For those of you that use debit instead of credit

[HHSTigerFan]

What do most stores have for a refund policy? Have a few things to buy and would like to use my debit card instead of CC, but nervous about the return procedure.

 

[Mathfailure]

Keep your receipt, and no problem.

Usually just goes back on the debit card (into the bank)

I often just use the charge option, sign instead of using my pin. That way I do not need to use my pin in public.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

I use my debit card all the time ~ most of the time I have it go through as credit ~ just takes a day or 2 to come out of my checking acct. ~ if I return something purchased as a debit purchase the money goes right back in my checking acct, sometimes I get cash back, if it was a credit purchase it takes a couple days. I don't even have a CC ~ well I have a Kohl's card with a $100 limit.

 

[descovy]

I work guest service at Target (returns)

If you purchased in item with a debit card and used the debit option (enter your pin code) when you return an item, you can choose cash or have it put back on your card. To put it back on the card, you have to swipe and enter your pin.

*But* if at the time of purchase, you run your debit card as a credit ... where you sign... it has to be refunded on the card... no cash back.

Some people don't get that, when returning. They'll insist they should have cash back because it IS a debit card. But if they TREATED it like a credit card at the time of purchase, we have to treat it like a credit card at the time of the return too.

 

[descovy]

I work guest service at Target (returns)

If you purchased in item with a debit card and used the debit option (enter your pin code) when you return an item, you can choose cash or have it put back on your card. To put it back on the card, you have to swipe and enter your pin.

*But* if at the time of purchase, you run your debit card as a credit ... where you sign... it has to be refunded on the card... no cash back.

Some people don't get that, when returning. They'll insist they should have cash back because it IS a debit card. But if they TREATED it like a credit card at the time of purchase, we have to treat it like a credit card at the time of the return too.

If I can add, if you are at Target and need to VOID the transaction at the register, a prompt comes on the screen. It alerts you that you may be charged twice for the transaction.

Say, you spent and paid for $50 of merchandise. You get your reciept and you notice something rang up wrong, you forgot a coupon, etc... (no flames please, it happens) The cashier can void the original $50 transaction, and charge you the amount ($45, let's say)

It can take as much as a day for the bank system to remove that first $50 transaction. It usually isn't a problem, especially with credit... but you could have just "charged" $95 today, meaning to spend $50... what if you only have $60 in your account???

That is a rare (but possible) scenerio. When you press debit, the money comes out instantly...credit, it usually takes a few days to post to your account

 

[DVCBELLE]

I always just run my debit card as a charge - if you use your pin - then your bank is probably charging you a fee.

 

[pixiewings71]

I work guest service at Target (returns)

If you purchased in item with a debit card and used the debit option (enter your pin code) when you return an item, you can choose cash or have it put back on your card. To put it back on the card, you have to swipe and enter your pin.

*But* if at the time of purchase, you run your debit card as a credit ... where you sign... it has to be refunded on the card... no cash back.

Some people don't get that, when returning. They'll insist they should have cash back because it IS a debit card. But if they TREATED it like a credit card at the time of purchase, we have to treat it like a credit card at the time of the return too.

Not true, I use my card as credit 99% of the time and when I do a return at Target I am given cash back. Just did it over the weekend, bought something 2 or 3 weeks ago, returned it on Saturday, got cash back.

I always just run my debit card as a charge - if you use your pin - then your bank is probably charging you a fee.

Nope, my bank does not charge any type of fee for using my card as a debit card. I still use it as credit most days tho.

 

[surfergirl602]

I always use my debit as a credit, so that my refund can be directly put back on the card. If I use it as debit, they can't put it back on the card. I don't want cash back, because I will spend it. I also get rewards with my card if I use it as a credit, so we do that for almost everything. The only time I ever use it as a debit is IF I need cash back for some reason.

 

[Disney-Kim]

I have noticed that when I return items I used my card as "debit" the credit appears in my checking that night....but if its a "credit" purchase...it takes 3 days or so....kind of nice.

although we try to use "credit" for all purchases as we earn points with bank for all non-pin purchases.

 

[Blue.Fairy2]

Keep your receipt, and no problem.

Usually just goes back on the debit card (into the bank)

I often just use the charge option, sign instead of using my pin. That way I do not need to use my pin in public.

I find that you can either get cash back or have it put back on to the card.

I usually take the cash back because they have already removed it from your debit and when they add back it can take anywhere from immediate to days.

 

[Leajess99]

I work guest service at Target (returns)

If you purchased in item with a debit card and used the debit option (enter your pin code) when you return an item, you can choose cash or have it put back on your card. To put it back on the card, you have to swipe and enter your pin.

*But* if at the time of purchase, you run your debit card as a credit ... where you sign... it has to be refunded on the card... no cash back.

Some people don't get that, when returning. They'll insist they should have cash back because it IS a debit card. But if they TREATED it like a credit card at the time of purchase, we have to treat it like a credit card at the time of the return too.

