Tom=E1s =D3 h=C9ilidhe wrote:

> Forgive me if I'm uninformed... but what I'll be getting is a plastic =

> card that has VISA written on it. I don't see why it should matter where =

> it gets its funds from. The card I'm getting is fully-fledged VISA, it's =

> not some sort of neutered VISA. Instead of getting a bill at the end of =

> the month, the funds come straight from my account.

No, they really are different.  I have a rare card that is BOTH a credit =

card and a debit card, and certain point-of-sale systems UNDERSTAND this =

and ask which I'd like to do.

Visa hates issuing these, but they were the standard issue from a =

certain bank I use for years.

"Fully-fledged" VISA means nothing.  The law dictates the protections =

the companies must provide for the different types of cards, and their =

fine-print dictates what they offer above and beyond that.

Visa and MasterCard lately have been providing protection for Debit =

cards that is similar to the protection provided by their credit cards =

because (at least here in the U.S.) the government FORCED them to, in =

most cases.  In some states the rules are even better, by State law.

You really just have to ASK YOUR BANK what SPECIFIC protection is =

offered with any one type of card.

SOME debit card issuers will OVERDRAW your account at exorbitant =

interest rates ("overdraft protection") even if you don't want them to =

pay out more than is in the account.

STOP relying on a mailing list and ASK your bank/issuer, or you really =

don't know.

Nate
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