I had my debit card number stolen...

I've noticed that here a lot of merchants that take both ATM and credit will charge a fee for an ATM transaction but not for the credit.  Carl's Jr. charges 75 cents per transaction and credit is actually easier there because they don't require a signature.

Joyce

fuzzy_dogs_mom

I've noticed that here a lot of merchants that take both ATM and credit will charge a fee for an ATM transaction but not for the credit.  Carl's Jr. charges 75 cents per transaction and credit is actually easier there because they don't require a signature.

Joyce

That is strange Joyce because the ATM "pinned" piece earns the mechant interchange - money in there pockets.  The credit side if Debit card or credit card they end up paying the banks.  Stupid for them to do that becasue then they encourage signature usage and there by pay and not receive.

 Bank in the US do charge a "surcharge" at the ATM when you withdrawl cash - but ususally charge or have a minimum purchase on the signature side.

luvmyswissy

That is strange Joyce because the ATM "pinned" piece earns the mechant interchange - money in there pockets. 

I know.  I never understood it either.  ATM just seems so much faster and easier for everyone.  I finally got so I remember to ask if there's an ATM fee at fast food and other places that take ATM and if there is, I run the card through as a credit card.

Joyce

luvmyswissy

 Bank in the US do charge a "surcharge" at the ATM when you withdrawl cash - but ususally charge or have a minimum purchase on the signature side.

 

The way it works here (Canada) is that if you use an ATM (or as we like to call them ABMs) affiliated with your own bank then there is no charge for cash withdrawls. If you use another bank's ABM you are usually charged $1 - $1.50. You are also charged at "White Label" bank machines. Those are Bank machines with no bank affiliation. Quite often if I am out and need cash I use the 'cash back' option at either the grocery or liquor stores for no additional charge. This is only offered to debit card purchases, not credit cards as far as I know.

denise m

luvmyswissy

 Bank in the US do charge a "surcharge" at the ATM when you withdrawl cash - but ususally charge or have a minimum purchase on the signature side.

 

The way it works here (Canada) is that if you use an ATM (or as we like to call them ABMs) affiliated with your own bank then there is no charge for cash withdrawls. If you use another bank's ABM you are usually charged $1 - $1.50. You are also charged at "White Label" bank machines. Those are Bank machines with no bank affiliation. Quite often if I am out and need cash I use the 'cash back' option at either the grocery or liquor stores for no additional charge. This is only offered to debit card purchases, not credit cards as far as I know.

That is exactly how it works here in the US too.  Your own bank encourages your use at their bank by not surcharging.  And all pinned merchant transactions give you the choice of cash back.  The difference is that our surcharges are not up to 2.50 - 3.50 per transaction - it is rediculous.

luvmyswissy

  The difference is that our surcharges are not up to 2.50 - 3.50 per transaction - it is rediculous.

Tell me about it!  Sometimes you get hit with a double whammy.  The  bank affiliated with the ATM you're using clips you $2 or $3 because you're not one of their customers and then your own bank turns around and hits you up for $2 or $3 more for using another banks's ATM.  I'd love to see them make that illegal ... it's  not like the banks are hard up for money, and sometimes if you're out of town you really can't run all over looking for an ATM affiliated with a particular bank. You can pull out $20 and it will ultimately cost you $25.

Joyce

denise m

Another employee joined in and suggested they compare my sig to my the one on my debit card - which I had never signed! Me Bad!

I no longer sign any credit/debit card that does not have my picture on it.  Instead I write "ASK FOR PICTURE ID".  That reduces the chances of someone being able to use it if the card if physically stolen.  It does require me to carry my driver's license, but I do that anyway.

However, I don't have a whole lot of confidence in even that working.  My driver's license was stolen in 2001.  The thieves used it to rent a U-Haul truck (twice) and to get "pain" meds at an ER. 

None of those places took a good look at the picture.  None compared signatures!!   None xeroxed the license.  None had photographs of the people who used the license. 

The trucks were found deserted - after the thieves moved, I guess.

It was a good thing I had a police report about my license being stolen or they would have considered me a more serious suspect.  I was also happy that I kept the contact info for the officer handling the first truck.  I needed it when I was talking to an officer about the second truck.

You would never guess how I found out about the ER.  I got a "satisfaction survey".   

I faxed them a copy of my driver's license, the signature didn't match that on their forms, and they took my name off the charges.  They kept the address, however, so for a while I got bills addressed to "Jane Doe".

Boy, was I happy when that driver's license expired!!!   If I had kept more careful notes (dates, times, names), I could have written an article on this comedy of errors and maybe have gotten it published.

NOTE:  If identify theft spans different police departments, one should be prepared to be a liaison between them.  My situation spanned multiple states.  Keep a notebook with the dates and times of all phone calls, correspondence, etc.  Ask about the spelling of each name. 

I should even have gotten a copy of the hospital records (they were "mine";) on the chance that some of the info was correct.  A copy of the U-Haul forms would have allowed me to compare signatures.