Nate Duehr wrote:
> 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.
>   


I know there's debit cards called "VISA Electron" and "Maestro".

What *I'm* getting though is VISA, plain and simple. Only difference is 
that the money is take straight from my account. VISA is nothing more 
than a way of "paying for stuff", so it stands to reason that there 
should be no issue of whether it comes straight from your account.

The Halifax page I've already given a link to explains in no uncertain 
terms:

"You will be able to use your debit card worldwide, wherever you see the 
VISA symbol. In fact over 27 million retailers around the world will now 
accept your debit card. Normally, you will be asked to enter your PIN in 
the same way as in Ireland. If the country you are visiting has not yet 
upgraded to chip & PIN, you will be asked to sign for your purchases."

I've looked over the page, and nowhere does it mention anything like 
"VISA Electron". Also, when I was in my local Halifax branch today, I 
asked the fella "Can I used this exactly like a credit card, will it be 
accepted exactly like any other credit card?", and he said Yes. I'll 
head back to the branch tomorrow and get all the info.


> 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.
>   


I said "fully-fledged VISA" to distinguish it from stuff like Maestro 
and VISA Electron.


> 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.
>   


The whole idea of me getting this credit card is that I'll be taking a 
vaccine instead of waiting around for a cure after I've been bitten. If 
there's no money in my current account, then nothing can be charged to 
the card.


> 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.
>   


I'll make sure to tell them tomorrow to disable any and all overdrafts, 
and also any and all "automatic transfers" from savings account to 
current account.


> STOP relying on a mailing list and ASK your bank/issuer, or you really 
> don't know.


I'm getting the info here that the banks are reluctant to provide 
up-front. Also I'm getting other people's own personal experience, which 
really is invaluable.

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