Using a debit card for online shopping - by accident, help!

[traces7]

I accidentally used my debit card the other day (Cyber Monday) when I did some online shopping at American Girl. (my credit card and debit card are the same color) Should I be worried about someone getting into my checking account?

I never use my debit card online, I've only had it a couple of months, so this is all new to me. I also don't shop online much either.

Should I be concerned and cancel the debit card, that's easy enough to do right? Or should I just monitor my account closely? I do have low limits on the debit card $200 for cash and $500 for purchases. What would you do?

Thanks for the help! I'm so upset that I can't sleep!

 

[LoraJ]

I use my debit card all the time online and never had any issues. Just check your account for anything out of the ordinary, as you should anyway. But it is nothing to lose sleep over. Especially on an established site like American Girl. Now if you had sent your number to someone in an email from Nigeria, that could be a problem.

 

[mickeyfan1]

I use my debit card for almost all my online stuff, never had any issues.

What difference does it make anyway? If someone wants to steal your info, they can steal the CC number just as easily. Watch your account, but there is no reason to cancel it, if someone does steal the number, you should not be liable for the charges and the bank would cancel the card at that time.

Sleep well.

 

[karensi]

Just wanted to say I also use my debit card 95% of the time when doing on line shopping ( and lately that has been an almost daily occurance) and have never had an issue with it.

I do check my banking statement regularly (maybe 2x's per week) but I do that anyway, wheather I've been shopping on line or not.

You shouldn't have any problems, especially as a PP said, with a company like American Girl.

Karen

 

[ilovejack02]

I only use my debit.. It was stolen years ago, but I got all money back from bank right away. I filed charges and they actually caught the person.

Dumb person bought tickets to a monster truck show and then had the tickets sent to will call. Police were there waiting to pick them up lol.

 

[Bluestars]

I use my debit card all of the time for online purchases. I would be more worried about giving my card to someone at a restaurant who disappears with it for a few minutes.

I did have my information stolen about 10 years ago. But I think it was stolen from someone seeing my actual card, because at that time I never used it online. Anyway, my bank refunded all of the money, which was a little over $1,000. The person ordered things online and had it delivered to a local address.

 

[aprilgail2]

I use mine all the time online to shop and never had a problem. I certainly would not go and cancel the card just because you used it online! I get points for every purchase made with my debit card so I never use cash!

 

[JohnsPrincess]

I ordered from AG on Monday...with my Debit Card too! Lol. Like the others have said, I wouldn't lose sleep over it. I use my debit card all the time online. I don't think it's any more or less easy to "steal" than a credit card.

 

[Ohiodislover]

Ditto-Use mine ALL the time, without any problems.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I only use my debit card.

I also have been ripped off with my debit card twice. Once it is the Bread Company and the other was Pac Sun. I would trust my card online rather than brick and mortar.

As a precaution we do have several accounts and the bulk of the money is not linked to any card. We did get our money back with no problems. They never found the criminals.

 

[traces7]

Thanks so much everyone for all your responses! It makes me feel better about it. I'm so old fashioned even thought I'm not old! I was pretty sure it was ok especially with American Girl.

I do check my account a few times a week and I never use it at a restaurant or anything like that.

Thanks for the reassurance!

 

[Mamu]

I have heard not to use debit cards on-line but have used mine and never had a problem. I only purchase things at certain places that have a good reputation for on line shopping.

 

[Green Tea]

I use it online all the time. Why wouldn't I?

 

[tar heel]

I can't imagine why you're worried about this - you can't sleep. I use my debit card run as credit 100% of the time in real life and online. It's a Visa and operates exactly like the others I have except I'm spending only my money that I have right now, which is how I want it. I get rewards points, so I make big charges like my son's college tuition.

When people say not to use your debit card, they seem to be talking about some strange kind that isn't Mastercard or Visa. I've never personally seen such an animal. I wonder if it went extinct years ago.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I use my debit card all the time and never had an issue, either.

On-line, it has to be used as a CC and you are afforded the same protections. So if something were to happen, you would have recourse (though since it is an actual account with money, there may be a delay in getting reimbursed.)

But there is no bogeyman out there looking for debits--and a debt isn't more likely to get stolen. As long as you utilized a secure site, you will be fine.

I would not lose sleep. You can read on the VISA and MC website and if you ever feel you are the victim of fraud, you will not have problems at all (with exception that if any charges ran, it will take a few days to get the money back.)

And we're real debit daredevils, we use our cards on hotels, to buy airplane tickets and for all on-line purchases and multiple American Girl purchases over the years.

 

[Jennasis]

Some one once told me thatDebit cards are not afforded the same protections that CC are (like fraudulent charges etc...). I am fairly sure it's bunk.

 

[happygirl]

I use my debit card for everything, I use to pay for dinner, car rentals, hotels. movie tickets everything and only had one problem

 

[traces7]

I can't imagine why you're worried about this - you can't sleep. I use my debit card run as credit 100% of the time in real life and online. It's a Visa and operates exactly like the others I have except I'm spending only my money that I have right now, which is how I want it. I get rewards points, so I make big charges like my son's college tuition.

When people say not to use your debit card, they seem to be talking about some strange kind that isn't Mastercard or Visa. I've never personally seen such an animal. I wonder if it went extinct years ago.

I'm just old fashioned I guess! Crazy, I know! I'm glad that I really don't have a reason to worry though!

 

[laurie31]

My thought is if the site is secure enough for a credit card, it's secure enough for a debit card.

 

[luvmy3]

Another debit card user online