do you use a debit card when you travel?

[Indiana Rose Lee]

I always think it is more dangerous, but is that correct? I worry that a stolen number could ruin a trip, as opposed to just being a hassle.

 

[charming23]

I only use a debit card when traveling as I never use credit cards. Nothing has ever happened to it as I keep real close track of what we spend and where.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

In real life we always use the debit, but if someone emptied our checking acct., the regular bills that are pulled directly would not be covered.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

I don't anymore. Used to all the time but I've had my number compromised before (which means you can't use it until they mail you a new one) and if you are on vaca when this happens...NO $$$$! Also we were at a hotel in DC one time and the concierge told us that sometimes they will put a very large hold on your account if you use a debit card. All set with that.

The 2 times my number has been compromised- no money was actually stolen from my account. But the banks will cancel your debit card and re-issue a new one without any notice (which is to protect you BUT again, if you are away and can't get a new card...it would be a nightmare)

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

Forgot about the holds put on them. Thank you for the reminder. I think we will CC it, and then just take care of it when we get home.

Thanks! I was having a difficult time thinking it through, for some reason. A fibro moment, I guess.

 

[wdwfan16]

We only use CCs when we travel.

A dispute is a reason to not use Debit cards. Holds is another.

 

[branv]

No way. If someone compromises my credit cards, that can get worked out even fairly slowly without it really disrupting my ability to pay my vital bills. But if someone drains my bank accounts, my mortgage certainly can't be paid using my credit cards until things get "worked out." Granted, you can forestall that by limiting what accounts get access through your debit, but that brings its own set of access hassles. Not to mention, even without it being attached, you never know what will take place -- such as all accounts getting frozen while they investigate your claim that your account was compromised.

In fact, I typically don't use my debit card AT ALL, except for ATM/bank transactions. But I really don't have any temptation issues with credit cards, and I make WAY more off of my credit cards than they make off of me.

 

[maxiesmom]

I try to not use my debit card it at all possible on vacation. It is just too easy it seems for some less than honest person to grab your info. The last few trips I have taken I have gotten a pre-paid Visa debit card from my credit union. That way I don't have to worry about someone hacking into my account, and I still don't have to carry a lot of cash or rack up a huge credit card bill.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Always. Never a problem.

Based on what you ahve said--if I only traveled with a credit card and it got compromised....It would still have to be cancelled and I'd still be up the creek so to speak.
ETA: Holds have never been a problem either.

 

[tinkmom2]

I always use my Visa debit card. It is guarnteed by Chase as long as I use it as a credit card. It comes right out of my checking. If your card is compromised they put the funds back in your bank account within 24 hours. We have used it on our 5 trips and two DCL cruises and never had a problem. I also have "Ultimate Rewards" on my card so when I make a purchase I get 5 times the number of points back. I use those to buy gift cards.

 

[WishIwerethere]

I will NEVER use a debit card again on vacation after my experience in February. I stayed at the Hyatt Place Miami Airport - West Doral before a cruise, and they gave my credit card info to the Hampton Inn next door without my knowledge or permission. (Hyatt had planned to send me over there because they oversold, but I declined because we had three rooms and needed two beds plus a couch bed in each room.) I ended up being charged for my three Hyatt Place rooms and four Hampton Inn rooms but didn't discover the $500 in Hampton charges until the cruise was over.

I spent the next 10 days obtaining promise after promise from the Hyatt Place that the charges would be refunded (I wanted Hyatt to fix it with Hampton since Hyatt messed it up in the first place). Finally got Hyatt international customer service involved, and they recommended I file a complaint with my bank because the local hotel did not seem "to get it." Bottom line is that I disputed the charges with my bank, and Hampton, with whom I had never had any contact and to whom I never presented my credit card, actually disputed my complaint. Took hours of additional work with Hyatt to get it resolved, and that ultimately did not happen until this week -- two months after the fiasco started. Never again for me -- only cash or credit cards in the future.

 

[eliza61]

In real life we always use the debit, but if someone emptied our checking acct., the regular bills that are pulled directly would not be covered.

