Debit cards in US

[dandee00]

Hi
I needed some clarification about our Canadian debit cards in the US. If we use them at a bank machine, that has interact, I assume we will pay the exchange rate and some processing fee, right?
However, if we try to use a Canadian debit at a store, such as Walmart, this is not possible. Is that correct? We would be better off using American cash or our credit card, with all the fees that go with it, correct?
I also read somewhere on these boards, that while WDW has no problem with Traveller Checks, the rest of the US may not accept them. Does anyone know anything about this?
We are driving to WDW this January, so I'm just trying to get the finances in order, and find the best way to transport them.
So, any help, or advise, or words of wisdom would be much appreciated.

 

[Disney Ontario]

Hi. All I know is we use ours all the time in the states, When we get a receipt back from the machine, the total left in account is not the right ammount though. I think it is in US funds. You can also use TD bank cards at major department stores too.

 

[momupnorth]

We were in the Seattle area this Summer and found it quite hit or miss on using debit cards in the States. They use credit card company issued cards not directly from banks. We were able to use at Macy , but not at Target , most gas stations could not accept. Less than half the stores in the malls we tried could accept it so we ended up having to use Visa instead.

All the ATMS we came across were able to accept it, but many charged a premium to use and my bank charges extra for out of country transactions in ATMS. This time when we go to Florida we are just going to stick with the Visa - I have prepaid most of the vacation already so it would not be much...

 

[tone.def]

I remember being able to use an ATM in AKL last time I was there and there was an "other ATM" fee on my statement and "out of country fee" and the exchange was marked up... - I think the out of country fee was $3.50, and the other ATM fee was the regular $1.50, so if you're going to withdraw, make it worth your while to pay the fees - don't take $20 out, take $100.

In regards to where you can use it - I was in H&M clothing store in NYC and I couldn't use it there or at a Starbucks in Danbury, Conn (it wasn't a Visa check card, they had no clue they couldn't take CDN debit until I tried), but I was able to use it everywhere in the La Guardia airport and at an AMC movie theatre.

Does anyone know the ryhme or reason why we can use it in some places but not others?

 

[seashoreCM]

I Does anyone know the ryhme or reason why we can use it in some places but not others?

When a store accepts credit cards or debit cards, a third party processing agent is used. Different processing agents may or may not be able to handle foreign debit cards.

If the card looks like a credit card (Mastercard, not Maestro) you might just say it is a credit card when you try to use it. Then a different processing mechanism is used. Credit card processing is more universal but still no guarantee.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[langin]

and found easier to use a credit card and the traveller's cheques we brought, we did use our debit card at ATM but the only place I saw that looked like a debit card machine where you could put in a PIN was at MacDonalds in Downtown Disney (we loved it there).

We drove from Moncton , NB, it was our first time and we had sooooo much fun! We drove with our 3 boys (ages 12 yrs and twins 9 yrs old), we were surprised how well they did in the van!!! LOL

 

[dandee00]

We were in the Seattle area this Summer and found it quite hit or miss on using debit cards in the States. They use credit card company issued cards not directly from banks. We were able to use at Macy , but not at Target , most gas stations could not accept. Less than half the stores in the malls we tried could accept it so we ended up having to use Visa instead.

All the ATMS we came across were able to accept it, but many charged a premium to use and my bank charges extra for out of country transactions in ATMS. This time when we go to Florida we are just going to stick with the Visa - I have prepaid most of the vacation already so it would not be much...

The credit card sounds like the best thing to do.

 

[misslissa]

I have had the same experiences as the people above. I live right on the border and cross all of the time but never use by debit card because their debit cards work differently than ours and whenever they have to deal with ours, they usually are very confused. Also, the one time that I did use my debit card in the US, my bank (Royal Bank) charged me a $10 fee and then a $3.50 fee from the US I believe... it wasn't worth it at all.

Using a credit card will guarantee that you get a better exchange rate than any other method (they don't have any 'service fees') and also you won't have to spend all of the money that you bring, like you would if you purchased Traveler's Cheques. I hate having to bring back Traveler's Cheques and cash them in 'cause there is a service charge for that too.

 

[Yzma and Kronk]

Does anyone know the ryhme or reason why we can use it in some places but not others?

We used to live in the US and kept our CIBC debit card.

In the US they don't use "true" debit cards. Their debit card is sponsored by Visa or Mastercard - hence they refer to them as "check cards". They work the same in that the funds are immediately taken out of their "checking" account but the transaction in the store is the same as a Visa or MCard. They process it and you sign a little piece of paper.

This is why some Canadians will get refused because it doesn't have a Visa or MCard logo on it. They won't know what the card it because it is very plain.

The problem with the Canadian debit cards is that here we always have to pick "from which account" chequing or savings. The machines in the US don't have that option, so therefore it won't go through.

This is why it is hit and miss with certain stores. It really depends on what system they use. Also most stores don't have the pad whereby you put in your PIN number, as checking cards don't require that - just the signed piece of paper. I was never able to use my Canadian debit card at any stores.

However, I heard TD has a debit card that I believe they took away that "chequing/savings" step for use in the US. Someone with TD could verify this.
You might be able to use this card in stores that have the machines that the customer does the work. For example, Walmart, Target, and bigger stores. Most "mall" type stores don't have an external PIN pad.

Debit cards will work at almost all ATM's in the US. I only found one bank - it was pretty small - where I couldn't get a cash withdrawl.

 

[kg66]

We've been down to Disney the last 2 years and we've used Traveller's Cheques both times without any problems anywhere along the way. We used them at Wal-marts along the way, gas stations along the way, shopping, and on the Disney Cruise,and even in Nassau while on the cruise. And definitely no problems cashing them anywhere in Disney.I'm interested to see if the Traveller's Cheques Card comes to Canada. From what I've seen, you have a pre-set balance and you just deduct it from the card. Does anyone know if they are available in Canada yet? I read a post from a UK poster that they have them already over there.

 

[mc'smommy]

You can use your debit card to make purchases at over one million establishments in the United States as long as the terminal they are using in that retail store is NYCE otherwise call your branch and ask what the fees are to use an automated teller in the United States to withdrawl cash. Every instant teller will charge you an additional fee to your own bank. So basically your best bet is travellers checks which can be cashed all over disney. or your visa or mastercard..


have a great trip