in the UK at least this is not correct. When using a debit card you are entering into a contract with the seller and the money comes direct from your bank. When using a credit card the credit card company is entering into a contract with the seller, and then you pay back the credit card company. Therefore if there is a fraud say and the promised item never turns up it is a problem between the credit card company and the seller, you owe nothing and are not really involved.

I could be wrong however, but this was how I understood it.

 

[Synobun]

I am fairly sure in the UK at least this is not correct. When using a debit card you are entering into a contract with the seller and the money comes direct from your bank. When using a credit card the credit card company is entering into a contract with the seller, and then you pay back the credit card company. Therefore if there is a fraud say and the promised item never turns up it is a problem between the credit card company and the seller, you owe nothing and are not really involved.

I could be wrong however, but this was how I understood it.

That's still the same in North America. You'd need to fight the case through your respective bank and it takes a long time (and there's no guarantee you'll get the money back even after that effort). The protections are similar but, as Arakhor and civvver said, you're out of that money for the entire duration of the case and you have to do the legwork yourself. The bank is also less willing to eat the cost than a credit card company would be.

With credit (instead of debit), the credit card company does your work for you and has far more bargaining power. The ding to your balance is almost immediately resolved.

 

[Mouthwash]

Well at least they weren't lying about the first flight. Got my ticket here, and it's an hour til boarding. Hope this doesn't end badly!

 

[warpus]

Yeah if you buy something with a credit card, and the business you bought from tries to screw you over or doesn't deliver the product or service fully, you'll be able to do a chargeback and get your money back. If you buy any other way you won't be able to do that.

Where are you staying and stuff? Did you do a day by day budget to see how much money you'll need? That's not a cheap part of the world but your budgeted amount is probably okay, unless you want to stay at hotels and eat steaks

 

[Takhisis]

You must be boarding right now, so good luck, Mouthwash!

 

[sophie]

Also it's just generally a good idea to have a credit card regardless, in case of emergency.

 

[dutchfire]

EDIT: @Michkov: I doubt that flying to Slovenia is cheaper. The airport in Lubljana is tiny. A Slovenian friend of mine sometimes flies from Vienna, because that's cheaper, or because flights are not available from Lubljana. Might not be the same for Prague, but I'm sure that the airport in Vienna is bigger.

I've heard from friends in Vienna who fly from Bratislava (Slovakia) because it is cheaper. Guess it depend on when/where you're flying.

 

[Michkov]

Yes Bratislava is pretty much an extra runway for VIE in that regard. They have quite a good rail connection to Vienna too.

 

[Cutlass]

I refuse to ever use a debit card for anything. Always use the credit card.

 

[Takhisis]

I refuse to ever use a debit card for anything. Always use the credit card.

Why?

 

[Cutlass]

Why?

Debit cards are unsafe. They're the least secure card you can use.

 

[Broken_Erika]

I refuse to ever use a debit card for anything. Always use the credit card.

Not even at the bank or ATM?

 

[The_J]

This probably depends where you are.
In the US, the magnet strip is still used on debit cards, which is horribly unsafe. In Europe, the data is read from the chip in the card, which is a lot safer and harder to crack.

I've heard from friends in Vienna who fly from Bratislava (Slovakia) because it is cheaper. Guess it depend on when/where you're flying.

you're probably right about that.

 

[Tigranes]

I hope you like frozen sweets. In that case picture yourself at Wendy's drive-thru looking for a little Frosty shaped key tag providing you a free small Frosty with your order for the duration of the year just because you have donated two dollars to their charity few months ago. The key tag is lost, and you feel like Universe is punishing you, and you don't feel like paying for something which is making you fat, but you are craving it, and you hate that you are craving it. So you just get your order and absolutely ready to leave when you notice yet another opportunity to get a free Frosty ($1 value): if they fail to give you your receipt. That's what the sign says anyway. And very surreally they do! No receipt in your bags! Now it turns out that in reality Universe is testing you: would you claim your free frosty and get your server in trouble(maybe) or would you ride away and post this deep moral dilemma on gaming forums anticipating some heartfelt answers?

 

[Mouthwash]

I know what the Chofetz Chaim would say.

 

[Dachs]

This probably depends where you are.
In the US, the magnet strip is still used on debit cards, which is horribly unsafe. In Europe, the data is read from the chip in the card, which is a lot safer and harder to crack.

Debit cards with chips are increasingly common in America, too, but many of them still use the strip.