Just want to say that not all Targets are the same way. I have been offered and given cash back for my debit card used as credit several times. Walmart often does the same thing and gives it back in cash.

 

[kmvand1]

I always just run my debit card as a charge - if you use your pin - then your bank is probably charging you a fee.

I always use my debit card with the pin, not as charge and my bank never charges.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

I always just run my debit card as a charge - if you use your pin - then your bank is probably charging you a fee.

No fee for me when I run my DC as a DC.

 

[mamaLori05]

I work guest service at Target (returns)

If you purchased in item with a debit card and used the debit option (enter your pin code) when you return an item, you can choose cash or have it put back on your card. To put it back on the card, you have to swipe and enter your pin.

*But* if at the time of purchase, you run your debit card as a credit ... where you sign... it has to be refunded on the card... no cash back.

Some people don't get that, when returning. They'll insist they should have cash back because it IS a debit card. But if they TREATED it like a credit card at the time of purchase, we have to treat it like a credit card at the time of the return too.

I use my debit card as a credit card all the time. The only time I use it as a debit is if I am at the ATM. I've always been given the choice of cash or back on the card at Target for returns.

Anyway, I have never had an issue with any returns when using my debit as a credit card. It's nice and easy all the way around.

 

[PinkRhombus]

I always use my debit as a credit, so that my refund can be directly put back on the card. If I use it as debit, they can't put it back on the card. I don't want cash back, because I will spend it. I also get rewards with my card if I use it as a credit, so we do that for almost everything. The only time I ever use it as a debit is IF I need cash back for some reason.

I get refunds put back on my debit card all the time.



And the point about Target double charging...they don't have to do it that way. They pull up the original transaction, make the change, and apply the refund back to the card, or give it to you in cash. NEVER have I had them have to ring the whole thing up again.

 

[3boymthr]

I always just run my debit card as a charge - if you use your pin - then your bank is probably charging you a fee.

I have never ever been charged by my bank - this must be an issue with your bank.

 

[mistysue]

I think some of the Debit fees are geographical. My brother and I had the same bank. He was getting fees to use his card as debit and I wasn't. He lives across the country. The worst part was they didn't charge a fee each time- he found out at the end of the month when they took out about 40 fees at one time!

I was using my debit card a TON until I ran into a little issue- if somebody does something fraudulent with your debit card number (as a credit card) good luck getting it credited back. With a credit card they will give you a credit or else hold the transaction while they spend three months or so investigating. If somebody uses your debit and charges $1,000 you are stuck sitting there with your money gone until you prove you are innocent. (this may vary by bank too, but I have seen it happen both with Comerica and Bank of America)

 

[tar heel]

I was using my debit card a TON until I ran into a little issue- if somebody does something fraudulent with your debit card number (as a credit card) good luck getting it credited back. With a credit card they will give you a credit or else hold the transaction while they spend three months or so investigating. If somebody uses your debit and charges $1,000 you are stuck sitting there with your money gone until you prove you are innocent. (this may vary by bank too, but I have seen it happen both with Comerica and Bank of America)[/QUOTE]

Not true with Wachovia. I dropped my card at a gas pump and the lowlife who found it had a tank of gas and a meal at McDonald's. The money was provisionally credited back to my account while I was on the phone with the fraud department.

 

[santa's surpriz]

I was using my debit card a TON until I ran into a little issue- if somebody does something fraudulent with your debit card number (as a credit card) good luck getting it credited back. With a credit card they will give you a credit or else hold the transaction while they spend three months or so investigating. If somebody uses your debit and charges $1,000 you are stuck sitting there with your money gone until you prove you are innocent. (this may vary by bank too, but I have seen it happen both with Comerica and Bank of America)

Not true with Wachovia. I dropped my card at a gas pump and the lowlife who found it had a tank of gas and a meal at McDonald's. The money was provisionally credited back to my account while I was on the phone with the fraud department.[/QUOTE]

You have two statement cycles to dispute items, research does need to be done however banks are now holding customers accountable for their own due diligence. Some banks are good about the provisional credit others hold out. There are fed regulations that banks must follow.You have to be responsible with card. BAnks do recognize that mistakes happen. And they are not out to get you, there is a lot of red tape. There are also a lot of people that try to dispute items to get ot of overdrafts too. Not every one is honest when they file a claim. It stinks, but some banks will hold out for provisional credit bc they have been burned. Also, It's a heck of a lot easier to dispute items when you choose credit over debit. PIN based transactions are are more complex (ie someone had to have yor pin) and you loose your MC/Visa protection.

 

[Jennabeth]

I always just run my debit card as a charge - if you use your pin - then your bank is probably charging you a fee.

Not my bank. I actually use debit more because then the store doesn't have to pay visa/mastercard fees, especially if it's a smaller store and a smaller transaction.