Actually if you contact your bank and report it stolen, they cover most of the checks (some banks will). My wallet got stolen at a grocery store one time. totally my fault, I sat my pocketbook in the seat where kids go and turned my back on it to read some labels. some one lifted the wallet and used my debit card. It has a visa logo so when the option came up for debit or credit the simply hit credit and signed.

Anyway my credit union had me file a police report and I gave them a list of all the charges that would be coming in and they covered them.

 

[Mom_Rides]

We use our debit card on vacation all the time. Used it in the Dominican Republic last year and had absolutely no problems at all. However, I would recommend that if you intend to use the debit card on your vacation that you open a separate checking account and get separate debit cards from that of your everyday account. I have worked in a bank for years and always recommend this to my customers. That way, if someone compromises your "vacation" account, your household account won't be compromised as well and your bills will not be affected. We have a separate account we use only for traveling and it gives us peace of mind.

 

[Evi]

I always use my debit card and never put to much thought into it. But you raise a really good point. Definitely something to ponder before my next trip. Though my bills pull out of a different account I'd still be disappointed if I had my account compromised.

 

[natenapril]

I always use my Visa debit card. It is guarnteed by Chase as long as I use it as a credit card. It comes right out of my checking. If your card is compromised they put the funds back in your bank account within 24 hours. We have used it on our 5 trips and two DCL cruises and never had a problem. I also have "Ultimate Rewards" on my card so when I make a purchase I get 5 times the number of points back. I use those to buy gift cards.

Do you mind me asking who you bank with? I bank with a large credit union and my acct was hacked into and a few hundred stolen about 2 weeks ago and I still have not been reimbursed. Lucky for me it was only a few hundred.

I always use my debit card and never put to much thought into it. But you raise a really good point. Definitely something to ponder before my next trip. Though my bills pull out of a different account I'd still be disappointed if I had my account compromised.

It is disappointing to have your acct hacked. Almost a feeling a violation that someone used your information and your hard earned money and could care less.

 

[tolemommy]

I try to not use my debit card it at all possible on vacation. It is just too easy it seems for some less than honest person to grab your info. The last few trips I have taken I have gotten a pre-paid Visa debit card from my credit union. That way I don't have to worry about someone hacking into my account, and I still don't have to carry a lot of cash or rack up a huge credit card bill.

Thanks for this tip. I paid off all of my credit cards after my divorce and closed them a number of years ago. I was a little worried about using my debit card on my DC next March to shop & use while off the ships in port. A prepaid Visa from my credit union is a GREAT idea!

 

[Carl Fredricksen]

I try to not use my debit card it at all possible on vacation. It is just too easy it seems for some less than honest person to grab your info. The last few trips I have taken I have gotten a pre-paid Visa debit card from my credit union. That way I don't have to worry about someone hacking into my account, and I still don't have to carry a lot of cash or rack up a huge credit card bill.

I don't want to start the CC debate up, but I am not a fan of Credit Cards EXCEPT when traveling. As long as you have the funds to pay them off in full when you get back, they are a great protection measure to keep your main household fund out of the loop for holds, bad charges, etc.

For those completely opposed to Credit Cards, the prepaid Visa is the way to go IMO. Get one at your local bank or Walmart sells them for $3 and they can be preloaded up to $1500. Great option to keep that home fund data private while going walkabout.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

Thank you all for your thoughts. It all makes sense. I don't know why I was befuddling myself so much about it.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Nope.

I use credit card or cash when we travel. Mostly credit card. Then I just come home, pull up what I've spent on it and pay it off right away.

 

[JB2K]

I always think it is more dangerous, but is that correct? I worry that a stolen number could ruin a trip, as opposed to just being a hassle.

I use my debit card at the same places on the road, as I do at home (retail stores, etc.). However, there are a few places where I never use a debit card:

• "Pay at the Pump" Gas Stations - this is twofold -- the first is that would-be thieves can attach "skimmers" to the card reader and the second is that very high pre-authorizations are held against your account (typically $75-100) for several days. If you must use the card, pre-pay the attendant inside, first.
  
• Table Service Restaurants (particularly, non-chain operations) - there have been reports of wait staff using these same skimmers, plus I had an episode at a small restaurant where a waitress gave herself a $25 tip at my expense via my debit card!